Category Archives: Uncategorized

Jack Marshall, Emeritus Professor of Art

Dr. Jack Marshall
Dr. Jack Marshall; 1992 photo taken by Dwain Hammett ’92 in the KSC sculpture studio (a.k.a. The Factory)

The KSC community was saddened to hear that  John (Jack) Marshall, professor emeritus of art, passed away on Tuesday, July 7th.

Dr. Marshall taught sculpture at KSC from 1973 until he retired in 2002. Many community members will recall walking by the sculpture studio – at all hours of the day – to see him working away on one of his projects. Or, more likely, they just heard him working; often, he had so many works in progress that he was hidden behind them.

Dr. Marshall had a BA in design from Massart, an MFA from Boston University, and a PhD from the Yale School of Architecture. His works have been shown in Massachusetts at Fuller Memorial Museum in Brockton, the DeCordova Museum in Lincoln, the Baak Gallery in Cambridge,  and the Carl Siembab, Sunne Savage, and Ellie Reiglehaupt galleries on Newbury St. in Boston. His work has appeared in NYC at the Whitney Biennial, the Awards Exhibit of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, the American Institute of Architecture, Leve House, the New School, the Allan Stone Gallery and in a solo show at Ward Nasse Gallery in Soho. He has had European shows in Milan, Pisa, Florence, Copenhagen, Geneva, and Zurich.

Drop us a comment if you remember this prolific artist, and visit his website, Marshall’s Art.

Want to Learn Something New? Start Here

If you’re thinking of returning to college, or in just learning something new for personal enrichment or profit, check out Continuing Education’s free information session on Wednesday, July 15. KSC offers a wealth of opportunities for just about everyone, and representatives from the Continuing Education, Admissions, Graduate Studies, and MBA programs will be on hand to answer your questions and show you what KSC offers you.
Come to the Elliot Center atrium, 229 Main Street, Keene, Wednesday, July 15, from 5 to 7 p.m. There will be refreshments.

More information.

Three Owls Win LEC Track Honors

(l to r) Brian Kolacz, Peter Najem, and Allison Chamberlain
(l to r) Brian Kolacz, Peter Najem, and Allison Chamberlain

Three Owl tracksters stepped out to win themselves – and KSC – some serious bragging rights. Allison Chamberlain, a sophomore from Scarborough, Maine, was named the Little East Conference Women’s Outdoor Track Runner of the Year. Senior Peter Najem, from Derry, N.H., was named the LEC Track Athlete of the Year, and sophomore Bryan Kolacz (Brentwood, N.H.) was selected as the LEC Field Athlete of the Year. Brian was also the 10th Keene State College student-athlete in men’s track and field to capture a national championship with his 61.48-meter hammer throw at the 2009 NCAA Division III Championships hosted by Marietta College (Ohio).

More information.

KSC Wins Commissioner’s Cup for 9th Straight Season

The Little East Commissioner’s Cup (courtesy photo).
The Little East Commissioner’s Cup (courtesy photo).

Keene State College athletics set a record that will be tough to beat when it won its ninth-straight Little East Commissioner’s Cup. The Owls averaged 6.552 points to win the trophy in each of the nine years it has been awarded. The Commissioner’s Cup measures an institution’s overall performance in the 19 sports that the Conference sponsors. They don’t call us the top NCAA DIII public intercollegiate institution for nothin’.

More information.

Grand Centennial Reunion

The Grand Centennial Reunion is this weekend!

We’re expecting more than 500 alumni and guests at this point. And you’re not too late to get in on the action. A few of the events we have planned:

  • An alumni preview screening of the first 40 minutes of the Centennial film on Friday night. Call us at (603) 358-2106 to reserve a seat.
  • Fireworks for all at 9:40 on the A-Field, and a social in the Redfern Arts Center
  • Saturday morning tours of campus with student tour guides
  • Decade tents on Fiske Quad, also Saturday morning
  • The Music Majors Luncheon and Jazz Ensemble Alumni ‘rehearsal’ session in the Band room
  • The Annual Meeting Luncheon of the Alumni Association
  • A Saturday afternoon commemorative photo with 1-0-0 spelled out in alums wearing red Centennial t-shirts — you won’t want to be left out of that!
  • Renderings of the new Alumni Center and a beam for alumni to sign in support of the Center
  • Saturday night BBQ on the Quad and dance featuring the Tom Foolery Band. Tickets will be on sale for $10 at the door.
  • Sunday morning brunch, hosted by President Helen Giles-Gee

For more information about Reunion, including a complete schedule, visit our reunion webpage.

Alumni Association Elects New Members

The KSC Alumni Association’s ballots are counted, and the Association is pleased to announce that the following Alumni have been elected to serve on the Board of Directors: Alan Hodsdon ’69 has been re-elected for a second termon the Board of Directors, and Ralph “Rudy” Werninger ’54, David Westover ’72, Jim Rice ’97, and Matt Ulvila ’02 have been newly elected. Each will serve a three-year term.

Newly elected Officers of the Board for 2009-2010 are: Sue Fortier ’86, President; Linda Lacey ’73, 1st Vice President; and Al Hodsdon ’69, 2nd Vice President.

Congratulations, all.

At its Annual Meeting on  June 6th, the Alumni Association will recognize the outstanding efforts of its retiring Board members: Association President David Gagne ’73, Carmen Prandini-Trafton ’95, Craig Sheil ’03, and Ed Wojenski ’85.

The Alumni Board of Directors is made up of 15 Alumni, the KSC Alumni Trustee to the USNH Board, the President of the College, the Student Body President, and the President of the Senior Class.

Fanfare

In the summer, everyone wants to get cooler. And you know how to do that, right? With fans.

So even as things slow down a little on campus, the college has another place for you to get news and share your KSC love. Yup, new Facebook fan page to connect with campus, other parents and alumni, current students, staff, and faculty… it’s like a virtual Appian Way. Check us out!

(Bonus helpful hint for those of you who want new ways to read Newsline — and who doesn’t?: Click on the “Boxes” tab, and you’ll find RSS feeds for Newsline, KSC press releases, and the Centennial blog.)

Kolacz Hurls His Hammer for the Big NCAA Win

Brian Kolacz in action.
Brian Kolacz in action.

Sophomore Bryan Kolacz hurled his hammer 201’8″ at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships at Marietta, Ohio, on Thursday afternoon (May 21, 2009). The throw broke the record at the Don Drumm Stadium, where the event was held, and was the best of the season, winning Kolacz the NCAA DIII national title.

Kolacz joins a select group of 10 national champions from Keene State. He is the first KSC men’s athlete to earn the honor in a field event since Paul Trocki won the decathlon in 1979. And his best may be yet to come: Darcy Wilson, the Owls’ throwing coach, thinks Kolacz has just scratched the surface of his potential in the sport. “Bryan knows what he needs to do to become a better thrower,” she said.

More information.

Watson Becomes Full-Time Field Hockey Coach

Amy Watson
Amy Watson

Head field hockey coach Amy Watson has been promoted to full-time status. She’s just starting her 20th season at Keene State and has had a very impressive record coaching the Owls. She’s seen the field hockey team capture seven Little East Conference championships (1998, 1999, 2004–08), earn six NCAA berths (1998, 2004–08), and claim the 2003 ECAC New England title. She has also produced 12 All-Americans.

More information.

Striving for greatness

You may hear about this from other sources, too, but we’re trying to get the word out to as many people who know Keene State as we can.

From Keene State Today editor Susan Peery:

For the fall issue of Keene State Today, we need your ideas. What do you think belongs on a list of “100 Great Things about Keene State College”?

Please send suggestions, write as little or as much as you like, and suggest as many ideas as you want. Memories, events, people, buildings, courses, professors, singular encounters — whatever stands out in your mind. This issue will round out our Centennial year and we want to make it as special and inclusive as possible. We hope you will spread the word to friends of the College in Keene and beyond.

Please send your ideas to Susan Peery, speery@keene.edu, no later than Friday, May 22. If you have photos or memorabilia to share, please let us know as well. Thank you for your help.

Please help us out if you can. Think big, both in terms of what you think makes us great, and in passing this message along. Who do you know who:

  • is an alum?
  • taught a class?
  • took a class?
  • works with students?
  • hired our alums?
  • want to come here when they’re old enough?
  • attends events on campus?
  • cheers for our sports teams?
  • has children/grandchildren/nieces/nephews who went here?
  • went to Upward Bound?
  • went to the Child Development Center?
  • benefits from students’ community service?
  • woos our students for graduate school?
  • has a perspective you think we should hear?

Pass this along to them all. What do you think makes Keene State great?

Owls Win ECAC Softball Championship

The Owl softball team headed to Brandeis Univ. on Sunday, May 10, ready to settle the score with the team that unseated them in last year’s championship. And settle the score they did, with a decisive 11-1 win over Brandeis. It was a glorious day for this Owl team.

The new – and very happy – ECAC Division III New England champs. (Photo courtesy of  Brandeis University)
The new – and very happy – ECAC Division III New England champs. (Photo courtesy of Brandeis University)

More information.

Perkins’ Portrait Wins People’s Choice Award

Self Portrait, by Analesa Perkins
Self Portrait, by Analesa Perkins

Have you caught the “Emerging Art” show at the Thorne, yet? Did you pick your favorite artwork and vote for it in the “Peoples Choice Award”? KSC senior art major Analesa Perkins won that vote with her Self Portrait.

The show, showcasing the work of 14 graduating KSC art majors, will be a the Thorne through Commencement Saturday, May 9. If you’re on campus, stop in and check out some of our best talent.

More information.

The Matchmaker Cast Wins Big at Theatre Festival

If you’re a regular Newsline reader, you may remember that KSC’s production of Thornton Wilder’s The Matchmaker so wowed audiences at the Redfern here on campus that the cast and crew were invited to take the play to the 41st New England Region I Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival at Fitchburg State College in Fitchburg, Mass., last January. Well, they wowed the judges there, too, bringing home five of the 10 distinguished achievement awards. Our award winners included Jenny Fulton, faculty member of the Theatre and Dance Department, for scene design; Kade Hill, for his performance as Cornelius Hackl; Ethan Selby, for his performance as Barnaby Tucker; Jamie Pearsons, for her performance as Mrs. Irene Molloy; and Allie Lee Relihan, for her performance as Minnie Fay.

More information.

Abigail Butler Receives KSC Music Department’s Distinguished Alumni Award

Dr. Abigail Butler
Dr. Abigail Butler

Keene native and 1980 KSC grad Dr. Abigail Butler was back on campus on Saturday, May 2, to receive the College Music Department’s 2008–09 Distinguished Alumni Award during the KSC Concert Choir and Monadnock Chorus performance. Dr. Butler currently resides in Eastpointe, Mich.

Are you a classmate or friend of hers? Use the “Comments” link below to drop her a line.

More information.

Alums Planning a Major Comeback to KSC

The Alumni & Parent Relations office is busy, busy busy these days with registrations for the June 5-7 Grand Reunion coming in by the hour!

We’re all hands on deck to be sure you and your guests have a great time:

  • Kay MacLean, the Event and Program Coordinator, has been organizing most of the 15 events for the weekend, including catering and entertainment details.
  • Andrew Cunningham, Web Communications Coordinator, developed the online registration software.
  • Pauline Dionne, College Ceremony Coordinator, has been cataloging online registration responses with painstaking detail to ensure you all get the right accommodation assignments and event tickets at the check in tables.
  • And Alumni volunteers have been hard at work for months preparing the event schedule and making visual displays spanning our hundred-year history.

Want more information about who’s going and what’s planned? We thought you’d never ask. A listing of Alums who have consented to share their attendance in advance of the big celebration and a full schedule of events with online registration can be found at the KSC alumni webpage.