Focus Spring 2013

T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R A LU M N I & F R I E N D S O F W E ST F I E L D STAT E spring 2013

Artistic EndEAvors

• On the Big Screen• Piano Students Perform

at Carnegie Hall• The Imagination House

B westf ie ldalumni .orgB

From the ed itor

Spring 2013

EditorJanice Beetle ’85

Beetle Press

Art dirECtorTodd M. LeMieux ’89

PhotogrAPhErDavid Fried

Enrollment Management

EditoriAl BoArdKandyce Aust

Director of Special Gifts

Mickey CurtisAthletics

Janet Garcia ’83, M.Ed ‘04Director or Marketing

Marsha MarottaDean of Undergraduate Studies

Kathi Bradford, DirectorAlumni Relations

ClAss NotEsKelly A. GalanisAlumniRelations

CoNtriButiNg WritErs: Kandyce Aust

Janice Beetle ‘85Kathi BradfordMickey Curtis

Kaila Cummings ’14 Dr. Evan S. Dobelle

Elizabeth R. (LaFond) Coppez ’03, M ‘07Kyle Johnston ‘14Peter Miller ‘84

Claudia Moore O’Brien M.Ed ‘00Laura Phelon ‘11Molly C. Watson

ISSN 1520-7641

For University alumni, every year is a year of service.

Whether they are helping in their child’s classroom, serving at a church meal program or building homes in a far-off land, Westfield State alumni have a firm grasp on the importance of giving back in their communities and giving back abroad. What’s different about the year 2013 is that alumna Kelli Nielsen ’04, president of the Alumni Association, is calling on graduates to share their stories of helping others. A busy volunteer herself, both locally and globally, Nielsen asks that, throughout the year, alumni email their stories – and photos whenever possible – to her at [email protected] with “Service” in the subject line. The goal is to populate the alumni website with images of Westfield State alumni doing good. I think this is a great idea, and hope alumni take it on. Maybe the concept will even inspire graduates who have never volunteered before to get out and flex a little muscle for a favorite organization. This issue of Focus has stories of alumni in service woven throughout. In Class Notes, for instance, read about Bob Benn and Jack Mosko, both from the class of 1978, who, along with 10 friends from Westfield State, once again participated in a Jimmy Fund Walk in 2012 to raise money for the organization. Read, too, about Daniel Smith ’63, ’68, an alum who has been giving of himself in service since he graduated 50 years ago. Smith was honored this year with a Horace Mann Award for Public Service. He rightly says that people don’t get involved in public service to be honored for it; they get involved because they believe in the mission behind the service. In the story on Page 10, Smith says: “Everybody should give back to an organization they’ve benefitted from.”

Many alumni learned about community service when they were students at Westfield State. Giving back starts on campus, where there are many mentors and role models. It starts with the members of the Board of Trustees and the Westfield State Foundation, Inc., who give their time and talents to ensure that Westfield State continues to excel. It starts with President Evan S. Dobelle, who has a hand in everything that happens on campus.And it starts with faculty members who know how to inspire. Like Professor Julian Fleron, whose work has helped secure a $550,600 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) – the largest NSF grant in the University’s history. [See Page 19.] It starts, too, with professors like Christina Swaidan, who proudly proclaims “I love learn-ing,” in the story about her on Page 20. She is a motivator for service and social justice. When I was at Westfield State, it was other students who inspired me to get involved in giving back. Their energy was infectious, and I took part out of a sense of camaraderie. After graduation, I learned to follow my heart in community service and, over the years, I’ve been involved in my church, my children’s schools and with various organizations in Northampton and Easthampton, where I live. What I give has changed. I used to bake cook-ies, rake yards. Now, I use my professional skills to help organizations tell their stories and raise money. How are you using your gifts? What inspires you? Where are you giving back, and to whom? Tell us all about it. Read more about the Alumni Year of Service on Page 11, and don’t forget to email your stories to Kelli! We want to hear them. n

Alumni Year of Service Yet Another Call to ActionBy Janice Beetle ’85

FOCUS

1FOCUS MAGAZINE • SprING 2013 1FOCUS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2012 1FOCUS MAGAZINE • FALL 2011

Table of Contents

oN our CovErJames Deveney ’12 worked with his brother and a fellow Westfield State graduate on a movie that is gaining acclaim. Read about the film and the brothers’ production company, page 16.

Focus magazine is published for Westfield State University two times a year. The mission of the magazine is to highlight the work of the administration, faculty, staff, students and alumni at the University and to share with the wider community the stories of excellence on campus. Focus magazine welcomes story ideas and story submissions. Ideas and stories can be offered to editor Janice Beetle ’85 at (413) 374-6239 or via email at [email protected]. Stories must be of interest to the general readership and should be no longer than 600 words. Class Notes, highlighting alums’ personal or vocational views, are also welcome and can be sent to [email protected]. Deadline for the Fall 2013 issue is June 1, 2013.

Our URL has changed to westfield.ma.edu, and with it, all email addresses have changed to [email protected]. For instance, the email address for John Doe would be [email protected].

We’d love to hear from you!Want to get involved?

Join our Alumni Fan page or group on Facebook and LinkedIn; follow us on Twitter @WestfieldState and @WestfieldAlumni; call (413) 572-5404, (413) 572-5228; or email kbradford@ westfield.ma.edu or [email protected].

T H E M AG A Z I N E F O R A LU M N I & F R I E N D S O F W E ST F I E L D STAT E spring 2013

ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS

• On the Big Screen

• Piano Students Perform

at Carnegie Hall

• The Imagination House

ON CAMPUS3 – 9

ALUMNI on the GO10 – 17

FACULTY / STAFF18 – 21

ATHLETICS22 – 29

ALUMNI NEWS and NOTES32 – 33

CLASS NOTES34 – 36

FOUNdATION37

2116

4 12

32 37

s p r i n g 2 0 1 3

2 westf ie ldalumni .org22

I t was more than 175 years ago when Horace Mann began his

demonstrative campaign to improve society through the founding of public-supported institutions in the United States for the training of teachers. Mann believed that education was the lynchpin to a civil society and through his efforts, the Massachusetts Board of Education established the first coeduca-tional public school of higher education in the country in nearby Barre, the forerunner of Westfield State University. Today – nearly 175 years later – we carry forth the same mission of Horace Mann, and we are all honored to be a part of that rich legacy. That first class in Barre was composed of 12 women and eight men who were there to study the rudiments of learn-ing and successful teaching techniques and practices. Now, Westfield State University boasts an enrollment of over 6,000 under-graduate and graduate students with 35 majors and minors. What growth and success! It is hard for me to believe that it has been five years since I was invested as the 19th president of Westfield State. The years have seemingly flown by. Reflecting back, I remember some truly wonderful moments, as we overcame challenging economic times and hopefully inspired people. Some of the highlights:

• Regional and national honors, including Top Tier listings in the “Best Colleges” editions of U.S. News and World Report and the Number One posi-tion, ahead of Harvard, Williams and MIT, in MassINC’s objective study of cost-versus-value.

• The granting of University status by Gov. Deval Patrick in July 2010, which pub-licly acknowledged the breadth of our academic offerings and provided a new

avenue of greater funding and prestige. • Dramatic changes on our campus,

including the opening of the Banacos Academic Center, the reopening of Tim and Jeanne’s Dining Commons and the renovated Library and Wellness Center at Ely Hall, each of which meets the growing needs of our student population enhancing life at this, the most residential of the state university campuses.

• The groundbreaking of University Hall, which will house 410 students when it opens in September.

• Our first exploratory trip to China in 2008, which signaled our increased commitment to opening up the

world to our students. Since then our International Programs Office has sponsored international learning opportunities in 23 countries for over 600 students.

• A truly outstanding series of public events featuring stimulating evenings with such luminaries as Doris Kearns Goodwin, Gloria Steinem and the late Christopher Hitchens and exceptional explorations of the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections with panels of national, political and media experts.

• Enhancing and expanding our ability to provide essential academic program-ming in the region through new under-graduate majors in Athletic Training, Ethnic and Gender Studies and Nursing; the overdue reinstatement of degrees in Chemistry and Spanish; the development and launch of our Master of Social Work graduate program; and the establishment of new academic departments for our Environmental

Science, Ethnic and Gender Studies, Nursing, Sociology, Social Work and World Language Studies programs.

• Our increased online learning program, which now boasts more than 300 courses yearly, including a Business Management Bachelor’s Degree Completion Program and articulation agreements with the 14 Massachusetts community colleges – the first of its kind in the Commonwealth system. It is no wonder that we were voted Number One in U.S. News and World Report’s first-ever nationwide survey of all universities and colleges with online learning (University of Phoenix was 56th).

My time here has been measured by enjoyable partnerships with our incred-ible faculty and staff, whose tireless work reflects the legacy of Horace Mann. It has been marked by the intense pride that I feel in the accomplishments of our students, who successfully manage their studies, social lives, athletic practices, music, theater and dance performances, civic engagement and student leadership as well as perhaps working one or two jobs. They are such fine representatives of the best and brightest. It has also been measured by all that our community has achieved together, truly defining Westfield State as the crown jewel of the university system in the Commonwealth. It was an honor to be selected as the last President of Westfield State College and is indeed a privilege to serve as the first President of Westfield State University. We all look forward to what the next five years will bring. n

From the preSident

A Look Back175 years and five years

…defining Westfield State as the crown jewel of the university system…

3FOCUS MAGAZINE • SprING 2013 33

“What these students have learned and accomplished both in and out of the class-room will shape their futures and hopeful-ly inspire others,” said President Dobelle. The students selected this year are all juniors or seniors with an average grade point average of 3.74 and each participate in a wide range of on- and off-campus activities. They are: Political Science and Communication double major Robert Donoghue ’13 of Middleboro. He is an editor of the University newspaper The Voice, a member of the Communication Club, The Law Club, Lambda Pi Eta National Communication Honor Society and Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society. Donoghue volunteers for the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life of Mansfield and at the Samaritan Inn in Westfield. Donoghue said that doing community service helps prepare him for a future as a public defender. Communication major Victoria Downs ’13 of Hull. She is a student ambassador, a resident assistant and a new student and parent orientation leader. Downs is a member of the Lambda Pi Eta and Lambda Sigma honor societies. She participated in Westfield State’s HOOT (Helping Out Our Town) Day, Birthday Wishes in Holyoke and on campus at blood drives. Downs’ leadership skills were ignited when she became an orientation leader on campus, and she hopes to keep that spark in her

professional life. Criminal Justice major Jaime Jaquez ’12 of Worcester. He is a math tutor in the Urban Education department on campus as well as a member of the University’s Honor Program, Criminal Justice Club and treasurer of the Latino Association for Empowerment (LAFE). Jaquez has been involved in many community ser-vice efforts on campus including HOOT Day, First Year Convocation and in the Admissions department, where he gave a speech to first-year students and parents at the First Year Acceptance Day. Jaquez said he loved knowing that his speech empow-ered other students.

Political Science and Communication major Brittany Moniz ’14 of Leominster. She is a member of the 2014 Class Council, President of the Class of 2014, Campus Activities Board (CAB), Student Government Association (SGA), a resident advisor (RA) and a student ambassador. Moniz has participated in HOOT Day, two years of blood drives on campus, and most recently volunteered at Glide Memorial Church in the Daily Meals Program in San Francisco, Calif., for two weeks in January 2012. Moniz said her work as an RA helped her break out of her shell and develop a sense of pride. Criminal Justice and Political Science double major Christopher Lewis ’13 of Revere. He is chairman of the Student Conduct Board, president of the Wounded Warriors Club, a University of Massachusetts Police Department cadet

Excellent LeadersNine students lauded with President’s Award

By Laura Phelon ’11

on CampuS

N ine students were recognized in late November

2012 with the President’s Award for Excellence in

Leadership for their contribution to the University and service

to the community.

From left to right: Westfield State University President Evan S. Dobelle, Eric Tuvell, Christopher Lewis, Erica Stephens, Nicole Morin, Brittany Moniz, Yezenia Santos, Jaime Jaquez, Victoria Downs, and Robert Donoghue.

Continued on page 4


on CampuS

Three students of piano faculty member Galina Gertsenson heard for themselves the splendor of the acoustics in New

York City’s Carnegie Hall when they performed in two separate programs there in January. They were taking part in the 2013 Crescendo International Piano Competition at the prestigious concert house after qualifying in a piano competition in the Fall 2012 semester. The three who performed are: Sean Uliasz of Southwick, a senior with a music education concentration, who placed first in the qualifying event; Lewis Pacheco of Worcester, a junior with both music education and performance concentrations, who placed second; and Christina Richard of Monson, a sophomore studying general music, who also placed second. Richard performed “Clair de Lune” from Suite Bergamasque by Claude Debussy, a difficult piece requiring masterful timbre and dynamic color. Pacheco performed “Prelude in C-sharp Minor,” Op. 3 no. 2 by Serge Rachmaninoff, a well-known, challenging piece with full range of emotions. Uliasz played “Mardi Gras,” a piece by contemporary American composer Richard Danielpour. The beauty of this piece is a challenging combination of classical and jazz styles. It is dif-ficult to execute, with changing rhythms, tempos, and harmonies.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for these young musicians,” Gertsenson said. “This proves with determination, hard work and a good piano teacher, Carnegie Hall just may become more than a dream, but a reality. The Crescendo International Piano Competition gives young musicians all over the world the chance to make this dream come true.” n

and a reserve policeman for the Wells, Maine, Police Department. He is involved in a number of volunteer efforts both on and off campus includ-ing the Westfield Boys and Girls Club, St. Baldrick’s Organization and the Special Olympics Maine. Economics and Business major Nicole Morin ’13 of Boylston. She is an RA, ori-entation leader, a member of the Student Activists for Gender Equality, Students Today Respecting Individuals of Various Experiences (STRIVE), a Dance Company choreographer and a radio host at the campus station WSKB. Morin participated in the Habitat for Humanity Alternative Spring Break, the Stomp and Holler walk, the “Take Back the Campus” walk, and she organized a “Letters for Soldiers”

event and a Westfield State team for the Rays of Hope walk in October 2012. Psychology and Spanish major Yezenia Santos ’13 of Westfield. She is a student assistant in the Multicultural office, an open house tour guide, a tutor for Spanish and psychology, counselor for Dan Kane’s Enrichment Camp, and treasurer of Alcohol Choices Education. Santos volun-teers for a local golf tournament, HOOT Day, Stanley Park, an anti-bullying walk in Springfield and as a basketball coach for the Westfield Park and Recreation. She said her experience as an orientation leader and an RA helped her develop necessary skills that will apply to her career as a counselor. Elementary Education and Liberal Studies major Erica Stephens ’13 of Enfield, Conn. She is a co-vice-president of Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society, vice-president and editor of the Student

National Education Association (SNEA), the implementer and coordinator of the “Littles and Bigs” Mentor/Mentoree Program and Sunday and Bible School teacher. Stephens has volunteered for Read Across America, 3K Birthday Wishes Walk, Westfield State Accepted Students Day and the Samaritan Inn Homeless Shelter. She said volunteer work is preparing her to be the head of a classroom one day. Nursing and Allied Health major Eric Tuvell ’14 of Reading. He is a teach-ing assistant in the Emergency Medical Technician-Basic class, a tutor in the Banacos Academic Center, vice-president of the Nursing Class of 2014 and assists University nursing students with CPR certification and classification. Tuvell volunteers with the University’s Emergency Medical Services club and the Western Massachusetts Medical Reserve Corps. n

Playing Carnegie HallPiano students performed in New York’s prestigious concert house

From left to right: Lewis Pacheco ’15, Christina Richard ’14, Professor Galina

Gertsenzon and Sean Uliacz ’13.

Leaders continued from page 3


Enjoying a Place They Call HomeThe sun was shining, the crowd was laughing, and fun was

had by all at Homecoming 2012. Hundreds of alumni, friends, students, faculty and staff came together to reconnect and visit their “home” that is Westfield State University. The weekend was filled with a wide variety of events, includ-ing the Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet, Alumni Association Tailgate Party, Distinguished Alumnus Award Ceremony and outstanding athletic games viewed at the GameSide tent in Alumni Field. All the activities and conversations were held to a backdrop of music by renowned bands on the Main Stage, and several classes attended reunions, including a 70s Decade gathering. If you missed it, be part of Homecoming 2013 and save the date now for the event on Oct. 19. n

on CampuS

6 westf ie ldalumni .org

on CampuS

6

On the Campaign TrailStudents had active roles in Election 2012

By Kaila Cummings ’14

Westfield State offered many opportu-nities for students and staff alike to get involved in the 2012 presidential campaign and election as well as contests at the state level. In addition to talking campaign in class, students participated in the national Democratic and Republican Conventions, held on-campus voter registrations and attended panel discussions, learning lessons about bipartisan politics and about the electoral process in general.

The conventions Eight students attended one of the national conventions, which were held in August and September 2012. They gained experience and got an inside view of the election process and had resources, news and ideas to bring back to campus and discuss with others. The students participated in seminars presented by The Washington Center, partially sponsored by the Westfield State Foundation. Professor David Smailes taught in the seminar in Charlotte. Brittany Moniz ’14, a political sci-ence and communication major, attended

the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., and remained actively involved with the election process even after coming back to the University, taking an interest in discussing the campaign with her peers. In addition to learning the importance of each individual vote in an election, Moniz also learned that the political process is polarizing the nation, separating the American people, rather than uniting them.“I think the key to progress is more biparti-san thinking at all levels of government, as well as among the American people,” she said. Juan Gonzalez ’14, a political science major, attended the Democratic National Convention in September in Charlotte, N.C. He also took an active role in the campaign as vice-president of the Political Science Club, attending all of the presi-dential Debate Watch parties that the Political Science Club and Communication department co-sponsored to promote civic engagement and political awareness on campus. “These events sparked an educational foundation towards understanding the presidential candidates, issues and the political process,” he said. Gonzalez also said he hopes that one day

Americans can work together in a bipar-tisan manner. “This will level the playing field of opportunity for all Americans in which a core American value of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and the American Dream can be once more achieved,” he said. “The rapid polarization of both parties is only setting a framework of Congressional gridlock, and, in the process, ignoring the issues that are most pressing to all Americans.”

Education is key David Smailes, chair of the Political Science department, said students had many ways to take part in the election process. In the classroom, there were lessons woven into the curriculum for political science majors with concentra-tions in law as well as in the curriculum for American Politics, Public Administration and International Relations classes. Courses related to politics and political issues were also offered in other depart-ments, such as Political Communication, which was offered by the Communication department. “Beyond the classroom, we had events like the Top Trends in Politics 2012 convo-cation, debate watches during the presi-dential and vice presidential debates and registration drives,” Smailes said. “All of this is important,” he added. “First, civic engagement is a funda-mental part of living in a community, and politics is one way a person can become involved. Second, I think the experience of thinking about political issues brings one

P r e s i d e n t Ba r ac k o ba m a was inaugurated into his

second term in office three months ago, and regardless of

whether he was their candidate, students who were part of the

election process last fall will hold onto the experiences they

gained for a lifetime.

Read related stories on Pages 14 and 18.

Continued on page 8


on CampuS

Two Alums Appointed to Westfield State Board of TrusteesBy Molly C. Watson, Public Affairs

“In their lives and in their work, both Terrell and Steve are visionary leaders whose dedication to bridging public and private interests and serving the constitu-ents in their respective fields of education and healthcare emulates Westfield State’s mission,” President Evan S. Dobelle said. “Each brings great expertise and energy and a great track record of support for the University.” The appointments took effect Nov. 16, 2012. Hill, elected by our alumni, is the founding principal of High School, Inc., Hartford, Conn.’s, public insurance and finance academy, which opened in 2009. The school is a National Academy Foundation finance academy, and its goal is to prepare young people for college and

career success. Marcus is a licensed certified social worker who has dedicated his life to improving the lives of those in need as CEO and owner of multiple diversified healthcare enterprises including New England Geriatrics and West Central Family and Counseling. The following is a conversation with Hill and Marcus:

Describe your path to becoming a Trustee.Hill: After graduation, it was important to me to find a way to stay connected to the school. I served as a Foundation board member and also as a faculty member. Today, I have a daughter who is a sopho-more here, so I am really invested in what

G ov. d eva l Pat r i c k h a s a p p o i n t e d Westfield

State alums Terrell M. Hill ’92 and Steven P. Marcus ’88

to serve as members of the Westfield State University Board of

Trustees.

About the Board of trustees

The Westfield State University Board of Trustees is made up of 11 Trustees, one of whom is elected by the student body and one who rep-resents the alumni. All Trustees are appointed by the governor and serve for a five-year term. The Board of Trustees provides governance and oversight of the University. According to the bylaws, one of a Trustees’ main duties is to “accept and defend academic free-dom and the practice of collaborative governance as fundamental character-istics of good University governance.” Additional responsibilities range from appointing the president to approving the naming of University buildings, facilities and spaces to granting hon-orary degrees and fundraising. In addition to new members Terrell M. Hill ’92 and Steven P. Marcus ’88, the current board includes:

Christel Ford Berry, Barnard College, Univ. of PennsylvaniaJoseph Carvalho, III ’75 William P. Chase, II ’91 Hon. Terry M. Craven ’73 John F. Flynn, III ’79, ChairHon. Thomas J. Foley ’76 Kevin R. Queenin ’70, SecretaryHon. Elizabeth D. Scheibel, Mt. Holyoke College, Vice ChairStone Koury, Student Trustee

All board meetings are open to the public. Agendas for the meetings are posted on the University website at Board of Trustees Agendas.

—Molly C. WatsonContinued on page 8

Terrell M. Hill ’92 Steven P. Marcus ’88


on CampuS

goes on.Marcus: I have experience on many private boards. I am just exiting my term as a board member of Wilbraham Monson Academy and was looking for an opportunity to marry my interests of service and education. How do you see your background – as a social worker/educator, as a businessman and as an alum – converging in your role as a Trustee?Hill: Business is my love, but education is my calling. I want to bring to my new role my current experience as an active educator preparing kids for college while simultaneously working with the business community. It seems to reflect what is happening on campus right now.Marcus: I am passionate about healthcare and to bring an entrepreneurial spirit to my new role. I want to identify those students who want to make a difference and be a conduit for employment opportunities. What is your leadership philosophy? Hill: I strive to be a servant leader. Plus, this is a chance to be another voice, as many boards don’t usually get a lot of people of color. Marcus: I definitely lead by example and strive to serve the common good. In what areas do you hope most to contribute? Hill: I think I can best contribute in the areas of public relations, programming and curriculum. Marcus: I think I can really be a strong liaison for students to the healthcare community. What are you most looking forward to as a Trustee? Hill: Contributing the voice of an educator is important to me. Marcus: I’m all in. I want to be a mentor. What do you think are the biggest/most important chal-lenges facing trustees and administrations today? Hill: Balancing the brand of the institution with its mission and need to continue to provide academic rigor and access. Marcus: Learning the mechanics of the institution. Public is a different mindset than private, and I think it will be fun. What do you want people to know about Westfield State University? Hill: I get invited to speak on a lot of panels. People always think I went to an Ivy League school. Not a day goes by that I don’t fall back on what I’ve learned here. Marcus: When I attended school here, the Philosophy Department was second to none. And today, I’m hiring grads with a Master’s degree in social work from Westfield State who are as prepared or better than Smith College social work grads, which is considered the best in the country. This school is doing great things. n

to realize that the future is truly at stake when we make political decisions.” According to Smailes, students have much to gain by being involved in the election process. The knowledge gained benefits them for the long-term. “When people engage in the electoral pro-cess, I think they discover several things: their own ability to help shape events, the need for citizens to be engaged in shaping their lives and the perspective that comes through participation in the promise and limits of the electoral process,” Smailes said. Marsha Marotta, dean of Undergraduate Studies who attended the national conventions with students in 2008 and 2012, said it was a thrill to observe and be part of the changes that students experienced when they participated in political events. “At the conventions, students see in action the ideas they have studied in the classroom, and they see what a difference events such as party conventions can make on the national level as well as for the individuals who are part of it,” Marotta said. “One of our important goals at Westfield State is to provide civic learning com-bined with opportunities for Democratic engagement. We want to help instill lifelong habits of participation in which students see themselves as part of the fabric of their communities, both large and small.”

Getting the vote out Student Government Association President Stephanie Close ’13, a history and political science major, involved herself on campus by encouraging students of Westfield State to register to vote. “After the voter registration deadline, I pushed for students to educate themselves on the candidates and to get to the polls on election day.” “I have always been interested in politics,” she added. “I strongly believe that everyone should exercise their right to vote. It is a right most people in the world do not have, and we are very lucky to live in a Democratic society.” n

trustees Continued from page 7 eLeCtion Continued from page 6

WESTFIELD STATE

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9FOCUS MAGAZINE • SprING 2013

on CampuS

An improved Ely Campus Center greeted students at the start of this semester with $12.3 million worth of changes designed to enhance their learning experience. The renovations are just one part of $73.8 million in ongoing projects on campus. Improvements include a wellness center with state-of-the-art equipment and a full-service Dunkin’ Donuts.

Ely Campus Center Gets a Makeover

on CampuS


alumni on the go

Alum of 50 Years Honored for Public ServiceBy Laura Phelon ’11

After he retired from teaching in 1985, Smith was appointed executive director of the Westfield Housing Authority, and he also served as commissioner and chair-man of Westfield Gas and Electric and as an original board member of the Westfield Community Development Corporation for 13 years. He currently is the registrar of voters, an appointed post he has held for seven years. Smith’s community service efforts include serving as president of Sarah Gillett Services for the Elderly and as a board member for the Westfield Red Cross. He served as chairperson of Westfield Public Schools Long Range School Building Needs Committee and as a board member of the Massachusetts Teachers Association. He is an active parishioner of St. Mary’s Church, where he taught catechism on and off for 25 years, and he was one of the founding board members of the St. Vincent De Paul Charitable Society. He is a life member of the Westfield Elks, Sons of Erin, Knights of Columbus and the National Education Association. In 2006, Gov. Mitt Romney appointed Smith as a com-missioner to qualify public officials through swearing-in ceremonies. Through that role, Smith stays connected to the University as it’s his job to lead Westfield State Trustees through their oaths of office. Despite all of these community service efforts, Smith was shocked to learn that he received a Horace Mann Award.“I thought, ‘Is this real?’ I was stunned,” he said. “You don’t get involved in public service for the awards. You participate because you believe in the missions of the organizations.” Smith says, “Everybody should give back to an organiza-tion they’ve benefitted from.” After Smith graduated, a number of his family members enrolled in Westfield State, including his older brother, his wife, his son and his three nephews. “I blazed the trail for all of them to go to the University,” he says, noting that the best part of his experience at Westfield State was the friendships he made. “It’s a small school, so you become very close. I made some lifelong friends, including some of the professors,” Smith says. “It’s like a family.”

Other recipients of a Horace Mann AwardDawn Carignan Thomas received a bachelor’s in business and accounting/management and a master’s in business administra-tion from Western New England College. Thomas served as a member of the Board of Trustees for Westfield State for four years and as a member of the Westfield

Da n i e l s m i t h ’ 6 3 , ’ 6 8 has been

giving back since he graduated

50 years ago. This is why the lifelong

Westfield resident was lauded in February

with a Horace Mann Award for Public

Service. This newly-established honor,

also given to three others, recognizes

Westfield residents whose lives of service

reflect the rich legacy of Horace Mann,

the founder of Westfield State.


alumni on the go

For Kelli Nielsen ’04, community service is a way of life, and this year, as president of the Alumni Association, she wants to hear others’ stories of giving back. As a member of the Alumni Association, Nielsen has given much of herself to mis-sions and causes, both locally and globally, and she wants to start a conversation with alumni about their service experiences. She’s calling her vision for the dialogue the Alumni Year of Service. “We have thousands of alumni across the country. So many alumni are doing amazing things,” she says. “I’m very pas-sionate about service and giving back, and getting involved with the Alumni Association really opened my eyes to see what amazing and rewarding service is out there.

“When I run into classmates at homecoming, I learn they con-tinue to volunteer and give back to people in their communities. It’s a great thing,” she adds. Nielsen wants to

hear from all alumni on what service proj-ects they are doing in their communities, and she has a hope that perhaps alumni and students looking for service projects can join existing groups to help others. Email your service stories to Nielsen at [email protected] with “Service” in the subject line.

Nielsen has co-taught for many “J” term classes, special courses focusing on service learning that usually take place during the January break. She and students traveled to New Orleans to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina; to Mexico to volunteer in an orphanage; and to Nicaragua to help rebuild classrooms in a very poor com-munity. The “J” term classes combine 30 hours of service and time in the classroom. “Westfield is offering these opportuni-ties in order for students and faculty to give back,” she says. “There is a direct correlation between the number of service activities that students get involved in and their level of engagement on campus and in their academics; the more service projects, the higher the level of learning. n

Launching an Alumni Year of ServiceBy Elizabeth (LaFond) Coppez, ’03, M ’07

State Foundation for seven years. Her community service efforts include serving as treasurer of the Board of Directors for the Carson Center for Human Services; as a founding board member of the Westfield Historic Industries Preservation Project; for the Westfield Woman’s Club; and for the Industrial Development Commission for the City of Westfield. Thomas is currently vice president and chief financial officer for Instrument Technology, Inc. This is not the first time Thomas has been honored for her professional and public service accomplishments. She was named the 2009 Business Woman of the Year by the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce and a Paul Harris Fellow by the Westfield Rotary the same year.

Lisa McMahon has a bachelor’s degree in social work from Elms College. She worked closely on the creation of Westfield State’s housing at Lansdowne Place and collaborated with Circle K to establish and maintain HOOT (Helping Out Our Town) Day. McMahon’s many community service

efforts include serving as presi-dent of the board of the Shurtleff Children’s Services, Inc.; a board member of Westfield on Weekends, Inc.; co-chair of the

Noble Ball Auction Committee; and a corporator of the Westfield Athenaeum. She worked with Domus, Inc. to establish a community GED Program and served as executive director of the Westfield Business Improvement District (WBID) for its first five years. McMahon currently works as a financial planner for Merrill Lynch in Springfield.

John Davies has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern California. Davies is one of the most successful general agents in the MassMutual career agency system. He became a life member of the Million Dollar Round Table before the

age of 30. After transferring from Los Angeles to the Springfield branch, Davies led the company’s nationwide career agency distribu-tion system and

achieved the highest sales results in the history of the company. Davies’ community service efforts spread coast to coast. They include membership and chairmanship of the Los Angeles Boy Scouts of America and the Los Angeles Life Underwriters Association. He has served on the Westfield State Board of Trustees and is currently a member of the Westfield State Foundation. He co-chaired the “Access to Excellence” campaign, Westfield State’s first capital campaign, which helped fund and build The Woodward Center. Davies currently works as a managing partner for JD Group, LLC. He was previously awarded an honor-ary doctor of philanthropy from Pepperdine University. n

Kelli Nielsen ’04

12 westf ie ldalumni .org12 westf ie ldalumni .org

alumni on the go

From business, to health, to cupcakes The business degree Scott St. Cyr ’84 earned at Westfield State led him into healthcare and a career as a spa owner, but a hard left a few years ago finds him now living in West Hollywood, where he makes cupcakes, or more precisely “Scottycakes.” After graduation, St. Cyr put his business degree to work for business purposes. He worked at an inn on Cape Cod and then in men’s retail, including a stint at the old Boston landmark, Jordan Marsh. A longtime passion for health and well-being led St. Cyr to make a dramatic change in his professional goals and direction, and in the mid-80s, he attended the Polarity Realization Institute (PRI) in Ipswich and completed its holistic massage and polarity practitioner programs. St. Cyr began to focus his attention on the art of balance. Using the polarity therapy, an energy therapy that is centered around the five ele-ments of earth, water, fire, air and ether, St. Cyr went to work for PRI, teaching massage and polarity and using his business degree as well for management purposes. In 1998, St. Cyr took the leap to business owner, opening his own spa “with the sole

vision of creating an oasis for healing and wellness.” That spa, étant – French for “being” – on Tremont Street in Boston is a rare salon that focuses almost exclusively on health. étant offers massage, acupuncture, polar-ity therapy, and in a latter-day concession to beauty, it now offers facials and waxing as well. The atmosphere is undeniably welcom-ing and nurturing. St. Cyr was married to Keith Saucier in May 2010, and a year later, Saucier was recruited for a career opportunity on the west coast. With étant thriving, St. Cyr knew it was time for a new challenge. “We knew it was the right move for us,

especially since I dreamed of retiring in a warm climate,” he says, noting he turned over the everyday operation of étant to manager Bernadette McNeill ’84. These days, St. Cyr is happy in West Hollywood and pursuing a new career baking Scottycakes, delicious and unique cupcakes. He began this business by selling his treats at farmer’s markets, and he now sells them wholesale to Whole Foods and Trader Joes and is considering whether to open his own establishment. “My focus has always been on living a full and balanced life. étant is doing well, Keith is loving his new job. Scottycakes is keeping me busy, and together we are exploring the west coast,” says St. Cyr. “I have been extremely blessed with family and friends that have been great at cheering me on.” To learn more about étant, visit their website at www.etant.com.

Investments assistant veers off Broadway It was a lunchtime theater audition that dramatically changed the professional path for Kerrin Clark ’06. She was an executive assistant at an investment firm in Boston, putting her liberal arts degree to work, but she was someone who also loved song and dance. So, in 2007, Clark took her lunch break and headed over to the Lyric Stage in Boston to audition for a part in Stephen Sondheim’s Tony-award-winning musical, “Follies.” Clark was cast as Young Stella; and it was her first equity show. It opened off- Broadway and provided Clark with unique experiences that parlayed into other stage opportunities.

Many graduates of Westfield state University

follow a linear path from degree to career. A criminal jus-

tice major becomes a court officer, or a communication major

enters a longtime career as a journalist or radio personality. But

sometimes, alumni use their degrees in creative ways. This article

describes how the paths evolved for three different alumni.

Following the Career Path Where It LeadsBy Claudia Moore O’Brien M.Ed ‘00

Scott St. Cyr ’84


alumni on the go

The role brought her investments career to a halt and led her to become the director of The Greater Boston School of Dance. When she first took to the stage, Clark performed in several professional shows before landing a long-lasting role touring the United States with “Girls Night: The Musical.” “It was a lot of fun, but also hard work,” says Clark. “I traveled throughout the U.S.” When Clark wasn’t on the road, she was living in Wellesley and teaching at a dance studio there. “I just loved it,” she says. After three years with “Girls Night,” Clark decided to open her own dance studio, The Greater Boston School of Dance, in a bold and challenging move. At the school, Clark says the staff is committed to giving all stu-dents the best dance and perform-ing arts education in the greater Boston area. Students are given the tools to express themselves through dance, music, visual arts and theater. “We strive to bring the star out in every student that enters our studio. This is where friendships, passion and dreams are made,” says Clark. Westfield State was a dream-maker, too. “I learned to stand up for myself there, and I learned that I was a lot tougher than I thought,” Clark says. “My experiences as a resident assistant taught me how to manage situations, provide guid-

ance and find resources. I use those skills every day.” With over 50 students, her quickly grow-ing studio offers ballet, tap, singing, jazz, hip hop and musical theater, to name a few. “At Westfield State, I was entrusted with leadership as a resident assistant. I found that trust personally empowering. I was able to assist other students, point them in help-ful directions, and basically be there when I was needed,” she says. “I felt I always had someone to turn to with my questions or for support. I apply that same model to my dance studio: questions are welcome; sup-port, always there for you.” To learn more about Clark’s studio, visit www.greaterbostonschoolofdance.com.

Theater major is a role model for girls Almost from the start, it was pretty clear that A’ndrea Blake ’01 was headed for a career in the theater. “At a dance recital when I was about 2 years old, I had to be pulled from the stage

because I wouldn’t stop bowing,” she laughs. Perhaps it was in her name with the apostrophe, intended to signal a more dramatic pronunciation with a soft “a,” as in “ahn-drea,” but perhaps her affinity for theater was just in her genes. Blake studied tap and jazz as a very young child and then spread her wings into modeling from ages 4 to 12. The Rutland native, who now lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., then turned her University bachelor’s degree in theater into a ticket that has found her on the stage, in front of the camera as a plus-size model and in the studio, where she practices Reiki and is a personal trainer.She is making it her mission to be a role model for girls to embrace their talents, abilities and curves and to feel comfortable, confident and healthy in the skin they’re in. As a teen, Blake transitioned from modeling into acting in her local com-munity theater because she thought she was too big to be a model. In high

school, she was a cheerleader in the fall and busy with musical productions in the spring, so when it came time for college, she under-stood how to multitask and keep herself busy. “I learned from really fabulous professors who both challenged and inspired me. I had to perform, both academically and artisti-cally, and I am grateful for that experience,”

she says. As a theater major, the Musical Theatre Guild occupied a lot of her time. As she approached graduation from Westfield State, Professor Jack Shea sup-ported and encouraged Blake to apply for admission to the prestigious Actors Studio, which, at that time, was affiliated with the New School in New York City. She did, and while backpacking her way through Ireland during the summer of 2001, Blake received word that she was accepted. In 2004, she received a master’s in fine arts degree in acting and immediately went on to her off-Broadway debut as Titania in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” This was followed by various off-off-Broadway plays, a pilot on the WB televi-sion network and a role in NBC’s “Book of Daniel” television series. Blake also serves as the co-artistic direc-tor of Cheeky Monkey Theatre Company, which she founded with a colleague. She has resumed her modeling career as a plus-size model – a category that didn’t exist when she was a teen. “I am a proponent that there is no one size that is beautiful or healthy,” says Blake. n

Kerrin Clark ’06

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A’ndrea Blake ’01


alumni on the go

For Lincoln Blackie ’12, it was one of the latter lessons that steered the 23-year-old to run for the seat of State Representative in the 6th Hampden District against incum-bent Michael Finn in November 2012. Blackie, who grew up and lives in West Springfield, was raised by his mother, who was very active within the community. An engineering intern with the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission, he’s a former intern for Sen. Scott Brown. “I was taught early on that if you want to make a difference, you need to get involved, you need to work hard, and you need to work diligently,” says Blackie. Graduating with a double major in public administration and regional planning, Blackie was concerned with the state of the “real world” that awaited him after univer-sity life. “I’m part of a generation that is begin-ning life and inheriting a mess,” he says. “There is massive government debt, soaring prices, joblessness and stagnant wages. Many people are concerned the ‘American Dream’ is slipping away.” Watching unemployment rise and busi-ness after business close in a community he loves, Blackie decided it was time for change and time to act. He felt a large part of the problem was career politicians who don’t control spending, lack ambition and are out of touch with their constituents.

Being disillusioned with the two-party system, Blackie decided to run as an Independent. He knew this would put him at a huge disadvantage but decided to go ahead. “Being an unknown and unaffiliated candidate, such as I was, puts you at a huge disadvantage,” Blackie says. “I thought I would be able to appeal to both sides if given the chance. Idealism, however, is not a winning recipe in politics, and, in order to be a successful Independent candidate, you will need either a large amount of money, a well-established base of support or both.” Despite being a political “outsider,” Blackie did have factors working in his favor. His dual majors from Westfield State

encourage active community involvement and require public speaking. “Being credible to others isn’t just having a degree or being a responsible person. It’s having the skills to accomplish tasks that make you credible, and Westfield State helped me obtain these skills,” Blackie says. Another factor in his favor was run-ning for office in the district where he lives. “People want to root for the ‘home-town kid,’” says Blackie. By getting the word out about his vision, Blackie felt he had a fighting chance. He knew his inexperience could be seen as a weakness, but he didn’t think it was insurmountable. “When people want change, that is exact-ly what is needed,” he says. “Experience is crucial for being effective, but so is ambi-tion. Inexperience as a representative is something every freshman legislator will have. At the beginning, every new person is the low man.” Blackie walked the community, “pressed the flesh” with his constituents, listened to their wants, desires and concerns and debated his incumbent opponent. In his opinion, he did all that he could do. On Nov. 6, 2012, he cast his vote and waited. In the end, his efforts weren’t enough. He lost to Finn with a tally of 9,469 to 5,401 votes. Despite defeat, Blackie has no regrets.“I feel I did everything right,” he says. “I would like to have done more mailings and other types of voter outreach. Unfortunately, I didn’t raise enough money to do more. “Running for office is an extremely excit-ing and humbling experience,” he adds. n

W hile lessons le arned in the classroom may

determine which career paths we follow, it is often the

lessons learned in the home that determine who we are and

what we believe in.

Politicker2012 alum made determined yet unsuccessful bid for

State Representative the same year he graduated

By Peter Miller ’84

Lincoln Blackie ’12

15FOCUS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2013 15

alumni on the go

A student of Westfield State in the late ’80s, Cherylann and her family were determined to fulfill the last wish of her late daughter Britney Gengel and, with the help of many family members, friends and University alumni, began the work of developing the Be Like Brit Orphanage in Britney’s honor. Britney was a sophomore at Lynn University when she set out for Haiti on a mission trip. On Jan. 12, 2010, just three hours before an earthquake that would claim her life struck, Britney sent her mother a

text message about her work with Haitian orphans. It was this text message that spoke to Cherylann and became the seed for the idea to build an orphanage in tribute to her daughter: “They love us so much, and everyone is so happy,” Britney wrote. “They love what they have, and they work so hard to get nowhere, yet they are all so appreciative. I want to move here and start an orphanage myself.” The orphanage, which also holds medi-cal and dental clinics, is a true testament to Britney, and each aspect of it has a direct

connection to her work there. The building is in the shape of a letter “B,” for instance, and it is 19,000 square feet because Britney was 19 when she died. It houses 33 boys and 33 girls, and that number represents the number of days that Britney was missing, in the rubble at The Hotel Montana; five oth-ers from Lynn University also died.

The Gengel family has raised over $1.2 million dol-lars, which Cherylann says has come mostly in small donations. Westfield State alumni helped immensely in raising the dollars and building the orphanage.

Reaching out for a friend Linda Hallamore ’88 donated to the Be Like Brit foundation and provided emo-tional support to Cherylann through the toughest days of searching, shortly after the disaster struck. Hallamore is amazed at the strength Cherylann and her family have shown throughout the building process. “She was always looking out for all of us, and, even now in all of this tragedy, she and her family have turned the most devastating loss into something positive,” Hallamore says. “She is the strongest person I know.” Virginia Easton ’88 attended various fundraisers for the orphanage, during which Easton’s family raised the second highest donation amount. “It is life-changing to see what people in other countries do not have, especially children” Easton says. “It is so important to think globally, and I think that is something the Gengels have imparted to all three of their children,”

T here is no devastation for a parent worse than

losing a child. Yet when Cherylann Gengel learned that

her daughter passed away while on a mission trip in Haiti, she

called on the power of determination to keep her going.

Finding Hope in devastationAlumni rally around former student whose daughter was killed while on a mission trip in Haiti

By Laura Phelon ’11

Continued on page 30

Britney Gengel surrounded by children in Haiti.


alumni on the go

“Noah” is a film that deserves stadium seating, and it was accepted to the San Diego Film Festival in January and will be featured in the Bare Bones International Film Festival this month. Professionally-produced with an original soundtrack, it also boasts solid acting from an original script. The name of James’ company, Identical Films, hints that more fabulous films are to come. It also hints that the Waltham native has an identical twin brother, Anthony, who is a critical part of the production team. Both brothers have been interested in film since high school, and their mutual passion, combined with connections and experience

James received at Westfield State, has led them to achieve some major goals.Getting started When James headed to Westfield State to study communication in 2008, his brother Anthony attended Suffolk University in Boston. James, meanwhile, consumed every communication and film class he could at Westfield State. He was especially interested in video production. “The more I learned, the more I became interested in making films, rather than video production for television,” James says. Anthony, on the other hand, couldn’t wait to get started producing films. After one semester at Suffolk, he withdrew to focus on

actual production and then enrolled in the New York Film Academy – hosted on the Harvard University campus - for an acceler-ated film education. James continued his Westfield State stud-ies and met fellow student Andrew Johnson ’11, another film buff who would eventually round out the family team. At the start, though, it was the twins who set out to develop “Noah.” It took Anthony three months to write the script for the film. While it wasn’t the first script he’d written, James says it was the best one. The story is set in an alternate present day America in which slavery was never abol-ished. The story follows an escaped slave named Noah as he tries to flee the country and reach a rumored freedom refuge in Canada. After rewrites and edits, James and Anthony invited Johnson to join their recently-founded production company,

J ames deveney ’ 12, a communication major

with a concentration in media arts, has created his first

film, “Noah,” and co-founded an entire production company

as well.

On the Big ScreenTwo recent grads and a twin brother produce film, launch production company

By Claudia Moore O’Brien, M.Ed ‘00

James Deveney ’12



Musical GeniusMusical Theatre Guild helped this alum build real-world experience

By Kyle Johnston ’14

He transitioned to working behind the scenes in his early 30s and continued to raise the bar by composing music for projects such as The Walt Disney World/ ABC Christmas Day Parade, Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer and his current project working as Music director/composer for Seaworld’s Antarctica. Now, Avila, one of the principals of The Imagination House, a creative media com-pany based in Orlando, Florida, serves as the music director for the company. The Imagination House is a creative com-pany that provides full production services from music composition, arrangement and direction to graphics, video and full-scale production for leading industry clients. Avila’s clients include the Magic Kingdom Theme Park, Epcot theme park, the Walt Disney Studios, ABC Television, Universal Studios, EA Sports and SeaWorld Adventure Park. As the music director for The Imagination House, it is Avila’s job to compose, produce and arrange music for clients. “I manage a music team at TheImagination House which needs to be flex-ible enough to produce music of several dif-ferent genres. Some of it’s orchestral. Someis industrial, and some is pop. Whatever

is needed for the client. It’s a little bit of everything.” Avila says Westfield State’s Music depart-ment helped prepare him for his career in production and composition. He particu-larly recalls his experiences working as the music director for the Musical Theatre Guild (MTG) with professor Ken Manzer as an influential mentor. As the musical director for MTG, Avila was responsible for a band of 10 to 20 students. “I would rehearse them for the shows, conduct the shows and teach the

vocals,” Avila says. His current work for The Imagination House builds on the work he did for MTG. Now, he is not only responsible for direct-ing a performance, but for composing and producing the music as well. “Now, when I’m on a project,” Avila says, “whether it’s for Disney, or Nickelodeon, or whatever it’s for, I’m usu-ally the music director for the project. I write most of the music, the arrangements and orchestrations and I run the recording

sessions, both the vocal and instrumental.” Ultimately, it was the freedom given to Avila as musical director for MTG, and the freedom to fail if his work was not up to par, that made the experience so helpful to his future career. “You’re kind of thrown into the fire,” he says. “They give you just enough assistance. So, pretty much, making sure that you were ready for the shows was your responsibility as music director. And in college, that’s a pretty big responsibility.” n

alumni on the go

F o r M i k e Av i l a ‘ 8 3 , wo r k h a s a lways seemed

more like play. After graduating from what was then

Westfield State College, Avila, a pianist, worked for several

years as a jazz musician, performing at concerts and jazz fes-

tivals, opening and performing with such acts such as Larry

Carlton, Jeff Kashiwa, Al Jareau, Manhatten Transfer and

George Benson.

Mike Avila ’83


“By the time I graduated from high school, I had given up on medicine,” Smailes says. “When I arrived at the College of Wooster in Ohio, I dropped all the sci-ence courses from my first-year schedule and took political science and history courses – and found I really loved it.” That love of history and politics earned Smailes a bachelor’s degree in political sci-ence in 1981 and a PhD from the University of Massachusetts in 1991. Now in his seventh year at Westfield State University, Smailes teaches courses in American Politics, including Presidency and Congress, Political Change, American Public Policy and U.S. Politics in Film. Smailes came to the University from Regis College in Weston after teaching there for 16 years. “Westfield State offered so many oppor-tunities,” he says. “I wanted to teach at a larger institution, but I didn’t want to lose the opportunity to know my students and to be a part of campus life. “Westfield offers a very rare combina-tion of small classes with the advantages of a very active larger campus, all with a solid reputation for excellence in academics,” he adds. “I found I could truly have it all here.” Smailes is hard-pressed to choose which class is his favorite to teach. “I’ve found that I really enjoy them all,” he says. “One of the great things about teaching political science is that the courses are always focused on current events, and I never teach a course quite the same way each time it is offered.” This past fall semester was certainly

focused on the excitement around Election 2012, which brought about great discus-sions in Smailes’ classes, leading up to the re-election of President Barack Obama. “We’ve had discussions in my classes on the results of the election, both what it means for the future of a second Obama administration and exchanges within the Republican party about what it should do to improve the party’s future prospects,” Smailes says. “I think one of the most valuable things we have learned together is how to accept both political defeat and political victory and how to keep each in perspective.” The presidential debates were popular for the American people to watch during the election season, and Smailes compared

the debates to the Indy 500. “I think people watch them more for the political ‘crashes’ than for the debate itself,” he says. Smailes says the fact that the country is so evenly divided in its politics indicates that compromise is a necessity for both sides. “After a long, hard-fought campaign neither side has emerged as a clear victor, which means neither side can claim a clear mandate for their policies.” Smailes said there is no question that social media extended political dialogue in this election. “The ability of candidates to reach voters and to communicate directly

with supporters is pretty profound,” he says. “It becomes another way traditional institutions, like political parties and the print/electronic media, are losing their monopoly on the political news we receive.” During the election season, Smailes applauded students on campus for their engagement in the election, which says a lot about the current generation of college students who care about the future of our country. “Politics can seem frustrating, but the desire to find out more about the issues and the candidates, and working toward solu-tions to problems, and the optimism that is reflected in the discussions I’ve had with students concerning our future is enough to make anyone confident that this new generation of leaders is going to have a lot to contribute to our civic society.” n

FaCulty / StaFF

Pr o f e s s o r dav i d s m a i l e s t h o u g h t he wanted to become a physician, but his strong

curiosity about politics and history set him on a different journey of discovery and ultimately

led him to teach at Westfield State University.

Political Science Professor Reflects on 2012 ElectionsBy Elizabeth R. (LaFond) Coppez ’03, M ’07

“I found I could truly have it all here.”— Professor DaviD smailes

Professor David Smailes


ART MATHEMATICSoftheDISCOVERING

19

The funded program, “Discovering the Art of Mathematics: Inquiry-Based Learning in Mathematics for Liberal Arts,” will allow the professors to invent an entirely new combina-tion of pedagogy, teaching and scholarship and create new books for Mathematics for Liberal Arts (MLA) courses – college-level courses whose majors do not require classes like calculus, algebra or statistics. Students across the country will benefit from their work. Professor Julian Fleron, a member of the Mathematics faculty for 18 years, and his colleagues applied for the grant. He says the United States is one of the only places in the world where people proudly say they are “bad at math.” “We hope to change that perception,” he says. “We hope to do that in our classrooms, challenging our students to help change that perception. And we hope our work will allow other faculty across the country to do that in their classrooms, helping society to have a better appreciation of the role of mathematics in the world around us.” Fleron has taught almost every math-ematics course at the University, other than those involving statistics and probability. And he says Mathematical Explorations, the University’s MLA course for students who need a core course in mathematics but do not have a specific requirement, like art, English or history, is most important to him.

“It is where there is the greatest opportuni-ty to make real changes in how people think about mathematics,” he says. Fleron and fellow mathematics professors Philip Hotchkiss, Volker Ecke and Christine von Renesse spent about a year prepping for the grant. “Three hundred and thirty other insti-tutions applied, and only 32 grants were awarded,” says Fleron. “The grant is a major honor. I hope students will understand that mathematics is not just a tool used for appli-cations. It can be explored and enjoyed with many other arts.”

The work the grant will allow University professors to take on will give teachers at other institutions across the country access to concrete, successfully-tested materials to help make learning more student-centered. Students will be actively involved in their assignments, and they will investigate real mathematics and find opportunities to bridge science and liberal arts. MLA students will say “goodbye” to the traditional lecture-style mathematics course and greet a class setting full of discovery. Jessica Pendleton ’12 of Worcester, a criminal justice major, hated everything about math until she took Mathematical Explorations: Geometry. “Explorations was interesting, engag-ing and employed a hands-on approach to learning,” she says. “I found myself wanting to go to class each week, feeling not only accomplished but excited about what I was

FaCulty / StaFF

S t u d e n ts w h o a r e n ot m a j o r i n g in math and

sciences will learn mathematics in a new, innovative way,

thanks to a team of professors who helped secure a $550,600

grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) – the largest

NSF grant in the University’s history.

Mathematic PrideUniversity receives National Science Foundation grant

By Elizabeth R. (LaFond) Coppez ’03, M ’07, with contributions from Westfield State University’s Office of Public Affairs


Professor Julian Fleron


FaCulty / StaFF

A multitalented instructor who divides her academic prowess between the Art and Ethnic and Gender Studies departments, Swaidan’s higher education began with undergraduate work at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind., and a bachelor’s degree from Mt. Holyoke College in South Hadley. Swaidan then earned a master’s in art history at the University of Mississippi; a master’s in educational leadership at St. Joseph’s University in Hartford, Conn.; and, most recently, a master’s and doctorate of education at the University of Hartford. “I am wondering about going to law school,” she says, smiling. In addition to teaching, Swaidan is the

chair of Sankofa, an organization that sup-ports diversity on the Westfield State campus. And along with her love of learning, she has brought to the campus a passion for art and history and a focus on the importance of inclusion and social justice. Swaidan calls herself a “big picture professor.” And that “big picture” includes encourag-ing University staff and faculty to continue to embrace and value diversity and inclusion. All members of Sankofa honor the spirit, vision and ideals of the group by actively embracing a commitment to the expansion of the spirit of global diversity and multicultural principles. Sankofa supports scholarships for stu-

dents to study abroad, assists in the recruit-ment and admission of historically under-represented students, faculty and staff, and encourages campus-wide activities that promote diversity. “We also have a Kente Stoling ceremony for graduating students, whom we call ‘Sankofa Scholars,’ who have been nomi-nated by faculty and staff, called ‘Sankofa Sages,’ for their commitment to diversity,” explains Swaidan. “It is not just about the diversity of color.” Sankofa’s logo of a mythic bird flying forward, but looking to the past and carrying an egg (symbolizing the future) best expresses Swaidan’s outlook on life. She brings the past to students so that they may make the most of their future. “I love Westfield State and the students I get to work with.” Swaidan says. “Every day is an adventure, a learning experience. I truly hope I am living the Sankofa life.” Swaidan, a Worcester native, is the young-est of seven children. Her parents moved north from Brookhaven, Miss., before she was born. “My siblings grew up during segregated times – classrooms were segregated. My grandmother cooked for a wealthy white family,” she says. Her father believed that his children would have more opportunity in the North, but after she was grown, Swaidan surprised her family when she announced her decision to return and earn a graduate degree at the University of Mississippi, known as “Ole Miss.” “I went back to Mississippi to see what it was like,” she says. “I had grown up listening to my father tell horror stories of cruel racism and horrid treatment in the South. He made

“I co u l d b e a p r o f e s s i o n a l st u d e n t, ” Professor

Christina Swaidan says. “I love learning.” No doubt

about that. Swaidan’s academic resume is impressive.


A Life of diversityArt professor supports inclusion, is driven to learn

By Claudia Moore-O’Brien, M.Ed ‘00

Professor Christina Swaidan


Manning comes to Westfield State with a treasure trove of nursing, administrative and educator experience, and the combination offers a perfect fit.

Nursing offers a tremendous selection of disciplines, and, in her studies, Manning pursued a specialty in acute rehabilitation nursing. This branch of nursing focuses on pro-viding care to patients who have been incapacitated by injury or illness. The goal is to develop a treatment program that will allow the patient to regain as much normal function as possible, thereby improving their quality of life.

Manning has worked at Spaulding, Shaughnessy and the New England reha-bilitation hospitals. It was at New England Rehabilitation that she discovered she has a penchant for teaching. “After becoming the evening supervisor, then nurse manager at New England Rehab, I transitioned from administration to educat-ing staff nurses,” says Manning. “I started teaching orientation classes to new nurses and discovered I absolutely loved teaching. It was a surprise; something I never had thought to pursue.” Manning enjoyed the enthusiasm and curiosity of the new nurses. “They were like sponges, absorbing every word,” she says. It was their dedication that Manning feels reinforced her as a teacher and motivated her to stick with nursing education. During this time, she was asked to lecture on rehabilitation nursing for a couple of classes at Salem State. She lectured on spinal cord injuries, neuromuscular disorders and many other disabling conditions and always

reminded students to include the patient’s family in the process. “I have always seen a patient as a part of a whole: family, friends and community,” she says, “and I continue to emphasize this approach.” Manning’s teaching ability did not go unrecognized at Salem State. She transi-tioned from guest lecturer to tenured full-time faculty for 11 years. “It is not unusual for a nursing instructor to have a part-time nursing job to stay cur-rent, up-to-date,” she says. Her choice for a part-time job was Hospice nursing, which eventually won her over into a full-time position. “Essentially,” she says, “ I swapped my full- and part-time jobs, working full time as the hospice director and teaching only part time at Salem State.” But it wasn’t long before Manning realized she missed the classroom. She really missed

Leading InnovationDirector of nursing program combines teaching, healthcare experience

By Claudia Moore O’Brien, M.Ed ‘00

FaCulty / StaFF

T h e U n i v e r s i t y ’ s n u r s i n g p r o g r a m is gearing up

to graduate its first class of registered nurses in May 2014,

and Karen Manning, the new department director and chair

has an enthusiasm that’s just contagious – pardon the pun.


Karen Manning


Honoring a LegendCoach John Kurty lost his life in tragic accident

By Mickey Curtis, Sports Information Director

That was Coach John Kurty’s credo, and it had a profound impact on the thousands of young people he mentored throughout his life, especially during his 22 years as a coach and physical education instructor at Westfield State. The University lost its legendary coach, teacher, ambassador and father figure Nov. 6, 2012, when Kurty tragically died after he was hit by a pickup truck while taking his daily bicycle ride on Western Avenue near Stanley Park. He was 86. Kurty’s untimely death shocked and sad-dened many of his friends and former col-leagues and players. But they took solace that he will always be someone special in their lives.

“He was a saint,” said Mike Gauthier ’79, who played soccer for Kurty at Westfield State in the late 1970s. Paul Whalley ’75, a senior captain on the 1974 Westfield State team, recalls Kurty as the perfect mentor, possessing a quiet but demanding demeanor. “Coach Kurty was a great coach and even a greater person,” said Whalley, who followed in Kurty’s footsteps by coaching Westfield State’s highly successful men’s soccer team for six years (1997-2002). “He taught us to win and lose with class, dig-nity and grace. When I became a coach, he was the standard for the way I wanted to behave. I never reached that level; however, he inspired a clear vision of what a coach

should be. “In the 41 years that I knew Coach Kurty, no matter who I mentioned him to, they said what a great guy he was. No one ever had a bad thing to say about coach, probably because in my 41 years, I never heard him say a bad thing about anyone.” Kurty was the first coach inducted into the Westfield State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1994 as a member of the charter class. “This is the first time I’ve felt 10 feet tall in a long time,” he proudly and humbly stated during his Hall of Fame acceptance speech. Kurty, who retired from the Westfield State faculty as a physical education instructor in 1988, compiled a brilliant record of 153 wins, 36 losses and 13 ties in coaching the Westfield State men’s soccer team from 1966 to 1977. At the time of his retirement, his .790 winning percentage was the highest of any

“Yo u h av e to b e t h e f i r st one there and the last

one to leave because the kids need you.”

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coach, active or retired, in all New England divisions. Kurty led the Owls to five straight NCAA Tournament appearances and three New England state champion-ships. His 1974 squad finished third in the nation, the first team in school history to reach the Final Four. Kurty also coached golf for 10 years and volleyball for seven at Westfield State, and he was a volunteer assistant for the baseball team. Kurty came to Westfield State from his home town of Ludlow, where he coached the high school soccer team to a 10-year record of 150 wins, 19 loss and 19 ties and three consecutive state championships. A standout athlete, Kurty graduated from Penn State University and was a star fullback on two NCAA national championship soccer teams. “Coach Kurty was an amazing and very humble man,” said Whalley. “I played soccer for him for four years and one year of volleyball. I never knew that he won a national soccer championship at Penn State and was an All-American there until years later when I was submitting a recommendation for his entry into the National Coaches Association Hall of Fame. Whenever he talked, he talked about his players and how they made him successful.” In his retirement years, Kurty was an avid golfer and an umpire for local college and high school baseball games. In addition, he was the clock operator at Westfield State basketball games for many years. “He was a legendary coach, but he was an even better person who was very loyal to Westfield State, even in his retirement years,” said Westfield State Athletics Director Richard Lenfest. “John Kurty was a highly respected coach and mentor whose impact and influ-ence on the students he taught will long be remembered. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family – wife, Rita; son Jack, daughter Carol and her husband, Hal – at this very sad time,” said President Evan S. Dobelle at the time of Kurty’s passing. The University hosted a reception luncheon for the Kurty family, friends and the many former players who attended the funeral on Nov. 12, 2012. A scholarship fund has been established at Westfield State University. Gifts in Coach Kurty’s memory can be made to the Coach John Kurty Scholarship Fund, c/o Westfield State Foundation, PO Box 1630, Westfield, MA 01086-1630. n

Outstanding dedicationCurt Robie received the 2012 James C. Hagan Award


Curt Robie, assistant vice president of facilities and operations at Westfield State University, was the recipient of the 2012 James C. Hagan Award for outstanding service and support to University athletics. The prestigious award was presented at the 17th Annual Westfield State Athletics Hall of Fame banquet in October 2012. Master of Ceremonies David Caspole ’94 of the Westfield State Development office spoke about Robie’s many accomplish-ments, including his work spearheading the upkeep of Alumni Field and in the replace-ment of the turf and track. Caspole also spoke of Robie’s role in developing a new practice field, new dugouts for the softball and baseball fields and a new press box. In addition, he said, Robie worked long hours in the early 2000s, overseeing the building of the Woodward Center that houses the Athletics and Movement Science departments. “It’s impossible to envision what the Westfield State athletics programs might look like today were it not for the work of Curt Robie,” said Westfield State Athletics Director Richard Lenfest.

From left to right: Coach John Kurty proudly displays the 1970 New England championship trophy with Dean Fournier (’71), left, and Chris Scanlon (’72); Coach John Kurty is carried off the field after the Owls captured the New England state colleges championship in 1970; Coach John Kurty instructs his players during the 1972 season; Coach John Kurty patrols the sidelines during a home game in 1970.

Curt Robie, center, receives the James C. Hagan Award from Westfield State University President Evan S. Dobelle, left, and Westfield State Athletics Director Richard Lenfest.


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Caputo, a four-year letter winner as a reserve point guard for the Owls, has been in sunny south Florida for the past two years. Prior to that, he was a member of the George Mason University coaching staff in Fairfax, Va., for nine years. The 32-year-old Caputo already has many memorable moments in his short basketball odyssey: Miami’s upset victory at Duke last season, George Mason’s remarkable run to the National Collegiate Athletic Association

(NCAA) Division I Final Four in 2006 and his four years at Westfield State. “I’ve seen a lot of great places like Duke and North Carolina, and I have been to the Final Four, but I wouldn’t trade those for my time at Westfield State. It was special and worthwhile,” Caputo said the day before the Miami Hurricanes departed for a Christmas Tournament in Hawaii. Caputo’s passion for coaching began at an early age and continued at Westfield State.

As a seldom-used point guard for the Owls, Caputo was a keen observer on the bench as a member of Westfield State Head Coach Rich Sutter’s first recruiting class in 1998. In between classes, he was a regular visitor to Sutter’s office, peppering him with questions on coaching strategies. Caputo also watched a lot of game tape on Westfield State opponents and gave Sutter detailed scouting reports. “I don’t know if he used them,” said Caputo with a chuckle. Interestingly, Caputo stresses that his academics at Westfield State also played a pivotal role in preparing him for the 24-7 world of big-time college basketball. “My time at Westfield State was really valuable,” said Caputo. “It’s a place where you cannot get lost because it is a smaller

I t ’ s a f u l l- co u r t s h ot from Parenzo Hall Gym to

the big-time world of college basketball, but Chris Caputo

’02 is living his dream as an assistant coach at the University

of Miami.

Living His dreamAlum is assistant basketball coach at the Universi ty of MiamiBy Mickey Curtis, Sports Information Director

Chris Caputo was a captain and received the team's outstanding con-tributor award during his senior year at Westfield State

Chris Caputo instructs University of Miami play-ers during a timeout.

University of Miami basketball assistant coach Chris Caputo ’02 signals in a play from the sidelines.

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Living His dreamAlum is assistant basketball coach at the Universi ty of MiamiBy Mickey Curtis, Sports Information Director

school, and a lot of demands are put on you academically. I was a finance and econom-ics major, and I had to grind it out and fight through it studying, especially near the end of the semester. That’s helped me today.” Caputo and Miami Head Coach Jim Larranaga both graduated from Archbishop Malloy High School in New York City, where they played for the legendary coach Jack Curran. His connections, coaching pas-sion and work ethic landed him a job straight out of Westfield State as a volunteer assistant coach for Larranaga at George Mason. The Elmhurst, N.Y., native toiled as an unpaid assistant for three years before becoming a full-time staff member at George Mason in 2005. He even turned down sev-eral full-time paid positions at other colleges to remain at George Mason because it was such a priceless training ground. “Ten years ago there were not as many NCAA restrictions, and I was able to do more things,” said Caputo, explaining why he didn’t take the money and run. “In addi-tion to breaking down film, I could make calls to recruits, work camps and recruit off campus within 30 miles of the school. Plus coach Larranaga is a great mentor and a veteran in the business.” Caputo’s main duties at the University of Miami are recruiting and scouting oppo-nents. He admits the pay and perks are good; his per diem is a lot more than the $7-per-meal money he received at Westfield State. But the lifestyle isn’t always glamorous, and the pressure to win is enormous as Miami is a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC).

“It’s more than just two hours in suits, coaching basketball,” said Caputo. “There are late nights watching film, countless trips to see high school recruits that you are not going to get, and hours of sacrifice and fam-ily time missed. “It is a tough profession and a very workman-like job. But being at Miami has been great, and the school has such a name brand – five football national titles and four baseball national titles,” he added. “And the ACC is the best basketball conference in the country. Every night is a moment in this league. It’s a great city with great weather and an exciting place to be.” Caputo’s first “coaching moment” came when he was a sophomore in high school. In March 1996, he and a friend went to the Hilton in midtown Manhattan, the head-quarters for the NCAA Final Four. Caputo watched in awe as a who’s who of coaches roamed the lobby. “I saw coaches like Mike Krzyzewski and Jerry Tarkanian, and I said, ‘This is what I want to do. This is cool,’” said Caputo. “Then 10 years to the date, I was living out my dream of walking around the lobby at the Final Four as a coach.” One day, Caputo dreams of strolling the lobby and the sidelines as a Division I head coach. He is realistic that that may not happen for some time, if at all, because head coach-ing positions are scarce and highly sought-after. But he does point

out that four of Larranaga’s former assistants during the past decade are currently head coaches. Caputo bides his time, working hard, feel-ing content and continuing to network and make new friends in the coaching profession. He frequently sends text messages to Erik Spoelstrag, the head coach of the 2012 NBA champion Miami Heat. “Anyone who is in this business does it to become a head coach,” said Caputo. “But if I become a head coach, it has to be the right fit for me. I am big on that. I am also big on knowing what the commitment is from a school. But if nothing comes along, I will also be happy to work with Coach Larranaga.” Commitment and loyalty are constants for Caputo. He remains good friends with his Westfield State teammates, in particular Phil Conners ’02. Two other Owl teammates – Kris Kachelmeyer ’01 and Jon Mazzone ’01 – visited with Caputo when Miami played at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in early December 2012. Wherever Caputo’s coaching odyssey takes him, Westfield State will be of big part of it. “A lot of nice things happened to me at Westfield State, and playing there was a great experience,” said Caputo. n

FOCUS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2013


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Many ChampionsMen’s and women’s soccer teams among Fall 2012’s athletic stand-outs


It was the Owls’ first NCAA appearance in six years and the first time both Westfield State soccer teams earned NCAA berths in the same season. (See related story page 28.) The men’s soccer team peaked at the right time, posting a 4-0-1 record in its final five regular season games. The Owls traveled to Carlisle, Pa., for the NCAA Tournament game, dropping a 4-0 decision to Dickinson College. Westfield State was led by first-team all-conference senior midfielders Jared

Spicer and Jon Principato, and second-team selections Bill Reagan and Dan Brady. Adding more hardware to the Woodward Center trophy case was the Westfield State women’s cross country team, which cap-tured its ninth straight MASCAC champi-onship. In a dominating performance, the Owls placed seven runners in the top 10 in winning the conference crown for the 13th time in the past 15 years. Westfield State sophomore Amy Trainque

paced the Owls with a runner-up time of 18:30.01 over the 5,000 meters layout. Trainque also earned All-New England hon-ors by placing 26th in the NCAA regional championships that were held at Stanley Park in Westfield. Trainque missed qualify-ing for the national championships by six seconds. The Owls’ other all-conference runners were: senior Rachael Cardin, freshman Ashlynne Xiarhos, sophomore Victoria VanAlstine-Tauer, freshman Abby Monette, senior Lynsay Wray, and sophomore Olivia Marshall. The Westfield State men’s cross country team placed a close second behind rival Bridgewater State in the MASCAC cham-pionships. Five Owls earned all-conference honors by finishing in the top 10: freshman Tim Shea, senior Anthony Frissora, junior Tevin Honohan, freshman Justin Connolly and freshman Mike Skelly.

T h e W e st f i e l d stat e U n i v e r s i t y wo m e n ’ s

soccer squad was joined in the National Collegiate

Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament during the 2012

fall semester by the Westfield State men’s soccer team, which

stunned Salem State, 3-0, in the Massachusetts State Collegiate

Athletic Conference (MASCAC) championship game.

The men's soccer team upset Salem State in the conference tourna-ment championship game to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.

Proudly displaying the MASCAC championship trophy are: Nancy Bals, Westfield associate athletics director, and senior captains Jon Principato, Jared Spicer and Bill Reagan.

2727

athlet iCS In field hockey, senior forward Liz Hall and sophomore defender Kelsey Carpenter were selected to the all-conference second team. Hall was the sixth leading scorer in the 12-team Little East Conference with 33 points (11 goals, 11 assists). Her 11 assists are the second-best single-season total in school history. Carpenter was a defensive standout for the Owls, and she posted an 11-7 record (7-4 conference) under the direction of first-year head coach Jessica Bergen. Carpenter ranked second in the conference and 16th nationally with nine defensive saves. The University’s women’s volleyball team was unable to win its fourth straight MASCAC crown as it placed third in the conference and posted a 10-22 overall record. All-conference selections were junior Julia Warner and junior Lindsay Rescott. The Westfield State football team fin-ished with a disappointing 3-7 record in the highly competitive New England Football Conference. Despite the sub-par record, the Owls landed seven players on the all-confer-ence team. First-team selections were: senior linebacker Justin Ehrhardt, senior defensive lineman Chris Walker, junior tight end Jeff Winchell, senior punter Dan Dowling and senior placekicker Kennan Startzell. Second-team picks were senior defensive back Mike Szydlowski and senior return specialist Kevin Parnell. Walker, Dowling, Winchell and Startzell were first-team all-division for the second consecutive year. Walker was also a first-team selection during his sophomore season,

earning first-team honors for the third straight year, despite being sidelined with injuries for three games this season. Walker posted 32 tackles and a team-high five quarterback sacks from his defensive end position. Ehrhardt, also an Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC) All-Star, led the Owls and ranked third in the New England Football Conference (NEFC) with 100 tackles. Dowling, the team’s second leading tackler at line-backer, excelled as punter for the second consecutive year. He averaged 37.6 yards per boot, and 22 of his 57 punts were inside the 20-yard line. Startzell ranked second in scoring for the Owls with 41 points; the hard-working senior con-verted 29 of 30 extra points and four of six field goals. He set career school records for field goals made (15), field goal percentage (15 for 20, .750) extra points made (75), extra point percentage (75 for 79, .949) and con-secutive extra points made (59). Winchell was the Owls’ fourth-leading receiver from his tight end position with 18 catches for 261 yards. Szydlowski ranked second in the NEFC with six interceptions and 14 passes defended. Parnell averaged 19.1 yards on kick returns and 18.2 yards on punt returns. He also led the Owls in receiving (41 catches, 562 yards) and ranked fifth in the NEFC with 1,183 all-purpose yards. n

Sophomore Amy Trainque, left, earned All-New England by placing 26th in the NCAA Regional cross country champion-ships at Stanley Park.

FOCUS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2013


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Westfield State has won 15 or more games in four of the past five seasons in posting an aggregate record of 64-21-8. Westfield State veteran Head Coach Todd Ditmar said that recruiting talented student athletes has been the key to the program’s remarkable run. “Our success is based on the outstand-ing players that have come through the University in the past five years,” said Ditmar. “Top student athletes across the state contact me about our soccer program, and, each year, it’s gotten better and bet-ter. We, by far, have the best talent in our conference. “Our goals haven’t changed,” he added. “From the first day in pre-season, we talk

about our expectations for the season. We expect to win the conference and advance to the NCAA Tournament. We have a very close-knit team, and each member is focused on that goal.” The storybook 2012 season did come to an abrupt end in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament as Westfield State suf-fered a heartbreaking 1-0 overtime loss to perennial power Wheaton College. Westfield established numerous school single-season records that will be difficult to surpass, including most victories, fewest goals allowed (eight), consecutive victories (14), and shutouts (13). Six Owls earned first-team all-conference honors led by conference Player of the Year

Kayley Miller. Westfield State made it a clean sweep as freshman Ashley Bovat was selected the conference rookie of the year, and Ditmar was the coach of the year. Miller, a second-team All-New England selection, set school records for goals (20) and points (49) in a season and career points (119). It was the third straight year the high-scoring senior forward from Ludlow was first-team all-conference; she transferred to Westfield State from Division I Monmouth (N.J.) University following her freshman year. “Kayley has excellent ball skills and one of the hardest shots I’ve seen. She was not only able to score from anywhere in the offensive end, but she also anticipated where

The Westfield State University women’s soccer program is approaching dynasty status.

The Owl booters finished the 2012 regular season unbeaten and ended the year with

a brilliant 18-1-1 record as they captured their fourth Massachusetts State Collegiate

Athletic Conference (MASCAC) championship and fourth National Collegiate Athletic

Association (NCAA) Tournament bid in the past five years.

Fourth Championship in Hand for Women BootersBy Mickey Curtis, Sports Information Director

The women's soccer team senior captains receive the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference championship trophy. Left to right are: Colleen Bazinet, Brittanie McGregor, Kayley Miller, and Leann Rivard.

Senior All-New England selection Brittanie McGregor tied a school record and ranked eighth nation-ally with 15 assists.

29FOCUS MAGAZINE • SPRING 2013

our other players would be and would get them the ball in good scoring position,” said Ditmar. “Without a doubt she is the best player that I’ve coached in 20 years. She not only has amazing physical skills, but her soccer IQ is the best I’ve ever seen.” Brittanie McGregor, also a senior forward from Ludlow, was a fourth team All-New England selection and first-team all-conference for the second straight season. McGregor scored 35 points, the fifth best total in school history, and is 10th on the Owls’ all-time scoring list with 76 points. McGregor tied a school record and ranked eighth nationally with 15 assists this season. “McGregor has excellent speed and was able to beat almost any defender off the dribble on the outside of the field. From there she was able to get off great shots and great passes to her teammates,” said Ditmar. Miller and McGregor combined to score an astounding 84 points, including 30 goals, during the 2012 season. The Owls’ other graduating seniors are standout mid-fielder Leann Rivard and defensive stalwart Colleen Bazinet. “Our seniors have brought so much notoriety to our program that we have received nearly triple the number of student athletes interested in Westfield State for women’s soccer,” said Ditmar. “We have now been contacted by some of the top players in the state.” Westfield State’s highly skilled underclass-men include the following 2012 first-team all-conference selections: sophomore mid-fielders Ashleigh Chretien and Sarah Sypek; freshman back Katy Knight; and junior goalie Jess Habif. Habif ranked 10th nationally and set a school record for goals against average (.397), allowing only seven goals in 20 games played. Habif and McGregor also excelled academically as they were selected to the College Sports Information Directors of America District I All-Academic team. Chretien was Westfield State’s second leading scorer with 17 points and Sypek added two goals and three assists. Bovat, also a midfielder, tallied 14 points for the Owls in earning rookie of the year honors. Knight was a key defensive contributor for the Owls, who only allowed one goal in nine conference games. nThe women's soccer team is all smiles after capturing its fourth confer-

ence championship in the past five years.

Conference player of the year and All-New England selection Kayley Miller became

Westfield State's all-time leading scorer during the Owls' brilliant 18-1-1 season.


“Identical Films,” which was trademarked, along with the logo. They began production of the film in the summer of 2011. And then the real leg-work of the project began, with obtaining equipment first on the agenda. With a limited budget, the team went for one top-rated high-definition cam-era, a variety of lights, a microphone and boom. “The equipment is important – the audi-ence loses interest if the production –espe-cially the sound – isn’t good,” says James. With a budget that could not exceed $15,000 – the sum the brothers had saved – James used social media and other online resources whenever he could. After renting a conference room at a hotel for auditions, the trio recruited talented actors willing to work for no pay. “We advertised on Craigslist for actors,” says James. “And with great results! “In the independent film industry, actors are often willing to work to support the mission of the film,” he adds. “Our intent was to bring a new wave of independent filmmaking to the masses.”

Managing the details James said the hardest part of making the film was finding the locations. Throughout the film are long sequences that take place in a lush green forest that James says is actually four separate wooded areas. The team rented interior locations, but that wasn’t easy either. “We looked online for home rentals, sum-mer rentals and even used our dad’s attic for

one location,” says James. “A lot of poten-tial renters were hesitant to rent to us when they learned we planned to shoot a movie.” The team spent a week filming in and outside a rented vacation house. “We let the actors have the comfortable beds for the week. We slept on cots – that is, when we got to sleep,” James says with a smile. It was a grueling process, but ultimately, he says, “we got what we needed” from the location. Costumes were purchased in second-hand stores. “I spent a lot of time in thrift stores,” James says. “I couldn’t get that scent out of my nose for weeks!”

Individual skills Anthony and Andrew did most of the camera work. Andrew, who is a special edu-cation teacher in Malden, had a breadth of experience in on-set filmmaking. James says they wanted the film to have “an up close and personal atmosphere.” Anthony hand-held and manually focused the camera. “That way you get a more natural feel because the focus is where you need it to be,” says James. “We tried to make a film never seen before that would stay with the audience after they saw it.” He says they were trying to convey a mes-sage of faith and hope. When the film was shot, James and his co-producers did all the editing, including dub-bing in sound effects such as doors closing, footsteps and shotgun fire. “We did it all using Final Cut Pro software on a 17-inch Mac laptop screen,” James says, adding, “and that included laying down our original score.” “Noah” is a feature-length film of out-standing quality. James and his partners at

Identical Films will be retaining all the legal rights. They want to insure creative freedom as they pursue filmmaking. With the film completed, the next step for “Noah” is to be screened at a top-rated film festival. “Since festivals want to ‘premier’ a new film, we are entering the top-tier festivals, like Sundance, and then working our way down the prestige ladder,” explains James.

Next projects Though film is their favorite medium, both brothers are expressing their creativity by writing together, too. “We are adapting an old science fiction script into a novel,” says James. This is new territory for them, but they charge ahead with full confidence. “Whether we come up with good ideas or bad ideas, we are committed to writing every day,” says James. With Johnson, the duo has also recently produced a black-and-white silent film. The Deveney brothers have also been producing music videos for local bands, “which are a lot of fun.” The brothers work part-time jobs, James as a waiter, to save money to move to Los Angeles. “We plan to move out to L.A. in about a year and a half. That’s where the industry is, so that is where we have to go. For us, ‘Noah’ is basically a resume for getting into the business,” says James. “I want to make movies until I am too old to stand!” he says. To view a trailer of “Noah” and keep up with new projects, visit their website at www.identicalfilms.com n

Easton says. “The Gengels have always been so charitable, and it is no wonder Britney reacted to what she saw by wanting to make a difference with the rest of her life by build-ing an orphanage.” Kim Pressey ’88 has had a personal connection to Haiti since she was 13 and participated in the Canal Walk along the Cape Cod Canal annually, raising money for Haiti Besides attending fundraisers, Pressey purchased cement blocks for the orphan-

age and helped bring awareness to the Be Like Brit initiative by promoting it through Facebook and personal emails.

The building process Construction on the orphanage began in December 2010. Len Gengel, Cherylann’s husband and Britney’s father, was in Haiti two weeks out of every month, assisting with the building process. They hired all Haitian workers and built their own factory for producing cement blocks. The Gengels’ sons have been instrumental in the Be Like Brit development, as well.

A tech-savvy adolescent, 20-year-old Bernie Gengel created BeLikeBrit.org, the orphanage’s official website and has visited Haiti many times. Richie Gengel, 17, held a fundraiser at his high school for the past two years and has also visited Haiti several times to help out. The orphanage was completed in January, when the children moved into the facility. Cherylann says she wants the children who are served there to feel Britney’s spirit.“They will be loved, they will go to school, and they will be given opportunities. We want to give the children hope.” n

Haiti Continued from page 15

noaH Continued from page 16


Manning Continued from page 21

MatHeMatiCs Continued from page 19

learning. It opened my eyes and showed me that mathematics is more than just numbers and equations; it is conceptual, artistic and worth exploring further.” CJ Tierney ’16 of Framingham, who is studying criminal justice, said his Math Explorations class offers a new way to learn math. “Instead of a lecture class where you take notes and go home to figure the assignments out on your own, I’m learning hands-on,” he says. Haley E. Batchelder ’16 of Hopkington, an undeclared major, agrees. She says Math Explorations is the first math class she’s actually enjoyed, and the fact that she’s excelling feels great. “We don’t just learn how to do math,” she says. “We learn what math is and why we’re doing what we’re doing.” Professor Christine Von Renesse enjoys learning and teaching about the many connections between mathematics and both music and dance. She is not teaching Mathematical Explorations this semester, but she is prepping for grant program students. Von Renesse is creating a suite of hands-on investigations that involves a maypole ribbon dance. Dancers move in a circle, each hold-ing different colors of ribbon attached to the top of a wooden pole. As the dancers move around the maypole, they intertwine the ribbon into an intricate design. “I wondered, what kind of patterns can you get, and can you pre-dict them and get any pattern you want?” Von Renesse asks. Von Renesse and faculty are designing a host of investigations that students will work on for two to three weeks. “This particular assign-ment demonstrates the fun of being curious about something and trying to figure it out critically,” she adds. The grant terms will spread over four years, and Von Renesse says professors will work to apply for another. “My wish is for students to see that math is fun and to enjoy the challenge,” she says. Do you want to learn more or visit a class to see this innovative teaching in person? Email the grant team at [email protected], or visit artofmathematics.westfield.ma.edu. n

it clear to all of us that he would never return to Brookhaven ‘unless I’m in a pine box,’ ” she recalls. Swaidan’s experience in Mississippi was very different. “I loved the south,” she says. “It was nothing like what I’d heard. There was racism, but the people were very honest about their feel-ings. There was no ‘soft’ racism – when people opened their home to you, you felt their sincerity.” And, there was real diversity at the University of Mississippi. “I met my husband, who is middle eastern, at Ole Miss,” she adds. She also discovered her love of art history. “I have absolutely no artis-tic ability, but I am completely enthralled by the cultural and historical underpinnings of art.” Westfield State benefitted from Swaidan’s own personal diver-

it. “With all the new technology available and the strides that are being made in medicine, I longed to jump back in and teach students,” she says. Then fate stepped in. Manning saw an ad for the position of direc-tor of Westfield State’s new nursing program. “I was fascinated. It was everything I wished for in a program,” she says. “It was new. It was using innovative technology and teaching strategies. The distance was nothing. The job sounded so rewarding.” Manning is currently commuting to Westfield from Tewksbury as her children are still in high school. She is not disappointed with the sacrifice. According to Manning, her premonitions about Westfield State were right on target. “The students are the strongest-knit group I have ever seen,” she says. “I think because they are going through uncharted territory, they stay close.” The program is extremely innovative, offering teaching through simulations with mannequin-like patients at Noble Hospital in Westfield. These “patients” can be resuscitated, receive IVs and develop a rapid heart rate. “With our mannequin patients, our students get to interact with diagnoses they might never experience as a student,” she says. “For instance, at Noble Hospital, our four-patient lab allows us to have the mannequins present with a variety of illnesses and disor-ders,” she adds. “We can even manipulate them to speak, moan and groan.” In order for the program to be most successful, Manning believes that open communication is imperative. “In the fall, we had an open forum about the plans for the depart-ment so that everyone, including the students, feel part of the total endeavor,” says Manning. Partnered on clinical rounds with staff at Noble, Wing and Mercy hospitals and Baystate Medical Center, the nursing students at Westfield State are sure to graduate with many and varied nursing experiences and challenges. Manning, for her part, is not only well-qualified, but thrilled to lead the way. n

sity when she signed on as an adjunct art faculty member in 2005. Coming from teaching Latin and history at the high school level in South Hadley, Swaidan had the opportunity to teach art history – her first love. “I am excited by the type of courses I get to teach here,” she says. “I especially love teaching Afro-American art, which I was introduced to at Ole Miss. I approach its study from a historical perspective, and then we look at their art.” Often, what the students see in the art is the polar opposite of what the media has portrayed. “I like to think of myself as a social justice educator, and art is my vehicle,” Swaidan says. Swaidan is more interested in exploring the history and meaning of art than having students memorize titles, dates and artists. She thinks students are apprehensive that, “I will beat them over the head with racism, but I want to have an honest conversation about the history of racism as portrayed in art,” she says. “I love taking students of color and giving them their history. I get to pay it forward. I got it at Ole Miss, and now I can give it to my students at Westfield State.” n

sWaidan Continued from page 20


A Homecoming Thank You A heartfelt note of appreciation is extended to the Homecoming 2012 Committee and University students, staff and volunteers who devoted their effort and time to ensure the success of Homecoming 2012. Special thanks to the Westfield State Foundation, Inc. and the Westfield State Alumni Association for their support of the day. Our sincerest thanks to each and every individual who attended and to those who worked tirelessly to make Homecoming 2012 a winner. Mark your calendar for Homecoming 2013 Mardi Gras style, October 19.

Westfield State Alumni Year of Service The Westfield State Alumni Year of Service kicked off on Oct. 20, 2012, at Homecoming with a can drive for the Westfield Soup Kitchen. From there, the Office of Alumni Relations and the Executive Council sponsored a series of projects that helped the greater Westfield community and beyond. There is still time for you to participate in this year’s events. Gather your friends, family or community members, decide on a service project, print out the

“Westfield State Alumni Year of Service” banner for a photo and, when done, submit the photo online at westfieldalumni.org/service. Everything helps – collecting cans, cleaning up yards, painting, reading in elementary schools and more. If you have an idea, make it happen. It is our plan to increase the number of photos of our alumni on our website by 40 percent by Homecoming 2013. Please join us by sending in your group’s service photo. (For more information, please contact Alumni President Kelli Nielsen at [email protected] or Kathi Bradford, director of Alumni Relations at [email protected]. Also, see related story on Page 11. Alumni Travel As you are reading this magazine, 48 alumni and friends are touring the Tuscany region of Italy and, in March, 50 traveled to London for a week-long city stay. If you are looking for a fun way to explore the world, check out the upcoming trips in our alumni travel program. In October, we will be headed to Ireland to partici-pate in the year-long program, “The Gathering.” We will then start planning for our March 2014 spring break trip to Europe. We are currently looking at options for February and April 2014 breaks to offer this same excitement to our alumni in education. We hope you can join us. Contact Kathi Bradford at [email protected] with any questions or feedback. Alumni Association Elections 2013 Annually, we elect new council members to the governing body of the Alumni Association. All alumni are welcome to run for a position on the council or to serve as a volunteer on a committee. Interested alumni may nominate themselves for consideration. You can find the nomination and election information on the alumni

alumni newS and noteS

Winter White Swag

On January 26, alumni came together at Sweet Caroline’s in Boston for the Winter White Swag. Tracey Innella Pinto ’85, had a vision to raise funds for the class of 1985 scholarship by holding a classy affair featuring live and silent auctions, delicious food, a great D.J. and guest alumni emcees. Over $4,600 was raised for the scholarship fund while alumni had a great time reconnecting.


website at westfieldalumni.org/elections. If you are interested in serving on a committee, you can find volunteer information on the website at westfieldalumni.org/volunteer. For more information about the process, please contact Kathi Bradford at [email protected]. Reunion 2013 – Come Back to Campus Reunion weekend 2013 will be held June 8-9. Register today to spend an exciting weekend on campus celebrating Westfield State, friendship and reconnection. This year’s key groups, classes ending in 3 or 8, criminal justice majors and our annual participants, the Musical Theatre Guild, are planning a full weekend of fun. Whether you are joining a full class reunion or just have an apartment full of friends that want to return to campus, we would love to have you. The Westfield State Reunion program has grown significantly over the past four years, and alumni who have attended have shared incredibly positive feedback about their return. In fact, this year, the Musical Theatre Guild’s reunion is the third in three years. Please think about serving on a committee to plan your class or group’s return to campus or, gather a group of friends and just come out and spend the night. The full reunion program costs $150 per person and includes three delicious meals, a reception, entertainment (band, DJ and photo booth) and accommodations. New Hall is a gorgeous, air-conditioned building with apartment-style living for you and your friends. Add music, a barbeque on the green, a fabulous evening of dining and dancing and you have a great recipe for reconnect-ing with your friends and the campus. Questions? Please contact Kathi Bradford at [email protected]. Register on line at westfieldalumni.org/reunion. Hope we see you in June.

Commencement 2013 and the Golden Owls Celebration Westfield State University will celebrate Commencement 2013 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield on May 17. Joining in the celebration of the Class of 2013 will be our Golden Owls, including our newest inductees from the class of 1963.

Stay Connected Be sure to keep in touch so you’re in the know about all things Westfield State. Visit our website at www.westfieldalumni.org for news, events, happenings and more. While you are there, why not login and update your information? For first-time logins, your username and password is the same – your first initial, last name and four-digit graduation year (ex. Joe Smith, class of 1999 would be jsmith1999). If you need assistance logging in or have questions about the site, please contact Kelly Galanis at [email protected] or (413) 572-5228.

Westfield State Alumni Store Be sure to stop by westfieldalumni.org and check out all the offerings in our online store. We offer stylish hoodies and crew-necks, camping chairs and diploma frames. All reasonably priced, costs include a partial donation to the Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. Items can be picked up at the Alumni Relations office for free, or we will gladly ship your items to you for a reason-able fee. Place your order today.

Kevin dalton Named 2012 Westfield State distinguished Alumnus The Westfield State University Alumni Association honored Kevin Dalton ’77 of Manchester with its second Distinguished Alumni Award. The honor is a service award designed for an alumnus who has made an outstanding contribution to the community. Dalton accepted the award during the Homecoming 2012 weekend at Westfield State. “Kevin’s commitment to our campus, his service to the commu-nity and his humble nature truly exemplify the spirit of this award,” said Kathi Bradford, director of alumni relations. Dalton said he was shocked by the honor: “My reaction was, ‘Why me?’ There are so many others out there who have done more than I ever dreamed of doing.” The University is entering its third cycle for the Distinguished Alumnus Award. Do you know a Westfield State alum who should be recognized for the work he or she has done to support the campus, their community or others? Is there someone you work with who brings recognition to the campus because of his or her professional accomplishments? Have you served with an alum who volunteers “above and beyond” for his or her community? Please consider nominating one of these people for consideration. The nomination form can be found on the alumni website at west-fieldalumni.org/distinguished. Questions about the Distinguished Alumnus Award can be directed to Kathi Bradford at [email protected]. Please help us honor our alumni who have impacted the world.


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ClaSS noteS

Weddings

2 001 Anne Thomas married Anthony Newman on Oct. 20, 2012. Anne is employed as a managing editor

with CBS 3 Springfield.

2 003Erin Stawarz and Scott Peterson were married on Oct. 26, 2012. Erin earned a

bachelor of science in biology from Westfield State. She works as a research associate with Charles River Laboratories in Wilmington.

2 005Jessica Bobrowski married John Petrone in a September 2012 wedding. Jessica earned a

bachelor’s of science degree from Westfield State and works as an assistant branch manager with Hampden bank.

Kelly Ferreira married Jeremy Outhuse on June 2, 2012. Kelly earned her bachelor’s degree from Westfield

State in business management. She is currently employed as a compliance analyst with Professional Investors, LLC, in Windsor, Conn. The couple lives in Ludlow.

Aaron Quinn married Alyson Hotaling on Oct. 1, 2011. Aaron graduated from Westfield State and is employed

as a case manager with Fidelity Investments in Merrimack, N.H. The couple lives in Jaffrey, N.H.

2006

Jill Facchiano married Dan Unda on Sept. 15, 2012. The ceremo-ny was held at the JFK Memorial in Hyannis. Pictured at the Wequaquet Lake Yacht Club in Centerville are Jill and Dan with their alumni friends Courtney Fallon ’06, Maryellen Scott ’06, Courtney Bachand ’06, Shannon Wilga ’06, Diana Williams ’06, Rosemary Sevigny ’07, Ryan Bernier ’07, Danny DiCamillo ’06, Lisandra Billings ’07, Stephanie Clark ’06, Eric Clark ’07, Tim MacDonald ’05, Kerri MacDonald ’06, Michael Flynn ’07, Sarah Cocco ’07 and Carrie Crowell ’06.

William French and Andrea Gross were married on Sept. 15, 2012. William gradu-ated from

Westfield State and is employed as a machinist with DTS in Chicopee. The couple lives in Holyoke.

2007Amelia Ahlen married Parker Chandler on July 31, 2011. They are both 2007 gradu-ates of Westfield State, and they welcomed many alumni guests to their wedding, includ-ing Tara Phienboupha, Jess Panetti, Brendan Menard, Colin MacEachern, Matt Gustafson, Kim Kordana, Alexis Anthony, Jackie Healy, Monica Chandler, Alicia Chandler, Patty and Curt Robie and Chris Trott.

Brenda LaFogg married David Liimatainen in September 2012. Brenda earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology

from Westfield State and works in child protective services and in-home behavioral services for children.

Dana Smolokoff and David Saunders were married on July 1, 2012. The bride is currently earning her master’s of educa-tion at the University of Massachusetts Boston while student teaching at Randolph High School. The groom is an analyst at Bank of America. The couple lives in Quincy.

2008

Christine Baye married Robert Church in a March 6, 2012, ceremony in the Dominican Republic. Christine earned her bachelor’s degree in science and business management. She is employed as an HR Business Partner with L-3 KEO in Northampton.

Sara Laushway married James Goodwin III on June 22, 2012. James received his master’s degree from

Westfield State and is currently employed as a guidance coun-selor in Springfield.

Ashlee Hazeltine married Jesse Alling on Oct. 13, 2012, in Randolph. Jesse is a marketing manager for Hire Magnet and is also a freelance musician. Ashlee is a senior team lead media project manager for Pearson Learning Solutions. The couple met at Westfield State in 2007 and has been together ever since. They live in Chelsea.


3535

Brittany Lloyd married Michael Chistolini on May 5, 2012. Both Brittany and Michael

graduated from Westfield State. Brittany is employed as a special education teacher with the Burlington Public Schools in Burlington, Vt., and Michael works as an armed guard with Loomis in Burlington. The couple lives in Essex, Vt.

2009

Elizabeth Roy married Charles McDonald on July 21, 2012. Elizabeth is pictured with some of her Westfield State friends and family, including Nick Levesque ’11, Kate Quigley ’09, Cara Becker ’10, David Roy ’14 and Ronnie Riccarelli ’08.

2011Loran Buckley married David Carpenter on July 13, 2012. She is a teacher

with the Holyoke School System.

News1978Bob Benn, Jack Mosko and friends from Westfield State once again participated in the Jimmy

Fund Walk. The group has been doing the walk for many years with impressive fundrais-ing results. Participants included Frank DiSalvio ’78, John Lynch ’79, Bob Mayo ’78, Paulette Gerry, Jill Tutty, Gina Benn, Casey Barry ’79, Tim Sicard ’78, Dan Lunden ’78, Brie Sicard, Joe Seckler ’79, Jacky Mosko, Jack Mosko ’78, Jess LaSage, Chad LaSage ’78; bottom left to right: Captain Bob Benn ’78, Michele Collins, Lynnea Gleason and Jillian Benn.

1983Stephanie DeFerie has pub-lished her 17th play, “The (Almost) True Story of Hansel and Gretel,” with Baker’s Plays. Her adaptation of the classic story by Charles Perrault, “Puss ‘N Boots - A Tale of A Tail,” won first place in the 2010 East Valley Children’s Theatre Aspiring Playwrights Contest and the production netted her an ariZoni Theatre Award “Best Original Script” nomina-tion. The play also won second place in the 2009 NETC Aurand Harris Memorial Playwriting Competition. It premiered at the Harwich Junior Theatre in August 2010 and is now pub-lished by Playscripts.

1986

Chuck Parker ‘88 and Tom Briggette ‘86, members of the leadership team of Workforce Solutions at the University of

Phoenix, show their Westfield State pride at the All Hands Conference in Phoenix. Tom is based out of Atlanta, Ga., and is the territory director for the southeast, and Chuck is based out of Salt Lake City, Utah, and the region vice president for the west.

1989David Dupont, a longtime educator and superintendent of Holyoke Public Schools for the past three years, announced his retirement for June 30, 2013. Dupont is in his 40th year with Holyoke, having previously been principal of Holyoke High School and a teacher, among other duties.

1991Luke Kettles was named senior vice president and chief lending officer at Hampden Bank in August 2012.

In this role he will oversee the organization’s commercial lending functions. Luke earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Westfield State. He serves on the executive board of the Boy Scouts of America Western Massachusetts Council, is a member of the boards for the Westover Metropolitan Development Corporation and the Westfield State Foundation, Inc. and is a member of Rotary International in West Springfield.

Twin brothers Dave and Dean Liptak have a fond

appreciation of their alma mater. Since graduating from Westfield State together, they have opened four health clubs. Two were located in Westfield until 2001, when they were sold when the twins moved to Florida where they opened two more. Dave and Dean also teach high school honors biology and love their jobs. In their spare time, they are also pro-wrestling WCW television personalities. They credit the University with helping them follow their dreams.

1993Shelly Chadwick has been appointed to segment control-ler–process industries within The Timkin Company’s Bearing & Power Transmission Group. Chadwick is responsible for providing financial leadership in all key aspects of the business to support the needs of the organi-zation, drive profitable growth and achieve business plans. Chadwick previously served as assistant controller for The Timken Company, where she was responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of the company’s financial results and external reporting requirements. Active in the community, Chadwick is a member of Leadership Hudson and is treasurer for the local chapter of Zonta International, an organization focused on advancing the status of women worldwide. She lives in Hudson, Ohio, with her family.

1998Steven Gardner has been promoted to store manager of TD Bank at the


ClaSS noteS

store located at 465 North Main St., East Longmeadow. He is responsible for new business development, consumer and business lending, managing personnel and overseeing the day-to-day operations at the store, which serves customers throughout the Springfield region in Hampden County.

1999

Jon Berman ’99 is enjoying life and traveling as a musi-cian. Here he is pictured with Changes in Latitudes in Big Flats, N.Y.

2002Megan Canning Musante and her family love sailing out in the big blue sea. While traveling on the water,

Meg wants to let everyone know where she comes from. She is pictured here with her boat, “Owl’s Nest.”

2003Mills PR in Boston’s Back Bay is pleased to announce that Rhiannon D’Angelo has joined its team as a digital

and media relations specialist. Rhiannon is also a fashion and culture blogger. You can read her blog at www.downtherab-bitholeboston.com.

2007Seth Gemme graduated April 27, 2012, from the University at Buffalo School of Medicine and Biomedical

Sciences. Seth graduated first in his class of 134 with Summa Cum Laude and research honors. Upon graduation, he was awarded Department of Emergency Medicine Scholastic Award for most outstanding academic record in emergency medicine, the Patrick Costello award for the highest grade on the written internal medicine exam, the Stephen J. Paolini Award and the John Paroski Memorial Award for his dedication and compassion in patient care, the Bernard H. Smith Memorial Award for the most outstanding performance in the Neurology clerkship, and the Morris & Sadie Stein Award for excellence in neuroscience. He will continue his training and attend residency at Brown University/RhodeIsland Hospital specializing in emergency medicine.

2011Ted Karavedas is an environ-mental compliance specialist at Tighe & Bond Consulting Engineers of Westfield. Here Ted provides regulatory compliance and permitting support to a wide variety of industrial clients throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. His job is all about ensuring that industrial facilities

are in compliance with environ-mental regulations mandated by state and federal agencies.

2012Lynn Marie Arsenault has been accepted into the Peace Corps. She headed to Vanuatu in October to begin training as an English literacy teacher trainer Peace Corps volunteer. Arsenault will live and work in a commu-nity to improve the quality of education by enhancing teaching skills and methodologies and to work towards higher literacy levels in her region.

deaths

Alumni

1936

1934Margaret Mitchell

1941Elizabeth Colleton

1942Frances Dudley

1944Eleanor Case

1946Shirley Scott 1948Beverly Davis

1951Everett CleggPeter Stathis

1955Jack Moltenbrey

1961Chester Kulis

1967William ManningWilliam MichalskiDonald Prescott

1969Cecelia Nicholas

1970Edward Logan

1971Elaine Garde

1973Michael “Mugga” McGovern

1977Bernard Grummell

1978Raymond Mitchell

1982Sally Barry

1985Mark Gibson

1988Barbara Larabee

2003Deborah Grimm

2005Stephen Maloney

2006Alicia Tirrell

2007James Jackson

2010Cindy Gendron

Faculty and StaffRussell Baker passed away on Aug. 6, 2012. He retired from the Maintenance Department at Westfield State University in 1994.


Supporting Educational Opportunities, Changing Lives Attend a White House policy briefing. Visit an embassy. Discuss foreign policy with Secretary Madeline Albright, or intern at the Democratic or Republican National Convention. University students have been having an impact in our nation’s capital for over 12 years through The Washington Center, a unique integration of academics and real-world experience that over 350 students have taken a part in. A partnership with the University that was established by Professor Erika Pilver and is now supervised by Dr. Maureen McCartney, associate dean of academic achievement, the Center consists of a 15-week program in the fall and spring or a 10-week summer program. Students participate in a Leadership Forum, which provides the opportunity to listen and engage with Cabinet members, ambassa-dors, journalists and members of Congress. Initially a large number of scholarships were available in the state that enabled qualified students to participate, regardless of their financial resources. Recently, funding has been reduced by over 50 percent, launching aggressive fundraising efforts by the Westfield State Foundation, Inc. The combination of challenging curriculum, leadership training and internships has led to dynamic career paths for our students. Nicole Noble ’08 says, “I would not be where I am today if not

for my internship coordinated through Westfield State and The Washington Center. This partnership provided me with an opportu-nity that I never imagined and opened a world of possibilities. I am a full-time federal employee with INTERPOL Washington. “My job has taken me throughout the world on challenging assignments,” Noble adds. “I now have a job that many only dream of – thanks to this life-changing opportunity.” If you would like to sponsor a student through scholarship support, please contact Kandyce Aust, at [email protected] or (413) 485-7360.

Foundat ion

Everyone Wins with Foundation Scholarship Golf Classic

One hundred and thirty-two golfers came out in the rain in October 2012 at the Springfield Country Club for the Westfield State Foundation, Inc., golf classic. Over $25,000 was raised in support of student scholarships, and Brent Bean, director of government and community relations, extends special thanks to the tournament’s major sponsor, Westfield Bank. Bean is also grateful to other businesses that supported the tournament and to the golfers for making a difference in the lives of our students.

Kurt Simard ’08,Nicole Noble ’08, Jim Kelly ’10, Grace Rivera ’09, Brian Bonneville ’08, Thomas Osbourne ’11 and Zachary Madera ’12.

Tyler Beaudry ’14 from the BTP Systems team hits a pitching wedge with the clubhouse at the Springfield Country Club in the background. Tyler’s team won the tournament.

Advancement and University RelationsWestfield State UniversityWestfield, MA 01086-1630

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDWestfield, MAPermit No. 18

Lauded For Service2013 Horace Mann Award recipients John Davies, Dawn Carignan Thomas, Lisa McMahon, and Daniel Smith

Focus Spring 2013

Documents

year of service

stories of alumni

alumni website

hope alumni

alumni association

university alumni

public service

westfield state foundation