RECONNECTING AT ALUM EVENTS: More than 25 alumnae and alumni gathered at the Balboa Bay Club in Newport Beach, Calif., to reconnect and hear an update on the College from President Ronald J. Volpe, Ph.D. Martha Hearn Shimano ’86 and her husband Kozo Shimano hosted the event. View more pictures!

The office of alumnae and alumni relations always strives to bring alums together in various forums to share exciting news about Hood College and its future. To join us for a gathering in the local Frederick area or around the country, check our Web site for upcoming events. Don’t miss out on the fun!

HAPPY 50TH ANNIVERSARY, CHARLOTTE!: Charlotte Crampton, administrative assistant to the senior vice president for finance and administration and treasurer at Hood, completed her 50th year of continuous service to Hood Sept. 19, 2007. Hood faculty and staff, friends and family gathered in the Beneficial-Hodson Library Reading Porch Oct. 4 to honor her accomplishments. Congratulations, Charlotte!

A NEW ADDITION TO THE INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT TEAM: The division of institutional advancement is pleased to welcome Tammy Butler as its new director of major gifts. Tammy was previously the external relations director of the College of Business at Louisiana Tech University, where she was responsible for all aspects of philanthropy. Welcome, Tammy!

HOOD TO PRESENT 60TH ANNUAL "MESSIAH": The Hood College Choir and the U.S. Naval Academy Men’s and Women’s Glee Clubs will present their 60th annual performance of Handel’s “Messiah” Saturday, Nov. 17 at 8 p.m., and Sunday, Nov. 18 at 3 p.m. in Hood’s Coffman Chapel. Doors will open one hour before each performance, which runs about one hour and 40 minutes. Tickets, which are available now, are $20 for adults and $15 for students. Tickets may be purchased Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the information desk in the Whitaker Campus Center, or by calling (301) 696-3964. If available, tickets will be sold at the door. Coffman Chapel is handicapped accessible. For more information, read the full news release.

SUPPORT A CHOIR MEMBER: The Hood College Choir would like to give you an opportunity to support this year’s performers by making a rose donation to a current member of the choir. The roses will be given to choir members following the Saturday evening “Messiah” performance in appreciation of their hard work. Names of all donors will be printed in the “Messiah” program. To make a donation, please send a check made payable to Hood College Chamber Singers, to 401 Rosemont Ave., Frederick, MD 21701. For more information, contact Amanda Hiel '08, Hood College Choir historian.

STUDENTS, FACULTY, STAFF AND ALUMS EXPLORE MARYLAND WATERWAYS: Members of the Hood community recently enjoyed a day of exploration aboard the Dee of St. Mary’s skipjack with Captain Jack Russell. The “crew” left from St. George’s Island on the Potomac River and set sail up the St. Mary’s River on the traditional oyster dredging vessel. The day’s activities included catching crabs, dredging for oysters and learning the skills practiced by Chesapeake Bay watermen.

THANK YOU LEGACY AND RING SCHOLARSHIP DONORS: The office of alumnae and alumni relations would like to thank the alumnae and alumni who contributed to the Ring Scholarship and Legacy Ring programs this fall! The programs are a very special way to carry on the heritage of Hood and the Hood ring. Thank you for your generosity.

ALUMNA'S WORK FEATURED IN MINNEAPOLIS LIBRARY: An exhibit of calligraphy and watercolors by Kris Campbell Joyce '67 is featured in the Athenaeum, which is part of the new Minneapolis Library in Minneapolis, Minn., that was designed by architect Cesar Pelli from Argentina. The subject of Kris' work is of Thoreau's Minnesota Journey.

PROFESSOR TEACHES COURSE PROMOTING TRAVEL: Linda Pappas Funsch, adjunct professor in Middle East culture, current events and Islamic history at Hood and Frederick Community College, is the instructor of a class that combines lectures with a 12-day tour of Egypt to study architecture, art, mythology and modern politics. The class will tour Cairo, visiting the Giza plateau, the pyramids and the Sphinx; Luxor and The Valley of the Kings and King Tut’s tomb; and Abu Simbel to see the 3,500-year-old stone monuments of King Ramses II and Nefertari.

NEW PURSE DESIGN: Kathy Pires-Lengyel ’81, creator of Significant Journey “purses with a purpose,” has introduced a new line of Nitty Gritty purses that are designed to be the perfect size for carrying today’s necessities—an iPod, cell phone, driver’s license, credit cards and cash. The 4-inch wide, 7-inch high purse is available in four different styles. Ten percent of the profits from the sale of each purse will go to a charity organization. For more information, visit Kathy’s Web site.

CURRENT STUDENT EARNS APPOINTMENT:Congratulations to Liz Lipke ’08, who was recently appointed director of the Schifferstadt Museum, one of the oldest and most historic buildings in Frederick. Liz earned the job through an Honors course she took at Hood. Congratulations Liz!

RECENT ALUMNA BEGINS REPORTING CAREER: Amber Miller ’06 recently began a new position as a news reporter at KTAL-TV in Shreveport, La. View her first live report.

ALUMNUS WRITES FIRST BOOK: Charles Kastner M.S. ’93 recently completed his first book titled “Bunion Derby: The 1928 Footrace Across America.”

ALUMNA RECOGNIZED FOR SERVICE: Alison Shafer ’82 and her church—Evangelical Reformed United Church of Christ—celebrated Alison’s 25th anniversary as organist and choir director with a recital given by one of her former students.

IT IS TIME TO NOMINATE SOME GREAT ALUMS: The Alumnae and Alumni of Hood College is accepting nominations for three awards: Excellence in Alumna or Alumnus Service Award, Distinguished Alumna or Alumnus Award and Outstanding Recent Alumna or Alumnus Award. Each year, three distinguished alums are honored at the Alumnae and Alumni Luncheon during Reunion Weekend for their service to the College and for their career achievements. View our Web site for additional information about the awards and to access the nominations form. Send completed forms to Linda S. Hoffman, director of alumnae and alumni relations, or send her an e-mail.

INTERESTED IN RECONNECTING WITH YOUR CLASSMATES FOR REUNION VIA E-MAIL? The classes of 1948, 1953, 1958, 1963, 1968, 1973, 1983, 1988, 1993 and 2003 have the opportunity to join a Yahoo! e-mail loop exclusively for their class. This is an excellent way to find out what is going on with your classmates and their plans for Reunion. If you don't already have a loop for your class and are interested in starting one, all you need is an active e-mail account; you do not need to have an e-mail account through Yahoo!. This opportunity is available to all classes as well as Reunion groups. Contact Bonnie Lightcap for more information.

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.

HAGERSTOWN, Md., Wednesday, Oct. 17, 6 p.m., Fountain Head Country Club, Club Road, Hagerstown, Md. Area alumnae and alumni will join Martha Church, Ph.D., L.L.D. ’95, chair of the board of trustees and president emerita, for conversation, dinner and a slide show of her travels to Madagascar, which features Patricia Chapple Wright '66, Ph.D. ’90. To R.S.V.P., contact the office of alumnae and alumni relations or call (800) 707-5280, option 2, or (301) 696-3900.

HAGERSTOWN, Md., Tuesday, Oct. 23, 4:30 p.m., Evening at the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts, Hagerstown, Md. Join President Vople and alums for an evening at the museum. Enjoy a tour of the latest collections followed by a wine and cheese reception in the Bowman Concert Gallery. The first of the Waltersdorf-Henson Scholarship recipients for a deserving Washington County student will be announced at the reception. To R.S.V.P., please contact the office of alumnae and alumni relations, or call (800) 707-5280, option 2, or (301) 696-3900. The deadline to register is Oct. 19.

WASHINGTON, D.C., Wednesday, Nov. 14, 12:30 p.m., Brown bag lunch at Amgen, Inc., 555 13th St. N.W., Suite 600 West, Washington, D.C. Please join area alums for an informal lunch get-together hosted by Jewel Smith '96. R.S.V.P. via e-mail to Jewel Smith or call (202) 585-9625.

HOOD HAPPY HOUR SERIES CONTINUES IN VIRGINIA: Thursday, Nov. 15, 5:30-7:30 p.m. The Union Street Public House, 121 South Union St., Old Town Alexandria, Va. Gather with area alums to catch up with old friends, network and make new connections at one of our most popular events. To R.S.V.P., please contact the office of alumnae and alumni relations, or call (800) 707-5280, option 2, or (301) 696-3900. The deadline to register is Nov. 13.

CHEER ON THE BLAZERS!: Join current students, faculty, staff and area alumnae and alumni in cheering the men’s basketball team on to victory as they take on Johns Hopkins in the Provident Bank Pride of Maryland Scholarship Basketball Tournament Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School in Frederick, Md.

Enjoy a reception prior to the game from 5-6:30 p.m. in Hood’s Whitaker Campus Center Commons, where you can show your support for the Blazers while mixing and mingling with the Hood community and talking with President Volpe. For more details or to R.S.V.P., contact the office of alumnae and alumni relations, or call (800) 707-5280, option 2, or (301) 696-3900.

NOEL LESTER AND NANCY ROLDAN IN N.Y.C.: Thursday, Dec. 6, 7:30 p.m., YASI Salon, 689 Fifth Ave., New York. The Lester and Roldan duo will be playing an arrangement written especially for them, in honor of their 30th anniversary tour, at the YASI Salon in New York City. Join area alums for a pre-concert reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Papillon Bistro and Bar, 22 East 54th Street, New York. For more details, to R.S.V.P. and for tickets, contact the office of alumnae and alumni relations, or call (800) 707-5280, option 2, or (301) 696-3900.

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.

UNIVERSITY OF BALTIMORE SCHOOL OF LAW INFORMATION SESSION: Thursday, Oct. 25, 12:45-2 p.m., Career Center. Considering law school? A representative of the University of Baltimore’s School of Law will be on campus to offer information about the school’s application process and scholarship opportunities.

WASHINGTON & LEE LAW SCHOOL INFORMATION SESSION: Tuesday, Nov. 6, 12:30-2 p.m., Career Center. Hood alumna Andrea Hilton Howe ’80 will meet with those considering law school and to talk about Washington & Lee’s law school.

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!

COMMUNITY INVITED TO STARGAZE: Visit campus to view the stars, planets and other celestial bodies every Wednesday night through Dec. 5 from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Hood’s Williams Observatory. Ken Howard, lecturer in astronomy at Hood, will be available every Wednesday to answer questions. For more information, view the full news release.

“ILLUMINATION” EXHIBIT ON DISPLAY: Linda Pelaez-Dorian, adjunct professor of art at Kean University in Union, N.J., will display her compositions that combine pictorial and sculptural elements through Monday, Nov. 5 in the Hodson Gallery in the Tatem Arts Center. For more information about Pelaez-Dorian’s exhibit, read the full news release, contact Youngmi Organ, curator of the Hodson Gallery, or call (301) 696-3471.

HOOD MUSICIANS PERFORM IN BAROQUE CONCERT: A concert featuring the music of Dietrich Buxtehude, a north German organist and composer, is scheduled for Sunday, Oct. 21 at 3 p.m. in Coffman Chapel. The concert will feature Hood students and faculty, and musicians from the Shenandoah Conservatory. Read the full news release for more information.

MORTAR BOARD HOSTS SAFE HARVEST: The Keystone Chapter of Mortar Board will host Safe Harvest, an annual fall-themed celebration for children in the Frederick and surrounding communities, Wednesday, Oct. 24 from 6 to 9 p.m. The festivities will begin in the Whitaker Campus Center Commons. For more information, read the full news release.

FEMINIST PHILOSPHER AND THEOLOGIAN TO VISIT CAMPUS: Mary Daly, a controversial radical feminist philosopher involved in the women’s movement of the ’70s, will give a lecture titled “Re-Calling the Courage to Sin Big,” Thursday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. in Rosenstock Hall Auditorium. A book-signing will follow her lecture. For more information about Daly and her lecture, read the full news release.

CAMPUS ACTIVITIES BOARD HOSTS FRIGHT NIGHT: Join current students and members of Campus Activities Board for Fright Night, this year themed "Haunted Maryland," Saturday, Oct. 27 from 7 to 11 p.m. in the Whitaker Campus Center. Local alums and past CAB members who would like to help with decorating or serve as a host, actress or actor at the event should e-mail Don Miller, director of student activities, or call (301) 696-3575.

SOCIAL VISIONARY SPEAKER SERIES: Three women from Israel/Palestine will share their stories, their fears and their hopes for peace in the midst of conflict as part of Hood’s fall Social Visionary Speaker Series Thursday, Nov. 1 at 7 p.m. in Rosenstock Hall Auditorium. For more information, contact Nancy Hoffman Hennessey ’83, director of career services and the office of service learning.

GRADUATE SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE: Learn more about Hood’s graduate school programs; meet the faculty, program directors and staff; and tour Hood’s facilities at the Graduate School Open House Tuesday, Nov. 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. in Hood’s Whitaker Campus Center Commons. Visit the Graduate School Web site for more information and to register for the event.

CARHART-ROLLANDINI THANATOLOGY LECTURE SERIES: Dana Cable, professor of psychology and director of Hood’s graduate program in thanatology, will be the first guest speaker for the Carhart-Rollandini Thanatology Lecture Series Tuesday, Nov. 13 at 8 p.m. in Rosenstock Hall Auditorium. The program, “An Evening with Dr. Dana Cable,” will recognize Dana’s 35 years at Hood.

STUDENTS HOST NETWORKING RECEPTION: The Hood College Management Association invites alumnae and alumni, parents and friends to their networking reception Thursday, Nov. 15 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Whitaker Campus Center Commons. The purpose of the reception is to help students learn about the importance of networking in a job search and to gain and use practical networking skills. To respond or for additional information, contact Candace Butler '08.

NOEL LESTER AND NANCY ROLDAN 30TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR: In a prelude to their Dec. 6 concert in New York, Noel Lester and Nancy Roldan will be in concert at Hood Dec. 4 at 8 p.m. in Rosenstock Hall Auditorium. The duo, who will be performing on two Mason and Hamlin concert grand pianos, will premiere a work written especially for them in honor of their 30th anniversary tour. Admission is free and there is no reserved seating. For more information, contact Noel Lester or call (301) 696-3429.

MEN'S AND WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY: Hood was idle last week but hosts the first of two meets Saturday. The event, held at Heritage Farm Park, will consist of 13 area teams including Alvernia College, Delaware Valley College, Hagerstown Community College, Howard Community College, Lincoln University, Marymount University, McDaniel College, Montgomery-Rockville Community College, Mount Aloysius College, Penn State University-Altoona, Shepherd University and Wesley College. The men's race will begin at 11 a.m. and the women will get underway at 11:45 a.m. Awards and a senior day presentation will begin at approximately 12:45 p.m. Sophomore William Andrews (left) and junior Danielle Sgro have been two of Hood's most consistent runners this season and should perform well at the meet.

FIELD HOCKEY (3-9, 0-5 CAC): The Blazers completed a busy week with three games in six days, including a matchup with the third-ranked team in NCAA Division III, the Salisbury University Sea Gulls. Freshman Anne Marie Hantman earned the start in the cage and put forth a valiant effort, making 23 saves. Her effort was the eighth-highest single-game total in school history. Junior Ashley Saylor made a season-high 19 saves against Mary Washington in another Capital Athletic Conference contest Thursday. In a 4-0 setback to Shenandoah, freshman Jen Krietz (left) came up with a pair of defensive saves for the Blazers. Hood wraps up its home slate Tuesday against Goucher College.

MEN'S GOLF (1-0, 1-0 CAC): Hood sent three golfers to both the Franklin & Marshall Invitational and the Gettysburg Invitational. Freshmen Andy Alger, Aaron Prescott and Evan Chaney traveled to both matches. Prescott (left) was Hood's top finisher at Gettysburg (86) and Franklin & Marshall (81). Hood has completed its fall slate and will resume play in the spring.

MEN'S SOCCER (4-10, 1-6 CAC): Senior Shane McCarrick and freshman Adam Peterson scored for the Blazers in a 4-2 loss to Goucher College. Hood has lost eight of its last nine games but looks to finish strong heading into the Capital Athletic Conference tournament with three regular season games remaining. Hood's tilt with Salisbury University Saturday could be a potential CAC tournament first round preview for the Blazers and Sea Gulls. Head coach Brian Wall will recognize his first recruiting class, seniors Jason Donnelly, Shane McCarrick, Tom Noonan, Samson Olorunfemi, Mars Rabara and Craig Wachter (left), before Sunday's game with Randolph College.

WOMEN'S SOCCER (4-9, 2-4 CAC): Hood had just one game last week, at Capital Athletic Conference rival Mary Washington. The Eagles snapped the Blazers' three-game win streak with a 3-0 win. Freshman Alexa Hubicki (left) had a pair of shots for the Blazers, who have a busy week ahead with three games on the docket. Hood hosts nonconference foes Penn State-Harrisburg and Shenandoah before traveling to CAC rival Salisbury Saturday.

VOLLEYBALL (3-19, 0-5 CAC): Hood ended a nine-match losing skid Saturday by sweeping Trinity University (D.C.), 3-0. Hood hit a combined .304 against the Tigers and registered 17 service aces. Junior Jamie Gardner hit .688 with 11 kills and no errors in 16 attempts. Senior Lindsey Nagy paced the offense with 18 kills and also contributed 23 digs. Freshman Kristan Hawkins matched her season-high with seven kills and classmate Krista Zerby (left) served up six aces. Nagy is 23 aces away from tying Ashley Cook '05 for the all-time lead. Senior Jamie Bussey needs just 28 more digs to become the second Hood player all-time to rack up 1,000 career digs.

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

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Inter(net)actions, October 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.