Shavuot Is an Opportunity to Recommit to the Covenant, Says Holy Cross Judaic Studies Professor

Alan Avery-Peck, Kraft-Hiatt professor in Judaic studies. Photo by Austin Bosworth

Alan Avery-Peck, Kraft-Hiatt professor in Judaic studies. Photo by Austin Bosworth

The festival of Shavuot, marked this year on June 5 and 6, celebrates a renewing commitment to God. But the meaning of the Jewish holiday, which dates back to biblical times, has changed over the years.

In an article for The Conversation, Alan Avery-Peck, Kraft-Hiatt Professor in Judaic studies at Holy Cross and a scholar of early Rabbinic Judaism, talks about the agrarian roots of Shavuot, as well as its significant evolution over the centuries.

“Today, rather than primarily marking the harvest, Shavuot observance transports the Jewish community back to Sinai, to symbolically experience the awe of revelation and personally recommit to the covenant,” said Avery-Peck.

“In Judaism, community, Torah and the covenant with God create a world of meaning and purpose. The holiday is a reminder that in life, as in study, people do not go it alone.”

To read the full article, go to TheConversation.com.

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Holy Cross Vice President of Advancement Announces Departure

Photo of woman speaking and gesturing

Holy Cross Vice President of Advancement Tracy Barlok (Photo by Patrick O’Connor)

College of the Holy Cross President Vincent D. Rougeau announced today that Vice President for Advancement Tracy Barlok will step down from her role after this fiscal year ends on June 30.

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Holy Cross Associate Professor Edward O’Donnell Featured in ‘Theodore Roosevelt’ History Channel Documentary

Holy Cross Associate Professor Edward O’Donnell is featured in ‘Theodore Roosevelt’ History Channel documentary. (Image contributed)

Edward T. O’Donnell ’86, associate professor of history at the College of the Holy Cross, is one of several experts participating in a History Channel two-part series on President Theodore Roosevelt’s legacy.

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Named a Newman Civic Fellow, Omar Afifi ‘24 Looks To Inspire Other Students in Worcester Schools

Omar Afifi ’23 was named a Newman Civic Fellow, which recognizes and supports community-committed students who are changemakers and public problem-solvers at Campus Compact member institutions.

College was always a part of Omar Afifi’s ’24 plan. 

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Holy Cross Class of 2022 Urged to Seek Light, Hope and Joy

Despite the rain that will inevitably fall in their lives, valedictorian Rebecca L. Henion ’22 told the College of the Holy Cross class of 2022 that she hopes that, like her, they’ve learned to seek out hope and light in every situation.

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Class of 2022 Student Spotlight: Dennis Liu

Dennis Liu, a student at the College of the Holy Cross, poses in front of flowers.

Dennis Liu ’22

Name: Dennis Liu

Hometown: Yarmouth, Mass.

Major: Political Science major, double minor in Asian Studies and Rhetoric and Composition

Campus Activities: Goodtime Marching Band; Jazz Ensemble; College Orchestra; Residence Life and Housing; Writer’s Workshop; O’Callahan Science Library

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Class of 2022 Student Spotlight: Isabelle Uong

Isabelle Uong, a student at the College of the Holy Cross, poses at the base of granite stairs in a white dress.

Isabelle Uong ’22

Name: Isabelle Uong

Hometown: Rockland, Mass.

Major: Biology and Health Professions Advising

Campus Activities: McAlister Research Lab; Advocating Student Interest in Asia

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Class of 2022 Student Spotlight: Kerry Bresnahan

Kerry Bresnahan '22 poses on the patio of a brick building at the College of the Holy Cross.

Kerry Bresnahan ’22. Photo by Michael Ivins

Name: Kerry Bresnahan

Hometown: Osterville, Mass.

Major: Biology major, environmental studies minor

Campus Activities: Spring Break Immersion Program, Ultimate Frisbee, Students for Urban Development, Society of Saints Peter and Paul, BioBuddies Peer Tutoring

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Class of 2022 Student Spotlight: Meah Austin

Meah Austin Class of 2022 standing in front of College of the Holy Cross sign.

Meah Austin ’22

Name: Meah Austin

Hometown: Waterbury, Conn.

Major: Psychology and Africana Studies double major

Campus Activities: Black Student Union E-board member; Head Peer Mentor for the Mentor Program; Varsity Track & Field (captain); Women of Color Athletes (co-founder and co-chair); Patriot League Student-Athletes of Color Coalition (member); Research (thesis on Black alumnae of the College); Audio-Visual work-study student; Odyssey mentor; Gateways Summer Orientation Leader; Previous Vice President for the Class of 2022

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Class of 2022 Student Spotlight: Sean Sova

Sean Sova poses in front of a balcony at the College of the Holy Cross.

Sean Sova ’22. Photo by Michael Ivins

Name: Sean Sova

Hometown: Cranston, RI

Major: Theatre and Architectural Studies double major

Campus Activities:  Gateways Orientation, Alternate College Theatre, Department of Theatre, Office of Admissions (Tour Guide and Senior Admissions Fellow), Working for Worcester, Senior Class Gift, Spring Break Immersion Program, Chapel Choir, Student Advisory Council (Theatre and Interdisciplinary Studies)

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Holy Cross Class of 2022 Honors Grace Rett With Dedication of Her Montserrat Classroom

As Jules Cashman ’22 prepared for graduation, she reminisced about her routine during her first year at the College of the Holy Cross. Each day, she woke up feeling that she beat most of her crew teammates out of bed. Each morning, however, as she walked into Kimball Dining Hall, she was met with a daily reminder: She was second to teammate Grace Rett.

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Class of 2022 Student Spotlight: Brianna Cummings

Brianna Cummings '22. Photo by Michael Ivins

Brianna Cummings ’22. Photo by Michael Ivins

Name: Brianna Cummings

Hometown: Franklin, Mass.

Major: Math & Sociology with a concentration in Latin American, Latinx & Caribbean studies

Campus Activities: Head Resident Assistant; Admissions Tour Guide; Gateways Summer & Fall Orientation; Residence Hall Association; Varsity Track & Field; Student Government Association; Team IMPACT Fellowship (Holy Cross Representative); Interdenominational Services (Campus Ministry)

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Class of 2022 Student Spotlight: Matt Cedeno

Matt Cedeno '22 leads an Admissions campus tour. Photo by Avanell Chang

Matt Cedeno ’22 leads an Admissions campus tour. Photo by Avanell Chang

Name: Matt Cedeno

Hometown: Delray Beach, Fla.

Major: Political Science

Campus Activities: Men of Color Athletes (MOCA) Co-President; Black Student Union, former treasurer; Admissions Tour Guide; Varsity Athlete, football; Big Brother for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Mass & Metrowest; and College Theatre (most recently in “Our Town”)

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Holy Cross Fenwick Scholar Finds Unique Opportunities to Go Beyond Science in HIV Research

Throughout his senior year, Charles Millard ’22 said he had ample opportunities to fail, test his perseverance and improve his approach to scientific discovery, moments he might not have experienced had he not been selected as the College of the Holy Cross 2022 Fenwick Scholar.

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Holy Cross’ Nick Lazzaro ’23 Combines Entrepreneurship, College’s Values to Make an Impact in His Hometown

Nicholas Lazzaro ’23 grew up in a family that emphasized the importance of education and viewed lifelong learning as the enlightenment of the soul. This background has guided Lazzaro through nearly every phase of his academic journey. 

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Four Holy Cross Faculty Members Promoted to Associate Professor with Tenure

Four professors from Holy Cross

The College of the Holy Cross promoted four faculty members to associate professors with tenure. From left to right: Faisal Baluch, Rodrigo Fuentes, Lauren Capotosto, and Ryan Mruczek.

From implementing video game technology to better understand neurophysiology to deciphering a mischievous smile from Machiavelli, Holy Cross faculty continue to advance research in their respective fields. Learn more about the four recently promoted faculty members to associate professor with tenure from the departments of education, political science, Spanish and psychology.

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‘I think every professor should do this’: Prof. John Little is completing his ninth year of classes at Holy Cross

Professor John Little sits in a classroom

WORCESTER, MA – APRIL 11: Prof. John Little (Math/CS) attends an undergraduate class Latin 399 — Seminar in Lucretius at Holy Cross on April 11, 2022 in Worcester, Massachusetts. (Photo by Michael Ivins/Holy Cross)

It was 2013 midterm season at the College of the Holy Cross, and even though Professor John Little knew what to expect from the exam period, this year it felt different.

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History Professor and Kremlin Media Expert on Russia’s Victory Day Celebrations: ‘Putin Likens Ukraine Fight to World War II’

Cynthia Hooper, associate professor of history. Photo by Tom Rettig

Cynthia Hooper, associate professor of history. Photo by Tom Rettig

With the conflict in Ukraine escalating by the day, worldwide media are turning to Cynthia Hooper, associate professor of history and director of Russian and Eastern European Studies at the College of the Holy Cross, for her expert insight.

Most recently, Hooper, a historian of Russia specializing in Kremlin media strategy, discussed President Vladimir Putin’s Victory Day speech with Bloomberg’s Tom Keene.

Watching Russia’s celebrations from Germany, Professor Hooper was struck by Putin’s message to the Russian troops likening the fight in Ukraine  to World War II.

“Putin actually drew an implicit comparison between the Nazi regime under the Third Reich and their ideology of racial superiority, and the United States after 1991, with what Putin claimed was its ideology of political and economic exceptionality,” said Hooper.

To watch the segment, go to Bloomberg.com.

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Rebecca Henion ‘22 Named Class of 2022 Valedictorian

Rebecca Henion '22. Photo by Michael Ivins

Rebecca Henion ’22. Photo by Michael Ivins

Rebecca Henion ’22 has been selected to deliver the Class of 2022 valedictory address at the Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 27.

Henion is a mathematics major with a statistics minor, currently completing the mathematics high honors program, and a member of the Holy Cross chapter of the Pi Mu Epsilon mathematics honor society. She is from Danvers, Mass.

While at Holy Cross, Henion has served as Montserrat student ambassador, collaborating with faculty members to design and implement co-curricular events for first-year students, as well as a teaching assistant in the mathematics department during her sophomore, junior and senior year. Additionally, during her sophomore year, Henion traveled to Whitley City, Ky. as part of the Spring Break Immersion Program, which offers Holy Cross students the opportunity to build relationships across economic, regional and cultural differences with people throughout the U.S.

Since joining the Worcester community, Henion has been volunteering with LUK Mentoring Program, a Worcester County organization pairing role models with youth who would benefit from additional support, a partnership started through the College’s Student Programs for Urban Development (SPUD). Henion has been serving as the organization’s co-program director throughout her senior year.

Also part of her SPUD community service work, Henion spent her sophomore year volunteering as program director of the Plumley Village After School Program, which is an outreach of the local Boys & Girls Club.

Following graduation, Henion plans to pursue a career as an actuary and has accepted a full-time position at The Hanover Insurance Group in Worcester, where she has been interning since summer 2021. Her long-term goals include attaining a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society (FCAS) designation, as well as continuing her passion for volunteering and serving her community.

Henion was selected as valedictorian from a group of academically outstanding members of the senior class, each of whom submitted speeches for consideration. The Valedictorian Selection Committee — composed of students from the senior class, faculty members and administrators — reviewed the submissions, and the final selection was made by Margaret Freije, provost and dean of the College.

Related Information:

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Holy Cross Religious Studies Professor Considers What Makes Religious Relics Sacred to Christians

Joanne Pierce, professor of religious studies. Photo by Tom Rettig

Joanne Pierce, professor of religious studies. Photo by Tom Rettig

As the Russian missile cruiser Moskva sank after heavy damage sustained in April 2022, stories began to circulate that the ship may have been carrying a relic of the “true cross,” a fragment of the actual wooden cross on which Jesus is believed to have suffered and died.

In a recent piece for The Conversation, Joanne Pierce, a professor of religious studies at the College of the Holy Cross who is an expert in the fields of medieval Christian liturgy and worship, explains the veneration of relics and puts into context the long history of the Christian devotional practice.

“Whether prized as a lucky charm or venerated as a powerful reminder of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ, this Russian relic of the true cross has taken its place in the paradoxical history of these valuable religious objects: The peaceful message of Jesus has often been lost in the violent chaos of war,” said Pierce.

To read the full article, go to TheConversation.com.

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