After conducting a comprehensive search, the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing at Keene State College (RCAM) has named Norm Fisk (PE) as its Executive Director. Launched in February 2010, RCAM is a dynamic partnership between Keene State College, the Greater Keene Chamber of Commerce, the Keene School District, and River Valley Community College. The Center’s mission is work with businesses and educators to help train highly skilled professionals to meet the needs of the many manufacturing companies that are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit skilled employees in New Hampshire.

Mr. Fisk has more than 20 years’ experience in a wide array of manufacturing and engineering enterprises throughout New England. He has also taught at Keene State College for more than fifteen years as an adjunct instructor. This combination of academic and industry experience fit the profile, needs, and direction of RCAM perfectly.

More information. …

NH Governor John Lynch proclaimed March 10, 2011, as “Remembering Granny D Day” in the state, in honor of Doris “Granny D” Haddock’s unrelenting advocacy for such issues as campaign finance reform, civic education, and environmental protection and her U.S. Senate run at the age of 94. During her long and productive life, she amassed an extraordinary archive of letters, photographs, and memorabilia that chronicle her work as an activist and organizer, including her journal from her famous walk across the US, the campaign reform banner she carried, and a pair of her iconic campaign shoes.

Her archives are being donated to KSC. The Granny D Collection will be a cornerstone of the Mason Library’s New Hampshire Social Justice Collection, intended to be actively used by students, scholars, and citizens, who will not just look at the collection but work with the archival items to develop new scholarly and community-based work. The NH Social Justice Collection also includes holdings relating to the civil rights worker and Episcopal seminarian Jonathan M. Daniels, Christine Sweeney and her landmark civil rights case, NH Senator Junie Blaisdell, and the work of the socially conscious NH filmmaker Louis de Rochemont.

More information. …

Last month’s challenge was a good one, and we didn’t receive a single guess. Pretty dismal. Let’s try something maybe a little easier. Anyone out there know where this inscription is?

If you think you know, please write your answer in erasable marker on a Trek Madone 6 series road bike and ship it to Newsline, 229 Main St., Keene, NH 03435, or use the “comments” link below.

There’s something smart at KSC this summer. For the first time, students can take classes during the summer, save a little on tuition, and maybe graduate a little earlier. Online registration for summer classes opened on February 20 and runs until March 25. Summer students can live in One Butler Court and eat at the DC. More information and links to registration are available on the Summer is SMART! web page.

Professors Beverly Ferrucci, Anne-Marie Mallon, Paul Vincent, and Therese Seibert all have something very special in common: Each has been recognized by alumni, students, and their peers for their achievements as an outstanding faculty member at KSC.

Presented annually since 1971, the KSC Alumni Association Distinguished Teacher Award recognizes excellence in teaching at Keene State College, based upon the following criteria: excellence in classroom teaching, encouragement of independent thinking, rapport with students in and out of the classroom, and effective student advising. Candidates must be full-time, tenure-track faculty who have taught a minimum of three years at Keene State College.

So if you know a KSC professor who fits that criteria, please nominate him or her for the award. They deserve it!

We’ve pushed the deadline ahead this year, so please submit your documentation and letters of support to the Alumni & Parent Relations office, Barry Alumni House (in the Alumni Center) by 4 p.m., March 11, 2011. And let us know if you could use a little help reaching out to alumni to help build the submission portfolio.

You can download the nomination form on the Distinguished Teacher Award page. You’ll find a list of previous recipients there as well.

In recognition of their achievement, each honoree receives a plaque and an honorarium, and their portrait is hung in the Mason Library among those of previous recipients. You’ll be proud you helped put it there!

This year’s Winterfest built upon the Winter Carnival tradition, which goes back in KSC history farther than most of us can remember. Although much has changed with the winter celebration over the years, the school spirit and excitement over building a snow sculpture is still strong. Beginning in the 1920s as a “Mid-Year Dance,” this social activity has evolved into an even more meaningful event.

In the 1940s, the Winter Carnival Dance became something many students looked forward to. Part of the anticipation revolved around female students that their classmates nominated for Carnival Queen. Those women would doll up in their elegant gowns and head over to Meet Your Candidate Night, where they would have tea with the judges, who evaluated them on their personality, beauty, and answers to two questions—one humorous, one serious. The following night, the campus gathered in Spaulding Gym, now transformed into a winter wonderland with bright streamers and snowflake ornaments, for dancing, revelry, and the announcement of the year’s Carnival Queen.

The beautiful Carnival Queen is now a part of KSC history, but the tradition of winter celebration stays strong. Over 200 students, alumni, faculty, and staff turned out this year for snow tubing at Granite Gorge. Four teams competed in a snow creation contest. Instead of the Glee Club concert of old, 70–80 people filled the Night Owl Café to hear the Jeff Conley Band. Forty competitors came out for the Rail Jam and drew plenty of spectators, despite the rain and sleet.

Winterfest offered many former students an opportunity to come back and relive the fun on campus. The Alumni Association worked hard to keep the school spirit and memories alive. Many students, faculty members, and alumni left the weekend with rosy cheeks and warm memories. As the 1961 Kronicle reported, “another wonderful weekend is history!”

Big thanks go out to the volunteers and KSC Parents Association who pitched in to make the weekend such a success. We also thank Granite Gorge, Liberty Mutual, and the Night Owl for hosting the events.

Even if you’ve never noticed it, it’s pretty easy to guess where this item is. But what nation does it represent? Ten points for location, 90 points for identification!

This, and other images as we add them, are on display in our Where’d I See That? gallery. If you can shed any light on this month’s mystery photo, please put your answer inside the bell of a Vintage King 2B SilverSonic Trombone and mail it to Newsline, Alumni Center, Keene State College, Keene, NH, 03435-1502, or use the “Comments” link below.