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February 6, 2009 |
| Letter From the Director |
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On
Monday, America’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow
and declared that winter will be around for another six weeks. While many of our
alumni are celebrating this prediction, I’m ready to usher in the springtime.
To me and the other alumni, cold weather and shorter days just pose a limit on
what you can do after work and on the weekends.
To help those who feel the same way I do, the Alumni Office has organized
a number of events to get us through these next six long weeks of winter. On Valentine's
Day, all alumni are encouraged to come support our women’s and men’s
basketball teams in conference matches against Gallaudet University in Washington,
D.C. At the end of the month, dozens of jazz students from as far back as the
'70s to the current students are performing a free concert on campus for
all alumni with a reception in our new River Center to follow. And finally, to
celebrate Daylight Savings, the Southern Maryland Chapter has organized a tour
and wine tasting at Fridays Creek Winery in Owings, Maryland in early March.
To those alumni that enjoy the winter, I congratulate
you on your extended winter season and hope you enjoy the snow. To everyone else,
soon we will be enjoying baseball games, barbecuing, eating crabs at Reunion and enjoying the sun.
We’ll make it.
Dave Sushinsky ‘02
Director of Alumni Relations
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SMCM Basketball at Gallaudet on Valentine’s Day
Last year our men’s basketball team made it to the NCAA Division III
Sweet 16 for the first time in school history. With a 17-4 record and four game
winning streak, the team may well be on its way to another NCAA Tournament
appearance this year. Come see these hawks in action in Washington, D.C. next Saturday!
Bring your friends and family to Gallaudet University
on February 14 and show your Seahawk love. Tip-off for the women is at 2 p.m.
with the men following at 4 p.m. There will be prizes and give-a-ways. The teams
put a lot of heart into the game and
appreciate fans in the stands to cheer them on.
Click here for directions to Gallaudet University.
Click here for a map of the Gallaudet campus.
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| Jazz it Up on Campus - February 28, 2009 |
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Last Chance to Witness a Piece
of St. Mary’s History
Bob
Levy, who helped establish the music major at SMCM and was on the music faculty
from 1971 to 1979, has invited his former band students to reunite for one final
reunion concert. Since leaving the College, Bob has organized a number of reunion
shows, but this will be the band's last time performing together at St. Mary’s
College and we don’t want you to miss on this great part of St. Mary’s
history. Come be a part of our “Salute to Jazz at St. Mary’s.”
Music faculty member and jazz band leader Don
Stapleson will direct current jazz students in several selections while Levy will
direct the 1970s Alumni Jazz Ensemble. The program will feature big band classics
and music of Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, and Thad Jones with a few
surprises in store for the audience. Both groups will play together as a finale.
Of note – joining the reunion ensemble will be alumnus and trombonist Greg
Boyer, music director and arranger for pop-rock star Prince. Also joining his
former band-mates will be trumpet player and Chopticon High School graduate Terry
Alvey, band director at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, Maryland; and St.
Mary's county natives Johnny Long and Curtis Johnson, saxophones; Jim Gardner,
Tom McDonald, and John Corbin, trombones; and Bob Lococo and David Weisman, trumpet.
Many of these former students have played professionally
with Ray Charles, George Clinton, Maceo Parker, Parliament, the Monumental Brass,
while others who may not have played their instruments in quite some time "have
dusted off their horns and been practicing for weeks and even months," said Bob
Levy. While in their teen years many of these returning students had attended
the award-winning Tidewater Music Festival at SMCM while still in junior high
or high school before enrolling at the College. Another former SMCM Jazz Ensemble
director, Rick Humphreys from Calvert County High School (and 1970s alum) will
also be a featured soloist for the upcoming concert.
The concert will take place on Saturday, February 28, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.
in the Auerbach Auditorium of St. Mary’s Hall. Admission to this event is
free and all guests are invited to join us for a post-concert reception in
our new River Center. This is not one to miss!
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Alumni Art Exhibitors Needed |
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Ten years have passed since the last alumni
art exhibition. It’s been too long! We invite you to participate in a 2009
display of alumni work in the Boyden Gallery here on campus.
The alumni exhibition will open on June 12 during Alumni
weekend and run through October 4, which is Hawktober Festival (Homecoming) and
Parents Weekend. We are eager to showcase alumni art to prospective students,
current parents and students, visiting alumni, and the regional communities.
Work of any medium is welcomed, although some
size and weight limitations will apply. Arts insurance coverage will be assumed
by the College during shipping and exhibition of alumni works on campus, although
the artist will be responsible for drop-off and pick-up of work or for shipping
costs to and from the College.
Complete
instructions are included on the submission form.
Any questions can be directed to the Alumni Office at 1-800-458-8341 or
by e-mail at alumnioffice@smcm.edu. Completed
entries will be accepted until March 15.
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Fridays Creek Winery Tour and Tasting
– March 8, 2009
Celebrate the start of Daylight Savings Time by
sampling Southern Maryland wines at Fridays Creek Winery in Owings, Maryland (12
miles north of Prince Frederick) on Sunday afternoon, March 8 from
3-5 p.m. Frank Cleary ’81 and his brother Rich run the winery. You
will be able to take a tour of the winery, sample wines and share light refreshments.
Cost of the event is $15 per person in advance or $20 at the door. Come on out
and choose a new wine for your spring and summer events. A 10% discount will be
given for full-case purchases at the winery. To sign up and pay for this event,
click here.
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Shared Advantage Program |
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Why not do business with someone with whom you share something in common?
Started in 2004 by Barry Friedman ’87,
the Shared Advantage Program (SAP) is a consortium of alumni and businesses interested
in giving back to the College. When you let participating businesses know that
you are a SMCM alum (or friend), the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Foundation receives a contribution.
Whether you are buying or selling a house, looking
to change your insurance coverage, or needing financial or legal advice, the choices
can be overwhelming. When you do business with a member of SAP, you know you are
working with a professional who has a unique knowledge of St. Mary’s and the local community.
In coming issues we will be highlighting various
SAP members. For a list of participating members, please visit "Shared Advantage".
For
more information, or to become a SAP member, contact Liisa Franzén by e-mail or call 240-895-3220.
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| New Gift Baskets from the
SMCM Bookstore |
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Have You
Finished Your Valentine’s Shopping?
It’s that time of year again. Yes, the time when we struggle to find
the perfect gift for our special Valentine. Instead of following tradition and
waiting until the last minute like many of us do, let your Alumni Office help
you get your shopping done in the next five minutes.
The Alumni Office has worked with the Campus Bookstore
to put together gift packages just for alumni. To start our new program, we are
highlighting a Valentine's Gift Set which includes chocolate, sweetheart tarts,
a cuddly bear, two white St. Mary’s wine glasses and a warm St. Mary’s
afghan. Each gift package has a $25 donation to fund the Alumni Scholarship, but
the packages are discounted from their original retail value. The Alumni Scholarship
is awarded by the Alumni Council to two incoming students related to alumni from
St. Mary’s. One award is merit-based, one is need-based, and both are renewable
for up to four years. Everyone that purchases one of these gift packages will
receive a $25 tax receipt for their donation.
And the best part? Since you are getting your gift now, you can spend your
afternoon on the 14th cheering on your fellow Seahawk basketball teams
at Gallaudet instead of running around frantically looking for that last minute
gift. Happy Valentine's Day!
Order now and save money on shipping! Orders received
by 3:00 p.m. Thursday can be sent next day air for delivery on Friday. Orders
received by 12:00 p.m. Friday can be shipped next day for delivery on Saturday
for an additional $25 above the next day air price.
Purchase one now.
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Outstanding Young Alumni Award |
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2008 Outstanding Young Alumni
recipient - Dr. Steven Thurr '00
Every year the Alumni Association selects one graduate to receive our Outstanding
Young Alumni Award. The purpose of the award is to recognize exceptional career
achievement and dedication to public service of St. Mary’s graduates of
the last ten years. If you know a young alumna/us that has attained prominence
through their professional achievements, has proven leadership and dedication
to public service, or has demonstrated unusual initiative or innovation in their
professional or service work, we want to hear from you.
Nominators must
submit the following form along with a letter of nomination, supporting documentation,
and a biographical sketch or resume (not to exceed two pages). Self nomination
or nomination by a spouse is discouraged. Nominations must be submitted to the
Alumni Relations Office by April 15, 2009.
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Society of Distinguished Alumni |
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The true measure of a college is found in the achievements of its alumni. In
March 1995, the St. Mary’s College of Maryland Alumni Association and the
Office of Student Development established the Distinguished Alumna Award. The
award was modified to include all alumni in 2001 and became the Society of Distinguished Alumni.
This year we are pleased to seek nominations again for this prestigious award.
Nominated individuals will be alumni who have gained distinction through significant
accomplishments in their chosen professions.
For more information on eligibility,
please read our nomination form.
Like the Outstanding Young Alumni Award, all nominations
for the Society of Distinguished Alumni should be received by the Office of Alumni
Relations by April 15, 2009. Both awards will be presented at Reunion Weekend
on Saturday, June 13, 2009. The award recipients will be invited to the dinner
Saturday night as special guests of the College.
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Alumni Post-Graduate Scholarship Applications
Due May 1, 2009 |
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Post-Graduate Scholarship
Each year the Alumni Council selects one awardee
to receive a $5,000, one-time award for a graduating senior or an alumna/us pursuing
a professional or graduate degree. (An anonymous donor provides this scholarship)
You may download the Post-Graduate Scholarship application form
here. |
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Alumni Legacy Scholarship applications
due May 15, 2009 |
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Legacy Scholarship
The Alumni Association offers two legacy scholarships
per year, one for merit, the other based on need. It is available to the sons,
daughters, grandchildren, brothers or sisters, nephews or nieces, cousins, or
step-relations of a St. Mary’s alumna/alumnus.
You may download the Alumni Legacy Scholarship application form here.
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Legislative Reception Highlights |
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A special thank you to Senator Mac Middleton for
sponsoring our annual Legislative Reception in Annapolis on January 29. Almost
200 current students, alumni, faculty and staff, delegates and senators gathered
in Annapolis for a fabulous networking opportunity. Alumnus Ken Upton ’68,
owner of Ken’s Creative Kitchen provided the outstanding refreshments for the event.
The highlight of the reception was the presentation
of awards to the College. The LEED Silver Award was presented by Dean DiPietro
’05 and Roger Limoges of the U.S. Green Building Council recognizing
that Goodpaster Hall achieved a silver rating for sustainable building design and construction.
Dr. O’Brien thanked
the general assembly for funding this building as one of Maryland’s pilot
projects to test sustainable building concepts and the Smith Group of architects
who provided the expertise and leadership for the design of Goodpaster Hall.
SGA Vice President, Matt Fafoutis ’09 presented a plaque
signifying the student body’s membership to the Environmental Protection
Agency’s 2008 Green Power Leadership Club. By meeting the Leadership Club
purchase requirements, St. Mary’s College has joined an elite group of Green
Power Partners who are demonstrating exemplary environmental leadership by offsetting
100% of our electricity with Renewable Energy Credits. | |
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