For those parents who love their student’s KSC experience: Please consider joining a welcome party to share that enthusiasm with incoming students and their families. By making phone calls over the summer and sharing your positive experiences with other families, you’ll help them make the transition, and you’ll enhance their experience—before they even get here! For more information or to sign up, please contact Peg Richmond, Director of Admissions (800-KSC-1909 or 603-358-2276).

Nathan Gray, recipient of the 2012 Fred Fosher Excellence in Writing Award

The craft of writing well eludes many students—and adults—but KSC senior and soon-to-be alumnus Nathan Gray found the key to excellence when he approached writing as music. “I began to think of writing a page of prose as writing a page of sheet music,” said Nathan, also a musician and songwriter. “Each word can be a note, or each sentence can be a note. I kind of made it an art game, playing with the shorts and the longs. As in music, you choose a note and then you decide upon the most effective instrument to play that note. In the same way, you choose a concept and then you choose the best word or phrase to express that idea. As soon as I did that, my writing improved. Just as it’s not very interesting to have a bunch of quarter notes in a row, you don’t want a bunch of five-word sentences in your writing. You’ve got to come up with ways to add variety and present your ideas in interesting ways.”
Continue Reading »

KSC prides itself on its longstanding motto, “Enter to learn, go forth to serve,” so you’ll find lots of stories in this spring’s issue of Keene State Today that reflect this commitment. There’s Will Wrobel’s (’08) inspiring story of personal transformation—a story that likely applies to many grads who have passed through the Appian Gates. And Josh Tuscher’s (’06) evolution from janitor to new media technologist for the VA. And Mark Newton’s (’87) path to become Timberland’s VP of Social Responsibility. And read how the campus’ new TDS Center will enrich our nation’s skilled workforce, or how the Cohen Center’s Civic Leadership Initiative engages civic leaders in a program that really makes a difference. There’s lots to be proud of at KSC; read some of those great stories in Keene State Today!

Gilly Moon ’09

Jon Gottlieb, who directs the Sound Design Program at California Institute of the Arts only accepts three students into the program a year. This fall, his first choice was Design/Technical Theatre major Gillian Moon ’09.

Gilly knows where she wants to go, and how to get there. After graduation, she worked as a sound intern for the Trinity Repertory Company. After that, she continued to work in audio, “Taking whatever gigs I could,” she said. “Besides theater, I have also done a lot of corporate and themed production work. Taking time off and actually working in my field I think helped me get accepted. I developed not only good technical skills, but I gained a lot of interpersonal skills and developed a clear vision of how I want to approach my goals artistically. I was also able to meet ‘sound guys’ who were up to date in the industry, and who also wanted to be my friends and mentors.

“The theatre profs at KSC taught me how to work and talk with people in a very creative, collaborative, and challenging environment. Which is what you often find yourself in in theatre!” Sounds like that’s a lesson she learned well. If you know Gilly, drop her a comment.

Samantha Massahos—KSC employee, grad student, and ’10 alum.

Samantha Massahos is a KSC employee (with Campus Safety), a graduate student, and alumna of the Class of 2010. And she’ll be competing for the title of Miss New Hampshire at the end of April. She’s currently serving as Miss Capital Area with a  platform of Advocating for Survivors of Sexual Violence. And she’d like your help: Help her get into the top 12 at Miss NH this year by going to the Miss NH website AND the Miss NH Fan Page and voting for her. Make sure you open the confirmation email and clink of the confirmation link to complete the voting process.

Says Sam: “Thank you—it is very much appreciated! I look forward to representing the Keene State College community at this year’s competition!”