Fall 2012 Issue - Colby-Sawyer College

Welcome in Every Language
by Cynthia Driver ’13
The welcome sign was designed by Karen Fondoules ’13 and
conceived by Nurse Practitioner Leslie MacGregor.
30 Colby-Sawyer College Magazine
Students cannot miss
the massive “Welcome”
sign, designed with
soothing blues, as they
enter the Baird Health
and Counseling Center’s
comfortable waiting room.
In its sleek black frame
mounted at eye level, the
sign expresses the word
“Welcome” in 20 languages
spoken by Colby-Sawyer
students.
Graphic Design major
Karen Fondoules ’13
designed the poster.
“Since this poster was
created for the waiting
room in Baird, it was
meant to give a sense of
comfort to all students
who enter the office. The
objective was to make
all students feel welcomed
by recognizing their
own language,” says
Fondoules.
The idea for the sign
was initiated by Family
Nurse Practitioner and
Nursing Manager Leslie
MacGregor. “I was looking
for a student who could
help celebrate the diversity
of languages spoken on
campus,” she says.
Associate Dean of International
and Diversity
Programs Pamela Serota
Cote says that signs like
this are symbolic enhancements
to our message of
who we aspire to be as a
community—diverse and
inclusive.
This fall, Colby-Sawyer
welcomed 41 international
students from 14 countries,
including new representation
from Macedonia,
Mozambique and New
Zealand. In addition to the
sign, international flags are
displayed again in Colgate,
adding a “beautiful celebratory
display that honors
the nations represented
in our community,” says
Serota Cote.
“The objective was to make all students feel
welcomed by recognizing their own language.”