IN THIS ISSUE

- Letter From the Director - Western Maryland Chapter Event in Beautiful Frederick - Black Alumni Chapter Looking for Volunteers! - Shared Advantage Program - Alumni Awards and Scholarships - 2009 Governor’s Cup Yacht Race Poster/Logo Design Contest - Annual Alumni Seahawk Soccer and Field Hockey Games - Jazz Band Concert Brings Down the House - Call for Alumni Council Nominations - Last Call for Mulberry Tree Class Notes!

GIVE ONLINE NOW

UPCOMING EVENTS

March 26, 2009 (Thursday)   Western Maryland Chapter Brewer's Alley Happy Hour April 17, 2009 (Friday)               Tiki Bar Opening on Solomons Island - SMCM alumni photo opportunity June 12-14, 2009              (Friday - Sunday)            Reunion Weekend at SMCM June 27, 2009 (Saturday) Baseball - Nationals vs. Orioles at Camden Yards

If not receiving this e-newsletter automatically, subscribe now.

NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES

February 2009 January 2009

ST. MARY'S ALUMNI ON FACEBOOK

UPDATE CONTACT INFORMATION

Dave Sushinsky '02 Director of Alumni Relations & Planned Giving 800-458-8341

March 16, 2009

Letter From the Director With the snow falling outside my office, it may seem odd to talk about our annual Summer Reunion. But with all of the exciting changes this year, it’s impossible to wait. The opening of the James P. Muldoon River Center has provided us with the perfect theme, “Return to the Riverfront.”  With the construction over, we have organized a majority of our events on the “old” side of campus and we encourage you to mark your calendars now for June 12-14, so you can celebrate with us.              Much of this year's Reunion was designed by you. Your recommendations after last year’s event and the advice that we picked up throughout the year went into designing Reunion weekend. Because we are all looking for ways to save money, we offer a number of FREE events and have worked with our catering service, Bon Appétit, to lower the cost of our meal options. We moved the President’s address to Friday afternoon as a kickoff to the weekend with a cocktail reception to follow in the new James P. Muldoon River Center. There will be live music on the waterfront Friday and Saturday, skipjack rides, a late-night river cruise, an alumni art show in Boyden Gallery, and of course, the famous crab feast. We will also have two faculty seminars, tours of campus to see the new buildings (and visit your old stomping grounds), sailing and kayaking at the waterfront, and plenty more. New this year - we will provide multiple housing options to accommodate our alumni who choose to go to bed early and other options for the ones who probably received a few noise complaint write-ups in their day. Camping on campus was provided at Governor’s Cup last year, and its success prompts us to offer it at Reunion as a very affordable option for our more adventurous alumni. The brochures have been mailed and the registration is live on the alumni web page. I know that people are always encouraged to register early, but this time we really mean it! There are a few events and housing options that have availability limits and we don’t want you to miss out. Round up your friends from St. Mary’s and start planning your weekend. See you in June! Dave Sushinsky '02 Director of Alumni Relations and Planned Giving                          Western Maryland Chapter Event in Beautiful Frederick March 26 – Brewer’s Alley Happy Hour Come to Brewer's Alley in Frederick for Seahawks' Happy Hour! Brewer's Alley has great food, drink specials and plenty of fun. Visit with old friends and make some new ones as we celebrate the beginning of spring with some frosty beverages. Show up anytime after 5 p.m. Happy Hour goes until 7 p.m., but you can bet that there will be alumni there later! This event is coordinated by the Western Maryland Chapter, but ALL alums are invited. Invite your friends, better halves, and anyone else looking for a good time. The restaurant is located at 124 North Market Street, Frederick, Maryland. Click here to see their web page.   Black Alumni Chapter Looking for Volunteers! The Black Alumni Chapter is looking to increase representation across the years and plan more activities in conjunction with other Alumni Chapters. Please e-mail chapter president Brenda Robinson ’85 if you are interested in working with the Black Alumni Chapter. Thanks in advance for volunteering! (please respond by Friday March 27) Shared Advantage Program The Shared Advantage Program 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. George Belleville '84 is the program's newest member.  He and his wife, Kathy Marks Belleville '85, live in Ellicott City with their two daughters, Lauren and Ciara.  In 2006, George retired from the Howard County Police Department as sergeant after 20 years, and is the founder of the "Head for Home" team at Keller Williams Realty in Ellicott City. "Many of my clients and referrals are still generated from my many friends and contacts made during my days with the Howard County Police.  I have handled transactions ranging from $87,000 to $6.25 million, all with enthusiasm, attention to detail, and a sincere effort to provide the maximum fiduciary and consultative service to my clients." For more information on the Head for Home team, visit its web site.  or contact George via e-mail.  Tel: 443-574-1488 Alumni Awards and Scholarships We are proud of the achievements of our alumni and look forward to recognizing them with an award or scholarship. If you would like to apply for a scholarship or nominate an alumna/us for an award, please click on the appropriate links below. Outstanding Young Alumni Award Nominations due April 15 Download OYAA application form here. Society of Distinguished Alumni Nominations due April 15 Download SODA application form here. Alumni Post-Graduate Scholarship Applications due May 1 Download Post-Graduate Scholarship application form here. Alumni Legacy Scholarship Applications due May 15 Download Alumni Legacy Scholarship application form here.   2009 Governor’s Cup Yacht Race Poster/Logo Design Contest $500 CASH prize to the winner Deadline for entries is May 15 – see flyer for complete details and rules     Annual Alumni Seahawk Soccer and Field Hockey Games All games will be played on the varsity game field at St. Mary's on Saturday, April 18 (along with Tiki Bar opening weekend and World Carnival). 12:00 p.m. Field Hockey,   1:30 p.m. Women's Soccer,    3:00 p.m. Men's Soccer Alumni will enjoy a pig roast, pizza and plenty to drink.      Jazz Band Concert Brings Down the House Students and alumni rocked the gym at St. Mary’s on February 28 during the jazz concert reunion. About 800 students, faculty, staff, and community members attended the jazz concert, which consisted of original jazz band director Bob Levy, current jazz band director Don Stapleson and about 30 of his students, as well as about 40 alumni who performed at St. Mary's as far back as the 1970s. The program was divided into three sections, with current St. Mary’s jazz band members playing first under the direction of Stapleson. After a dramatic dimming of the lights, “The 2009 Reunion Band” vest-clad alumni played second under Levy, and a fusion of the two groups played to standing ovations at the end of the program. Musical selections included Steve Winwood’s “Gimme Some Lovin’,” Phil Burlin’s “South of the Border,” and Count Baise’s “Easin’ It.” The grand finale featured both current and alumni bands, rocking to Duke Ellington’s “C Jam Blues.” The alumni band performed alum Greg Boyer’s piece, “Faklempt,” in which he was also the featured player. Boyer '77(left in photo with Bob Levy on right) is currently the arranger and trombone player for the pop icon, singer Prince. Call for Alumni Council Nominations The St. Mary's College of Maryland Alumni Council is the governing body of the Alumni Association. Alumni Council members serve a one-year term (renewable for up to six consecutive terms) during which time they are asked to attend quarterly meetings and to serve on special committees and task forces. The council is called upon to make recommendations concerning a variety of matters that might impact the association and the College, including publications, fundraising, and special events. Elections to seat next year’s council will be held at the quarterly meeting on April 18, 2009. If you are interested in serving, or know an alum that would represent the association well, please read the position description , print and fill out the bio form , and include a letter of interest and intent. All entries are due Friday, April 3, 2009. Please mail to: Office of Alumni Relations 18952 E. Fisher Road St. Mary’s City, MD 20686                     Last Call for Mulberry Tree Class Notes! Changed jobs? Moved? Recently married? Given birth to a future St. Mary’s Seahawk? What's going on in your life? We want to know! Please send us information to put in the class notes section of our next issue of the Mulberry Tree. If you have any classmates that have some interesting news, share that with us too. All submissions must be sent to the Office of Alumni Relations by Friday, March 25, 2009. E-mail information and high-resolution jpg photos to the Alumni Office.