The Keene State College Alumni Association recognized three distinguished individual at its Annual Meeting and Luncheon during Reunion weekend.

• Debora Murray ’99 was recognized with the Sprague W. Drenan Award for her active leadership and tireless efforts on behalf of alumni, both as the Chair of several Reunions and as an active two-term member of the Board of Directors.
• Lorna Letourneau ’57 was awarded the Alumni Achievement Award in recognition for her exceptional career in education, both primary and secondary and her commitment to helping students who initially struggle in their academic pursuits to succeed through the founding and stewardship of an alternative high school.
• Larry Benaquist, Professor of Film Studies, was honored with the Outstanding Service award, which recognizes service to Keene State College through leadership, commitment, and influence in programs and activities of the College.

For more information about past recipients or nominate a future honoree, please visit the Awards page on the Alumni website.

And while we’re talking about employment…

Career Connections is a series of networking events held through the academic year, highlighting major career fields at Keene State College. Career Connections events offer students an opportunity to talk one-on-one with local and regional employers in an informal setting and to learn about internships and career opportunities. Employers have an opportunity to acquaint students with the company they represent and the career paths available.Typically 25 to 30 companies participate in each event, and the next one will be held November 19th in the Science Center Lobby, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., featuring careers in the sciences, business management and government.

Alumni are welcome to sign up to present or attend. Please contact Mary Pleasanton at Academic and Career Advising, (603) 358-2462.

KSC alum Natali Kendrick Pope ’85 headed to Hollywood to become an actress but found a rewarding career as a set dresser for several feature films and TV shows, including the current season of House.

As Theatre and Dance chair Daniel Patterson recalls, “Natali called me several years ago and wanted pictures of our theatre rigging fly gallery and loft.  She had to recreate the fly gallery of an old theatre for the movie The Majestic.  I also called her when I needed a roast suckling pig for my production of The Servant of Two Masters. She asked, ‘How big?’ and sent me a lovely plastic one on a platter to use in the show.  She knows how to get or build just about anything one might want.”

Here’s an audio slideshow from the LA Times of her work on the set of House.

The 2009 Alumni Grants Program will be awarding a total of $7,635 to five campus programs.

The recipients include:

• a joint program of the Office of Admissions and the Office of Diversity and Multiculturalism which will bring high school students from underrepresented groups to campus, linking the students with a KSC student mentor who will help them explore the benefits of a college education
• an English Department effort to provide a professional development seminar for middle and high school teachers and the public exploring the richness and diversity of the Middle Ages;
• the Cheshire Academy for Lifelong Learning’s expansion of their continuing education program to Saturdays
• the 2009 Biannual Symposium “From Local to Global: 100 Years of Education at Keene State College”
• a recycling awareness campaign planned by the Recycling and Sustainability Office.