Campus Spotlight

Tanglewood without the effort of planning the trip! Fifty Framingham State College alumni and friends spent Sunday, August 3, in the Berkshires at the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. “I just thought it was grand, and it was wonderful not to have to drive,” says Joanne Collins, ’58.

Above, Bill Tobin, Len Levasseur, Anne Tobin, G’92, and Ann Levasseur, ’82, G’86, enjoying the pre-concert picnic lunch provided for the group by Sodexho.

The concert program featured world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma playing Lalo’s cello concerto, and also included Albeniz’s suite from Iberia and Rachmaninoff’s Symphonic Dances.

What made the day so special, says Collins, was the “mixture of beautiful music and being a part of the Framingham State College family.”

The Office of College Advancement sponsors the annual trip to Tanglewood. For more information on any upcoming alumni events, click or call 508-626-4012.

“We are very excited about the new MetroWest YMCA Early Childhood Center at Framingham State College,” says Director of Human Resources Rita Colucci. The white building, located at 2 Church Street, is nearing completion and will open its doors to welcome children on September 2.

“The center is a great deal for parents and is a terrific benefit for our employees and the FSC community as a whole,” says Colucci. “There is no better childcare option an employer can offer than to have on-site daycare – the ability to get a real hug from your child during your lunch hour or break is priceless.”

The center will offer high quality early education and care for children ages 2 years 9 months through 5, with a theme-based approach to learning. “We provide a safe and nurturing atmosphere to help individual children learn and grow in all areas of development throughout the entire day,” says Heidi Kaufman, director of educational programs at MetroWest YMCA. 

“For parents who don’t need a full day option,” adds Colucci, “the college also runs a preschool program with morning and afternoon slots.

Children ages 2 years 9 months to 6 are having fun and learning in the four-week summer camp program, “Exploring the World Around Us,” now in session at the Jeanne M. Canelli Child Development Lab at FSC.

“The program provides opportunities for children to enjoy learning in a relaxed atmosphere with activities designed for exploration, socialization and play,” says Valerie Hytholt, associate director of the lab.

Above, co-teacher Lori Mayberry and a young camper do marble painting.

Each of the four weeks of the program has a different imaginative setting, from outer space to a woodland forest. This week the children are camping at the beach, where they engage in dramatic play, art, music and other learning activities that incorporate mathematics, science, writing and reading. They are always excited to visit the Planetarium with Mr. Ed Jameson and his presentation, “Storytelling under the Stars.”

“Our daughter is so excited about getting to the camp that she won’t let me finish breakfast,” says Dr. Ben Alberti of the Sociology Department. “The teachers are wonderful; it’s only been two days and already she knows a bunch of new words, enjoys new activities and has made friends.”

“Exploring the World Around Us” runs through July 25.

At Orientation in June incoming first-year students became familiar with the theme for the 2008-2009 academic year, civic engagement, which has the tagline, “Challenge Yourself, Change the World.”

Two communication arts majors, Alyssa Smith, ’08, and Erin Burke, ’09, both enrolled in Professor Laura Osterwies’s spring interactive design course, assisted the First-Year Advisory Board in selecting an inspiring theme for the first year of college.

The common reading for first-year students, Plenty by Alisa Smith and J. B. Mackinnon, complements the theme well. The book puts forward sound suggestions about meeting a major challenge of the moment: reducing one’s carbon footprint by eating locally produced food.

“I like the book as it asks students to think not about themselves so much as the impact and influence they may have on individuals and communities around them,” says Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs Chris Gregory.

First-year students will begin discussing Plenty in August in online sessions led by Gregory and by Drs. Lorretta Holloway, English Department, Marian Cohen, Sociology Department, and Margaret Carroll, Biology Department. The book will be incorporated into some English, food and nutrition, food science and biology classes in the fall semester.

“We are planning to bring the authors to campus in late October or early November,” says Director of First-Year Programs Ben Trapanick.

“Orientation is going very smoothly. I think it has been helpful to the freshmen. They have been interacting a lot and creating friendships,” says Kevin Sheehan, ’11, a math major and one of the Black and Gold leaders helping the class of 2012 prepare for the new life at FSC they will begin in September.

Every day for the past two weeks groups of the incoming first-year class have been on campus. They are learning about college programs, registering for the fall and getting to know the campus. “Orientation has been really helpful. It has given me a good impression of the school,” says Kristen Flanagan, a math major.

Through ice-breaking activities and social events at orientation the students make friends and feel less anxious. “Before I came here, I was nervous. Now I am really excited to start—I can’t wait for the summer to be over!” says Leigh Kumpe, biology. “I think Framingham State College is a good match for me and they are doing a lot to make the transition into college easier.”

“The best part of orientation was the student-life skits,” says Ritchelly Sampaio, computer science, referring to a program item that is successful in breaking down barrriers. “They were so funny!” Above, four students spell out the word “CASA” in their skit.

Sampaio is one of many incoming students excited about September: “Besides getting an education at FSC, I am looking forward to playing sports and living the college life.”

“Orientation has been very successful,” says Black and Gold leader Josiah Curtis, ’09, politics. “They are a fun group of kids to work with.” Orientation is coordinated by Marjorie Hewitt with First-Year Programs Director Ben Trapanick, staff and student leaders.