Three Owls Win LEC Track Honors

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(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).

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KSC Wins Commissioner’s Cup for 9th Straight Season

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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’.

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Grand Centennial Reunion

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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

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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.

Centennial Exhibit at the Thorne

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If you’ll be on campus this summer – especially if you’re coming to Reunion – check out the Centennial exhibit at the Thorne. It’s a real walk down memory lane that includes lots of photographs and memorabilia documenting 100 great years of campus history. You just might find yourself in one of the photos. Let us know if you do!

The exhibit also features some of Andy Warhol’s  Polaroid and silver-gelatin prints that the Andy Warhol Photographic Legacy Program donated to KSC. It’s the first time they’ll be on public display. The show opens for Reunion weekend, Friday, June 5, from noon to 7 p.m.; Saturday, June 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and Sunday, June 7, from noon to 4 p.m.

If you remember this concert, you probably weren't there.
What are they watching? Were you there? Are you in this picture? Comments, por favor.

More information.

Fanfare

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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

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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

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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.

Swamp Bats, part 2

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Remember last year, when we kicked off the Centennial festivities with a night at the Swamp Bats? No? Boy, howdy, did you miss a good time. President Giles-Gee threw out an excellent first pitch, hall of fame athletes came to help out, we had a few laughs at the alumni tent, and there were giveaways galore. Plus, you know, great Swamp Bats baseball.

And the festivities continue with another game this summer, June 20 at 7 p.m. You won’t want to miss it; we’ll post more details here as they become available.

The one detail we can share now: The College is giving away a bunch of tickets, at a bunch of times, including but not limited to Grand Reunion. Watch for your chance to join us for free.

The KSC Writers Conference

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If you’d like to take some time off and work on your writing this summer, KSC has the program for you. Registration is now open for the Writers Conference, which will take place from July 26 to August 1.

Eight published, award-winning, nationally recognized writers in the genres of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry work one-on-one with conference attendees during the week. With four or five writers in workshops, instructors are able to focus their attention on students, both individually and in small groups.

Come back to campus to explore the craft of writing, network and share with other writers, and spend time writing.

More information.

Striving for greatness

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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Abigail Butler Receives KSC Music Department’s Distinguished Alumni Award

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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.

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