Today's News

The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) Art Gallery presents its Alumnae Artist Exhibition, which will feature the work of alum Jamie Hubble-Tucker. The exhibition will be on display from May 21, 2010 through May 28, 2010. An opening reception will take place on Friday, May 21, 2010 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Originally from Brazil, Indiana, Jamie Hubble Tucker graduated from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College in 1999, where she majored in art. She then received her master of fine arts in photography from Indiana State University in 2006. Jamie is currently in her fourth year as a Professor of Art at Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho.

A unique part Jamie's artwork is the experimentation with medium format cameras, and alternative processes.  Her love for these processes is a part of what she considers the mystery of photography; they facilitate a new way of seeing the world. Her most recent imagery was shot while touring China.

The SMWC Art Gallery is located in Hulman Hall, room 132. Admission is free and open to the public. Regular Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m. For more information, contact Rebecca Mollenhauer, Gallery Director, by phone at 812-535-5265 or by email at artgallery@smwc.edu.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) is one of the country's most environmentally- responsible colleges according to The Princeton Review (www.PrincetonReview.com).  The nationally-known education services company selected SMWC for inclusion in a unique resource it has created for college applicants - “The Princeton Review's Guide to 286 Green Colleges.”

 Developed by The Princeton Review in partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC, www.usgbc.org), the “Guide to 286 Green Colleges” is the first, free comprehensive guidebook focused solely on institutions of higher education who have demonstrated an above average commitment to sustainability in terms of campus infrastructure, activities and initiatives.

 Just in time for the 40^th Anniversary of Earth Day (April 22nd), the Guide - which is based on a survey of hundreds of colleges nationwide - profiles the nation's most environmentally-responsible campuses. From solar panel study rooms to the percentage of budget spent on local/organic food, “The Princeton Review's Guide to 286 Green Colleges” looks at an institution's commitment to building certification using USGBC's LEED green building certification program; environmental literacy programs; formal sustainability committees; use of renewable energy resources; recycling and conservation programs, and much more.

 The free Guide can be downloaded at www.princetonreview.com/greenguide and www.usgbc.org/campus.

 “Students and their parents are becoming more and more interested in learning about and attending colleges and universities that practice, teach and support environmental responsibility,” said Robert Franek, senior vice president and publisher, The Princeton Review. “According to our recent College Hope & Worries Survey, 64 percent of college applicants and their parents said having information about a school's commitment to the environment would impact their decision to apply to or attend it. We created this Guide to help them evaluate how institutions like Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College focus on environmental responsibility so that they can make informed decisions as they move through the college assessment and application process.”

 SMWC joins the ranks of outstanding universities and colleges nationwide that are leading the “green” movement through their own special programs and initiatives.

  “We are pleased with this special recognition,” said David Behrs, Ph.D., president of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.  “Our commitment to sustainability and environmental issues in preparing tomorrow's leaders are central to our curriculum, operations and student life. Students not only recognize the complex relationship we have with our environment but they have opportunities to create change through an environmental sciences minor, ”Greening the Woods“ initiative and partnerships with the Sisters of Providence.”

 “Beyond the cost savings to an institution, even the simplest aspects of a green campus, such as increased use of natural light, have been found to improve student learning and quality of life,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. “Green facilities make colleges more attractive to students and can dramatically reduce energy costs. Higher education is a top priority market segment for USGBC because graduates of green colleges become incredible drivers of change when they call for similar surroundings in their jobs and communities.”

 The Princeton Review noted that another unique aspect of the Guide is that it provides important information on schools that have dedicated environmental studies curriculums. “By many accounts, there are going to be a lot of job opportunities related to the environment and sustainability,” commented Franek. “For those who are interested in working in this growing sector, the Guide highlights the schools that are doing an especially good job in preparing and placing the next generation of green professionals.” 

 How the Schools Were Chosen

The Princeton Review chose the 286 schools included in the Guide based on the “Green Rating” scores the schools received in summer 2009 when The Princeton Review published Green Rating scores for 697 schools in its online college profiles and/or annual college guidebooks. The Princeton Review's “Green Rating” is a numerical score from 60 - 99 that's based on several data points. In 2008, The Princeton Review began collaborating with USGBC to help make the Green Rating survey questions as comprehensive and inclusive as possible. Of 697 schools that The Princeton Review gave “Green Ratings” to in 2009, the 286 schools in the Guide received scores in the 80^th or higher percentile.  The Princeton Review does not rank the schools in this book hierarchically (1 to 286) or in any of its books based on their “Green Rating” scores.

 About The Princeton Review

The Princeton Review (Nasdaq: REVU) has been a pioneer and leader in helping students achieve their higher education goals for more than 28 years through college and graduate school test preparation and private tutoring. With more than 165 print and digital publications and a free website, www.PrincetonReview.com, the Company provides students and their parents with the resources to research, apply to, prepare for, and learn how to pay for higher education. The Princeton Review partners with schools and guidance counselors throughout the U.S. to assist in college readiness, test preparation and career planning services, helping more students pursue postsecondary education. The Company also owns and operates Penn Foster Education Group, a global leader in online education.  Penn Foster provides career-focused degree and vocational programs in the fields of allied health, business, technology, education, and select trades through the Penn Foster High School and Penn Foster Career School (www.pennfoster.edu), which are headquartered in Scranton, PA.

 About the U.S. Green Building Council

The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. With a community comprising 80 local affiliates, more than 18,500 member companies and organizations, and more than 155,000 LEED Professional Credential holders, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion in U.S. gross domestic product from 2009 - 2013. USGBC leads a diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, teachers and students. Building in the United States are responsible for 39 percent of CO2 emissions, 40 percent of energy consumption, 13 percent of water consumption and 15 percent of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85 percent of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green buildings has the potential to generate 2.5 million jobs in America. 

For more information, contact Dee Reed, Executive Director of College Relations, at dreed@smwc.edu or 812-533-5212.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) will celebrate its 169th commencement, Saturday, May 8, 2010. Graduation activities begin at 10:30 a.m. with the traditional baccalaureate mass in the Church of the Immaculate Conception. The class of 2010 will receive degrees during a ceremony at 2 p.m. in the Cecilian Auditorium of the Conservatory of Music.

During the ceremony, Deirdre Connelly, president, North American Pharmaceuticals, of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) will receive an honorary degree and will deliver the commencement address. Rabbi Bernard M. Cohen will receive an honorary degree and SMWC will recognize Barbara M. Fossum '65 and Elizabeth Jeffries '84 as the 2010 Distinguished Alumna award recipients.

 Deirdre Connelly joined GlaxoSmithKline in 2009, where she leads an organization of approximately 10,000 employees and over $14 billion in sales. As part of her current responsibilities, she helps shape the future of the company as a member of its global corporate executive team and co-chairs its research portfolio management board.

 Prior to GlaxoSmithKline, Connelly worked for Eli Lilly and Company for 24 years. She held a variety of executive positions at the company, including senior vice president of human resources, vice president of human resources for pharmaceutical operations, executive director of global marketing for Evista, leader of the U.S. women's health business unit and most recently president of U.S. Operations.

A native of San Juan, Connelly holds a bachelor's degree in economics and marketing from Lycoming College in Pennsylvania. She graduated from Harvard University's Advanced Management Program in 2000.  Connelly serves as a member of the board of directors at Macy's Inc., one of the nation's premier retailers.

Connelly is widely recognized by her colleagues as a strategic leader and passionate advocate for patients. The Healthcare Businesswomen's Association named Connelly the 2010 Woman-of-the-Year. Recognized for three consecutive years by Fortune magazine as one of the 50 most powerful women in business, Connelly is currently ranked 37^th. Also Forbes magazine listed her as 74^th among the 100 Most Powerful Women of 2009.

In addition, Rabbi Bernard M. Cohen will be awarded an honorary degree during commencement. 

Cohen was a visiting professor at SMWC from 1963 to 1970.  He taught Contemporary Judaism allowing students to learn about a new culture and religion. Cohen was present during the introduction of ecumenism, the religious unity or cooperation of several faiths, to the Catholic campus.

Cohen received a baccalaureate from Long Island University, Brookville, N.Y., and a master of arts from Columbia University, New York City. He also earned a master's degree in psychology from International College. In 1956, he was ordained as a rabbi and received the bachelor's of Hebrew letters and the master's in Hebrew letters from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, which is the nation's oldest institution of higher Jewish education. He received an honorary doctor of divinity degree from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 1981. Cohen also was a lieutenant in the U.S. Naval Reserve, 1956-1958.

Since 2003, the Distinguished Alumni Award has recognized SMWC alumnae for their professional achievements and dedication to their communities. The 2010 Distinguished Alumni Award recipients are Barbara M. Fossum, Ph.D., FSME and Elizabeth Jeffries, CSP. 

Barbara Fossum earned the bachelor's degree in physics from SMWC in 1965. She holds a master's degree in mathematics/computer science from Stevens Institute of Technology and a master of business administration and doctorate in operations management from the University of Texas. She has more than 25 years of experience in computer systems for competitive manufacturing and has extensive project management and business process redesign experience.

Fossum currently serves as the president of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers (SME), the first woman president in the history of the 78-year-old professional society. SME is the world's leading professional society supporting manufacturing education. The organization influences more than half a million manufacturing practitioners and executives annually. It boasts members in more than 70 countries and hail from diverse manufacturing industries, including aerospace and defense, automotive and transportation, medical and more.

She also is a Fellow of SME, a highly prestigious honor for outstanding contribution spanning over 20 years of manufacturing experience in areas such as industry or educational service management, technical publishing, research and development, inventions and patents, consulting, and SME service.

Fossum brings a diverse academic and industrial background to SME. Currently, she is an independent consultant and coach in the areas of strategic planning, process engineering, technology assessment, new venture validation and business planning for entrepreneurial startups. Fossum also is a Senior Research Fellow of the IC2 Institute of the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin), where she works in worldwide economic development projects involving technology commercialization.

Previously, Fossum was president of the Gordon Group, a Chicago-based organizational and leadership development company; president and a principal owner of Reveille Technology, Inc., a manufacturing execution system software company; a senior data processing consultant at Unisys; and a member of the technical staff at Bell Laboratories.   Fossum held various positions at the University of Texas at Austin, primarily starting and operating programs which support small to medium-sized manufacturing companies and high-technology manufacturing startups.

Elizabeth Jeffries, a professional speaker, seminar leader, author, and executive coach, earned a bachelor's degree from SMWC in psychology in 1984. Jeffries is a seasoned professional with expertise in challenging and coaching executives and high potential managers for over twenty years. Jeffries is committed to life-long learning and holds advanced certifications including Professional Behavior Analyst, Professional Values Analyst, and Professional Skills Analyst. She also holds advanced certification in psycholinguistics, the psychology of language.

She is the author of two books including “The Heart of Leadership: How to Inspire, Encourage and Motivate People to Follow You” and as well as a best-selling CD, “From the Inside Out,” an inspirational poem with original music. Jefferies is contributing author to “Insights on Leadership.”

In 1996, Jeffries and her husband, Stephen Tweed, CSP, merged their businesses and formed a consulting firm specializing in executive coaching, speaking and relationship strategies, Tweed Jeffries, LLC.  Jeffries is CEO of her division, Executive Mastery...a Tweed Jeffries company.

Jeffries has addressed over one million people in more than 4,000 presentations to nearly 500 different organizations and has coached numerous executives and managers one-on-one. She challenges people to live and lead from the inside out and her cornerstone topics are servant-leadership, team alignment and relationship strategies.

Jeffries served six years on the board of directors of the National Speakers Association (NSA), a 3,800-member organization of professional speakers from around the world. In 1997, Jeffries received the NSA's elite award, “CPAE Speaker Hall of Fame” for platform and professional experience.  She is one of 34 women in the world who have been awarded this honor. 

Jeffries contributes in various ways to her community, including serving as the vice chair of the board of directors of Mayhurt, a Louisville, Kentucky family agency that serves children and families in need.

Members of the SMWC community are invited to watch the commencement ceremony in the O'Shaughnessy dining room of the Providence Center via a live video feed. Tickets are not required for baccalaureate.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College launched its new online tutoring service in March 2010. The free online tutoring program is available to SMWC distance students Monday through Thursday, 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. (EDT). The online tutors hold one-on-one sessions to help students better understand concepts and assist with proofreading and editing skills.  Tutors also have copies of the textbooks to better assist students.  No appointments are necessary.

  More than 10 SMWC campus students serve as online tutors in the following areas of study:

•        Accounting I and II

•        Biology

•        Chemistry

•        College Algebra

•        English, Proofreading and Editing

•        History

•        Pre-calculus

•        Psychology and,

•        Statistics

“This is a great example of how our students employ their leadership and technical skills by contributing to the success of future leaders.  The online tutoring program demonstrates yet another way SMWC is a leader in distance education,” says Kim LaComba, director of the learning center.

 Distance students view the service as another way the college supports the success of its students. A student in the Woods External Degree program utilizes online tutoring and expresses her thoughts, “I am so appreciative of this service!”

 Students may access this service by logging on to www.smwc.edu/lrc and click on the “Talk to a Live Tutor Online” button during the open hours.

 For additional information about online tutoring, contact Kim LaComba, director of the learning center at klacomba@smwc.edu or call 812-535-5271.

The worldwide scope of plastics pollution is the topic of the sustainability awareness documentary, Addicted to Plastic, scheduled for viewing at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) in Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Ind., on Monday, April 19, 2010, as part of the college's Four-Star Series. The film's director, Ian Connacher will facilitate the presentation at 7 p.m. in the Cecilian Auditorium of SMWC's Conservatory of Music Building, is free and open to the public.

 For more than 10 years, Ian Connacher has documented solutions to environmental issues. He has written for a variety of newspapers and magazines including Shift, Canadian Geographic and The Globe and Mail. Connacher also co-founded Earth Change Productions, which distributed a documentary on climate change solutions to schools and libraries in 2000.

 Connacher has produced segments for CBC's Sunday show and produced segments for the science show Daily Planet on Discovery Canada. He founded Cryptic Moth Productions and produced a short film entitled Alphabet Soup, which chronicles a scientific voyage to an ocean vortex where plastic debris accumulates. This was the inspiration for Cryptic Moth's latest project, Addicted to Plastic.

 Addicted to Plastic, a feature-length documentary, focuses on the international production and environmental effects of plastic. The film explores practical as well as cutting-edge solutions to plastic pollution, which include plastic made from plants. The audience will gain a hopeful perspective about our future.

This internationally acclaimed film has received awards from 2009 International Environmental Film Festival, Spain; Sarajevo's Eko-Oko Environmental Film Festival; Vancouver International Film Festival; Amazonas Film Festival, Brazil; and Festival International du Film d'Environnement, Paris.

The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Four-Star Series is designed to bring programming to campus to complement the College's educational mission and be of interest to a variety of people in the local communities.

 For more information about the documentary or upcoming events in the College's Four-Star Series, contact Jeff Malloy, director of campus life, at 812-535-5219 or jmalloy@smwc.edu.

Cathleen Flynn, a freshman Music Therapy major at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, has been selected through a highly competitive audition process to sing with the Minnesota Beethoven Festival Chorus this summer. Entering its fourth season, the Minnesota Beethoven Festival aims to increase appreciation of classical music and the work of Ludwig van Beethoven through education and the presentation of nationally and internationally recognized artists. This season includes performances by Yo-Yo Ma, Midori, and the Minnesota Orchestra. Flynn will be singing in the Festival Chorus of 32 singers from around the country under the direction of internationally renowned conductor, Dale Warland.

“I feel very honored to have been selected as a member of the chorale. I wouldn't have considered auditioning without the encouragement of my voice instructor, Michael Boswell, so I really appreciate his help and support,” said Cathleen Flynn. “Being surrounded by musicians of that caliber under Dale Warland will be an incredible learning experience.”

Flynn is the daughter of Sean and Deborah Flynn and her hometown is Mitchell, South Dakota.  She auditioned about a month ago and was notified by mail last week that she had been chosen to sing with the Chorus. 

“I am certainly proud of Cathleen for being selected for the Minnesota Beethoven Festival Chorale. She worked diligently to get all of her audition materials together and spent a lot of time making sure they were of the highest quality. Even more, I am excited for her to have this unique opportunity! For a week, she will be immersed in a musical culture of the highest quality, singing some great music in a select ensemble of people with diverse musical backgrounds from all over the country and under the direction of one of America's best-known professional choral conductors,” said Michael Bowsell, assistant professor of music. “I know she will love it and it will be a great learning opportunity for her! It's also a great opportunity for Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, as I am certain she will represent The Woods well.”

More information about the festival can be found at www.mnbeethovenfestival.com

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College Theatre Professor Sharon Ammen attended the 2010 Joint Conference of the National Popular Culture and American Culture Associations (NPCACA) in Saint Louis.  Accompanying her were senior Music major and Theatre minor Christina Ridgway, fourth year Women and Theatre major Danielle O'Connor, and technical director Tyler Hutcheson.  They designed and presented a series of exercises and short performances, along with Associate Professor of Theatre Susan Anthony and junior Music Education major Ed Hennes from DePauw University, for the panel: “Popularizing Will: Shakespeare in America.”  

“It was so gratifying to see how well SMWC students presented themselves at the conference. Danielle, Tyler and Christina spent hours each day attending panels with information on every subject - from drama to science to popular comics,” said Ammen.  “We try to attend at least two conferences yearly and take as many students as possible.  I feel it enriches the studies and outside contacts for our students.” 

“I can't say enough about how great it was to attend the NPCACA conference in Saint Louis!  This conference gave me the opportunity to collaborate with other theater professionals on how to reach out to our local communities through education within the theater.  I'm looking forward to implementing some of these ideas in our own community!” said Tyler Hutcheson, technical director.  “I think it's great that Sharon gives her students the chance to attend conferences such as NPCACA and I can't wait to attend again next year.”

Moon Rocks, as they seem to be referred to often, are coming to Terre Haute and Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College would like to invite the public to come view them.  Between 1969 and 1972, six Apollo missions returned with lunar rocks, pebbles, sand and dust from the lunar surface. Now Diedre Adams, a local teacher from West Vigo High School and an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow, has received permission to share some of these samples with the general public.

“The lunar samples are a National Treasure. It is rare that anyone gets to view a National Treasure,” said Diedre Adams, Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow (NASA). “Bringing the Moon Rocks to the Wabash Valley gives me the opportunity to let the community know just how much of their lives is affected by the NASA program. It isn't just about going to space. The journey that takes us there has saved millions of lives and made our everyday lives much better.”

The lunar samples will be on public display on Monday, April 26, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Hayes Auditorium, Room 100 of Hulman Hall at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College.  Admission is free.

I'm excited about having the exhibit at SMWC because it is a chance for our all of our students to see the space program ‘up close and personal' in a sense.  Most students I teach enjoy astronomy and being able to view the moon rocks in person as opposed to photographs or television documentaries will be great,“ said Janet Clark, Ph.D., assistant professor of Chemistry & Physics at SMWC.  ”Also, they will get a chance to talk to Diedre Adams, a local teacher who has spent time at NASA and learn about her experiences working within the space program.  SMWC also invited the participants from last Fall's “Expanding Your Horizons in Math and Science” event to come out to the campus in case the exhibit was not coming to their school.

The Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) Art Gallery's next exhibition is the annual SMWC Student Art Exhibition. The exhibition will be on display from April 7th through the 30th. An opening reception will take place on Wednesday, April 7th, from 5 to 7 p.m.
 
Open to all Saint Mary of the Woods College students, this year's exhibition features 48 pieces of art by 22 students. The artwork will be judged by Steve Letsinger, the art curator at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. Cash prizes will be awarded to the winners at the opening reception.
 
The SMWC Art Gallery is located in Hulman Hall, room 132. Admission is free and open to the public. Regular Gallery hours are Monday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m. For more information, contact Rebecca Mollenhauer, Gallery Director, by phone at 812-535-5265 or by email at artgallery@smwc.edu.

Written by Jade Scott, journalism student at SMWC

On April 20 at Saint Mary of-the-Woods College, Students Activity Committee (S.A.C) will be hosting the annual Spring Bash in front of Le Fer Hall.  For the third year running, this event is open and free to the faculty, staff and students of SMWC as well as the surrounding community.  There will be games to play for all ages with the purchase of tickets.  All proceeds from this event will go to the American Cancer Society (ACS): Relay for Life.

There will be many returning games from the previous year like the fish bowl game, cake walk, bean bag toss, duck pond, water balloon darts and many more.  Games will be starting at 5 p.m. and each game will cost a certain amount of tickets.  Prizes will be available.

A flea market, co-sponsored by SMWC Student Senate, will be available again this year.  This is an opportunity for SMWC campus students to donate furniture, decorations and other dorm materials that they no longer need.  These items will then be on sale at the flea market.  All proceeds will go to Relay for Life.

This year the band Cavashawn will be playing at Spring Bash starting at 7 p.m. The SMWC dance team will be performing as well before the band goes on.  If you would like to learn more information about Cavashawn you can visit both their Myspace and Facebook pages.

Parking is free for all on the avenue in front of Le Fer Hall on SMWC's campus.  For more information about this event, please send an email to SAC@smwc.edu.

More college students than ever are earning credit for what they already know. According to results from a recent 48-institution study of Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) and Adult Student Outcomes, conducted by the Council for Adult Experiential Learning (CAEL), PLA students have better academic outcomes, particularly in terms of graduation rates and persistence, than other adult students. Many PLA students are able to shorten the time it takes to earn a degree.  In this study, 43% of PLA students earned a bachelor's degree, compared to only 15% of non-PLA students.

Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College participated in this study to help document what had long been a belief held my many of its faculty and administrators. SMWC students have used PLA methods to document their learning. “Since the 1970s, SMWC students have gained credit toward their degrees through documentation of learning gained outside the classroom.  Many students, especially the adult students, come with so many diverse experiences that have led them to knowledge that they could have learned in a classroom,” said Gwen Hagemeyer, director of the Woods External Degree (WED) Program at SMWC. “PLA is a way for them to feel validated for their knowledge whether it is through a testing option or the portfolio method.  Their portfolios often demonstrate a depth of knowledge that verifies not just the learning but the assimilation of the learning into their jobs and day-to-day activities.”

PLA methods include portfolio assessment, evaluation of corporate and military training by the American Council on Education (ACE), and standardized exams such as College Level Examination Program (CLEP). Earning credit through CLEP tests can be a real time and money saver. CLEP can allow you to obtain college credits by passing specific computer-based tests.  More than 34 CLEP tests are available through SMWC's Learning Resource Center.

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From left to right

Back row: Julia Lopez-Kaley, senior MT major; Amber Finch Leavitt, '09; Tracy Richardson, MT faculty; and Morgan May, MT intern

Front row: Sharon R Boyle, MT faculty; Jennifer Pinson, second degree MT student

The music therapy faculty and a few music therapy students from Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College recently attended the Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association (GLR-AMTA) Conference held March 18-21, 2010, in Indianapolis. SMWC music therapy students attended a student-organized Passages Conference held the first day of the professional conference at IUPUI. Others attended sessions at the professional conference, as well as meetings for the Great Lakes Region of the American Music Therapy Association Students (GLR-AMTAS). Music therapy students who attended include: Jamie Ubalde, Julia Lopez-Kaley, Cathleen Flynn, Gloria Stearns-Bruner, Morgan May and Jennifer Pinson.

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On March 13 and 14, 2010, Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College was represented during an Educational Fair held in downtown Beijing, China.  A contracted student recruitment agent from American China Communication Alliance (ACCA) Group was in attendance for SMWC. The College found the recruitment agency with the assistance of Dr. Ningyi Zhang, assistant professor of mathematics and international student coordinator at SMWC. Zhang is a native of China.

“One of our primary strategic goals is to increase international student enrollment. Our efforts are concentrated in China and India, as well as South and Central America.  We are fortunate to have connections with international recruitment agencies, alums from these areas, and friends of the College assisting us with our efforts,” said Art Criss, vice president of enrollment management.

With 28 international students enrolled in the campus-based program in academic year 2009-2010, the College continues to strengthen global recruitment efforts. International students attending SMWC this year represent countries of Japan, Taiwan, China, South Korea, Ireland, Greece, Kosovo, Vietnam and Uganda.

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Written by Jena Thralls, SMWC Journalism Student

What is your ideal college spring break? For some it may be spending the week on a hot beach and simply doing nothing but relaxing. For others it may include working for pay or catching up on work in general.  Not every college student might prefer to spend an entire week serving the community for no pay. During spring break seventeen Saint Mary- of-the Woods College students traveled to New York City where they worked in a soup kitchen to serve the homeless.

                  The severe weather conditions in NYC swarmed the news only days before the group was bound to leave for the trip. Jeff Malloy, Campus Life Director and chaperone of the trip, said that he had been following the weather very closely. “I decided that we were going to get there no matter what. If it got to the point where we were uncomfortable driving we would stop off and stay somewhere.”  To everyone’s surprise, the weather wasn’t too bad. Though there was some snow on the way there, the group was fortunate enough to have just missed the severe storm.  Students said that when they arrived to NYC they were surprised to see how clear all of the roads actually were. “The weather was actually really nice,” Malloy said. The students and chaperones all arrived safely and on time, late Saturday night.

                  All seventeen students slept in a church chapel on floor mats.  All students attended mass on the morning following their arrival.  They were to share one shower for the entire week. Kathleen Flynn, SMWC freshman, said, “I think living like that for a week made us a lot more conscious of everyone around us.” To many it may seem rough to have to share one shower between seventeen girls and sleep on the floor in a sanctuary, but SMWC students said they were lucky. “After serving the homeless and seeing how they live, I think we all realized how lucky we were,” Flynn said.  The Trinity Lutheran Lower Eastside Parish was located by Thompson Square Park on the lower east side of Manhattan. 

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Written by Jade Scott, journalism student at SMWC

Photos:

SMWC Student Brittany Gambill works with one of the male mustangs.

A colt is born in the SMWC stables.

For the fourth year in a row the Equine program at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods has once again taken in mustangs as a part of an adoption program.  As well, for the first time ever, a colt was born early last Thursday morning at SMWC's barn.

Partnering with the BLM (Bureau Land Management) the Equine program has taken in four mustangs in attempt to get them a suitable home.  With two males and two females, the students at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College are given the chance to take a Handling and Training class as a part of their Equine studies.

“We really like to expose the students to horses that haven't been domesticated.  Most of the mustangs that we get here have not even had human contact before the girls start working with them,” said Angie McMillin, stable manager at SMWC.

The students that are in the Handling and Training class are expected to train the mustangs by the end of the school year.  Since all four of the mustangs arrived on campus only two weeks ago, they only have about 10 weeks to accomplish their goals.  The training starts with the task of just being able to touch the mustang.  While that task may not seem complicated, there is always a certain level of danger when it comes to working with wild animals.

“There is a danger when entering this class and the students are aware of that before they even sign up.  Most of these animals have never had human contact before and they have a mind of their own, so of course there are going to be some bruises at the end of each day,” said McMillin.

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