From an Admissions' Interview to my classroom - an amazing journey.

Four years ago I interviewed a young woman and her Mom - she had been awarded a Book Award from SMC and that plus subsequent mailings from St. Mike's had piqued her interest.  Her Mom had once lived in Stowe and thought her daughter might like Vermont.  I was asked to interview her because she had expressed an interest in Psychology and because all of the Admission Counselors were out on the road.  We had a very nice conversation and she explained that she had cancer when she was younger - that comment resulted in my sharing that Saint Michael's College has had a long standing and wonderful relationship with Camp Ta-Kum-Ta (TKT) which is a local camp for kids with cancer.  We finished the interview and I wrote up my notes indicating that I thought that she was wonderful and someone who would fit in well with SMC.

Unbeknownst to me, they returned to Florida and the next day the young woman called the Camp and spoke with Hattie Johnson (an SMC alum) about possibly getting involved with Camp.

Fast forward four years and Bri, now an active member of our community, a member of our Fire and Rescue Squad and a senior psychology major is enrolled in MY Practicum course.  We drove to So. Hero yesterday afternoon to talk with Ted Kessler, Executive Director and Hattie Johnson, Director of Development to talk about how Bri can spend her required 8 - 10 hours per week at TKT.  Brianna Atkins is going to be spending her time with special projects, programming AND quality time with kids with cancer and their families.

As we drove back to campus, Bri reminded me of that initial meeting and interview in our Admission Office four years ago - I guess some things just are meant to be!!!!!

The picture is of the newly completed chapel on site in So. Hero - the flagstones with names on them leading up to the chapel are the names of some of the "kids with cancer" who have attended camp there over the years.

Take good care, be well and, as always, please keep all of the members of our military and their families AND all of our veterans and their families in your thoughts and prayers.

Dave

Lunch AND dinner - great way to end the semester

Today is my last day of classes - my Sports Psychology class meets this afternoon and then the grading begins.  Yesterday was the last day for my Practicum class - they have met with me for 2.5 hours each week for the entire academic year.  They spend 8 - 10 hours per week at their internship sites and have done an amazing job of not only representing Saint Michael's College in our community, but in gaining valuable experience in the world of social services.  It has been an honor to have you all in my class this year.

Yesterday was also the last day of my Men & Masculinities class - this group of 15 men and 15 women have pushed their boundaries, stepped way outside of their comfort zones and produced an exceptional class - their willingness to share their own stories, to NOT be afraid to show who they really are and their ability to "grow" even when it was uncomfortable speaks volumes for this group.  The picture is of the last of the five "dinner at Dave's" which I hold in my home each semester.  I am truly blessed to be able to work at Saint Michael's College and am so proud of all of my students. 

As always, please keep all of the members of our military and their families AND all of our veterans in your thoughts and prayers.  We were lucky this semester to have a veteran of the Afghanistan war in our class - his insights and the experienes he shared, while NEVER easy for him, benefitted the rest of us more than we may have thought possible. 

Also please keep those in the path of the tornadoes in many parts of our country in your thoughts and prayers - such incredible destruction......







Dinner at Dave's - last of five :)

Student Veterans of America barbecue on campus

Yesterday afternoon the SMC chapter of Student Veterans of America held an on-campus barbecue which brought some of our 23 current student-veterans together with non-veterans as a way to "get to know each other better" event hosted by the SVA.  President Jack Neuhauser is pictured with Alex Black and Josh Milner who are the current leaders of our SVA chapter.  They also honored Zaf Bludevich whois retiring in June after 40 years at Saint Michael's College.  Zaf has been a fixture around this campus and has been very supportive of our veterans.  They presented Zaf with a medallion which recognizes his support.  The other pictures are of students - some veterans and others non-veterans who came together to just simply get to know each other better.  As any of you who have read my blogs know, I always end my blogs with a simple request that you keep all of the members of our military and our veterans in your thoughts and prayers - these are good people who contribute so much to this College and to our Country.......

Dinner At Dave's and guests SKYPING into class.

In the Spring semester, I offer my Men & Masculinities class for 15 men and 15 women, all second semester seniors.  This is the only course at the College that specifically deals with men's issues and the only one with a balance of the sexes.  Part of class requires my students to read Linda/Max Ciampoli's book CHURCHILL'S SECRET AGENT - this is a novel based on the true life experiences of Max during World War II when he was a spy for Winston Churchill at the ages of 17,18 and 19.  Students read the book, write an essay entitled "could I do what Max did" and then I send these off to Max, now 91 years old, and Linda.  After they have a chance to read my students' essays, we SKYPE them into class and my students get to "meet" Max and Linda.  We did this on Monday night this week and it was an amazing educational opportunity and a very emotional one for Max.  When Max and Linda got married, she knew nothing of his experiences during WWII.  Over time and with her love and understanding, he revealed what he had done.  HIS goal in writing this book is so today's youth NEVER FORGET that what happened way back then can happen again IF we don't remember our history.  Given that the day before we SKYPED, three Jews were killed in Kansas simply because they WERE Jewish and that this happened the day before Passover, a Jewish Holiday, Max, a Catholic, but someone who believed so passionately in the worth of every human being, became very emotional as WE talked with him in class.  What a gift to my students to be able to read a book, write an essay about that book and then experience an opportunity to "meet and talk with" the authors. 
After class and SKYPING, I had the fourth of five "dinner at Dave's" at my home - students love coming to a professor's home and having a chance for a home cooked meal off campus - I usually have to throw them out around 11:15 as I have to get up for work the next day :)

Take care, be well and as we head towards Commencement, please keep all of our seniors in your thoughts and prayers as they leave this place they have called home for the past 4 years.  Also, please keep all of the members of our military, their families and all of our veterans in your thoughts and prayers too.....

Dave