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KSC in the News

Several of Keene State’s important achievements and critical issues have received state-wide and national attention lately. Here are a few items you shouldn’t miss:

• Richard Cohen, president and CEO of C&S Wholesale Grocers, wrote a powerful op-ed for the Keene Sentinel explaining how critical public higher education is to drawing business to  New Hampshire.

The Blanchard Ledger
The Blanchard Ledger

• The Union Leader covered the  Mason Library’s acquisition of the historic Blanchard Ledger, an 18th century surveyor’s record that details the settlement of southwestern New Hampshire.

• The Keene Sentinel’s Spotlight section covered the Thorne Gallery’s popular Jurors’ Choice Exhibit.

• The Associated Press ran a story that was picked up by the San Francisco Chronicle, Concord Monitor, NECN, Foster’s Daily Democrat, and other papers about the University System’s deal to freeze tuition if the state restores the System’s funding to the pre-2011 level.

• The Keene Sentinel covered Keene State’s recent event that brought 22 educators from Shanghai, China, to campus to collaborate with our education faculty.

• And don’t miss the great things track star, dancer, and scholar Marie Whitney said about KSC in Stuart Kaufman’s story, “Keene State runner Whitney is on fast track,” that appeared in the Union Leader.

Tim Hancock ’79 Shoots Running Times Cover

Tim Hancock ’79
Tim Hancock ’79

Professional photographer Tim Hancock ’79 took the photo of pro runner Meb Keflezighi that appears on the Jan./Feb. issue of Running Times magazine.

“I’ve worked as a professional photographer for the past 23 years, covering four Winter Olympics and five alpine ski championships,” Tim said. “I was SKI Magazine’s director of photography for nine years. I’ve mostly photographed the ski, bike, and running industry.”

KEA Fund Adds an Extra $100,000 for Scholarship Aid

Here’s some great news in these tough economic times: The Keene Endowment Association’s endowment fund, through gifts and growth, now has an additional $100,000 for student scholarship aid. In 2012, the KEA offered scholarships to 93 students, making a big difference in their lives. The KEA provides more than $220,000 in funds annually to Keene State College, which adds significantly to the funds provided by the college’s other endowed funds, managed through the USNH.

“We are thrilled to be able to offer more financial aid to students who need it. The success of this fund is in keeping with Keene State’s commitment to making a college education as accessible as possible and ultimately helping the state grow and thrive. It is critical that we educate future generations for the wellbeing of the future of New Hampshire,” said Ceil Goff, board chair of Keene Endowment Association.

Read more. …

Heidi Welch ’96 One of Four Finalists for National Teacher of the Year

Heidi Welch ’96, maybe the next National Teacher of the Year
Heidi Welch ’96, maybe the next National Teacher of the Year

Remember Heidi Welch ’96, New Hampshire’s Teacher of the Year? Well, the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) has selected her as one of the four finalists for the 2013 National Teacher of the Year (NTOY). This prestigious program allows teachers from across the country to collaborate with policy makers at every level and advocate on behalf of the teaching profession.

For the past 14 years, Heidi has been teaching a variety of music courses, including band and chorus, at Hillsboro-Deering High School. If she’s chosen NTOY, she’ll be taking a year off from her classroom duties to travel nationally and internationally as a spokesperson and advocate for the teaching profession. NTOYs are frequently requested to sit on national and state commissions and policy advising bodies, and sometimes to represent American educators to audiences in other nations.
Continue reading Heidi Welch ’96 One of Four Finalists for National Teacher of the Year

Theatre & Dance Dept. Shines at American College Festival

Michael Portrie beside his display of his work on Private Lives.
Michael Portrie beside his display of his award-winning work on Private Lives.

KSC Theatre and Dance faculty and students carried home an impressive collection of awards and honors from Region I’s Kennedy Center American College Festival, held this year at the Conference Center at Hyannis, Mass., from January 29–Feburary 2.

The Production team from Dracula, including Director Dan Patterson, Costume Designer Mary Robarge, Scenic Designer Tiffany Dalian, Lighting Designer and Special Effects and Projections Jeremy Robarge (assisted by Michael Portrie), and Technical Director Craig Lindsay, won the Merit Award for Excellence in Technical Production. Will Adams garnered a National Award for Excellence in Sound Design Honorable Mention for his work on the play.
Continue reading Theatre & Dance Dept. Shines at American College Festival

Good to the Last Drop—a Completely Fulfilling IST to Guatemala

Guatemala-Group-Shot
Back row, l–r: Cameron Haggar, Kevin Coles, Kateland Dittig, Carolyn Hall, Taylor Ciambra, Kya Roumimper, Katelyn Williams, Alyssa Tremblay, Jessica Lambert, Jessica Gagne Cloutier
Front row, l–r: Addy Parsons, Hannah Gagnon, coffee farmer Alberto, Lisa Bryant, Michelle Brahen

Fourteen KSC students are much more sensitive to the coffee they drink, after their International Service Trip (IST) to Guatemala in January. “More sensitive” in that, after spending nine days working on a Fair Trade coffee farm, they’re much more aware of the labor and economics that go into that cup of Joe. As the group wrote in their last blog post at the end of the trip, “And to the farmers and artisans: your kindness, patience, and passion will not be forgotten. We will share your stories, emulate your work ethic, and remember you fondly. We will be better consumers and better people for having met you.”

Volunteers usually only last about an hour at this kind of work, but there's a seven-foot hole for a biodigester all ready, thanks to  (l–r) Hannah Gagnon, Kya Roumimper, Katelyn Williams, Kateland Dittig, and Cameron Haggar (in the hole).
Volunteers usually only last about an hour at this kind of work, but there’s a seven-foot hole for a biodigester all ready, thanks to (l–r) Hannah Gagnon, Kya Roumimper, Katelyn Williams, Kateland Dittig, and Cameron Haggar (in the hole).

The group travelled to a small village in Guatemala called San Miguel Escobar, situated at the base of Volcan de Agua, just outside Antigua. They worked with coffee farmers and artisans through an NGO called As Green as It Gets, which focuses on economic development and environmentally sustainable agriculture in Guatemala. The organization eliminates most of the middle men to ensure that the growers earn a significantly higher profit from their crop than if they sold to a local distributor. The students picked hundreds of pounds of coffee cherries, sorted and dried beans, dug a new bio-digester and a tilapia pond by hand, and helped to make textiles and cosmetics from local materials.

“In addition to hundreds of hours of volunteer service, students learned about local agriculture, sustainable farming, and the economics of coffee.” explained KSC’s Coordinator of Community Services, Jessica Gagne Cloutier. “They were immersed in the culture of Guatemala, eating nearly every lunch and dinner in the homes of the farmers they worked with. Students learned to make corn tortillas, roasted and ground coffee to drink, and engaged in endless conversation.”
Continue reading Good to the Last Drop—a Completely Fulfilling IST to Guatemala

The 12/12/12 Challenge—a Success!

PhonathonWe won’t have another date like December 12, 2012 (12/12/12) for another 89 years. To commemorate this one-of-a-kind event, the KSC Phonathon team decided to host a one-of-a-kind event of its own: the 12/12/12 Challenge, with a goal of engaging as many new donors as possible by 12/12/12. The callers dialed away fast and furiously throughout the fall semester. Many of the alumni that the callers spoke with were happy to hear from a current student and to find out what’s happening on campus today. On the 12th, the Phonathon team worked for 12 straight hours and made over 1,200 calls.

The results?—the 12/12/12 Challenge was a success! Thank you to all the alumni who supported Keene State College. With your help, over 260 alumni became first-time donors, and we raised over $5,000 for current students! That surely will make a difference.

TDS’ Bart Sapeta Recognized as One of NH’s “40 under 40” Professionals

TDS Assistant Professor Bart Sapeta
TDS Assistant Professor Bart Sapeta

Technology, Design and Safety Assistant Professor Bart Sapeta was recently recognized as one of New Hampshire’s top “40 Under 40” young professionals for his achievements and his personal contributions to the community. Read what the Union Leader had to say about him.

Assistant Professor of Management Emily Porschitz was also nominated for her positive impact on young professionals through her advocacy and professional activities that cultivate emerging talent in the state.

The annual “40 Under 40” program is presented by the New Hampshire Union Leader in cooperation with the Business and Industry Association of New Hampshire to profile 40 of the state’s brightest young achievers under the age of 40 who are contributing significantly to their field and community.

Danbury Elementary School Library Dedicated to Audrey Wells Curren ’38

Audrey Wells Curren ’38 with the plaque dedicating the Danbury Elementary School library in her honor.
Audrey Wells Curren ’38 with the plaque dedicating the Danbury Elementary School library in her honor.

Audrey Wells Curren ’38 is one dedicated teacher. She spent 40 years in the Newfound School District, most of that time at the Danbury Elementary School, where she taught from the school’s opening in 1961 until her retirement at the end of the 1977–78 school year. After that, she continued on as a Title 1 tutor, a part of the weekly reading program, and she volunteer at the school until just a few years ago.

She’s had a profound effect on generations of Danburians, and last November, the Danbury Elementary School recognized this by dedicating the school library in her honor. Former principal Michael Tocci attended the dedication and explained how Audrey taught him the finer points of the “art” of education when he started at the school in 1970, including the idea that learning is a community partnership. “”She’s given so much of herself to the Danbury community,” Tocci said.

Read more. …

Communication Students Develop Marketing Campaigns for Local Nonprofits

Team members Stacie Coleman (left) and Gabrielle Gentilella present their plan to promote awareness of campus tobacco policy.
Team members Stacie Coleman (left) and Gabrielle Gentilella present their plan to promote awareness of campus tobacco policy.

The 24 students in Assistant Professor of Communication Jamie Landau’s Health Communication and Public Culture class last semester not only got some valuable real-world experience in creating an ad campaign, they also learned some important lessons in public health and advocacy, and in forging partnerships with community organizations. And they were able to present fresh and valuable marketing ideas to local organizations that can’t afford to hire professional marketers.

Becca Berkey, Coordinator of Experiential Education in KSC’s Center for Engagement, Learning, and Teaching, helped Dr. Landau identify three people in area organizations who needed some marketing help: Kate McNally, program coordinator for the Cheshire Coalition for Tobacco Free Communities; Tiffany Mathews, coordinator of Wellness Education at KSC’s Center for Health and Wellness; and Kimberley Diemond, the founder of Joy’s Network, a support group for cancer patients and their families.
Continue reading Communication Students Develop Marketing Campaigns for Local Nonprofits

KSC Plugs the Brain Drain

The future for KSC grads looks bright—right here in New Hampshire.
The future for KSC grads looks bright—right here in New Hampshire.

There’s been a growing concern that many of New Hampshire’s young people are leaving the state after graduation to seek their fortunes. That may be true, but not for most residents who graduate from KSC. An analysis of data for students who graduated from 2002 through 2011 shows that 77% of students from New Hampshire remain in the state after they earn their degrees. New Hampshire’s best and brightest who attend Keene State stay right here, where we need them.

Where’d I See That?

Here’s another one that doesn’t exactly fit into the “Where’d I See That?” category. But it’s just so perfectly Keene State. And so darn cute.

Photo by the extraordinary Lynn Roman
Photo by the extraordinary Lynn Roman

If you’ve enjoyed this delightful expression of KSC spirit and creative whimsy, write your thoughts about it in the border of a $20 bill and send it to Newsline, 120 Alumni Center, 229 Main St., Keene, NH 03435. Or use the “comments” link, below.

Pro Snowboard Announcer Nelson Wormstead ’05

NelsonWormstead2
Nelson Wormstead ’05 at the X Games

You might say Nelson Wormstead ’05 is living his dream. For one, he married his KSC sweetheart, Crystal Moriarty ’05. And he’s the principal New England sales rep for Oakley, and he’s a professional announcer and TV commentator for snowboard competitions around the world. Oh, and he co-owns a snowboard wax company with professional snowboarder Pat Moore.

What does he do as an Oakley rep? “A typical day is getting out on the road and servicing my dealers,” Nelson explained. “I have just under 200 accounts in New England, and daily activities include filling sunglass and apparel orders, meeting with buyers and store owners, and creating events, sales contests, and advertising to help market Oakley within my territory.”
Continue reading Pro Snowboard Announcer Nelson Wormstead ’05

Amy Sullivan ’89 Brings Effective Agricultural Practices to South Africa

Amy Sullivan ’89 on the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls.
Amy Sullivan ’89 on the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls.

Keene State’s motto of “enter to learn, go forth to serve,” has had a profound effect on many of its students, Amy Sullivan ’89 among them. A few years after she graduated with a degree in Political Science, Amy joined the Peace Corps, arriving in Senegal in 1994 as an agricultural extension volunteer.

“I was attached to the Winrock Rice Productivity Enhancement Project that was meant to increase productivity of small-scale rice producers by introducing improved varieties, bred to be highly suited to local conditions,” Amy explained. “Women were the rice farmers in that part of the country, so they were my primary contacts, farmers, and connections. I had to learn enough of the local language, Fulani, in order to live and work and have some fun.”
Continue reading Amy Sullivan ’89 Brings Effective Agricultural Practices to South Africa

Parents Collaborate on Op-Ed for Restoring Higher Ed Funding

Sue&Steve
Susan ’86 and Steve Fortier ’86, dedicated advocates for KSC.

Five University System parents joined forces last Sunday to support higher ed funding in the state. Susan ’86 (former Alumni Board president) and Steve Fortier ’86, alums and  parents of two KSC students, teamed with Jodi and Chris Broom, parents of two Plymouth State University graduates and a first-year student at PSU, and Greg Samuel, parent of two UNH students to write an op-ed piece, “Lawmakers must restore funding for higher education,” in the January 13 Nashua Telegraph.