CONGRATULATIONS AND KUDOS TO OUR FABULOUS WOMEN: Three Hood College alumnae participated in the Fabulous Women panel, an annual women's history month campus event. This year’s panelists, pictured above left to right, were Adrianne Wells '04, vice president of operations for Buzz Marketing Group; Amy Stevens '88, award-winning marketing and promotion director for K-ROQ Radio in Los Angeles; and Trina Clickner '79, owner of Palmtop Publishing. The three shared their experiences in the business world and offered advice to students who will soon be entering the job market.  For more information about career and networking opportunities for students and alums, click here.

CONGRATULATIONS AND KUDOS TO OUTSTANDING TEACHER: Natalie Wack Evans '85, M.A. '90, is Frederick County Public Schools' 2007 Agnes Meyer Outstanding Teacher. The annual Washington Post award recognizes excellence in teaching, encourages creative and quality instruction and contributes to the improvement of education in the Washington metropolitan area. Natalie chairs the English department at Linganore High School and has taught English and journalism classes there for the past 22 years. She is also on Linganore's School Improvement Team and has served as adviser for the school's student newspaper, literary magazine and many other student groups. Natalie's peers and principal cited her enthusiasm, willingness to lead and creativity when nominating her for this award. Congratulations, Natalie!

HOOD COLLEGE MAKES KIPLINGER'S TOP 100: The April 2007 edition of Kiplinger's Magazine ranked Hood College among the country's top 50 best values in private colleges across the country. For additional information, click here.

ALUMNAE AND ALUMNI AWARDS ANNOUNCED: On Saturday, June 2, the Hood family will honor and celebrate the achievements of four individuals at the Alumnae and Alumni Luncheon during Reunion Weekend 2007. This year’s honorees span several generations and represent numerous achievements and professions. The Outstanding Recent Alumna or Alumnus Award will be presented to Carol Deck Montoya '94; the Distinguished Alumna or Alumnus awards will be presented to Susan Gearey Van Pelt '79 and Judith S. Gavaler '61; and the Excellence in Alumnae or Alumni Service award will be presented to Erma Stull Grove '44. We will include more about our award recipients in a future Inter(net)actions issue.

DO YOU OWN YOUR OWN BUSINESS? If you own a business, please consider participating in the following program: Constellation Energy has issued a matching challenge for Hood to encourage Annual Funds support from businesses, corporations and foundations. The challenge grant of $20,000 will be awarded contingent upon Hood raising $40,000 in new and increased gifts; as of this week, we are halfway to reaching that goal! For more information on the challenge or the Businesses for Hood program, contact the office of institutional advancement at (301) 696-3700 or click here.

OFFICER CANDIDATES FOR ALUM EXECUTIVE BOARD: The Alumnae and Alumni of Hood College Nominations Committee has presented a slate of candidates for the offices of first vice president and secretary-treasurer. Carol Deck Montoya '94 of Alexandria, Va., is the candidate for first vice president. Jacki Resop Amato '95 of Baltimore is the candidate for secretary-treasurer. In accordance with the bylaws of A.A.H.C., if no additional nominations are received by 14 days prior to the annual meeting of the association, these candidates will be considered by consent. The annual meeting will be held June 2 during Reunion Weekend. For more information, contact the office of alumnae and alumni programs at (301) 696-3900 or (800) 707-5280, option 2.

HOOD HELPS THE BIG SWEEP: Two Hood College organizations will lead a team participating in this year's sixth annual Big Sweep community event Saturday, April 21. The Hood College Choir and the Hood College Chamber Singers will head Hood's Big Sweep team in picking up litter from Frederick County roads, parks and waterways. The Big Sweep is Frederick's county-wide service event that raises money for local nonprofit organizations. The goal for Hood's Big Sweep team this year is to raise $5,000. The money will go to "International Fund for Refugee Women and Children," a State Department project that targets combating gender-based violence and enhancing opportunities for education, skills training and livelihoods. For more information about this event, please contact Brittany Wilson, Volunteer Frederick coordinator for Hood College, by phone at (443) 783-2425 or e-mail at blw2@hood.edu.

To R.S.V.P. or for information on upcoming events, e-mail us at alumoffice@hood.edu, or call (800) 707-5280, option 2, or (301) 696-3900.

REUNION 2007 IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER: Don't miss the chance to reconnect and reunite with classmates at Reunion Weekend, June 1-3. Please join the classes of 1927, 1932, 1937, 1942, 1947, 1952, 1957, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1967, 1978, 1980, 1982, 1989, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000 for this year's reunion. Registration brochures will be mailed this week to those in reunion classes. All alumnae and alumni are welcome. Take advantage of the "early bird" registration fee by mailing your completed form by May 18. Click here for all Reunion 2007 information, including the complete reunion brochure and the link to the online registration form.

CALL FOR REUNION VOLUNTEERS: We are looking for alumnae and alumni volunteers to assist with the reunion activities Friday, June 1 and Saturday, June 2. A variety of shifts are available. If you are interested, contact Linda Hoffman, interim director of alumni relations, by phone at (301) 696-3919 or by e-mail at hoffmanl@hood.edu.

REUNION CLASS GIFTS: You can make your reunion gift by calling (301) 696-3700 or by clicking here. Remember that corporate gifts made through your business or your employer's matching gift program count toward your class' gift total.

Save The Date events are scheduled, and we will continue to keep you updated as plans become firm. If you have any questions about the upcoming events, e-mail us at alumoffice@hood.edu or call (800) 707-5280, option 2, or (301) 696-3900.

HOOD GOES OUT TO THE BALLGAME: Wednesday, June 27, 6 p.m. Join President Ron Volpe, who will throw out the first pitch, and fellow alums as we cheer on the local Frederick Keys baseball team. Enjoy a picnic barbecue prior to the game and reserved seating exclusively for the Hood community. More details to follow.

HOOD COLLEGE CAREER SERVICES: Take advantage of free lifetime services. We can help you with your résumé, give you advice on your job search, talk to you about career options and much more. Contact us by phone at (301) 696-3583 or by e-mail at careers@hood.edu to schedule an appointment.

WE NEED YOUR HELP: Recently the Hood College Career Center and Office of Service Learning switched to a new service provider for its online mentor program.  The new provider, Opportunities Network (OpNet), allows students and alums to interact with increased flexibility. Please update your account soon. Click here to update your information or to register for a new account. Thank you!

GAZING AT THE STARS: Hood is offering everyone the chance to get up close and personal with the stars. The Williams Observatory will be open free of charge from 8:30-9:30 p.m. each Wednesday through May 2 for the exclusive use of the observatory and portable telescopes. Ken Howard, lecturer in astronomy at Hood, will be available each evening to answer questions. For more information click here.

CENTER FOR HUMANITIES COLLOQUIUM: A SPECIAL CULINARY EVENT: Wednesday, April 18, 7:30 p.m., Whitaker Campus Center. Al Spoler and Jerry Pellegrino, hosts of WYPR/WYPF 88.1 FM's "Radio Kitchen," will explore how American cooking has changed from the 1950s to today, with a specific focus on Maryland cuisine, in a lecture and culinary event entitled "Growing Up in the Kitchen: How America Learned to Cook." For more information on the event, click here.

HOOD COLLEGE THEATRE TO PERFORM: Neil LaBute’s "The Shape of Things" will be performed Thursday, April 19 through Saturday, April 21 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, April 22 at 2 p.m. All of the performances will be held in Hood's Avalon Performing Arts Studio in the Tatem Arts Center. The event is free for Hood students; $5 for non-Hood students and Hood faculty and staff; and $7 general admission. There are no advanced ticket sales. Same-day tickets are available at the door 90 minutes prior to each performance. For additional information, click here or contact Jennifer Plants, assistant professor of theater and director of Hood College Theatre, by phone at (301) 696-3720, or by e-mail at plants@hood.edu.

CENTER FOR HUMANITIES COLLOQUIUM: The 2007 Colloquium series, "Acquired Tastes: Food, Drink and Culture," will continue at Hood Saturday, April 21 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. with the Spring Arts Festival. Activities for all ages are scheduled throughout the afternoon. The event will be co-sponsored by the office of student activities. For more information, click here or contact the office of student activities by phone at (301) 696-3575 or by e-mail at studentactivities@hood.edu.

SPRING CONCERT: Friday April 27, 7 p.m., Coffman Chapel. The Hood Choir, featuring a professional string chamber orchestra and Professor Wayne L. Wold, College organist, will perform. The event is free and open to the public. For additional information, contact Noel Lester, professor of music and chair of the department of music, at nlester@hood.edu.

CERAMICS LECTURE: Friday, April 27, 7-9 p.m., Tatem Arts Center. "Stories in Clay: Ceramic Production in the Ancient Americans." A lecture by Elisenda Vila Llonch, Ph.D., will explore—both diachronically and cross culturally—the diverse and creative approaches that ancient American potters took toward their artistic production. For additional information, or to check on other upcoming lectures, contact Joyce Michaud, assistant professor of art and director of the M.F.A. and graduate certificate in ceramic arts programs, at jmichaud@hood.edu.

BLAZER 5K RUN/WALK: Sunday, April 29, 9-11 a.m., beginning at Gambrill Gymnasium. This is a low-key race and walk, held entirely on Hood's campus, which will serve as a fund-raiser for Hood's track and field team. The public is encouraged to attend. For additional information, contact the athletics office at (301) 696-3499.

COMMENCEMENT: Saturday, May 19, 10 a.m., residential quad, Hood campus. Tickets are required for seating under the tent. The Commencement speaker will be Sheilah Kast, WYPR radio correspondent.

MEN'S LACROSSE (0-15, 0-8 CAC): The men's lacrosse team ended its season at Villa Julie College Saturday. The Blazers broke numerous school records this season. Jason Anderson scored a team-best 18 goals and tallied four assists for 22 points, while Will Oconis registered 10 goals and a team-high 12 assists for 22 points as well. Bryan Lentz scooped up a record 67 ground balls and Sam Hofmann racked up 251 saves, more than his previous two seasons combined.

WOMEN'S LACROSSE (3-6, 2-0 AWCC): Ten different players scored for Hood in a 17-3 victory over Lancaster Bible College Saturday afternoon on Senior Day at Thomas Athletic Field. All three graduating seniors contributed to the scoring as Laurie Burrier netted four goals and three assists while Meaghan Held and Melissa Olson also added single tallies for the Blazers. Brandy Noel finished with three goals and one assist while Jen Graham and Christa Lundskow each netted two goals apiece. Hood has three regular season games remaining on the docket, all of which will be on the road.

SOFTBALL (9-11, 5-1 AWCC): The Hood College softball team swept an Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference doubleheader from the Chatham College Cougars Friday. Jamie Gardner tossed a four-hit shutout in the opener and struck out seven Cougar hitters over six innings. In the nightcap, Hood scored early and often, knocking Christina Pettitano around for 20 hits and plating 19 runs. Kara Robert went 3-for-5 with three RBI and four runs scored, while Stephanie Gardner also collected three hits and drove in two runs. Alecia Weddle came off the bench to drive in three runs on a pair of basehits. The Blazers, whose Sunday doubleheader with Mary Baldwin was postponed to due rain, return to action Tuesday hosting the University of Mary Washington at 3 p.m.

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TENNIS (MEN: 5-11, 1-5 CAC/WOMEN: 7-10, 3-0 AWCC): The men's squad competed at their first-ever Capital Athletic Conference tournament Monday. The seventh-seeded Blazers traveled to Salisbury, Md., and lost to the second-seeded Salisbury University Sea Gulls 9-0. The Blazer women are a perfect 3-0 in Atlantic Women's Colleges Conference play after defeating Wilson College and Chatham College in convincing fashion last week. Hood has one dual match remaining on its spring slate against Trinity University (D.C.) Thursday in a makeup match from last week. The women's team will then have more than a week to prepare for the conference tournament at the College of Notre Dame (Md.) set for April 28-29.

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S TRACK AND FIELD (Men: 7-3; Women: 5-3): The Blazer men and women travel to Westminster, Md., for the McDaniel Twilight Invitational Tuesday. This meet will serve as Hood's final tuneup before the Capital Athletic Conference championship slated for Saturday at Salisbury University.


To read all the Hood College Athletic news and events, please visit the athletics Web site.

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Inter(net)actions, April 17, 2007: This edition of Inter(net)actions is also available on the Hood College Web site. Click here to view Inter(net)actions on the Web.