Class of 2011Looks Ahead Centenarians A.C.T. Up for Tolerance and Change

Historic Third Trip to the NCAAs!

The Centenary Marriage Proposal...One Year Later

Fall 2009

The Centenarian CSummer 2011

The magazine for friends and alumni of cenTenary college

C Centenary MOMeNT

For Centenary College Fashion Design majors, the Senior Fashion Show is years in the making. Fashion students often begin conceptualizing their fashion collections as sophomores and juniors. Throughout their senior year, students translate their design vision to a final collection of 12 garments for the senior runway show, which this year was held on April 28, 2011. The event was produced by Fashion Merchandising students enrolled in the “Fashion Coordination and Promotion” class.

Big Night on the Runway

The Centenarian 1

2View from the Dome

The latest news and notes

from Centenary College.

5Great Graduates

Meet four outstanding

graduates from the Class of

2011 as they reflect on their

Centenary Experience.

8A.C.T. Out!

Centenary students are

committed to action,

change and tolerance.

10Q&A

Senior Vice President for

College Relations and Marketing

Diane Finnan talks about her

new role at Centenary and her

plans to engage more alumni

and build on the College’s

success.

DepartmentsCyclones Update ... 12

Class News and Notes ... 14

The Last Word ... 24

On the Cover:Katelyn Fleming ’11, a

Centenary equestrian, was one

of this year’s 454 graduates.

ContentsC

Heart & Sohl Photography, Hackettstown, N.J. The Centenarian 1

For Centenary College Fashion Design majors, the Senior Fashion Show is years in the making. Fashion students often begin conceptualizing their fashion collections as sophomores and juniors. Throughout their senior year, students translate their design vision to a final collection of 12 garments for the senior runway show, which this year was held on April 28, 2011. The event was produced by Fashion Merchandising students enrolled in the “Fashion Coordination and Promotion” class.

Big Night on the Runway

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2 The Centenarian

VIeW FrOM THe DOMe

May Commencement 3 individuals and H.E.A.R.T 9/11 honored

Four-hundred and fifty-four graduates joined the

ranks of Centenary alumni when the College held

its 136th May Commencement on May 14, 2011.

The ceremony marked the accomplishments of an

outstanding group of graduates (see Cover Story

on Page 5) and also recognized three individuals

and one organization with awards and honorary

degrees.

Keynote speaker Ruth Arndt Gumpel ’11 HA,

a Holocaust survivor, addressed Centenary’s

graduating class. Gumpel is a frequent lecturer

in the United States and Germany. Her story was

one of the subjects of the book “Survival in the

Shadows: Seven Jews Hidden in Hitler’s Berlin.”

The College also awarded honorary degrees to

Robert Cacchione ’11 HA and Alan J. Shaw ’11 HA. Cacchione is the founder and Executive

Director of the Intercollegiate Horse Show

Association (IHSA), which he established in 1967 so

college students could ride and compete regardless

of ability or financial status. His support of

Centenary’s Equine Studies program and Equestrian

teams has been significant. Cacchione has

appeared at many IHSA competitions and events

held at the Equestrian Center at Centenary, most

recently speaking at the second annual “Building on

Equine Excellence” event last November.

Shaw has been a member of Centenary’s Board of

Trustees for 20 years. He has served as Treasurer of

the Board and Chairman of its Finance Committee.

He is the Vice President for Finance and Operations

of the CCM Business Unit at BASF and has served

as Treasurer for the Morris-Sussex Council of the

Boy Scouts of America.

The Dominick V. Romano Volunteer Award for

exceptional community service was awarded to

H.E.A.R.T. 9/11, a nonprofit organization that is

comprised of veteran police officers, firefighters,

construction trade union workers, surviving

families of those killed on September 11, 2001,

and others who share the belief that people can

help themselves by helping others. H.E.A.R.T. 9/11,

through its volunteers, developed the physical

capabilities and national network to respond

to disasters and mass trauma. The group has

successfully completed more than 20 deployments

throughout the United States and abroad.

Port Authority Police veteran Bill Keegan and retired

F.D.N.Y. Captain John Viola, both of whom served

selflessly on 9/11 and its aftermath, accepted the

award on behalf of the organization.

NEWS FROM CENTENARY COLLEGE

Welcome to new Jersey “Soprano State” screening at Centenary

Centenarians rolled out the red carpet for filmmakers Steve Kalafer ’09 HA and Peter

LeDonne on April 20, 2011, for a special screening of “The Soprano State: New Jersey’s Culture

of Corruption” in the Sitnik Theater of the David and Carol Lackland Center. Kalafer, who

produced the Academy Award-nominated “Sister Rose’s Passion” and “The Diary of Immaculee,”

served as producer for the new documentary; LeDonne is the film’s director.

The well-attended 90-minute screening was followed by a question-and-answer session with the

filmmakers. Audience members peppered Kalafer and LeDonne with questions about the making

of the documentary, which has been called “a wild ride of power and corruption.” Political leaders,

including Hackettstown Councilwoman Maria DiGiovanni and State Assemblymen John DiMaio

and Erik Peterson, also attended the special screening.

2 The Centenarian

Pictured (L to R): Assemblyman erik Peterson, producer Steve Kalafer ’09 HA, Hackettstown Councilwoman Maria DiGiovanni, Centenary College President Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite and Assemblyman John DiMaio.

Keynote speaker Ruth Arndt Gumpel ’11 HA.

H.e.A.R.T. 9/11 received the Dominick V. Romano Volunteer Award.

The Centenarian 3

Gates-Ferry Lecture Series 2011Centenary’s Gates-Ferry Lecture Series returned

this year with a focus on Irish culture, economics

and politics. A series of four thought-provoking

presentations were held in March and April with

world-renowned experts in the field.

Esteemed speakers included: Brendan O’Leary,

Lauder Professor of Political Science at the

University of Pennsylvania, who has written

extensively on national, ethnic and communal

conflict and its regulation in Africa, Asia, Europe

and the Middle East; Cormac Ó Gráda, Professor

of Economics, University College Dublin and

Princeton University, who has written extensively

on European and American economic history; Mick

Moloney, Global Distinguished Professor of Music

and Irish Studies, New York University, a noted

musicologist and performer who has interpreted

Irish contributions to American music in the 19th

and 20th centuries; and Breandán Mac Suibhne,

Assistant Professor of History at Centenary College,

who spoke on the subject of “Spirit, Specter, Shade:

A True Story of an Irish Ghost.”

Named in honor of former College Trustee Joseph

R. Ferry and funded by the Ferry Gates Family, the

Gates-Ferry Lecture Series is designed to enrich

the Centenary experience by bringing distinguished

individuals to campus for lectures, workshops and

other cultural events.

ready for the real World Centenary College Career Services hosts career preparation workshops

Recent Centenary graduates entered the job market

with relevant college degrees as well as information

and experience gained from a three-week series

of career preparation workshops presented by

Centenary College Career Services in March

and April. Workshop topics covered everything

from résumé writing to use of social media and

networking in a job search, to career search

tools, business etiquette and mock job interviews.

Centenary alumni, administrators, local business

leaders and several members of the College’s Board

of Trustees participated in the workshops and

provided great insight and feedback to graduating

students.

Director of Career Services Michael Iris ’07 called the series “a wonderful opportunity for our

students. We would like to arm Centenarians with

knowledge and skills giving them a competitive

advantage in the job market.”

The Centenary College Career Services Department

bridges students to alumni through career

networking and community service by providing

tools, experiences and connections that enable both

students and alumni to lead fulfilling careers and

lifestyles.

Garden State Woman of the yearGarden State Woman has

named Centenary College

President Dr. Barbara-

Jayne Lewthwaite the

2011 Garden State

Woman of the Year in the

category of Education.

“It is a pleasure to

honor Dr. Lewthwaite

in this manner,” said

Garden State Woman

founder and Editor Judy

Chapman. “She has

been an integral part of

the implementation of

higher education in the

State and deserves to

be recognized for her

contributions.”

Mock Interview and etiquette Dinner held on April 11, 2011. Pictured (L to R): Sarah Brelvi, Chief Professional Officer of United Way of Northern New Jersey, Warren County; Norman Worth, Centenary College Trustee; Devin Bajpai, Management Consultant; Dorian Alu, Career Services Coordinator at Centenary College; the Rev. David L. Jones ’03 HA, Vice President for Student engagement; Tilly-Jo emerson, Centenary College Trustee; the Hon. Dr. Howard L. Burrell, Centenary College Trustee; and Trish Varn Mahaffey ’75/’78, Coordinator of Study Abroad and Internships at Centenary College.

Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite

Gates-Ferry Lecturers Professor Breandán Mac Suibhne (left) and Professor Mick Moloney (right).

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4 The Centenarian

Champions! Centenary sweeps nationals for second time in three years

The Centenary College Equestrian Center is

going to need a bigger trophy case. Once again,

the College’s Equestrian Team swept team and

individual honors at the Intercollegiate Horse

Show Association (IHSA) National Championship

on May 5–7, 2011, in Lexington, Ky.

The Centenary team emerged victorious in

the Collegiate Cup team competition and the

prestigious USEF/Cacchione Cup individual

championship sponsored by the United States

Equestrian Federation. This was the second time in

three years the team has achieved this impressive

feat. Kathryn Haley ’14 was instrumental in the

Centenary team victory; the 2010 winner of the

USHJA Emerging Athletes Program, Haley won the

blue ribbon in the final class, the Open Equitation on

the Flat. The Cacchione Cup went to team captain

Marissa Cohen ’11, who bested 36 hunter seat

riders. Cohen rose through the ranks during her

Centenary career, winning national titles including

the Individual Intermediate Fences in 2010 and the

Team Intermediate Fences in 2009.

“This is such an outstanding victory for Centenary,”

said Associate Professor of Equine Studies and

Chair of the Equine Department Kelly Martin Munz.

“This second win in a short period of time is a

testament to the strength and diligence of our team

and individual riders.”

ribbon Cutting for WntIWNTI Radio (91.9 FM) celebrated its new home in

the David and Carol Lackland Center with a ribbon-

cutting ceremony on February 24, 2011.

It’s academicMembers of the Centenary faculty have recently

been published or presented at academic

conferences:

Bioscience — The May issue featured an article

that studied the effects of a contaminated estuary

on five species, co-authored by Dr. Lauren Bergey,

Assistant Professor of Biology.

The American Biology Teacher — The

January issue contained an article co-authored

by Dr. Amanda Orenstein, Assistant Professor of

Biology. The article was entitled, “A Proposal for a

Common Minimal Topic Set in Introductory Biology

Courses for Majors.”

Americas Conference on Information Systems — At this international conference held

in Lima, Peru in August 2010, Professor Thomas

Barto, adjunct faculty member, presented,

“Deterring Adolescent Dependency on Text

Messaging: A Conceptual Model and Framework

for Behavior Control.”

“This second win in a short period of time is a testament to the strength and diligence of our team and individual riders.”

Professor Kelly Martin Munz

VIeW FrOM THe DOMe

The 2011 Championship IHSA Team.

Marissa Cohen ’11

Photo: Tricia Booker

The Centenarian 5

Great Graduates

the Class of 2011 Looks aheadThe 454 students who became Centenary graduates at May Commencement are an accomplished group. The Centenarian spoke to four members of the Class of 2011, Janovnah Roland ’11, William Atkinson ’11, John DiSanto ’11 and Randi Cashman ’11, about their Centenary Experience and the exciting future that awaits them.

William Atkinson ’11 and Rob Urie ’11 walk at May Commencement.

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6 The Centenarian

Randi Cashman ’11 Simply the Best

A few days before May Commencement, Centenary Equestrian

Randi Cashman ’11 was in Lexington, Ky., where her team

swept the Collegiate Cup and individual honors at the International

Horse Show Association (IHSA) National Championships. A few

days after graduating with a degree in Equine Studies, Cashman

began her dream job, training and riding horses for Top of the Line

Stables in Chestnut, N.Y.

The new equine professional says she feels completely prepared

for her chosen occupation. Though Cashman grew up on a farm

and is the daughter of equine professionals (dad Peter Cashman

is the zone chairperson of the IHSA and Equine coach of the U.S.

Military Academy at West Point), her Centenary education took

things to a whole new level. “It’s not only the knowledge you gain,

but also how personal [your education] can be. I never once felt

nervous about approaching a professor with a question or issue.”

Competing as an equestrian and managing a challenging course

load was an intense commitment, but throughout her four years

Cashman consistently exhibited grace under pressure. “It’s a lot of

work,” she admitted. “I probably put too much time into the team,

but I managed it. I don’t mind being under pressure.” Stepping

into the next stage of her life, Cashman felt confident that she had

taken full advantage of one of the nation’s outstanding Equine

programs.

“I have been to every Equine college in the country and

[Centenary] is the one,” she said. “We have the best horses, the

best coaches, the best professors and overall, the best Equine

program there is in the country.”

COVer STORY

William Atkinson ’11 “A Good Fit”

The schedule for a student-athlete can be grueling, as practice

and game schedules often compete with academic demands.

During his four years at Centenary, basketball standout William Atkinson ’11 adroitly juggled those activities — and more.

“Basketball was a lot of fun and it was great to be a student-

athlete,” said Atkinson, a Criminal Justice major from Hazlet, N.J.

“But my work in the classroom always came first and athletics

came second.”

Recruited out of high school to play for the Cyclones, Atkinson

ultimately chose Centenary, not for its basketball program, but

for its prestigious Criminal Justice major. While on campus, he

took advantage of a number of resources, including tutoring in

the Academic Success Center, to assist him with the day-to-day

workload of academics and athletics.

Centenary’s intimate class sizes also enabled Atkinson to interact

with his professors and classmates. “The biggest thing that

benefited me was the small size of my classes,” he explained. “It’s

a very comfortable setting, so you’re not afraid to participate. And

the professors are very qualified.”

Atkinson also found time to take part in service initiatives at

Centenary, including Midnight Run, which sends students into

New York City to assist the homeless. As he prepares to begin his

career in law enforcement, he values the support he received both

in the classroom and on the court.

“Centenary was definitely a good fit for me,” he said.

The Centenarian 7

John DiSanto ’11 CAPS and Gown

Five years ago, John DiSanto ’11 hit a roadblock in his banking

career. He had missed out on a promotion because he lacked a

college degree. “It was the wakeup call I needed,” the Morristown,

N.J., resident recalled. “I knew that in order to get anywhere, I

needed a college degree.”

After doing a bit of research, he enrolled in the Centenary

Adult and Professional Studies (CAPS) program, an accelerated

degree for working adults. DiSanto earned a degree in Business

Administration with a concentration in Management at the CAPS

satellite learning center in Parsippany.

“Being in class with other adults who have real-life experience was

tremendous,” said DiSanto, who now works as a financial services

representative at ADP. “The thing I really, truly like about the CAPS

program is that a lot of classes stress teamwork. You learn to

tolerate the differences in other people if you are going to function

as an effective team. In corporate America today, that’s big. Before

I began the program, I didn’t fully grasp that.”

As a nontraditional student, DiSanto appreciated the flexible schedule.

Having one night set aside for class each week “simplified life.”

The professors, he added, “Exposed us to the real-life experiences.

I think that’s one of the biggest things the professors in the CAPS

program bring into the classroom.”

DiSanto recently married Melissa Barry ’06, Director of

Freshman Enrollment at Centenary, but said the College made

juggling his academic, professional and personal lives very

manageable. “It was difficult to find a balance in the beginning,”

he recalled. “Once you become organized, then you know how to

balance everything. You can find the time to earn a degree.”

Janovnah Roland ’11 Finding strong academics and a second family

When Janovnah Roland ’11 considered college, the aspiring

accountant searched no farther than her own backyard. That’s

because the Mansfield, N.J., resident, who lives just steps from the

Hackettstown border, knew Centenary College has a well-rounded

accounting program.

But when she arrived on campus, she discovered more than

strong academics. She found a second family. Enrolled in the EOF

(Educational Opportunity Fund) program, Roland has received

financial, emotional and career support from Centenary’s EOF staff

members, who seek to strengthen retention among first-generation

college students.

“They are very much like my family at school,” said Roland, who

is the first in her family to complete college. “If I had a problem,

whether it was school-, career- or family-related, there was always

someone there to listen to me. They’ve been very supportive.”

An Accounting major who plans to pursue a master’s degree in

International Business at Florida International University, Roland

gave back to the program that meant so much to her by tutoring

fellow EOF students. She was also inducted into Chi Alpha Epsilon,

an honor society that recognizes EOF students for academic

excellence, and has worked on campus as a resident assistant.

During her years at Centenary, Roland lent her professional skills

to help others through two internships. Last year, she provided

free tax assistance to low-income families and seniors at the

Hopatcong Senior Center, while this year she put her accounting

expertise to work through an internship at Mackenzie Keck

Construction in Rockaway, N.J.

“The internships made my career more real to me,” the dedicated

student commented. “In the real world, debits don’t always equal

credits. My internships put everything I learned in the classroom

into real life for me.”

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8 The Centenarian

Members of A.C.T.

A.C.T. Out!Centenary students pay it forward by working for social change.

he inscription was simple, yet powerful: “In memory of Tom,

after a lifetime of bullying.”

Written on a beautiful paper butterfly, the message honored

the cousin of a Centenary student who had committed

suicide at age 33 after years of bullying because of his

sexual orientation.

Hundreds of butterflies adorned with personal messages and pleas to end

hate speech fluttered on campus last fall, the impetus of a new student group

dedicated to effecting social change wherever students see a need.

In just its first year, A.C.T. (Action, Change, Tolerance) has conducted petition

and letter-writing campaigns to register students’ displeasure with statewide

aid cuts to libraries and colleges, battled domestic violence and hate speech,

and fostered environmental stewardship through energy savings and a

campus community garden.

Formed in spring 2010, the group was the brainchild of Mariel Mota ’11,

who wanted to provide an outlet for students to act on important social

issues. “I was catalyzed by the 2008 presidential election,” explained Mota, an

English major with a concentration in Creative Writing. “For myself and many

of my peers, it was our first political moment. We had a lot of opinions, but

nobody acted on any of it.”

Mota has a longtime commitment to helping others, spending the past seven

years working with severely and persistently mentally ill individuals. In the fall

she plans to attend law school and specialize in mental health care advocacy.

“I’m very much a believer of the philosophy that if you don’t like something,

you have the power to change it,” she said.

Starting small, she organized several meetings to garner support from

Centenary students and administrators. It did not take long for the group’s

first cause to appear: fighting statewide budget cuts that had been proposed

for New Jersey’s libraries. A.C.T. members, assisted by members of the

Omega Rho fraternity, manned tables for three days asking students to fill out

postcards protesting the cuts and mailing them to state assembly members.

“It was a good issue to start with,” recalled Mota, noting that the group

printed 2,000 postcards for the effort. “No matter what your political

T

CentenarIanS SeRVe

(L to R): Founder of A.C.T. Mariel Mota ’11 and A.C.T. Vice President Rachael Scardelli ’11.

“We hope that our students’ actions at Centenary inspire others to do the same.”

Rachael Scardelli ’11

The Centenarian 9

alignment, everybody uses the library. As students, we needed the databases

that would have been lost.”

Other efforts soon followed, from hosting a “date night” dinner and movie

to raise awareness about domestic violence to organizing a concert with

hot apple cider and cocoa as an alternative to parties that could encourage

underage drinking.

The group’s flexibility to respond to emerging issues is a real strength,

according to Jared Harel, an Adjunct Professor of English, who serves as

A.C.T. co-advisor with Dr. Dean Bethea, Associate Professor of English.

“A.C.T. prides itself on working on issues as they happen,” explained

Professor Harel. “The students see the greatest needs and react to them.”

That has included responding to several tragedies in the Hackettstown area,

as well as organizing a clothing drive for less fortunate individuals and families

and assisting a small congregation in Pennsylvania with painting its church.

The decision to help the church was an easy one, since congregants share

many values with A.C.T., Mota said.

“The church congregation donates a lot of their tithing to charity,” she noted.

“We’re very fortunate in our lives, so we figured we should pay it forward.”

In addition to responding to the needs of others, A.C.T. members hope

to spread the movement to other campuses by providing a framework to

establish local chapters around the country. While Mota and A.C.T. Vice

President Rachael Scardelli ’11 have graduated, a new team of officers

and more than 25 members stand ready to carry the torch.

“We hope that our students’ actions at Centenary inspire others to do the

same,” said Harel. “Campuses are living bodies that can enact change.”

While campus and community issues often populate A.C.T.’s agenda,

sometimes national and international events spur members to action. One

such issue was the tragic suicide of Rutgers University freshman Tyler

Clementi as a result of online bullying because of his sexual orientation.

In a weeklong campaign, A.C.T. sought to raise awareness of the negative

impact of hate speech, even if it is unintended. The drive zeroed in on

homophobia and other forms of bullying. As part of the effort, the group

sponsored an open mic talent show called “Centenary A.C.T.s Out Against

Hate.” Members also collected signatures and messages on paper monarch

butterflies from more than 600 students, faculty, administrators and staff

members who pledged to be more aware of how their speech affects others.

Recalling the student who memorialized her late cousin on a butterfly, Mota’s

voice broke. “I still get choked up when I think about it,” she said. “The

butterflies were very visually powerful and it was amazing to see people’s

reactions. It’s one of the things I’m probably most proud of in my life.”

A.C.T. Out!Centenary students pay it forward by working for social change.

answering the Call: Help for Japan

When an 8.9-magnitude earthquake rocked Japan

in March, Dr. Joseph Linskey, Dean for International

Programs, immediately thought of the 13 students

from Japan attending Centenary this year.

“As soon as we found out, we started contacting

all of them,” he said, noting that all hands were on

deck in his office to safeguard the well-being of

the students. “We were lucky that all 13 had no

family or friends in the earthquake area. But they

were still extremely worried about the impact on

their country.”

So were others in the Centenary community. On

campus, the Northwest New Jersey Regional

Women’s Center donated proceeds from gift

shop sales to support the relief effort. Meanwhile,

across the country in California, clothing and

jewelry designer Rebecca Miko Horikawa ’03

created a wristband she now sells through the

label, “miko,” to raise funds. Her husband, Shunzo Horikawa ’03, hails from Japan and was visiting

family there when the quake struck. Luckily, the

couple’s family and friends survived the disaster.

So far, Rebecca has sold more than 360 wristbands,

which retail for $5 and feature the phrases “I Japan” and “Don’t Give Up, Japan!,” through the

Internet. All proceeds benefit JAPANEED$, an

organization dedicated to funding relief efforts,

including a group that has come to be known as

the “Sendai Samurais,” who bring food, water and

other supplies to survivors in at-risk areas.

“There are lots of people who are getting the help

they need,” said Horikawa. “However, there are

still many who couldn’t make it to the shelters

and are living without clean water, electricity or

other things that we may take for granted every

day. I knew JAPANEED$ was the organization

for me and they welcomed me with open arms. I

love how 100 percent of the donated money goes

directly to this group to fund their relief efforts.”

Go to relief4japan.storenvy.com or

facebook.com/relief4japan to purchase a bracelet.

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tyPe HeReadVanCInG CeNTeNARY

Diane Finnan thrives on opportunity. As head coach, she guided the Women’s Basketball team to the NCAA Tournament. As Director of Athletics, her leadership was instrumental in the development of the College’s NCAA Division III programs. When she was appointed Vice President for enrollment and Strategic Branding, Centenary became New Jersey’s fastest-growing independent college. Now, the Senior Vice President for College Relations and Marketing talks about her newest role, and the opportunities it creates for alumni and Centenary.

Q: You have been part of the Centenary community since 1994. What brought you to the College?

A: Well, prior to my life at Centenary I was the assistant

Women’s Basketball coach at Georgetown. The year I

left, Georgetown made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA

Championships and so that was a really exciting year. But I

had a choice to make. My mom had breast cancer and I really

wanted to be home, so I moved back to New Jersey. She beat

cancer for about three years, so it was great to have that time

with her.

What drew me to Centenary was its size and location. The idea

of working at a small, private college appealed to me and I really

loved the mountains and the northwest corner of New Jersey.

Q. As an administrator and professional, do you feel like you have “grown up” at Centenary?

A: I do. I’ve spent most of my adult career here, 17 years in July.

I had a lot of opportunities to do different things and work with

different groups, whether they be students, faculty, Trustees,

advisory boards, community groups and organizations, or, in this

new role, alumni.

Centenary is a great place for growth. If I had stayed at

Georgetown I probably would have been an assistant coach for

10 years and then moved on to be a head coach somewhere

else. I wouldn’t have had all the opportunities to get involved in

so many areas of the College.

Q: How do these experiences inform your approach to managing new opportunities?

A: You definitely get the breadth and depth of knowledge

for what each department does and the challenges they face.

There’s an insight there that’s very helpful in my role because

I understand the whole campus and I think it’s been a very

valuable experience for me. I feel I have a good understanding

of how most of the areas of the College work and operate.

Q: So now that you are tasked with leading development at Centenary, how would you describe your new role?

A: The way I’m approaching it is to generate new ideas and

creativity and to encourage alumni and friends to give to what

they’re passionate about. People want to give when they feel a

connection, so a lot of our efforts focus on partnering, whether

it’s identifying a passion or area of interest for an alumni gift or

working with faculty on grants that will make their academic

programs stronger.

Finnan at herFinest Q&A with Centenary’s new Senior Vice President

for College Relations and Marketing

The Centenarian 11

Q: The Office of Strategic Advancement recently went back to its former name, the Office of College Relations. How come?

A: We wanted to be more approachable to people and go back

to what alumni remembered. The team in this department works

with alumni, it works with current and former College Trustees, it

works on town-gown relations. It is the relationships that we’re

building and so that’s what makes sense.

When you have a new person at the helm, change is never easy,

but I think the staff in the Office of College Relations is fantastic.

The work they do in keeping people connected to the College

is so important. We all get caught up in our busy lives and lose

track of our college mates and you don’t always keep up with

friends as you would like. But alumni can follow us on Facebook,

they can log onto the Alumni website to reconnect and the staff

is really in tune to facilitating that. We’re trying to be conscious of

how people want to be communicated with, and we’re trying to

listen to what the needs of alumni are and meet them.

Q: What immediate goals have you set in terms of development?

A: Having come out of two back-to-back capital campaigns,

the College really needs to shore up specific areas. So it’s about

breaking it down into doable tasks. Now that the David and

Carol Lackland Center has opened we have many spaces on

campus that need updating. The President’s Initiative involves

special projects like upgrading the Career Center and refurbishing

lounges in the residence halls to improve the student experience.

One of our top priorities is to get a turf field and home practice

field for our student-athletes that will keep our programs

competitive.

The biggest need, however, is the endowment. We really need

to focus our attention on growing it. We have a $3.2 million

endowment which is clearly not enough money for an institution

of our size. We want to figure out what benchmark is going to

make Centenary whole, healthy and stable for the future.

Q: The alumni that you have met in your travels represent different eras in the life of the College. Do you see a common thread?

A: I think there is a common bond. Graduates are grateful for the

Centenary Experience they had, whether it was in 1950 or now.

Centenary transformed their lives, it was the place they grew up,

it was the place they learned how to think and be challenged by

faculty, and they made friends for a lifetime.

If there was one thing I would want alumni to know, it is that

we’re headed in the right direction. The marketing and branding

we have done has gotten us a lot of name recognition in the

State; a lot of people are talking about Centenary and I think that

is making our alumni proud. Right now we have alumni out in the

world who are incredibly successful people. We have outstanding

graduates in industry, in education, in the equine world, overseas

in the international student population, who are in positions to

really help the College if they are willing to give back. Reaching out

to them and getting them involved in giving back is critical to our

future.

Diane Finnan was appointed Senior Vice President of College

Relations and Marketing in February. Prior to that, she served as Vice

President for Strategic Enrollment and Branding, Director of Athletics

and Head Coach of Women’s Basketball, among many other roles.

Finnan, who also played Division I Basketball for Northwestern, was

inducted into Centenary College’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011.

Senior Vice President for College Relations and Marketing Diane Finnan.

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12 The Centenarian

CyCLOneS UPDATe

The second half of the 2010–2011 Cyclone season was just as exciting as the first with more wins, new service initiatives and a second Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) Championship.

What a Year!

a third trip to the nCaasCentenary College scored its third trip to the

NCAAs this year when the Women’s Softball

team defeated three-time defending champion

Neumann and clinched its first Colonial States

Athletic Conference (CSAC) Championship on May

7, 2011. Women’s Soccer earned its first NCAA

Tournament berth last fall.

The Softball team set a program record with

19 conference victories in 2011. Catcher

Cara Montferrat ’13 earned First

Team All-CSAC, CSAC Player of

the Year and CSAC Tournament

MVP honors as well as National

Fastpitch Coaches Association

(NFCA) First Team All-East-

Region. Outfielder Caitlin Veverka

’12 also took home First Team All-

CSAC and NFCA First Team All-East-Region

accolades, and outfielder Jen Vasta ’12 was

recognized with Third Team accolades by NFCA.

The season came to an end when the seventh-

seed Lady Cyclones fell to third-seed

Middlebury on May 13, 2011, in the first

round of the NCAA Tournament.

Scoring High in Competitionand in the ClassroomIt is no secret that Centenary’s

nationally ranked Wrestling team

has made its mark on the mat.

Now, the No. 8-ranked squad in

the nation has earned accolades

in the classroom. The National

Wrestling Coaches Association

(NWCA) honored the team with a

Division III Scholar Team Award for

posting the 10th-best grade point

average in the country and the

highest GPA of any Metropolitan

Conference team. Named Division

III Scholar All-Americans were

Dave Alsieux ’11, Matt Regan ’11, Jon Stillo ’11, Jose Vega

’12 and Owen Vernon ’12. Five

Cyclones competed in this year’s

NCAA Tournament and three —

Will Livingston ’11, Tim Lutke ’12

and Chris Burdge ’14 — achieved All-American

status. In addition to the trio, Alsieux and J.D. Zitone

’13 made it to the Tournament. Burdge was also

named Freshman of the Year by d3wrestle.com and

Metropolitan Conference Rookie of the Year.

Big-Hearted athletesFor Centenary student-athletes, the desire to give is

just as important as the desire to win. Just ask the

Lady Cyclones Basketball team, which rallied the

campus to raise money for pediatric cancer.

Called a “Day for David,” the game night event

included selling T-shirts and bracelets, collecting

The Women’s Softball team clinched its first CSAC Championship and moved on to the NCAA Tournament.

Jose Vega ’12

Matt Regan ’11

Chris Burdge ’14

Cara Montferrat ’13

The Centenarian 13

donations and donating money raised through

admissions in honor of David Heard, a 10-year-old

boy who recently lost a courageous battle with

neuroblastoma, a cancer that attacks the nervous

system. David was the son of Susan Heard, Director

of Enrollment Operations and Strategic Branding at

Centenary, who has set a goal to raise $25,000 for

the St. Baldrick’s Foundation for Pediatric Cancer by

September.

In addition to the tremendous fundraising effort,

more than 20 members of Centenary’s athletic

department and campus community shaved their

heads after the game to show their support for

children fighting cancer.

The Women’s Basketball team isn’t the only Cyclone

squad to give back to children recently. Ten

members of the Men’s Soccer team signed on this

spring as volunteer servers and waiters at the 23rd

Evening of Stars benefiting the Boys and Girls Clubs

of Newark, N.J.. Patrick Bourland ’13, a defender

on the Men’s Soccer team who has worked for

event caterer David Ellis Events for the past three

years, fostered the link between Centenary and the

caterer.

Home-run KingAnthony DeSomma ’12 slammed three home runs in a doubleheader

against Baptist Bible last season. The catcher and designated hitter

knocked in six runs on the way to the Cyclones’ double victory.

Cyclones reap CSaC HonorsA roster of Cyclone student-athletes recently earned

Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) honors.

Men’s Basketball team second-team honors went to

Rob Urie ’11, while William Atkinson ’11 was

named to the CSAC Sportsmanship Team. Jen Vasta

’12 and Marissa DiStasio ’11 led the Women’s

team, taking first team and sportsmanship team

honors, respectively.

In Women’s Lacrosse action, Lady Cyclones

Danielle Bay ’12 and Meredith Bruce ’12 were

named to the first team, while Alysia Pinkerton ’13

and Nicole Judd ’13 made second team. Pinkerton

was also named to the sportsmanship team. For

Men’s Lacrosse, Conor Nolan ’13 and Robert

Nuzzolese ’13 were named to the second team.

Hometown HeroesHome is the charm for the Centenary Golf team, which placed second at the Cyclone Spring Invitational

at High Bridge Hills Golf Club. Cyclone golfers Sean Kelley ’11, John Manos ’12 and Brian Criscuolo

’13 all placed in the Top 10.

Brian Criscuolo ’13

Through a “Day for David,” Women’s Basketball raised money for pediatric cancer.

Jose Vega ’12

Matt Regan ’11

Chris Burdge ’14

Rob Urie ’11

Meredith Bruce ’12

William Atkinson ’11

Jenn Vasta ’12

Marissa DiStasio ’11

Danielle Bay ’12

Alysia Pinkerton ’13

Nicole Judd ’13

Conor Nolan ’13 Robert Nuzzolese ’13

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14 The Centenarian

CLaSS neWS AND NOTeSC

1937 Ruth Mortensen Houghton Holmes20 Blueberry Lane, Apt. L347Falmouth, ME 04105(207) 781-0999rholmes4@maine.rr.com

1939 Carol Olsen-Voorhees40 Sergeantsville Road Flemington, NJ 08822-1584 (908) 782-5373 corkyjo@netzero.net

1942Edith (Edie) Bolte Kutz4561 Oak Tree Court Delray Beach, FL 33445 (561) 498-4388ediekutz@aol.com

1943 Georgine Hill Mendillo222 Harbour Drive #212 Naples, FL 34103-4071(239) 649-4708

Georgine Hill Mendillo writes: “Ann Clendenin Joseph still lives in Bucks County, Pa. She has three sons — one is a professor in Calgary, Canada, and one son lives with her. She still loves to drive her

car — remember?? Jane Schlegel Reid-Anderson moved from Florida two years ago to Lowell, Mass. Her two daughters live near her there. She had some health problems, but is fine now. Marcia-Marie Weber Canavello has moved from her son’s house to an assisted living home in Brewster, Cape Cod. She finally sold her house and is happy where she is living.

I have been living in Naples, Fla., for 25 years. I do a lot of volunteering at the Philharmonic League of Art and Theater. My husband and I hope to move back to Connecticut.”

1944 Virginia (Ginny) George Hook553 Rosemont Ringoes RoadPO Box 93 Sergeantsville, NJ 08557-0093(609) 397-0553

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How to Submit news & notesThe next Class News and Notes

deadline is October 21, 2011.

News and information can

also be submitted directly to

the Alumni Relations Office at

alumni@centenarycollege.edu.

Alumni GatheringsIn New Jersey, Baltimore and Florida, Centenary alumni are reconnecting and discovering the many exciting developments happening at their alma mater.

3

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Centenary Alumni Luncheon at the Quail Creek Country Club in Naples, Fla., last March. Pictured (L to R): Marcia Moore Jones ’58, Lynne Thomas Taylor ’60, Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite and Nancy Musser Nicholson ’63.

Centenary Alumni Reception in Baltimore, Md. Pictured (L to R): the Hon. Stanley Kula ’07, Director of Major Gifts, Centenary College, Bobbie Fiske Mildenberger ’67, Mary “Muffy” Deeley ’68, Mianna Schoenfelder Jopp ’67, Carol Blankenship Davis ’67 and Pamela Swiss Nixon ’67.

Alumni from Florida’s East Coast were inducted into a newly established Centenary Alumni Chapter last March. The event took place during an East Coast Alumni Luncheon in Boynton Beach, Fla. Pictured (L to R): Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite, Edie Bolte Kutz ’42, Sandy Moody ’59, Susan Gordon Posner ’58, Adelaide Van Winkle ’08 HA, Joy Riddell ’58 and Doris Pontery Meese ’50.

The Centenarian 15

1945 Barbara Wheatley Murray89 Kensington Road Bronxville, NY 10708-1406(914) 337-2134

Barbara Wheatley Murray writes: “I’m sorry to have missed the last news, but my husband was ill and had some serious health issues to confront. It’s the first occa-sion I’ve missed in many years. Janet Cady Newill sent a long Christmas letter with the wonderful activities she and her doctor husband, Vaun, have had throughout 2010. They live in a Presbyterian retirement village in Pennsylvania and have served as officers there when they’re not traveling to family reunions or activities for their church. Mary Conover Evans puts a lot of us to shame with her jobs as an active realtor and a hospital volunteer. Her health remains excel-lent and she has lots of energy. Phoebe Parry-Jones Tyler has been widowed twice and lives alone in a townhouse in Plymouth, England, with her cat, George.

She has two children, Susan and Peter, and two grandchildren. We have kept in close touch over the years and call each other on our birthdays.

Marilyn Kohart Smith remains in good health and has five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. Gloria Hansen Pretzfelder has had some setbacks with heart surgery, but does not let anything keep her down. She is back volunteering at her local hospital. She is full of news and expects to visit her daughter, Gail, and her wonderfully accomplished three ‘grand’ boys, two of them twins. Gail and her husband live in Florida and have their own successful business. Marie Sutter Kammenzind is living in an assisted living community in California and still plays bridge and participates in varied activities there. Florence Harbosch Lloyd writes that her daughter and her husband, Paul Blishka of the Metropolitan Opera, will remain in New York. Paul, who has had a long, success-ful career at the Met, is not ready to give it up. Flo and her husband continue to enjoy

6 7 8

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9

Alumni GatheringsIn New Jersey, Baltimore and Florida, Centenary alumni are reconnecting and discovering the many exciting developments happening at their alma mater.

Once a Cyclone, always a Cyclone! A group of Women’s Softball alumni gathered in April for the annual Alumni Softball Game.

Centenary Adult and Professional Studies (CAPS) alumni gathered in Sona Thirteen on May 5, 2011, in Morristown, N.J.

angel of Mercy

Personal tragedy is nothing new to international speaker and author Koko Tanimoto Kondo ’66. A survivor of the Hiroshima atomic blast, Koko has channeled her experiences into a mission of healing and hope for children and adults whose lives have been torn apart by war, natural disasters, mental illness and other tragedies. Since that fateful day in August 1945, when the 9-month-old Koko and her mother lived through the bombing and the collapse of their home, she has remained firm in her resolve to spread her message of peace. The daughter of a Methodist minister, Koko received a scholarship to Centenary College and later studied at American University before returning home to Japan with her husband, who is also a minister. As a member of the organization Children as the Peacemakers, Koko visits children in countries such as Iraq and Russia, where she met with kids whose school was bombed by terrorists in 2005. “I went there because I thought I could stand beside those children,” she recalled, noting that she could relate to the terror the children felt. Her message also attracts the attention of international leaders. She once met with Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the Soviet Union, to ask that he consider reducing his nation’s nuclear arsenal. Koko’s international persona stands in stark contrast to her role as a minister’s wife in Miki City, Japan. She handles routine tasks such as answering the telephone and office work and lends comfort through visits to congregants. The mother of two adopted daughters, she also helps to place children in homes through adoption. Today, the earthquake and tsunami that devastated portions of Japan have led Koko to once again reach out, this time to a church congregation in the northern part of the country. The first floor of the church had been washed away by the raging waters. The minister, whom Koko had helped to raise while living in Osaka, had escaped just before the tsunami hit. Now, she is arranging for the congregation to receive assistance from a ministry team, including psychologists. “It will be a long process,” she noted, asking the Centenary community to pray for survivors of the quake. “I am still working on whatever I can do to help them.”

Koko Tanimoto Kondo ’66

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16 The Centenarian

CLaSS neWS AND NOTeS

fishing. Emilie Douglass Rosenkrans plans to visit her son and daughter-in-law in Italy, where he is stationed. Lois Schilke Schermerhorn continues to live in Dallas, Texas, and enjoys her large extended family of children, grandchildren and great grand-children. I had a nice call from Dorothy Osha Kallusch when she moved to Ardsley in Westchester, not far from me — and I intend to call her soon. All my time recently has been spent taking care of my husband and I’ve had very little time for myself. My oldest son and his wife are com-ing from Michigan to give me a hand. I look forward to their visit. Please write or call and give me your news.”

1946 Dorothy Latchford Lota418 Boxcar WayValrico, FL 33594-6812(813) 661-5032

1947 Helen Eckhardt SheehyP.O. Box 987Amagansett, NY 11930-0987(631) 267-8984heckhardt62@optonline.net

Helen Eckhardt Sheehy writes: “ I am on my way to Sanibel, Fla., this week to join my Colorado daughter, Susan Sheehy Thorpe ’69, for a month of relaxation. Would love to hear from more of you.” Mary Ellen Welburne Collins’ husband is still going to his law office every day. That is, when they are not traveling to their grand-children’s graduations and weddings. Last year they also took a river cruise on the River Elb. Glen Saxe Wheeler is in a nurs-ing home in Cockeysville, Md. Didi Koppe Byrnes and husband are keeping busy with family and activities at their retirement village in Whiting, N.J. Ruth Fleming has left her home where she grew up and has moved to a senior residence. Barbara Seguine Lineburg still has her wonderful sense of humor so well remembered by classmates from Centenary. She loves her home and living in Noank, Conn., with family nearby. Rosemary Janes MacQueen reports that she and her husband are semi-retired. Jack is farming while Rosemary enjoys several groups. Their granddaughters are finishing college and a grandson is working as a mechanic for NASCAR. Pat Terhune Hoffman gave Rosemary a new Centenary alumni T-shirt. Mary Fisher Rossell is doing well at home in Park Ridge, N.J., and summers on Cape Cod. Barbara Martin Brodeur enjoys living in Arizona, where she is active in the Rotary Club. Barbara attended the dedication of the new David and Carol Lackland Center and reports that the front entrance to the College is now on the side! Helen has also heard from Wenla Gronroos ’56 [now Wendy O’Neill]. Wendy found Helen through an old alumnae

bulletin and is living nearby. The friends plan to meet for lunch in the near future.

1948 Naoma Muller Morgenstein 8027 San Vista Circle Naples, FL 34109-7177(239) 591-0577naomaquilts@comcast.net

Naoma Muller Morgenstein writes: “Hi everyone, I have not heard from anyone in our class and usually I might, at least, hear from one classmate. How about sending a note to me and at least let us know how you are? We had a wonderful gathering of alumni from the West Coast of Florida on March 16, 2011, at the Quail Creek Country Club in Naples. Robert N. Reeves, Jr., was our gracious host. I do wish more of our area alumni would try to attend the luncheons. Centenary President Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite, along with Professor Shane Fitzpatrick and several of the staff, greeted us. Professor Fitzpatrick spoke on ‘Centenary and the World: The New Global Humanitarian Service Project.’ He was most informative and interesting. It was wonderful to hear about the opportunities that our cur-rent students have and what they are accom-plishing while learning. Dr. Lewthwaite briefed us on the changes on the campus ... facility-wise as well as academically. It was great to note that Centenary is doing well during the current economy.”

1949 Florence Austermuhl Larson5925 Poppy St.La Mesa, CA 91942(619) 469-7385Rob.Larson@gcccd.edu

Florence Austermuhl Larson writes: “We were glad to see a picture and hear that Peggy Bolte Castle was at Centenary for the past Homecoming and Alumni Weekend. There were several deaths of classmates over the past year and we lost Carol Bierschenk on March 5, 2011. We had wonderful times together. Evelyn Dries Mathews was Carol’s roommate and she has many memories of the fun things they did together. Evie and her husband are planning a trip to the Pacific Northwest. Audrey Henn Nawoschik still struggles with physical problems, but has both her sons living with her in Spring Valley, N.Y. Nancy Morrell McClatchie does the accounting at her insurance company and works with her son and two grandsons. Doris Little Osterhoudt is on the Board and Transportation Committee of her retirement village. She is also part of a singing group. Florence Austermuhl Larson’s son and his wife returned from a two-week trip to Turkey and the Holy Land and had the family to their house for Easter. Florence and her husband have had a new 60-foot deck put on the back of their house

and are enjoying relaxing and having meals there.”

1950 Ann Messenger-Viau260 Chatham RoadHarwich, MA 02645-3365 (508) 432-1049

1951 Eleanor Decker McNaugher504 Laurel Oak DriveValencia, PA 16059-8781(724) 625-4299edmjrm@consolidated.net

Eleanor (Cindy) Decker McNaugher writes: “Hi Class of 1951! I’m your new class correspondent. I hope you will mail, call or e-mail me as soon as you can, so I can begin to pass your news on to the other members of our class! I am married to John McNaugher and live at the St. Barnabas Retirement Village (north of Pittsburgh, Pa). We have four daughters, seven grandchil-dren (four girls and three boys) and even two great-granddaughters! Please get in touch with me — if you live close, it would be fun to get together!”

1952 Carla Bloecher Derner70 Lincoln AveFlorham Park, NJ 07932(973) 822-0650nibbs01@aol.com

1953 Drusie Fox Jenkins208 Linden Ponds Way, Apt. CL 601Hingham, MA 02043(781) 740-1769drusiej@verizon.net

Drusie Fox Jenkins writes: “Happy spring to everyone, and after one of the snowi-est winters in memory, we are glad to see flowers and trees budding out here in New England. Not many classmates have writ-ten to me for this issue of The Centenarian, so I do hope to gather more news for the next issue. We are busy and happy here in Hingham at Linden Ponds. Another year has flown, and we’ll soon head for Chatham for the summer. We did spend two weeks over Christmas and New Year’s this year with our two boys and their families coming from Houston. It snowed the week before, so our youngest granddaughters, ages 4 and 7, had a ball on my old Flexible Flyer. We look forward to having our four children and seven ‘grands’ come to the Cape at various times in the summer. Joan Gosnell Birch always visits the Cape for a month, as her son and his family live in Harwichport. We keep hoping to make a lunch date. One final note: after limping around for a long time, I finally gave in and had a right knee replace-ment in February. All went very well, and what a treat to walk without pain.”

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16 The Centenarian

The Centenarian 17

Ellen Rosenau Lawrence now lives in Blue Bell, Pa., and spends two months on Longboat Key, Sarasota, Fla., for February and March. Ellen’s twin grandsons attend Washington University in St. Louis and the University of Illinois. Another grandson attends Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania and volunteered in Ecuador last summer. Ellen and her husband, Gordon, enjoyed a wonderful trip to Italy. Pat Nowack Thompson keeps busy in California, but has some sad news to report. Gail Dodge Williams Smith passed away on December 6, 2010, in California. Barb Ashworth LaMont also kept in touch with Gail, as well as Vangie Roby Sweitzer, who continues to have difficult eye problems. Vangie still remains busy in Pennsylvania, where she and her husband, Donald, have lived for a number of years. Bev Oetjen Imgrund and husband, John, winter in Florida, and spend the rest of the year in New Jersey. The couple has eight grandchildren, and the entire family man-ages a vacation together each July. Bev sees Nancy Cunningham Paris often, as they have a place at the shore not far from the Imgrunds. Nancy, Judy Burt Eppinger and Ginny Smilie Wilson reunited this past winter in Stuart, Fla. Nancy is in touch with Dixie Wilson Bolte, who also resides in Florida. Nancy and her husband traveled to Amsterdam and Switzerland. She has two granddaughters, ages 9 and 10, a grand-son, age 3 1/2, and three more school-age grandsons.

Margie Holmes Brown wrote with the sad news that her husband, Ken, died sud-denly on March 27, 2011. His service was held in Connecticut. Our condolences to Margie from the Class of ’53.

L to R: Judy Burt Eppinger ’53, Nancy Cunningham Paris ’53 and Ginny Smilie Wilson ’53.

1954 Gwen Kennedy Butz36750 US Highway 19 NorthPalm Harbor, FL 34684-1239(727) 943-3772jackbutz@aol.comBox 255 Quechee, VT 05059(August and September)

1955 Eleanor Rausch Greene2411 NE Pinecrest Lakes Blvd.Jensen Beach, FL 34957-6648(772) 334-8006richardgreene@bellsouth.net

1956 Phyllis Cotter Graf46 Dennison RoadEssex, CT 06426-1351 (860)767-2328ggraf2@comcast.net

Phyllis Cotter Graf writes: “My hus-band, George, and I spent Christmas at our condo at Jiminy Peak, Mass., with daughter, Kimberly, and family. Six-year-old Kami is very much into her second season of skiing and could be seen passing by the window with her ski class. We also took a Southern Caribbean cruise for a change of pace from the snow in Connecticut. There is too much to do in Essex (not complaining). George looks forward to sailing the boat this sum-mer and is still working part time. I am co-chair of the Essex Garden Club annual May Market (our big fundraiser). It is lots of fun and a great group of women. Still enjoy my tennis groups, too.”

Beverly Tideman McMullin and her husband, Bob, are in the process of building a new home in Faysto, Conn., after 33 years at their home at Mad River Stables Farm. They took a winter vacation in Florida to visit their son, Bill, and his partner in Wellington, where they train and show Dressage horses. The couple’s other son, Bob, and his wife live in Kazakhstan, Russia. Debbie Morse McNutt and husband, John, live a busy and active life at The Bridges in Orlando, Fla., with frequent visits from her son, Chip, and her daughter, Helen. Sally Roy Boulanger and her husband, Bob, enjoy their winter home in Ft. Myers, Fla. They boat and have season tickets for Red Sox spring training games. Grandson Ethan plays baseball at St. Lawrence University and attended spring training in Ft. Myers. Grandson Bryon, from Texas, is an excellent ice hockey player and will play in a National Hockey Tournament this winter.

Phyllis Cotter Graf ’56 and husband George with granddaughter Kameron Borden.

Carpe diemEquine graduate operates successful equestrian facility

When opportunity knocked several years ago, Annabel Benito ’04 answered. Being in the right place at the right time was half the equation that led to Annabel opening her own equestrian business. The other half: lots of experience, with a healthy dose of hard work.

After her graduation from Centenary College, Annabel landed positions as a trainer, manager and rider for several New Jersey farms. While she enjoyed the work, she yearned to start her own business and started researching other options.

Then several years ago, Annabel’s employer announced her intention to sell the business. The young entrepreneur seized the opportunity and the result is Altea Equestrian Services, a state-of-the-art facility in Califon, N.J., offering boarding, training, lessons, horse show coaching and sales.

“I felt ready,” she recalled. “I had enough knowledge, experience and mileage on the road at horse shows. I felt confident enough to take on the challenge of opening my own business. It all just fell into place.”

Altea Equestrian is not your typical 9-to-5 business, but Annabel’s days as a competitive rider at Centenary helped to prepare her for the grueling pace of working and often living on the road for horse shows. She competed on the College’s ANRC (American National Riding Commission, Inc.) team, as well as the IHSA (Intercollegiate Horse Show Association) English and Western teams.

“Nothing can really prepare you for the real-life scenario of living out of a suitcase on the road,” she explained. “But in terms of horse care, training, commitment, dedication and the hours you have to put in, Centenary was really good preparation for me.”

While employers in the field value experience, Annabel said Centenary has a great reputation for producing highly qualified equestrian professionals. “I think the school just keeps getting stronger and stronger,” she noted. “In my end of the industry, people feel confident hiring Centenary graduates. The professionals hiring in this industry definitely want to know about your real-life experience. But a degree from Centenary is an added bonus for sure.”

Annabel Benito ’04

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1957 Alice “Baynes” MacLea Hobbs2814 Canyon Creek DriveSan Angelo, TX 76904-7004(325) 944-3017baynes@verizon.net

Baynes MacLea Hobbs writes: “Connie Bookbinder called to say she was in Florida and attended the Alumni Luncheon at the Quail Creek Country Club in Naples on March 19. Carol Shepp McCain, Judy Greer Lamy and Connie were able to get together. Carol Faunce Short and Sarah French Morarity were not able to join them. Mally Holmes Wilkinson is planning to visit Margie Wright Dwyer. In Texas, we have been busy fighting wildfires. Three fires came within a few miles of San Angelo and it was pretty scary. Fortunately only a few homes were destroyed and no loss of life. Today, May 2, 2011, is the first rain we have had since February. Hope to hear from you all next time.”

1958 C. Joy Riddell 101 East McNab Road #210Pompano Beach, FL 33060-9278(954) 781-9315joyriddell@gmail.com

1959 Ann Hufnagel Rafferty249 Long LaneUpper Darby, PA 19082-4020(610) 352-9516araffert@adphila.org

Thais McAleece Haines1950 Hovsons BoulevardToms River, NJ 08753-1519(732) 255-2772thaishaines@gamil.com

Doll Spach Siegel10 Hartley Farms RoadMorristown, NJ 07960-7045(973) 236-9669

Ann Hufnagel Rafferty writes: “I would love to include news from others in our class besides myself. I am still working at the Archdiocese of Philadelphia and just celebrated my 72nd birthday, as I am sure many of you have been doing this year. I manage to visit my family in Virginia and Connecticut once every month. My only two grandsons live in Wilton, Conn., and three of my granddaughters live in Virginia. One of my sons lives in Maine, but he manages to get to Virginia for our big Thanksgiving celebration and I do see him in the sum-mer at our cottage in Owls Head, Maine. Everyone here at work calls me the traveling Nana. Over Christmas, I had the pleasure of visiting my youngest son, his wife and my two granddaughters in California. They live in Newport Coast, so we were able to visit

the beach a couple of times. Unfortunately it rained six out of the 10 days I was there, but we had fun anyway. Have a good spring and summer. I know all of us on the north-ern East Coast are looking forward to it after our snowy, cold winter.”

1960 Gail Sylvester Longstreth 239 Halemaumau StreetHonolulu, HI 96821-2055(808) 373-4490rlongstreth@hawaii.rr.com

1961 Joyce Fierro Velzy1253 NW Bentley Circle Apt APort St. Lucie, Fl 34986(772) 873-9008129 Stanwood RdMt. Kisco, NY 10549(914) 666-5328 joyvelz@juno.com

Joyce Fierro Velzy writes: “After the Save the Date for our 50th Reunion went out, I received the following e-mail from Bob Henning, the husband of Mary Alice Sykes Henning: ‘I am sorry to inform you that Mary Alice passed on January 25, 2011. She had fond memories of her time at Centenary and would have loved to attend and meet some “old” friends. We had a won-derful marriage of almost 47 years. She was my lover, wife and best friend and I miss her terribly.’ What a lovely tribute to our class-mate. In March 2011, my husband, Bob, and I attended the Centenary College East Coast Alumni Luncheon in Boynton Beach, Fla. Alumni from the Florida East Coast were officially installed as an Alumni Chapter. Though there are several classmates in this area from our class, I was the only member of the Class of 1961 attending. It was a lovely event and, as always, it was a pleasure once again meeting Centenary’s President, Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite, and chatting with Stan Kula from the College.”

Marg Hinkel Leed moved to Kansas City five years ago from Central Pennsylvania. She is having a great time with her daughter and grandchildren. Two sons, who live in Kentucky and Georgia, visit as their sched-ules permit. Marg would love to hear from any Centenarians from the Class of 1961; her e-mail address is hleed@kc.rr.com.

The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire is beginning a search for a new Bishop and Mary Nash was elected a delegate from her parish to the Diocesan Convention (a three-year term). Sandy Holroyd Carboni and her husband, Harry, enjoyed a cruise to Alaska. They are looking forward to a visit from Carolee Clark Norton and her significant other, who will be running a marathon in Providence, R.I., which isn’t far from Willimantic, Conn., where Sandy and Harry live.

Crockin’ the House

No two days are ever the same for Christina D’Alessandro ’08, sponsorship coordinator for Live Nation, the world’s leading live entertainment and e-commerce company. In fact, her job is as far from a 9-to-5 gig as you can get. “Everything is different every day,” said Christina, who coordinates front-of-house setups for event sponsors at venues including the PNC Bank Arts Center. “I’m meeting cool people all the time. In the corporate world, I get to work with real decision makers. I’m also starting to dabble in backstage production, so sometimes I get to meet performers. I’m learning every day and that’s exciting for me.” A Sociology major at Centenary, Christina first discovered her knack for event coordination when she volunteered with an on-campus effort to raise money to support rebuilding efforts undertaken as a result of Hurricane Katrina. Noting her organizational talents, a Centenary Sports Management professor suggested that Christina apply for an internship during her senior year with Positive Impact Partners, an East Rutherford-based event coordination firm. She jumped at the chance, spending part of her final semester developing programs to draw more fans to Seton Hall University basketball games. Four days before graduation, she landed her full-time job with Live Nation. In addition to front-of-house setups, the Caldwell, N.J., resident also handles sponsorships for events, including Bamboozle, a three-day music festival at the new Giants Stadium in April that drew more than 100,000 people. For the past two years, she also arranged a unique opportunity for Centenary to claim the rights as the PNC Bank Arts Center’s sole College Education Sponsor. The program Christina assembled enables the College to market academic programs to young adults attending events at the venue. Visit www.centenarycollege.edu/ontour to learn more about Centenary On Tour. Today, Christina credits the education she received at Centenary with opening doors for her to pursue the career she loves. “My classes and my professors helped me to figure out what I’m good at,” she explained. “It helped me to open my eyes. I tell interns I interview today that I really have a dream story.”

Christina D’Alessandro ’08

18 The Centenarian

The Centenarian 19

At the end of March, Deborah Sisbower Lingwood wrote that there was still a foot of snow around their home in Maine and that they could still ice fish on their lake!

Ted and Gail Scagliarini Prince took a 14-day cruise through the Panama Canal in March. Doris Nicholson Clark and her husband, Larry, have been living in Tucson, Ariz., nearly 10 years, where they play a lot of golf. Doris still enjoys playing bridge, which she learned at Centenary. Having worked for United Airlines for many years, Doris wonders “what happened to New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago and United Airlines, which was such a big part of my life?” Janine Thomas Levitch and her husband took a cruise to Norway with stops in Oslo, Kristiansand, Bergen and Stavanger, to name a few of the ports.

Stan and Nancy Heimert Zabka visited their son, Guy, and his family in Nashville, Tenn., recently. “We’ll be spending some of our time at Little League games cheering our grandsons on and playing ‘princess’ with our 4-year-old granddaughter.” Guy is A&R Director at Centricity Music and his wife is publisher at Essential Music. The music video that Nancy’s son, Bill, directed for the Rascal Flatts’ single, “Why Wait,” was nominated for Music Video of the Year by Country Music Television. A group of Centenary girls gathered together for a weekend in the White Mountain area of New Hampshire. Missy (Nancy) Keely Bell, Honey (Mary Ellen) Williams Fisher, Carolee Clark Norton, Lois Arvidson Sack, Van (Judie) Van Wettering Whitmore and two non-Cen-tenarians, Ann Marie Gallagher and Joyce Tuttle, climbed the beautiful, huge mountain via a creaky, old train.

L to R: Class of 1961 members Missy (Nancy) Keely Bell, Honey (Mary Ellen) Williams Fisher, Carolee Clark Norton, Lois Arvidson Sack, Van (Judie) Van Wettering Whitmore and Ann Marie Gallagher.

1962 Judi Braddock Andrews1635 Swansea PlaceWestlake Village, CA 91361 (805) 497-1268judiand1635@yahoo.com

Judi Braddock Andrews writes: “I am so pleased we’re beginning to receive some news from our CCW sisters from the Class of ’62. Betsy Wendel Dingledy is living in Indio, Calif., for winters and spends sum-mers in Glacier National Park. Gail Marran Griffin has been in Cupertino, Calif., for

16 years. Gail and her husband have two kids in Chicago, one in Ridgewood, N.J., and one in San Diego, Calif. They also have six grandkids and to round off their family, a new puppy, Chelsey. Patricia Leslie Finneran spends winter months in Sarasota, Fla. She has six grandchildren in Westchester, N.Y., and does not like to be away for long periods of time. Patty keeps busy fundraising for two hospitals. Linda Johnson Heinl lives in Winter Park, Fla., and we look forward to meet-ing and discussing “who we know” on her next trip to Florida. Sandie Grant Stahr e-mailed that she is living in Lake County, Fla., and her Centenary roommate, Joanne Duffy Jones, resides in Ocala, Fla. Sandie suggests a Florida CCW reunion. In late January, my husband, George, and I spent the day with Judy Colton Christensen and her husband, Dano, while they were enjoying their annual Florida vacation. Oh, the stories! We met Betsy Zweier Paxton and her husband, Jim, last November in Clearwater, Fla., for the fun-filled week-end. It was the annual Chi Chi Rodriguez Foundation Golf Tournament to benefit at-risk children. When home you can find the Paxtons in Baldwin, Md., or Bethany Beach, Del. I still keep in touch with my dear friend, Bobbi Bidwell Gallagher ’61, Solana Beach, Calif., who continues to tear up the tennis court. Oh, to have an ounce of that talent! Miss Rhodes ... help? Looking for-ward to connecting with more CCW class-mates—let’s hear from you. Our reunion is in 2012. Time to start planning!”

Linda Van Winkle Watkins writes: “The end of February was a gathering time for Patsy Nason Stewart (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Ginni de Bruyn Kops Mackenzie (Richmond, Va.), Judi Robinson Jeremiassen (Palm Desert, Calif.), Gail Baldwin Simmonds (Wyndmoor, Pa.), and Linda Van Winkle Watkins (Mystic, Conn.). All of us descended upon Connie Bowen Trask’s home, “Tabby Manse,” one of the beautiful historic homes of Beaufort, S.C. We enjoyed an incredible five days of catching up, shopping, lots of chatting and reminiscing. Also had conversations about the upcoming 50th Reunion. Go to alumni.centenarycollege.edu for details on the Reunion in October 2012.

Classmates from CCW 1962 reunite in South Carolina. (L to R): Gail Baldwin Simmonds, Linda Van Winkle Watkins, Patsy Nason Stewart, Connie Bowen Trask, Judi Robinson Jeremiassen and Ginni de Bruyn Kops Mackenzie.

tuning in to the Job Market

When Amy Wilpert ’08 graduated from Centenary College, the economy had just collapsed and jobs were scarce. But not for this hard-working Communication major with a concentration in Broadcast Journalism. An internship she landed right after graduation was the perfect segue to full-time employment with Greater Media, Inc., owner of two radio stations. A native of Frankford, N.J., Amy had earned her associate’s degree from Sussex County Community College before transferring to Centenary. Juggling a full-time job at an Italian restaurant with full-time studies left little room for outside activities or internships.

That was when Trish Varn Mahaffey ’75/78, the College’s Coordinator of Study Abroad and Internships, stepped in with a practical suggestion: Amy should schedule her internship after graduation. “Trish’s suggestion made everything so much easier,” said the Centenary alumna, who is now an Account Executive with Greater Media’s WDHA-FM 105.5 and WMTR-AM 1250. “I finished my courses and could walk [at May Commencement], then I just had to complete my internship.”

Once on the job, Amy started putting the practical knowledge she had gleaned from her Centenary classes to work in the real world working in the promotions department and writing commercial scripts for clients. The internship convinced her to pursue a career in sales. She landed her full-time position just a week after the internship ended, despite the tough economy. “I never thought I wanted to do sales,” admitted Amy, who plans to pursue a Master’s degree in the future. “It’s a field that has a lot of potential.” “I was very fortunate to finish an internship and start a sales position a week later,” she explained. “The professors at Centenary are very one-on-one and I was able to understand the radio field. When pitching clients, I really know what I’m talking about.”

Amy Wilpert ’08

The Centenarian 19

Do you have a Centenary story to share? Forward your submission or idea to editor Eric Strauss at strausse@centenarycollege.edu for a future edition of The Centenarian.

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20 The Centenarian

CLaSS neWS AND NOTeS

1963 Janice Babcock Johnson312 Fiedler RoadMaple Glen, PA 19002-2714 (215) 628-3642jjgolf@comcast.net

Janice Babcock Johnson writes: “We had another mini-reunion in Bonita Springs, Fla., this year. Eight classmates and spouses got together for a couple of days. Thirteen of us went out to dinner on Friday and then 17 of us spent the evening at our rental house. We had great fun reminiscing about our two years at CCW and catching up on our lives from then until now. Eight of the nine girls were all in Brotherton dorm and have remained close friends through all those years. We are already looking forward to a repeat next year!”

Classmates from CCW 1963 reunite in Florida. Top (L to R): Judy Renner Parsons, Karen Hagmann Irvine, Penny Shoemaker Kramer, Connie Huff Cosbar and Doris Willoughby Leahy. Bottom (L to R): Nancy Frost Bowman, Nancy Reynolds Boyd, Janice Babcock Johnson and Karen Vanderbeck Fox.

1964 Carolyn James Harbourt661 Hillcrest BoulevardPhillipsburg, NJ 08865-1444 (908) 454-8979cbharbourt@earthlink.net

1965 Claire Kilpatrick Michlovitz47 South Curtisville RoadConcord, NH 03301 (603) 715-1298foxpersonone@comcast.net

1966 Judith Loveman Noonan24 River Glen RoadWellesley, MA 02481-1640 (781) 237-1483judnoonan@aol.com

Judy Loveman Noonan writes: “I received a phone call from Liz Hurley and we enjoyed reminiscing about our Centenary days. She is happy and busy with family and friends and I’m sure would love to hear from former classmates. Liz reminded me that it might be a good idea to start plan-ning our 50th Reunion. We’d like to know who else would be interested in joining us, and the best way to reconnect with former classmates. If you have any news and views please send them to me so they can be shared. Thank you and I look forward to hearing from you!”

1967 Barbara Leighton Faulkner6761 Pheasants RidgeHudson, OH 44236-3265(330) 653-6826lauraleightondesigns@windstream.net

1968 Linda Klebe Larsen15214 Brier Creek DriveHaymarket, VA 20169-6205(703) 753-6462lklebelarsen@comcast.net

Jean Anderson Webb6559 Jay Miller DriveFalls Church, VA 22041-1134(703) 354-1725jwebbelo@gmail.com

1969 Elizabeth Braun Andreini825 Ketch Drive #301Naples, FL 34108-4183(239) 262-3837ebandreini@comcast.net

1970 Melinda Lord Martin85 Windsor RoadKensington, CT 06037(860) 225-0461melinda1243@comcast.net

1971 Carol Swenson Tanzola 3009 Trout Run RoadYork, PA 17406-6952(717) 755-3172carol@jvtanzola.com

1972 Karen Clark Blane1885 Penshurst DriveCollierville, TN 38017-9107 (901) 854-4779

1973 Jan Applegate210 Manor E Red Bank, NJ 07701-2452 (732) 758-8079 jjapple@aol.com

Gayle Manning Brown9502 Liberty Tree Lane(703) 938-4169Vienna, VA 22182-3405 gayle.brown@gmail.com

Cynthia Johnson Dodd2110 Palm Blvd. Melbourne, FL 32901-5228(410) 543-1483cdodd53@aol.com

1974 Valerie Coleman Moore6 Meyer Pl #2Pompton Plains, NJ 07444-1804(973) 839-0148vcolemanmoore@yahoo.com

1975 Ellyn Minor47 Aubrey RoadUpper Montclair, NJ 07043-2201(973) 744-7763ellyn.minor@smithsdetection.com

1976 Debra Ray Botbyl Dobbs113 Maybrook RoadCampbell Hall, NY 10916(845) 427-5797dbotbyl@hotmail.com

Debra Ray Botbyl Dobbs writes: “Dear Classmates of 1976, I am looking forward to seeing many of you at the reunion September 23–25, 2011. It was so much fun at our last reunion seeing all of the changes at Centenary and catching up with some of you. Until then I will be teaching and riding horses as much as I can, enjoying

iPad Winner!Tamara Artemenko Nixon ’07

is the winner

of an iPad in

the contest

announced

in the Winter

2011 issue

of The

Centenarian.

Tamara registered for the Centenary

College Alumni website during the

month of March, and her name was

chosen by members of the Alumni

Association Executive Board in a

special drawing at the May meeting.

The Centenary online community

continues to grow! Join us at

alumni.centenarycollege.edu.

The Centenarian 21The Centenarian 21

this lovely weather in New York state. I have been in touch with my freshman roommate, Lydia Copeland Muri, over the years. Lydia and her husband, Mark, celebrated their 29th wedding anniversary on May 28, 2011. They have two children, Stacey, who lives in Nashville, Tenn., with her husband and three boys, and Michael, who is in the Air Force stationed in Minot, N.D. Michael just had his first child, a son, in August of last year. Lydia writes, ‘Mark and I live in Ramona, Calif., right outside of San Diego. We have been out here for 24 years now and just love Southern California. Mark is the vice president of prod-uct development for Tachyon, a small start up company. I have been at home for 14 years now. I just started working at a local winery last spring and I’m loving it. Mark and I enjoy traveling the world and are busy planning our next trip to the Caribbean soon. I am very involved with my church and do a lot of volunteer work with our outreach team, The Weigh Down Ministries.’”

Lydia Copeland Muri ’76 with husband Mark.

1977 Ellyn Minor47 Aubrey RoadUpper Montclair, NJ 07043-2201(973) 744-7763ellyn.minor@smithsdetection.com

1978 Nanci Marks Oakley2718 Plymouth DriveEaston, PA 18045(610) 258-3737noakley@browndaub.com

1979 Susan VanSchelven Fischer43 Princeton AvenueMidland Park, NJ 07432(201) 670-6735 fdsrcd@optonline.net

1980 Miriam Santowasso Cash1731 Clock Tower DriveWest Chester, PA 19380-6473(610) 692-0103mimc@verizon.net

Miriam Santowasso Cash writes: “Hello, fel-low Classmates of 1980! You missed a fun time last fall as a few of the members of the Class of 1980 reconvened at Centenary College to cel-ebrate our 30th Reunion. I will look forward to a grand turnout for us at the 35th! We had a great

class and the reminiscing and the laughs are priceless. It’s always great to share stories with fellow classmates, everyone has different ‘fond-est’ memories, and sharing and recalling details that have long since gone hazy is worth the trip! The new Lackland Center was the central loca-tion for the events of the weekend. What a beau-tiful facility! The students of Centenary are lucky to have such a stunning location in which to study, learn and enjoy the culture at Centenary College. The dance studio would make Peg Blackmon grin from ear to ear; beautiful! The theater ... you will need to return to experience it for yourself! Fantastic!

Of course, touring the Seay Building and the rest of campus is always a must. We caught a Women’s Volleyball game in the new gym-nasium and dined in the new dining hall! Not the Centenary you might remember. When my middle son is ready to do the college search, we will definitely be visiting campus together. I was honored to also attend President Lewthwaite’s inauguration in the spring of 2010, a wonder-ful preview of her vision for the College and its student body. She has been welcomed and warmly received by the student community, the Hackettstown community and New Jersey dignitaries as a visionary and a force of change and insight. She has done and will continue to do great things for the students at Centenary College and I look forward to watching the growth and excellence she will create for the students of the future. On a personal note, I can’t believe another school year is behind us. My oldest is wrapping up his first year away at college and coming home for the summer soon. My other two boys had their best years yet; happy, healthy and successful at school and on the sports fields. This year I changed things up a bit. While I do make daily visits to the gym, I am still dancing. After 14 years of a weekly jazz class, this year I’m taking tap and having a blast. I also am taking drum lessons, working on the Pilates reformer and continuing my meditation practice. I became a rep for Stella and Dot, as well. If you haven’t seen it, you must! It’s a fun and frilly jewelry line that is all the rage and at just the right price! Please feel free to visit my website at www.stelladot.com/miriamsjewelrybox to learn more.

Also, I’m here to help you find an old roommate or sorority sister. I’m also on Facebook. Look me up and join our ‘When Centenary College was CCW’ group! Happy spring, enjoy your summer and be in touch!”

1981 Jennifer Brown MacKenzie2 Birchwood CourtMiddlesex, NJ 08846-2073(732) 469-8808 (home)jamdarlin2@aol.com

1982 Tracy Toole Shikada9557 Baycliff CourtOrlando, FL 32836-5758(407) 876-8671

1983 Erica Hontz Hoffman568 South Chiques RoadManheim, PA 17545(717) 898-8452ejh826@verizon.net

1984 Mary Sue Wines Lamb 9 Strathmore RoadFreehold, NJ 07728-7831(732) 294-0061 (home)mswlamb@aol.com

Katherine Godlewsky Bill 74 Harmony Station RoadPhillipsburg, NJ 08865(908) 878-7999 katherine.bill@pfizer.com

1985 Denise Sabasko Ciesla6 Darby Circle WestMt. Holly, NJ 08060-3269(609) 261-7288dsciesla@comcast.net

Amendments to Alumni Association Bylaws

The Alumni Association Executive Board periodically reviews the Association’s bylaws and proposes changes to better serve our graduates. The proposed amendments will be found online at alumni.centenarycollege.edu in the “Alumni Association” section 30 days before the Annual Meeting, which will be held during Homecoming & Alumni Weekend, September 23–25, 2011. The proposed amendments will be voted on at the meeting.

For a written copy of the amendments, call the Office of Alumni Relations at (908) 852-1400, ext. 2167, or e-mail alumni@centenarycollege.edu.

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22 The Centenarian

CLaSS neWS AND NOTeS

1986 Laura Vitale Gambino368 North RoadChester, NJ 07930-2327 (908) 797-8402ruedad3@aol.com

Please mark your calendar for our 25th reunion! Homecoming & Alumni Weekend will be held on September 23–25. Please visit alumni.centenarycollege.edu for lodging and scheduling information. Diane Sarro Bartone and I are chairing our reunion and we are very excited to go back to Centenary and reminisce with our classmates. I also want to encourage Sigma Epsilon Phi to join us, too, as well as other class years! Please contact me or the Alumni Office for more information.

1987 Anne Siebecker 5 Foxhill Lane Ringwood, NJ 07456-2717 (973) 962-6118amsrose@aol.com

Lori Post Kelly40 Scott DriveHillsborough, NJ 08844(908) 281-9103ltkelly@comcast.net

1988 Lisa Marinelli-Winger7 Edison RoadStewartsville, NJ 08886(908) 859-2441marinellil@verizon.net

1990 Anna Maria Guzzi-Camooso1715 Marconi RoadWall Township, NJ 07719-3919(732) 280-9072 acamooso@yahoo.com

1991 Justine Steinfeld-Mahon131 Bluebird Drive, Unit 4AHillsborough, NJ 08844-4977(908) 874-5046Jn1991cc@yahoo.com

1992 Kristen McKitish10 Quail RunHackettstown, NJ 07840 (908) 240-6837mckitishk@centenarycollege.edu

1993 Debra Heseltine Lanzone 7 Valhalla Way Rockaway, NJ 07866-4715 (973) 983-1255 trtlbug@yahoo.com

1994 Michelle Brennan Abbate5 Windy Bush LaneSparta, NJ 07871(973) 729-8107mcbrenn@hotmail.com

1995 Heather Bush Loven216 Carentan RoadHopatcong, NJ 07843-1801(973) 398-0691missmerlot1@yahoo.com

Monique Grimme507 Rt 46 Belvidere, NJ 07823 (908) 455-1576mgrimme@aol.com

1996 Jennifer Cassini194 Free Union RoadGreat Meadows, NJ 07838-2333cassini@goes.com

Jennifer Cassini writes: “Hello all — it is hard to believe that it has been 15 years since we graduated. I was recently back at Centenary with my family to attend the Earth Day Science Fair, run by the Centenary College chapter of the Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society and enjoyed the chance to show my children where I graduated. I was so impressed by what a great job those students did of running the event and remembered the days of SIFE competitions and Alpha Kappa Psi and all of the fun and excitement of being in college. I hope that all of you remember your time at Centenary as fondly as I do and that we will have a great turnout at our 15th Reunion, which is coming up soon (more details to fol-low). As for me, I live in Great Meadows with my husband, Andrew, and three children, Alyssa, 12, Matthew, 9, and Jacob, 8. I am still an accountant, after taking some time off when the kids were little, and am in my eighth year on the Great Meadows Regional School Board and enjoy leading my daughter’s Girl Scout troop. It would be great to find out how everyone is doing, so please e-mail me and I will make sure your information gets in the next Alumni News and Notes.”

1997 Margaret “Peggy” Gibbs Guay844 Route 28 Apt. 5ASouth Yarmouth, MA 02664-5264(508) 398-2505marbleandtoast@yahoo.com

Richard Koppenaal125 Fox Street Sidney, NY 13838-1530 (973) 875-4871

Class of 2015Scholarship recipient hails from Hackettstown High School

Centenary may be known as a “Beacon for the Region” but it is also making a direct impact in the Hackettstown area. Nicole Chaladoff ’15 is this year’s recipient of the Hackettstown High School student scholarship and she could not be more excited to begin studies at Centenary College this fall.

The program, which began in 2007, covers all tuition costs for one Hackettstown High School student during his or her four-year education. “I feel so fortunate to be recognized in this way and to be chosen for this scholarship,” said Chaladoff, whose chosen major is Social Work. “I look forward to becoming a productive member of the Centenary community.”

A resident of Great Meadows, N.J., Chaladoff said a community service experience inspired this career path. The incoming freshman volunteered at the Domestic Abuse & Sexual Assault Crisis Center (DASACC) of Warren County in 2009 after completing a domestic violence training program. “I feel like the work that I have done at DASACC has made a difference in the lives of their clients,” said Chaladoff, who is also a top student at Hackettstown High. “Simple things like just taking the time listening to the moms and children who are living at the shelter can really have a positive impact.”

College President Dr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite commended Chaladoff for her outstanding service and leadership, two attributes valued by Centenarians. “This annual scholarship was established to recognize and honor one Hackettstown High School student each year who has excelled academically and has demonstrated the qualities that this institution values,” said Dr. Lewthwaite. “Nicole has done both and we are happy that she will be part of the Centenary family.”

In addition to her studies, Chaladoff plans to join the Social Work Club and become involved with Centenary’s Midnight Run, a student initiative that deliver food, clothing and other essentials directly to New York City’s homeless. The Class of 2015 will take part in move in day on August 27, 2011.

Nicole Chaladoff ’15

22 The Centenarian

The Centenarian 23

1998 Merrilee McMurray10850 Church Street #W-105Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 (775) 626-2639merrilee.m@hotmail.com

1999 Laura A. Orbine132 Tumble Idell RoadFrenchtown, NJ 08825(908) 996-7196lorbine@hotmail.com

2000 Coleen Trentacosta215 North 22nd Street Kenilworth, NJ 07033(908) 276-5613Yingyang252000@yahoo.com

2001 Julia Kimball23 Bayberry LaneSouth Burlington, VT 05403(802) 951-1646juliak@howardcenter.org

2002 Megan Kriger Ballie2323 168th StreetSurrey, BC V3S 0A7 megankriger@yahoo.com

Jenelle WoodrupPO 2606Clifton, NJ 07015jenellewoodrup@hotmail.com

2003 Frances Hoare Licciardiello935 Anderson RoadPort Murray, NJ 07865(908) 835-0451presidentfrances@gmail.com

Frances Hoare Licciardiello writes: “Dear Fellow Classmates... It’s been a while since I’ve heard from some of you. It is good to keep in touch via e-mail, this being a good forum for networking. If you want to touch

base with a fellow classmate, but you don’t have an e-mail address, let me know at presidentfrances@gmail.com; I can help you. Stay well.”

2004 Natasha “Tasha” McMasterP.O. Box 87 Allamuchy, NJ 07820-0087 (908) 208-6729chachagirl333@msn.com

2005 Jillian D’Alessio418 W. Washington St. Slatington, Pa. 18080-1748 (908) 727-3266Jillybeans82@yahoo.com

2006 Alicia Miller5 Red Maple RoadNew Egypt, NJ 08533(609) 758-0664aamiller9@aol.com

Melissa Boasci was married to Jay Sneed on July 24, 2010, in the George H. Whitney Chapel. The ceremony was officiated by the Rev. David L. Jones, Vice President for Student Engagement.

L-R: Kathy Sneed, Jackie Shoemaker, Andrea Miller, Melissa Boasci Sneed ’06, Michelle Gomez ’04 and Kristin Sneed. Front: Flower girl Isabella Boasci.

2010 Michele Hill 119 Oxford RoadCinnaminson, NJ 08077 (856) 786-3402MsHill6@msn.com

In MemoriamOur prayers and condolences are with the family and friends of the following:

Cynthia Cowdrey Brockett ’47 3/15/10

Betty Chodos Buch ’39 3/19/11

Margaret-Elizabeth Cox Carpenter ’33 2/4/11

Joyce VanLare Crouse ’50 7/18/10

Helen Chandler Decker ’49 1/6/10

Marjorie MacLeod Dewitz ’52 10/7/10

Leonard Digiovanni ’98/’03 4/25/11

Mabel Holmberg Eaton ’31 5/5/11

Irene Sommer Gamble ’35 2/21/10

Judith Mace Gillen ’54 5/29/10

Elizabeth Pellett Gilmore ’40 4/4/11

Chadyeane Gooding ’52 2/20/10

Juliette Gewin Hamner ’64 12/29/10

Lorraine Boyce Hausner ’46 8/18/10

Jane Henke ’54 12/2/10

Mary Sykes Henning ’61 1/25/11

Jean Hoffman-Hoffman ’44 7/18/10

Barbara Anthony Iaione ’52 3/8/11

Beatrice Bassett Johnson ’28 9/28/10

Elizabeth Acton Karns ’36 10/8/10

Marjorie Mackerley Kops ’34 11/1/10

Elaine Krieger ’54 8/25/10

Helen Purdy Kunkle ’51 7/27/09

Catherine Kyle ’07 5/13/10

Patricia Laubach ’00 4/4/11

Barbara Macechak ’70 11/3/10

Jeanne Madden Naramore ’47 2/1/09

Babette Lehman Newman ’42 8/7/10

Nancy Newnam Newton ’57 4/26/11

Jeannette Brugger Paller ’50 1/11/11

Joan Widerman Pfann ’49 9/19/10

Joan Kerbs Purcell ’50 4/16/10

Roberta Fleming Roesch ’39 3/21/10

Sally Kirkham Scholtz ’50 4/18/10

Ann Bell Shoustal ’61 11/9/10

Charlotte Kleinfeld Steingold ’39 3/8/10

Julie Kunkler Stevens ’59 10/14/10

Regina Crowder Suttle ’69 4/11/10

Nancy Stover Sutz ’58 8/13/10

Ann Bechtel Taylor ’44 4/26/11

Elizabeth Hemphill Topping ’55 3/16/11

Helen Georgeou Venturas ’64 6/26/10

Judith Smith Warman ’58 6/30/10

Susan Widgren ’84 11/3/10

Nancy McCormack Wood ’84 4/21/11

Elizabeth Hall Woodbury ’45 10/19/10

Ethel Zucconi ’90 5/28/10

access the Centenary Community Online1. Go to alumni.centenarycollege.edu. 2. Click on “Log In” on the left side of the screen. 3. If you have not yet registered for the website, click on “New User Registration” on the log in screen. 4. Fill out the form online and you are good to go!

you can also find Centenary on:

facebook.com/CentenaryAlumni

twitter.com/Centenary_nj

www.linkedin.com/companies/centenary-college

youtube.com/centenarycollege

zinch.com/college/centenary-college

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24 The Centenarian

tHe LaSt WORD

Emily Hawley ’10 never set out to become a

feminist hero. But that is exactly what happened

last year, when the Class of 2010 valedictorian

proposed to her longtime boyfriend Joshua Walker ’10 on stage at May Commencement.

The couple were not prepared for the flurry

of attention they received from national and

international media outlets, in addition to well-

wishers from around the globe.

Once her valedictory speech and proposal

appeared on YouTube, messages on Facebook

began to pour in from women in the United States,

as well as Korea, Thailand and Japan, lauding her as

an inspiration to women everywhere.

“I wasn’t anticipating that it would be a feminist

movement,” laughed Hawley, who majored in

Equine Studies with a concentration in Teaching

and Training. “They were calling me their inspiration.

It was very sweet.”

In addition to the Internet, the couple’s story swept

the globe via media outlets including CNN, the Early

Morning Show on WCBS and The View. After three

solid days of interviews in New York, they decided

to end their brief stint as television personalities.

“They sent limousines for us and it was very nice,”

admitted Walker, who earned a degree in History

with an education certificate. “But we finally said we

couldn’t do it anymore. We had jobs waiting for us.”

High school sweethearts in their hometown of

Fryeburt, Maine, they chose to attend Centenary

together following a road trip they took as juniors.

While attending the same college wasn’t a must,

they were thrilled to find a college upon which they

agreed.

Walker was sold on Centenary from the start, while

Hawley wanted to visit other schools before making

a final decision. “After our first tour, Josh said, ‘I’m

going to Centenary,’” Hawley recalled. “I wanted

to look at other schools before choosing one. But

I couldn’t find a better school. Two thousand miles

later, we were back to where we had started and

were enrolled at Centenary.”

During college, they each made their mark. Hawley

rode for the Centenary Equestrian team and worked

as a resident assistant and tour guide, while Walker

held jobs in Admissions and as a resident assistant,

as well as participating in the History Club and

intramurals.

However, it was in the classroom that the pair truly

distinguished themselves. While Hawley earned

the nod as valedictorian with a perfect 4.0 average,

Walker was a close runner up with a 3.99. “In

the end, he says he’s glad,” Hawley joked, noting

that the final class rank enabled her to make the

proposal heard ’round the world.

Following graduation, they each embarked on

separate careers. Walker returned home to Maine

for a summer to farm, while Hawley began working

for a horse trainer in the Hackettstown area.

But their strong ties to Centenary soon brought

both of them back to campus. Last September,

Walker began working at the College’s Equestrian

Center in Long Valley, N.J., before landing a position

as First Year Experience Coordinator. Hawley also

recently came back to Centenary as an Equine

Recruiter in the Admissions Office.

“I was hoping to come back someday, so this is

awesome for me,” Walker said of his position at

Centenary. “I think the beauty of me being so close

in age to first-year students is that five years ago I

was in their shoes.”

Now with a year of employment under their belts,

the couple are busy planning a wedding, although

they have not yet announced the date. “Early next

summer,” the bride-to-be said.

“I wasn’t anticipating that it would be a feminist movement.”

emily Hawley ’10

Emily Hawley ’10 and Joshua Walker ’10.

the Proposal Heard ’round the World: One year Later

The Centenarian 25

CENTENARY COLLEGE BOARD OF TRUSTEES

Arden Davis Melick ’60/01 HA, Chairman

Kenneth L. Hahn, 1st Vice Chairman

Norman Worth, 2nd Vice Chairman

Christopher Treanor, 3rd Vice Chairman

Lucinda Thomas Embersits ’59, Secretary

Alan J. Shaw, Treasurer

Ellen Banks ’93

The Hon. Dr. Howard L. Burrell

Dr. Stanley Caine

Margot Nelson Carey ’55

Bishop Sudarshana Devadhar

Tilly-Jo Emerson

Rochelle A. Makela-Goodman ’97

Peter Gorry

Wolfgang Gstattenbauer ’84

Michael Halpin

David W. Johnson

David A. Lackland ’10 HA

The Hon. George D. Muller

Raymond Nisivoccia

Denis Hennessy O`Rourke

Wallace P. Parker, Jr.

Jim Salerno

M. Alden Siegel

Orin R. Smith ’91 HA

Timothy L. Smith

James D. Stryker

Linda Van Winkle Watkins ’62

PresidentDr. Barbara-Jayne Lewthwaite

Trustees EmeritiEarle T. Holsapple, Jr. ’99 HA

Dr. Hae-Jong Kim

Harris F. Smith ’99 HA

Editorial OfficesThe Centenarian

The President’s ReportCentenary College

400 Jefferson StreetHackettstown, NJ 07840

As of June 15, 2011.

Weekend highlights:

• Awards Ceremony

• Class Photos

• Campus Tours

• Reunion Reception

• Class of 1961 50th Reunion

• Family Activities

• “Recent Alumni” event

And more!

Homecoming and alumni Weekend

September 23–25, 2011

A Walk DownMemory Lane

For updates, visit alumni.centenarycollege.edu.

Save the date

Winners of the Advertising Management and Integrated Marketing Communication class contest created this year’s theme for Homecoming.

Front row: emily Park ’12, Kelly Nielsen ’12, Mary Fazekas ’11, Morgan Rosenberg ’11; Back row: Professor Cheryl Varonda.

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7

Centenary tapped my potential for art.

Now I help Centenary.

Sara Freeman ’12, Fine Arts major

The CeNTeNary FuNdChanging Lives that Change Our World

a Centenary education has changed so many lives by helping students identify their

gifts and talents. Students like Sara Freeman ’12, who discovered a passion and talent

for Fine arts through the guidance of Professor Carol yoshimine. Now, Sara and her

family support The Centenary Fund so that others will discover their great potential.

To join Sara and the Freeman Family in making a gift to The Centenary Fund, visit

alumni.centenarycollege.edu.