Remember reading in last September’s Newsline that 1989 Theatre & Dance alum Jacque Bilodeau’s Salon Jacque in Brattleboro had made ELLE Magazine’s list of the top 100 salons in the US?
Well, she’s done it again. In its “United States of Style,” ELLE lists Salon Jacque among its top 100 salons in the country, and the only one in Vermont. Congratulations Jacque!
Dr. Daniel Johnson ’95 has been named the NJPSA Visionary Leader Elementary Principal of the Year for the State of New Jersey. In addition, he is now in contention for the NAESP National Distinguished Principal award.
And above all, “he is a proud Keene Alum,” says his wife, Lori. Congratulations, Dan!
Most people see the wisdom in following their passion, and probably most of us pursue what we love to some degree, but few have taken that path with the focus and intention of Michelle Sigiel ’10. Michelle loves history and political science—especially as they relate to the Holocaust and World War II-era Europe. When she was at KSC, she had the distinction of being the first Holocaust & Genocide Studies (HGS) major in the first such undergraduate program in the country. She also majored in European history and political science. She graduated with honors and co-founded, with department chair Paul Vincent, the HGS honor society, ZXP (Zeta Chi Rho).
Continue reading Michelle Sigiel ’10 Visits Poland as Auschwitz Jewish Center Fellow
Two days before graduating with an economics degree with management minor, Heather Duval ’12 learned that she’d won PopSugar’s “I’m a Huge Fan” contest, which meant PopSugar was flying her and her mother to London to interview Kristen Stewart about Stewart’s newest movie role as Snow White in Snow White and the Huntsman.
It all started when Heather answered a PopSugar online contest question about Kristen. A few weeks later, PopSugar notified her that she was one of five finalists. She was invited to continue via a Skype interview, where she answered more questions about Kristen. That was on May 1. Two days later, Heather learned she won. “I was told I won on May 3rd, graduated May 5th, and we left for London May 9th,” a still-reeling Heather said. “That made it one whirlwind of a trip.” (Don’t miss the video below.)
Continue reading Heather Duval ’12 Interviews Kristen Stewart
One of the best parts of the annual Alumni Association Luncheon on Reunion Saturday (June 2) is the presentation of the Alumni awards. This year, the Alumni Inspiration Award went to Dr. Christopher Cameron ’06, the Sprague Drenan Award went to Scott McPherson ’92, the Alumni Achievement Award was given to Dr. Phillip Rumrill ’89 M’91, and outgoing KSC President Dr. Helen Giles-Gee received the Outstanding Service Award.
Continue reading Four New Alumni Award Winners
Alum and former KSC assistant basketball coach Jim Ferry was named head coach at Duquesne University last month. After graduating in 1990, Ferry stuck around to serve as assistant coach from 1990–91. He then moved on as an assistant coach at Bentley College in Waltham, Mass., for seven seasons before stepping into the head coaching position at Plymouth State. From there, he spent 10 years as head coach at Long Island University Brooklyn prior to moving into the top spot at Duquesne. Read more about him on the Pittsburg Post-Gazette’s site.
For a history writer, uncovering an engaging but forgotten story among dusty and long-untouched archives must be like the prospector who catches the glint of gold among the dirt in the bottom of his pan. And Christopher Pagliuco ’99 is one such history writer, with a new book, The Great Escape of Edward Whalley and William Goffe: Smuggled through Connecticut (The History Press), to show for his efforts.
Continue reading Chris Pagliuco ’99 Publishes Tale from 17th Century New England
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 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!”
The New England Newspaper & Press Association recently inducted Thomas F. Kearney ’69 into the New England Newspaper Hall of Fame. Kearney, who spent much of his professional life as executive editor of the Keene Sentinel, is currently managing editor of the weekly Stowe Reporter.
Tom kept himself pretty productive while he was at Keene State, working full-time as a disc jockey, as a music director, and then as news director for WKBK, then the region’s only rock station. For his last semester, he was a full-time reporter for the Sentinel.
“The main thing I learned in college was that most of my preconceived notions about how the world worked were simply wrong, or very much in question,” Tom said. “That taught me to keep an open mind about nearly everything, and to challenge assumptions about the best way to do things.” That ability to look under the surface is a key ingredient to Tom’s success as a journalist.
To learn more about Tom Kearney’s distinguished career, read what the NE Newspaper & Press Assn. wrote about him for the awards ceremony. If you know Tom, drop him a comment.
When J-Lynne Brown ’10 was at KSC, she majored in biology with minors in chemistry and Spanish, planning to go on to medical school and someday practice international medicine. But then she got sidetracked—or maybe she got fast-tracked. You decide:
Before she graduated, a friend told her about the Peace Corps and its programs in Public Health. With her background, which includes HIV/AIDS education, and the need she knew existed in several Latin American countries, she knew the Peace Corps was for her. “I wanted a part of this organization!” she said.
Continue reading High Andean Adventures in Health Care
Sara Tejada ’06, owner of Inkprint Letterpress in Manchester, recently joined other alumni entrepreneurs in Centennial Hall to share their business expertise with students and other alums. But her journey to that panel took her a little farther than most.
Sara came to the US from the Dominican Republic a week after 9/11. She spoke very little English but took intensive English classes at UNH (and watched lots of American TV), and made her way to KSC, where she majored in Graphic Design, with a special interest in printmaking. She landed a job at Tree-Free Greetings, in Swanzey, a few months before she graduated. The company took her to the National Stationery Show, where she first saw modern letterpress—and fell in love.
Continue reading How Sara Tejada Fell in Love with Letterpress
Wasn’t it just a month ago that we told you about Anthony Bishop ’94, the art director for the new NBC game show Who’s Still Standing? By the time that story ran, Anthony was already moving onto bigger things. He was also the art director for Madonna’s stunning halftime show at Superbowl LXVI, as well as for the Pregame and Tailgate Party featuring Lenny Kravitz and the Fray.
“Just what does the art director do?” you might ask (like I did).
“It is my responsibility to carry out the production designer’s vision by way of renderings and technical drafting that communicate the design to the artist, the client, the team, and the vendors who fabricate all the pieces of the puzzle,” Anthony explained. “I also have to manage the vendors, often via phone, as they build the design because changes from the client continue to trickle in until we get on camera. Next there is the onsite scope, the ‘load in,” where I oversee all the pieces of the puzzle and coordinate communication between each vendor as we all work together in what is typically a 10-day process from delivery to show day. However, the Superbowl was a four-week process, since a football stadium is not our typical venue. Ultimately, I oversee the production’s overall artistic look on camera and am responsible for problem solving when something we designed doesn’t work.”
Continue reading Anthony Bishop ’94 Art Directs Superbowl Halftime Show
Though winter wasn’t particularly cooperative for the Campus’ recent Winterfest weekend, spirits were high in the Alumni Center’s Centennial Hall for the Alumni Athletic Hall of Fame ceremonies on Feb. 4th. The new Class of 2012 includes Raymond “Lippy” De Rocher ’64 (baseball), Debbie Higgins ’76 (basketball), Wilson Perez ’03 (cross country/track), Michelle Mason ’05 (soccer and lacrosse) and Meghan McLoughlin ’05 (softball).
Most students look for a college that’s far enough away from home, but not too far away. It’s nice to be able to get home for long weekends, or when the laundry gets too piled up. But Tracy Minard ’10 sure isn’t most students. She grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and made her first long trip to Keene when she arrived as a freshman. She studied English and minored in writing, but even moving across a large continent didn’t assuage her wanderlust. She spent a semester abroad in Florence and did an internship with the Center for International Studies in Northampton, Mass.
But distant horizons still beckoned, and she joined the Peace Corps before she’d even graduated from KSC. It must not have been to out of character for her, though. When she told her friends what she’d done, they all responded, “Of course you’re joining the Peace Corps, Tracy!” Now she’s living in a small Muslim village in the Rhodopi Mountains in southern Bulgaria, teaching English to grades 2–8.
Continue reading Tracy Minard ’10: Serving the Peace Corps in Bulgaria
Remember Anthony Bishop ’94, former design/tech major at Keene State College? Well, he’s now the art director for the new NBC game show Who’s Still Standing? You can visit him on the set in this YouTube promo video (Anthony appears at the 2:26 mark). Check it out and drop him a big congratulations via the “Comments” link below.