‘Alexandra Montgomery ’10 Makes Local 40 Under Forty list’

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Holy Cross in the News

A. Montgomery

Alexandra Montgomery, a member of the College of the Holy Cross class of 2010 and a human resources consultant for the Hanover Insurance Group, was named to Worcester Business Journals 2013 “40 Under Forty” list.

“As a 2010 graduate of the College of the Holy Cross, community involvement has always been very important to me,” she tells the Worcester Business Journal.  “Staying connected to my college roots, I have served as an alumni interviewer since graduation. While at Hanover, I have served as a tutor for the Collegiate Success Institute, a program of the Colleges of Worcester Consortium, working with bright and eager students at Claremont Academy.”

She will be honored at an awards ceremony later this month.

This “Holy Cross in the New” item by Cristal Steuer.

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Students to Showcase Their Accomplishments at 20th Annual Summer Research Symposium

Posted on August 30, 2013 by

A total of 107 Holy Cross students who conducted research during the summer will present their work in poster form at the 20th annual Undergraduate Summer Research Symposium on Sept. 6 from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Hogan Campus Center Ballroom.

The symposium will include 84 poster presentations featuring research conducted by students and faculty in the arts, humanities, sciences and social sciences at Holy Cross, and 23 poster presentations from students who conducted research off campus.

The symposium is a college-wide event that brings faculty and students together from all disciplines at Holy Cross, and provides an opportunity to celebrate their accomplishments as well as those of their friends and colleagues. It is also a way for students to witness the breadth of research possibilities on and off campus, and to open a dialogue with a faculty member about conducting research during the upcoming academic year and summer.

The summer research program was organized by Daniel Bitran, the College’s science coordinator; Daniel Klinghard, director of the summer research program in humanities, social sciences and arts; and Bryan Engelhardt, the director of the summer research program in economics.

The summer research projects were made possible through a mix of funding sources, including contributions from alumni and parents.

View a list of symposium presenters, their project titles and descriptions (PDF).

Related Information:

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Holy Cross Lecture to Weigh Costs of Oil Drilling in Niger Delta

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Danielle Kane

Nigerian environmentalist and lecturer Julia Finomo will give a talk titled “The Cost-Benefit Analysis of Oil Drilling in the Niger Delta: An Ethical Approach” on Thursday, Sept. 12 at 4:30 p.m. in Rehm Library, Smith Hall at the College of the Holy Cross. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Since the discovery of oil in the Niger Delta in 1956, oil spills and gas flares have caused irreparable harm to the fragile ecosystems and to the livelihood of inhabitants in the Niger Delta region. Slack practices of multinational oil companies exploit the land and its people, while lenient government standards and protests by natives often result in more pollution, corruption and violence.

In her talk, Finomo will describe the degradation of the region and will advocate for an ecological solidarity among the oil companies, government officials and the people of the Niger Delta to clear a path to sustainability.

“Respect for life, and above all, for the dignity of the human person, ought to be the ultimate guiding norm for any sound economic, industrial or scientific progress,” Finomo wrote. “Nothing short of radical change of attitude, in fact, a revolution in human’s assessment of the earth and their relationship with it, is needed to pull the Niger Delta environment successfully back from the brink of a looming catastrophe.”

Julia Finomo is a lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt in Nigeria. She has written a number of articles, book chapters and academic papers on the situation in the Niger Delta.

The lecture is sponsored by the Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture at Holy Cross. Learn more and watch lectures online at www.holycross.edu/mcfarlandcenter.

About the Rev. Michael C. McFarland, S.J. Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture:

Established in 2001 and housed in Smith Hall, the McFarland Center for Religion, Ethics and Culture provides resources for faculty and course development, sponsors conferences and college-wide teaching events, hosts visiting fellows, and coordinates a number of campus lecture series. Rooted in the College’s commitment to invite conversation about basic human questions, the Center welcomes persons of all faiths and seeks to foster dialogue that acknowledges and respects differences, providing a forum for intellectual exchange that is interreligious, interdisciplinary, intercultural, and international in scope.  The Center also brings members of the Holy Cross community into conversation with the Greater Worcester community, the academic community, and the wider world to examine the role of faith and inquiry in higher education and in the larger culture.

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Holy Cross Retains Firm to Lead Search for New Athletic Director

Posted on August 30, 2013 by College of the Holy Cross

The College of the Holy Cross has retained DHR International to lead the search for its new athletic director.

Richard M. Regan Jr. ’76, who has directed Holy Cross Athletics since 1998, announced in July that he will step down from his post.  At the request of Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., President of the College, Regan is staying on in his position as director during this interim period.

Glenn Sugiyama, DHR executive vice president and global leader of the firm’s Sports Practice, along with Pat Richter, executive vice president at DHR, will work with Fr. Boroughs, Frank Vellaccio, Senior Vice President, and an internal college search committee, to coordinate the process and identify candidates for the position.

Fr. Boroughs said: “In seeking the College’s next Athletic Director, it is essential that we find someone who has excellent intercollegiate management experience and an appreciation for the excellence of our academic program. The ideal candidate will be someone who embraces the ideals of a Jesuit liberal arts college, including our commitment to diversity, and works effectively with the rest of the college community.”

“We are committed to finding the strongest candidates and have therefore partnered with a firm that ensures we will meet this objective,” added Vellaccio.  “We are looking to find someone who will take our athletic program to the next level.  He or she must be someone who understands the complexities of Title IX, our admissions and financial aid policies and objectives, our strong commitment to academics and be a strong fundraiser.  We look forward to working with Glenn and Pat over the coming months.”

Vellaccio said the search will begin immediately with the intention of presenting candidates during the fall semester.

“I am so pleased that Holy Cross and Fr. Boroughs selected DHR International for this most important assignment,” said Glenn Sugiyama. “I admire the history, tradition, and mission of Holy Cross, and look forward to working with the Holy Cross team in identifying the best candidates.”

In addition to leading the firm’s Sports Practice, Sugiyama is also a member of DHR’s Consumer, Media & Entertainment, and Diversity practices and is a former Division I college basketball coach. In addition to holding several president and senior-level executive positions at various companies, Sugiyama became on the of the youngest directors of a major U.S. pro sports team when he was named to the Board of Directors of the former world champion Chicago Bulls.  He graduated from Michigan State University and was a member of the advisory board of the University of Illinois School of Business.

Pat Richter is a member of DHR’s Sports and Education practices. He is the former athletic director of the University of Wisconsin and oversaw one of the biggest turn-arounds of an athletic department, taking a $2.1 million deficit and turning it into an operating reserve of more than $6 million. He also oversaw the construction of numerous first-class athletic facilities while the Badgers won three national championships and 51 Big Ten team titles. Richter is a former executive with Oscar Meyer Foods Corporation and practicing attorney. A former Wisconsin student athlete, Richter was inducted into the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame and was a first-round draft pick for the Washington Redskins.

All interested candidates should review the job description and all qualified candidates should contact Glenn Sugiyama at DHR via lead recruiter Amy Galbraith at 713-626-9494 or agalbraith@dhrinternational.com

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‘Deutsche Bank: Woods Foundation scholars hang with Tiger’

Posted on August 29, 2013 by Holy Cross in the News

Vladimir Casseus ’12 spent yesterday at the Deustche Bank Championship with one of golf’s top players, Tiger Woods. Casseus was a 2008 recipient of the Earl Woods Scholarship, sponsored by the Tiger Woods Foundation and named after Woods’ father, which he used to attend the College of the Holy Cross as a psychology major.

“It was really amazing to see him in person,” Casseus said, “because I only see him on ESPN. He sort of already knew who I was, but it was nice to meet him in person.”

Casseus, along with one of the 2013 scholarship recipients, received a Red Sox jersey from Woods with his name on the back. The gift was especially fitting because Casseus will be singing the National Anthem at Fenway Park tonight. While Casseus performed as a student with the Sound of Saint James, an all-male a capella group at the College, this will be only the second time he has sung the anthem in public.

“I’ve been practicing,” Casseus said. “It’s going to be crazy. The fact that I will be on Fenway Park is crazy. Then singing in front of everybody will be even more.”

Related News

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Holy Cross Presents the Seelos Film Series for Fall 2013

Posted on August 28, 2013 by David Cotrone ’13

The following films will be shown at the Seelos Theater at the College of the Holy Cross.  All films are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. For additional information, please call the Seelos Theater Box Office at 508-793-2455.

“Zero Dark 30”
Wed., Aug. 28: Showings at 3 and 8 p.m. Rated R. Starring Jessica Chastain, Jason Clarke, Kyle Chandler, and Mark Strong. A recounting of the Navy S.E.A.L. Team 6’s mission to dispatch al-Qaeda terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden in the wake of the September 2011 attacks.

“Olympus Has Fallen”
Fri., Aug. 30 and Sat., Aug. 31: Showing at 7 p.m. Rated R. Starring Gerard Butler, Aaron Eckhart, and Morgan Freeman. After a terrorist attack, presidential guard Mike Banning must rescue the President from kidnappers and criminals.

“The Great Gatsby”
Wed., Sept. 4: Showings at 3 and 8 p.m. Rated PG-13. Starring Leonardo Dicaprio, Tobey Maguire and Carey Mulligan. Inspired by F.Scott Fitzgerald’s famous novel of the same name, Jay Gatsby attempts to live a nouveau-riche lifestyle, while Nick Carraway is tempted by such a life’s appearance.

“Iron Man 3”
Fri., Sept. 6 and Sat., Sept. 7: Showing at 7 p.m. Rated PG-13. Starring Robert Downey Jr., Guy Pearce, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Don Cheadle. Tony Stark must once again face a formidable foe, this time a terrorist called the Mandarin.

“Quartet”
Wed., Sept. 11: Showings at 3 and 8 p.m. Rated PG-13.  Starring Maggie Smith, Tom Courtenay, Billy Connolly, Pauline Collins and Michael Gambon. In a retirement home for musicians, a traditional concert celebrating Verdi’s birthday is interrupted by the sudden return of Jean, an eccentric prima donna and former wife to one of the residents.

“42”
Fri., Sept. 13 and Sat., Sept. 14: Showing at 7 p.m. Rated PG-13. Starring Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, and Christopher Meloni. A depiction of how baseball player Jackie Robinson made history by signing with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

“What Maisie Knew”
Wed., Sept. 18: Showings at 3 and 8 p.m. Rated R. Starring Julianne Moore, Steve Coogan and Onata Aprile. Based on a Henry James novel of the same title, the film centers around 7-year-old Maisie, who finds herself caught in a custody battle between her mother and father, both mainstays in their corners of the art world.

“Man of Steel”
Fri., Sept. 20 and Sat., Sept. 21: Showing at 7 p.m. Rated PG-13. Starring Henry Cavill, Amy Adams and Michael Shannon. When Earth is invaded, a young man must rise to act, and is in turn forced to reveal is true identity.

“Mud”
Wed., Sept. 25: Showings at 3 and 8 p.m. Rated PG-13. Starring Reese Witherspoon, Matthew McConaughey, Tye Sheridan, and Jacob Lofland. When two boys cross paths with a fugitive on the run, they swear to help him avoid bounty hunters who are in pursuit.

“The Lone Ranger”
Fri., Sept. 27 and Sat., Sept. 28: Showing at 7 p.m. Rated PG-13. Starring Johnny Depp, Armie Hammer, William Fichtner, Tom Wilkinson, Barry Pepper, James Badge Dale, and Helena Bonham Carter. Famed Native American Tonto tells previously untold stories of how lawman John Reid became legendary in his own right.

“The Place Beyond the Pines”
Wed., Oct. 2: Showings at 3 and 8 p.m. Rated R. Starring Ryan Gosling, Bradley Cooper, Eva Mendes, and Craig Van Hook. A motorcycle stunt artist turns to bank robbing as a means to provide for his family. But this decision puts him on a crash course with a rookie cop stepped in a corrupt police department.

“Monsters University”
Fri., Oct. 4 and Sat., Oct. 5: Showing at 7 p.m. Rated G. Featuring the voices of  Billy Crystal, John Goodman, Steve Buscemi, Helen Mirren, Alfred Molina, Nathan Fillion, Julia Sweeney, Dave Foley, John Krasinski, Charlie Day, Aubrey Plaza, Sean Hayes, Bonnie Hunt, Frank Oz, and Peter Sohn. Before Monsters Inc. there was Monsters University, a place where Mike and Sulley were still learning how to become friends.

“Shadow Dancer”
Wed., Oct. 9: Showings at 3 and 8 p.m. Rated R. Starring Clive Owen, Andrea Riseborough, Gillian Anderson, and Aidan Gillen. An IRA member becomes an informant for M15—all to protect her son.

“The Impossible”
Wed., Oct. 23: Showings at 3 and 8 p.m. Rated PG-13. Starring Naomi Watts, Ewan McGregor, Tom Holland, and Oaklee Pendergast. A depiction of the tragic 2004 tsunami in Thailand as well as its aftermath.

“Star Trek: Into the Darkness”
Fri., Oct. 25 and Sat., Oct. 26: Showing at 7 p.m. Rated PG-13. Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, and Benedict Cumberbatch. Captain Kirk leads a mission to disarm an extremely dangerous villain, with help from the crew of the Enterprise.

“A Late Quartet”
Wed., Oct. 30: Showings at 3 and 8 p.m. Rated R. Starring Seymour Hoffman, Christopher Walken, Catherine Keener, and Mark Ivanir. A renowned string quartet faces possible dissolution in the face of life’s many obstacles.

“The Heat”
Fri., Nov. 1 and Sat., Nov. 2: Showing at 7 p.m. Rated R. Starring Sandra Bullock, Michael McDonald, Melissa McCarthy, and Demian Bichir. A play-by-the rules FBI agent must work with a boisterous cop in order to pin down a brutal drug lord.

“Much Ado About Nothing”
Wed., Nov. 6: Showings at 3 and 8 p.m. Rated PG-13. Starring Alexis Denisof, Amy Acker, Fran Kranz, and Jillian Morgese. Refreshing one of Shakespeare’s many classics, this comedy explores several pairs of lovers as they deal with their particular understandings of romance.

“World War Z”
Fri., Nov. 8 and Sat., Nov. 9: Showing at 7 p.m. Rated PG-13. Starring Brad Pitt, Mireille Enos, Daniella Kertesz, and James Badge Dale. Gerry Lane, a United Nations employee, must travel the world in order to stave off a zombie apocalypse.

“Side Effects”
Wed., Nov.  13: Showings at 3 and 8 p.m. Rated R. Starring Rooney Mara, Channing Tatum, Jude Law, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. A woman struggles after she is prescribed a psychiatric drug.

“The Way Way Back”
Fri., Nov. 15 and Sat. Nov. 16: Showing at 7 p.m. Rated Pg-13. Starring Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, and AnnaSophia Robb. Thanks to a manager at Water Wizz water park, adolescent Duncan finds solace in his summer vacation, while contending with his mother and her arrogant boyfriend.

“Unfinished Song”
Wed., Nov. 20: Showings at 3 and 8 p.m. Rated PG-13. Starring Terence Stamp, Gemma Arterton, Christopher Eccleston, and Vanessa Redgrave. A man pays respect to his deceased wife by joining the local choir—a favorite past time of hers. In doing so, he begins to rebuild a relationship with his estranged son.

“The Kings Of Summer”
Fri., Nov. 22 and Sat. Nov. 23: Showing at 7 p.m. Rated R. Starring  Nick Robinson, Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias, and Nick Offerman. Striving for independence, three teenagers spend their summer constructing a house in nearby woods, and are determined to live successfully.

“Populaire”
Wed., Dec. 4: Showings at 3 and 8 p.m. Rated R. 1958. Starring Romain Duris, Déborah François, and Bérénice Bejo, Shaun Benson. An abnormally skilled typist is supported by her boss, who is determined to make her the fastest in the world.

“Elysium”
Fri., Dec. 6 and Sat., Dec. 7: Showing at 7 p.m. Rated R. Starring Matt Damon, Jodie Foster, Sharlto Copley, and Alice Braga. Set in a future world where the wealthy live on a space station called Elysium, others take residence on destroyed Earth until one man attempts to bring equality to the two worlds.

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‘Economists: It’s a terrible idea for D.C. to host the 2024 Olympics’

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Holy Cross in the News

In a recent Washington Post article, Victor Matheson, professor of economics at the College of the Holy Cross, warns Washington, D.C. about bidding for the 2024 Olympics. Matheson’s research reveals that host cities spend a lot of money on the event, but only receive minimal economic benefit.

Matheson further explained, “If you want to go a little deeper, you can say that a lot of U.S. cities, including D.C., are fairly well-positioned to hold the Olympics at a reasonable price. The problem is that the International Olympic Committee doesn’t want to host the Olympics in a city that’s saying, hey, we can do this on the cheap. The bids that make economic sense are the bids that have no chance of winning. And the bid that will end up winning won’t make economic sense.”

This “Holy Cross in the News” item is by Sara Bovat ’14.

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Washington Monthly Ranks Holy Cross Among Top Liberal Arts Colleges

Posted on August 27, 2013 by Holy Cross in the News

Holy Cross campus

Washington Monthly ranked the College of the Holy Cross 28th on their 2013 list of top liberal arts colleges that provide the “Best Bang for the Buck,” which is a new rankings set based on the economic value students receive per dollar. According to the Washington Monthly website, “we highlight those colleges that use their resources to effectively educate students at a relatively low cost.”

Washington Monthly also ranked the College 87th in their 2013 list of the country’s top liberal arts colleges, based on their “contribution to the public good.”

Schools were ranked according to three main criteria, including social mobility (recruiting and graduating low-income students), research (producing cutting-edge scholarship), and service (encouraging students to give something back to their country).

This “Holy Cross in the News” item by Cristal Steuer.

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Lynn Kremer Begins Tenure as Brooks Chair in the Humanities

Posted on August 26, 2013 by Bridget Campolettano

Lynn Kremer, professor of theatre at the College of the Holy Cross, has been named the Rev. John E. Brooks, S.J., Chair in the Humanities. This rotating position is awarded to Holy Cross faculty for a term of three years and recognizes a professor in the humanities for his/her achievements.

The chair is named in honor of the late Rev. John E. Brooks, S.J., former president of Holy Cross, who initiated the beginning of coeducation, a strong commitment to athletics, the professionalization of the teaching faculty, and a growth in endowment to pay for the advances.

“When I first came to the College, it was Fr. Brooks who hired me,” said Kremer. “I admired and adored him, so it is quite an honor to hold a chairship in his name. I am extremely flattered to follow an impressive line of Brooks chairs.”

During her tenure as chair, Kremer will play a role in the execution of the recently awarded Mellon Foundation grant for recentering the arts at Holy Cross. She hopes to bridge the work she will do through the Mellon grant with her work as Brooks chair.

“My recent production work is in devised theatre, which means I choose an area to explore, research the topic, draft a script, and with the aid of students and colleagues invent a new piece,” said Kremer. “I will devise a new piece for Fenwick Theatre this spring based on the relationship of Charles Dodgson (better known as Lewis Carroll) and Alice, his dreamchild.  I am confident that the work of the artists we will bring to Holy Cross through the Mellon grant will excite and enrich campus life as well as inform my own work.”

Kremer earned a B.A. in German and a B.F.A. in acting from the University of Minnesota, and an M.F.A. at Brandeis University before joining the faculty at Holy Cross in 1983. She was promoted to associate professor in 1989, to professor in 1997, and chaired her department from 1990 through 2005. The research she has conducted around the globe, but especially in Southeast Asia, informs her creative works; these in turn take form on the Fenwick Theatre stage, frequently moving on to tour other venues nationally and internationally. Her most recent show ‘Shackled Spirits,’ devised and performed in 2012 in Fenwick Theatre, returned in July 2013 from an extremely successful run at the 35th Bali Arts Festival, a tour which included students, faculty, and alumni. Finally, Kremer accepts invitations to discuss her challenging creative and pedagogical process with audiences from Columbia University to Singapore to Bali.

Kremer has brought visiting artists to Mount St. James with grants from the Fulbright Commission and the Luce Foundation; won the 2007-08 Moss Hart Award for her production of “My Life with Albertine;” earned back-to-back research support grants from the National Endowment for the Arts in 1992-1993 and 1993-1994; was instrumental in bringing a suite of gamelan instruments to Holy Cross; and been elected to consecutive three-year terms on the Board of the National Association of Schools of Theatre.

Kremer, who lives in Princeton, Mass., began her tenure as Brooks Chair in the Humanities on July 1.

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Blog: Crimi ’15 Studies Ancient Languages and Literature in Greece and Italy

Posted on August 26, 2013 by

NAME Harry Crimi ’15

HOMETOWN Havertown, Penn.

AREAS OF STUDY Double major in classics and psychology

WHERE HE’S STUDYING College Year in Athens, Greece (fall), and John Felice Rome Center in Rome, Italy (spring)

WHY HE CHOSE GREECE AND ITALY “It has been my dream to study in the Mediterranean ever since I was young. Going to Athens and Rome allows me to make the most out of my major, and makes the ancient languages and literature come to life beyond simply seeing them on a textbook.”

WHAT HE’S MOST LOOKING FORWARD TO “To eat, take pictures, eat more, and then take more pictures of the food I ate. I cannot wait to immerse myself in new cultures and make new friends and memories. I also am 100 percent Italian and am very excited to reconnect with my family heritage by actually living in Italy.”

WHY HE’S BLOGGING “I have never left the country before, so this is a big and new experience for me. I want to make sure I take time to pause and reflect about my experience, and would love for others to read about it. I also want to post as many pictures of food as possible, and maybe even use them for a food memoir in the future.  What a better place to start than Italy and Greece?”

Read the blog »

Related Information:

  • Check out our admissions and photo blogs, along with many of our other online journals at me.holycross.edu
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Photo Gallery: Gorgeous Weather Provides Perfect Backdrop for Move-In Day

Posted on August 24, 2013 by

Clear blue skies and temperatures in the low 70s served as the perfect backdrop for the approximately 725 members of the Class of 2017 who arrived on Mount St. James for move-in day.

Members of the first-year class were greeted by 200 student leaders, athletic teams and alumni who helped move them into their residence halls.

First-year students are currently participating in a program of welcoming events, known as Fall Gateways Orientation. The events are designed to ease transition to college life by introducing students to the wide variety of academic, spiritual, community-building, and social programs available at the College.

Classes for first-year and all returning students begin on Aug. 28.

A series of academic and social events are planned throughout the week, including the following which will take place on the Hogan Courtyard:

  • “First Night” celebration on Aug. 24, which will feature food, photo booths, music, giveaways, a Wooberry Frozen Yogurt Truck, and more
  • film screenings of “The Great Gatsby” and ” The Fast and the Furious 6″ on Aug. 25
  • opportunities to create bowls, plates, and mugs out of clay Aug. 27
  • giveaways and food samples from Worcester businesses and vendors on Aug. 27

View the complete schedule of events (PDF).


Related Information:

Photography by Dan Vaillancourt.

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‘Leading the government’s charge on infectious disease’

Posted on August 23, 2013 by Holy Cross in the News


Anthony S. Fauci ’62, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, was recently profiled in the Washington Post. Fauci, who discussed some of the challenges for young scientists, also talked about the motivation behind his career path in public service, and how he still finds roots in his Jesuit education at Regis High School and the College of the Holy Cross.

“The whole idea of serving the public was something that was just naturally part of my family’s discussions,” said Fauci. “My parents talked about the importance of serving others and the gratification that you get from doing so. It was a theme that was catalyzed for me at Regis High School and then at the College of the Holy Cross, both Jesuit institutions. That is where the idea of service for others really became an important part of what I wanted to do.”

As a researcher, Fauci has made groundbreaking scientific observations about the regulation of the human immune response and developed effective therapies for formerly fatal diseases. He has also contributed significantly to the scientific understanding and treatment of HIV/AIDS.

This “Holy Cross in the News” item by Bridget Cass.

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Photo Gallery: Summer Renovation Projects at Holy Cross Wide-Ranging

Posted on August 21, 2013 by

Students, faculty, and staff who’ve been away from Holy Cross might notice some changes when they return to campus.

Under the auspices of the Physical Plant department, crews worked throughout the summer to maintain facilities, grounds and infrastructure.

View some of the projects that took place over the past few months.

Photography by Paula Cunanan ’14 and Christian Santillo

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‘Westport’s head coach played at Haddam-Killingworth’

Posted on August 21, 2013 by Holy Cross in the News

Coach Tim Rogers ’91 and his team from Westport, Conn. are representing New England against Eastlake Little League from Chula Vista, Calif. in the United States semifinals of the Little League World Series. Rogers, who was a pitcher and an infielder for the Crusaders, reflected on his own experience as a Little League player.

“The Little League experience back then, truthfully, was a lot more recreational,” said Rogers. “It wasn’t as big as it is today. We might have won one or two games in districts, but we never really had a good enough team to compete.”

The undefeated Westport Little League team is only two games away from the championship. The semifinal game will be broadcast on ESPN tonight, August 21, at 8 p.m.

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‘Julia McCarthy ’15 to tell inspiring life story during NBC’s US Amateur coverage’

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Holy Cross in the News

Julia McCarthy

According to a recent article in the Telegram & Gazette, Julia McCarthy ’15, will tell her life story to NBC during national coverage of the U.S. Amateur golf tournament this Sunday. Broadcasting from The Country Club in Brookline, Mass.

McCarthy is the recipient of a prestigious Ouimet Scholarship, which, since she serves as a golf caddy at Worcester’s Green Hill Municipal Golf Course, provides McCarthy scholarship funding for school. Already accustomed to the spotlight, she delivered the keynote address at the Ouimet Centennial Gala in May. Robert Donovan, the executive director of the Francis Ouimet Scholarship, said of McCarthy’s Sunday broadcast appearance, “She’ll be talking about herself…her amazing story, what she did, where she came from, and what’s she overcome and being a great example of what golf can do for somebody.”

McCarthy, who at the Ouimet Centennial Gala spoke candidly about financial hardship and familial endurance, will conduct her interview with NBC live from television tower at The Country Club.  She is expected to be live on the air between 4:30 – 5 p.m.

Related Information

This ‘Holy Cross in the News’ item by David Cotrone ’13.

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‘From his family recipes to your freezer’

Posted on August 15, 2013 by Holy Cross in the News

Charlie Yousef

In a recent article in the Telegram & Gazette, Charlie Yousef, a member of the College of the Holy Cross class of 2005, discussed his role as founder of Libani Mediterranean, a frozen food company that hopes to be in supermarkets across America in the near future. The products are all-natural, and include Greek Feta Veggie Flats, Turkish Pizza Beef Flats, Feta-Spinach Pockets, and Spinach Pockets.

Yousef’s family immigrated to the U.S. from Beirut, Lebanon, in 1983. His father, Malki Yousef, operated a Mediterranean market on Grafton Hill in Worcester for many years and his Uncle George (his father’s brother) also was in the food business.

Libani Mediterranean food is based on traditional family recipes. “My uncle cranked out the most delicious, handmade Lebanese, meaty flatbreads (lahm ajoun) and spinach pockets. I used to make sure my freezer was packed with the meat pies and spinach pockets, and my dorm mates made sure it went empty,” said Yousef about his time on the Hill. “Literally, friends living at Hanselman used to knock on my door and ask, ‘Hey, Charlie do you have any more of those meat pies your uncle makes?’”

A political science major with an economics minor at the College, Yousef began his career working in finance after graduation. In 2007, he worked with a cousin in opening a new territory for Dunkin’ Donuts in Nashville, Tenn. “It was a great business experience,” Yousef told the Telegram & Gazette.

In 2009, he returned to the Boston area to help in the development of a new franchise, Cheeseboy: Grilled Cheese to Go. The flagship location opened in South Station, according to Yousef.

After deciding to start a food business of his own, Yousef met an unfortunate time in 2012, when his father passed away. “After the loss, we carried on as a family,” Yousef said. “Personally, I was more determined than ever to make my family business a success.”

A taste test of Libani  Mediterranean products held last year in Kimball Hall at Holy Cross proved very successful. “More than 90 percent of the 700 students who participated loved the food and would like to see it in supermarkets,” said Yousef.

This ‘Holy Cross in the News’ item by David Cotrone ’13.

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‘Commonweal Summer Interns Tell All’

Posted on August 14, 2013 by Holy Cross in the News

As an intern at Commonweal Magazine through the Holy Cross Summer Internship Program, Sara Bovat ’14 had the opportunity to “learn about the ins-and-outs of magazine journalism,” her field of interest.  When writing about the focal point of her internship, however, she highlighted instead the opportunity at Commonweal to combine intellectual curiosity, spirituality, and community around a “family” meal each day.

“At one moment, we can be having a philosophical debate about an animal’s ability to love and at the next, laughing over honeymoon horror stories,” said Bovat. “Even though many of the staff members have eaten lunch together for years, I felt welcomed as if I was just as much of a member of the Commonweal family as everyone else at the table.”

“Reading manuscripts, brainstorming headlines, and proofreading galleys on cultural and political topics are all tasks that the intellectual writer in me looks forward to, but, the academic and Catholic communal atmosphere of Commonweal consistently reminds me why I ultimately do [this work] – a genuine interest in hearing others’ opinions and a chance to respond back, even if the response is a brief phrase or two on a manuscript’s report,” Bovat added.

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‘Holy Cross receives ‘A’ grade from Forbes regarding financial stability’

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Holy Cross in the News

Campus shot

With the current economy still volatile, and with the financial viability of higher education in question, Forbes recently ranked the College of the Holy Cross 59th in an assessment of institutional financial soundness. The extensive study took 900 private colleges and universities into account, and also awarded the College with an “A” grade, meaning it has passed with flying colors. The maximum score on the Forbes chart is 4.5, and by ranking 4.2., Holy Cross was the highest ranked Jesuit school on the list.

In order to devise their rankings, Forbes consulted financial data reported to the U.S. Department of Education in 2010 and 2011. They also took a wide array of financial components into account, with heavy emphasis on endowment assets per full-time equivalency students, expendable assets to operating expenses, net tuition and fees as a percent of total revenue, and enrollment yield.

Related News

This ‘Holy Cross in the News’ item by David Cotrone ’13.

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‘US Amateur: Holy Cross graduate Steve Zychowski shoots par’

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Holy Cross in the News

Hitting the links in competitive fashion, Steve Zychowski ’13 recently participated in the U.S. Amateur tournament, which began on Monday, August 12th at Charles River Country Club of Newton Centre, MA.

Notably, he is the only golfer from Holy Cross to have qualified for the U.S. Amateur in 35 years, the span of head men’s and women’s golf coach Bob Molt’s career. Of Molt, Zychowski has high praise, saying, “He understands my swing[.]” He then went on to explain how Molt adapted athletic training to Zychowski’s strengths, continuing, “[My swing isn’t] unorthodox, but it’s a little homemade.”

According to the Telegram & Gazette, Zychowski battled his way to an even par after the first two rounds, moving him into a tie for 19th place. “Shooting even par in this championship is never a bad thing,” he said, meaning he is in a promising position.

Originally from Mendham, N.J., Zychowski will continue to compete in the tournament, hopefully to successful results. This U.S. Amateur tournament marks the third he has participated in in the past four years.

This ‘Holy Cross in the News’ item by David Cotrone ’13.

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Holy Cross Awarded $600,000 Mellon Grant to Enhance Arts Curriculum

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Cristal Steuer

Mellon Grant

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has awarded the College of the Holy Cross a grant of $600,000 for a new initiative at the College designed to “re-center” the fine and performing arts in students’ academic lives and create new opportunities to infuse the arts throughout the curriculum.

“The Mellon Foundation’s generous support will build excitement and enrich our resources as we look toward the construction of a new performance space on campus,” says Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president of the College. “We are committed to enhancing the role played by the arts – and by those engaged in their creation – in the development of a liberal arts education that will produce global citizens and creative leaders.”

The grant will be used to fund a new visiting artists program. Centered in the departments of music, theatre, and visual arts, the program will forge new collaborations across disciplines and introduce artists and performers into every facet of the liberal arts experience that Holy Cross offers students. The College plans to invite artists to campus for an extended period of time – from two months to an entire semester – to examine a selected theme through a series of workshops, master classes, public lectures, performances, and other opportunities for interaction and learning.  For example, a visual artist whose work addresses social, political, and psychological dimensions of women’s experiences in contemporary Islamic societies could present her work in conjunction with the departments of history, political science, psychology, religious studies, and any number of other disciplines.

In addition to enriching the curriculum, the initiative—titled “Re-Centering the Arts”— is also designed to further strengthen the College’s ties to cultural institutions in Worcester and beyond. Worcester is home to numerous outstanding arts institutions including Mechanics Hall, the Worcester Art Museum, and the Hanover Theatre, all which are revitalizing the art and cultural opportunities in the City. Re-Centering the Arts will connect the artists invited to campus with the residents of the city and the region, creating fresh relationships, and allowing Holy Cross to play a vigorous role in the renewal of the arts landscape in central New England.

“The arts have been a key component of Jesuit education throughout history and Holy Cross has long had a solid record of producing students with a passion for the arts,” says Margaret Freije, interim vice president for academic affairs and dean of the College. “Now, in addition to exposing our students to world-class artists, the collaborations among the arts departments and between the arts departments and other departments on campus will highlight the importance of creativity in responding to challenges from a variety of disciplines. With the support of the Mellon grant, we expect that the new curricular opportunities will foster a depth of imagination in our students, allowing them to become creative and innovative leaders of the future.”

The first visiting artists are expected to arrive at Holy Cross in the fall of 2014 and will be drawn from diverse fields, ranging from photography to dance, painting, and music.  The visiting artists may be actors or directors, a string quartet or filmmakers. Each year, the College will select a theme to be addressed through the residency of the visiting artist and the works created or produced in collaboration with students and faculty while on campus. This theme will then guide faculty as they arrange a slate of master classes, talks, invited speakers, and other events that complement the contributions of the resident artist.

The news of the grant has come as the College begins the early phases of planning new construction devoted to the arts.  On Feb. 13, Cornelius B. Prior, Jr., ’56, donated $25 million—the largest single gift in the College’s history—to build a performing arts facility on campus. Prior, chair of the board of the telecommunications services company Atlantic Tele-Network, Inc., has long been a champion of the arts in communities ranging from Maine to the Caribbean. This facility is one of a number of strategic initiatives that the College will undertake as part of a comprehensive fundraising campaign.

The College has received approximately $4 million from the Mellon Foundation over the last 20 years in a variety of different areas including student/faculty summer research in the humanities and recruiting young scholars for teaching positions.

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