Explores - Champlain College

More documents

Recommendations

Info

PRESIDENT’S LETTERHello from the Hill,What a difference a season makes. In my lastletter to you in these pages, on the cusp ofautumn and winter, the nation’s economy hadnot yet taken the dramatic downturn thatnow causes us all so much concern. While lifeand learning have maintained course here atChamplain College—at the institution’s signaturebrisk pace—those of us in leadership roles havemade prudence our watchword as we navigate thetroubled waters ahead.As Champlain College history shows, however, leaders have consistently chosen prudent action overa wait-and-see approach—and for good reason. The College has a very real responsibility to actively fostereconomic development in Vermont, and beyond, during good times and bad. That commitment wason public display when our campus hosted the nation’s first American Recovery and Reinvestment ActWorkshop on March 6. The event was designed to help individuals, businesses, and government officialsunderstand how they can benefit from the economic stimulus package recently enacted by the Obamaadministration. Presenters included U.S. Senator Patrick Leahy and Vermont Governor James Douglas,and attendance exceeded 700 people.Although the current economic climate is stormier than others the College has weathered in recentyears, I am pleased to report that we are rising to the challenge in characteristically proactive fashion. Infact, during these uncertain times, the College launched one of its boldest initiatives to date. The LifeExperience & Action Dimension (LEAD), which rolled out on campus at the start of this academic year,is a uniquely Champlain approach to teaching students life skills and cultivating values for success in anever-changing world. An engaging, four-year curriculum, LEAD is redefining what a Champlain Collegeeducation can mean in the new century.As the College charts a new course with such initiatives as LEAD, one is reminded of our namesake,French explorer Samuel de Champlain, whose adventures in the New World led him to the shores ofthe lake that also now bears his name. In recognition of his arrival 400 years ago, the College will take aleadership role in a regional celebration, beginning this summer, that promises to inspire us anew on ourown journey. An article in this issue of Champlain View offers a preview of events, including a symposiumon Samuel de Champlain’s life and work to take place on our campus from July 2-5, 2009.Samuel de Champlain is known to have been a skilled cartographer. While no reliable maps exist forthe rugged landscape we now traverse, expect the College to bring pride to the Champlain name on ourjourney forward.For your trust and continued support in this endeavor, I thank you.Dr. David F. FinneyPresidentDavid Finney (at podium)delivers opening remarksat the nation’s first statesummit on tapping economicstimulus resources. Seated(left to right): SenatorPatrick Leahy FieldRepresentative Ted Brady,Senator Leahy, and VermontGovernor James Douglas2009Board of TrusteesRobert W. AllenGeorge F. Bond ’73Robert D. BotjerDawn D. BugbeeScott D. CarpenterApril CornellJames H. Crook Jr.Laura P. DaganStaige DavisHeather DwightDr. David F. FinneyJames B. FosterJoan GignouxSusan Willey Lamaster ’88Diana McCargoMary E. McLaughlinMichael M. MetzDr. Robert B. MooreAmbassador John O’KeefeTrey PecorMary G. PowellDavid A. ScheuerDr. Peter SternMichael J. Sullivan Jr. ’90Dawn Terrill ’88Leandro A. VazquezLisa VentrissArthur E. Wegner
| VIEW FROM THE HILL |ACT CLASSBy Molly F. McGill ’05Technologyfor ’TweensPhotographs by Stephen MeaseTechno-savvy students are a common sight on theChamplain College campus. One day this pastNovember, however, their average age appeared todrop—by 10 years or so.The occasion was “Kids in Technology and Science” (KITS),an innovative program designed by the College’s Dean of theDivision of Information Technology & Sciences (ITS) AliRafieymehr to spark interest in the fields among youth. Some 85children participated, representing several area schools — JohnF. Kennedy Elementary School in Winooski, Winooski MiddleSchool, Edmunds Middle School, and South Burlington MiddleSchool. On hand to teach the young technology learners were 20Champlain College students.The KITS event kicked off at 8:30 a.m., when children andtheir teachers arrived for an introductory breakfast before beingsplit into groups of 10. Working with two Champlain Collegestudents as instructors, each group received a brief lesson in AliceProgramming Software, a computer animation and programmingsoftware widely used among schools in the U.S. Midway throughthe morning, students and their college mentors switched gearsand began building computers from the base up, using newcomponents to show the youngsters all that goes into the machinesand how it all works.“It was great to see the finished computer on the table with allthe students’ names written in silver gel pen on the tower,” saysNate Converse ’12, a Software Engineering major from Hamden,Massachusetts. “When we went back to programming, I taughtmy group about function calls and parameters. It was great to seetheir army of samurai marching successfully across the screen!”The KITS program allowed Champlain Students to assumeleadership roles and gain valuable teaching experience, buildingconfidence that they can take into the field. Viktor Jagar ’12, aSoftware Engineering major from Williston, Vermont, also usedthe mentoring opportunity to show that the computer industry’snerdy reputation wasn’t necessarily accurate—and that even atechnology whiz can be involved in such popular activities assnowboarding and soccer.Rafieymehr ran a similar program for three years at Western NewEngland College before joining the Champlain College faculty in2008. He has seen first-hand the importance of creating an interestin technology and science among younger students, especiallyfemales who typically have a weak enrollment rate in college ITSprograms—something he hopes to improve through KITS.“Across the country, there is a need for trained and educatedpeople in technology and science,” Rafieymehr says. “The collegeenrollment rate in these fields has either dropped or stayed flatwhen the numbers should have gone up based on the increasedneed. It is important for educators to create opportunities foryounger students to become interested in technology and sciencesso that they pursue advanced education in those areas.”The fun-filled day ended with an animation competitionamong the various groups, with their self-made computersbeing donated to the participating schools. “The ones who wentwere just thrilled by the day and were very proud to bring backmachines that they built themselves to go into their classrooms,”recalls Mary Woodruff, principal of Winooski Middle School.“We’ll absolutely participate again.”—with additional reporting by Stephen MeaseChamplain View | Spring 09 3
Page 3: Spring 2009volume 8, number 1Editor
Page 7 and 8: | VIEW FROM THE HILL |EMC Celebrate
Page 9 and 10: | VIEW FROM THE HILL |StudentView Q
Page 11 and 12: | VIEW FROM THE HILL |Photographs b
Page 13 and 14: There has probably never been a tim
Page 15 and 16: Student CounselLeah Galasso ’11 w
Page 17 and 18: Champlain QuadricentennialBy Stephe
Page 19 and 20: The Spring 2009 American Heritagema
Page 21 and 22: “She’s direct, she’s honest,
Page 23 and 24: “When you work with Shelli, you
Page 25 and 26: Woodbury CollegeHas Become the Wood
Page 27 and 28: | CLASS NOTES |Full CircleFrom Alis
Page 29 and 30: | CLASS NOTES |Charlie HamlynCharle
Page 31 and 32: | CLASS NOTES |’99Win aChamplain
Page 33 and 34: | CLASS NOTES |Photograph by Kathle
Page 35 and 36: | CLASS NOTES |Alumni enjoya variet
Page 37 and 38: Champlain College FactsFounded: 187
Page 39 and 40: In memory of Jane StradleyWilliam A
Page 41 and 42: Carol (Paquette) ’65 & Duane Merr
Page 43 and 44: Thomas J. ’95 & Joan M. HusseyKev
Page 45 and 46: Charlene (McKearney) ’77 &Thomas
Page 47 and 48: | Parting Glances |A Tale of Two Ro

Explores - Champlain College

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?