“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.

Many kinds of students flourish at FSC and a woman in her senior years is no exception. Dorothy Noke has been attending classes in the Art Department for 18 years and has no intention of finishing her studies: “If you graduate you have to leave,” she says.

Noke specializes in printmaking, taking Art Department Chair Mark Cote’s advanced printmaking classes and working in the print room. “Mark Cote is a terrific professor,” she says. “He pays a lot of attention to detail so when you’re through you understand the process.” She is seen above in the print room with Cote.

She also notes the dedication of other faculty members she encounters in May Hall: “Every professor is so concerned about students. They really want them to learn and give 100%.”

Noke was already an accomplished painter when she came to FSC; she also wrote poetry and had published a children’s story. “But when I found printmaking I knew I was home,” she says. She has shown her work in a juried exhibition for community artists at the Danforth Museum, Framingham, and in the Mazmanian Gallery on campus. Like other students in a recent “Art of the Book” class, she has her work included in the collection of the Zine Library at Harvard University.

“What a wonderful example of lifelong learning, passion, and commitment to a discipline is Dorothy,” says Professor Halcyon Mancuso of the English Department. “Many of the faculty who work with her also mention the value that Dorothy brings to other students in the classroom.”

The 2008 Alumni Achievement Awards were presented to five outstanding alumni Saturday, May 31, at Reunion Weekend.

Class of 1953
Sister Margaret Catherine Sims was honored for her outstanding work as leader of the Marian Community. She works devotedly for those in need in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Uganda and other areas of Europe and South America. Over 20 of her close friends came to witness her receive this award.

Class of 1956
Nancy Tracy Fitzgerald was recognized for her exceptional contributions to the field of education. She developed an on-site pre-school at Framingham High School and was founder of Northside Nursery School. Retirement hasn’t slowed her down and she continues to work as a Kindergarten screener, tutor and consultant for the National Association for the Education of Young Children.

Class of 1974
Karen Plichta received recognition for her outstanding work during her 30-year tenure with the Air Force. She chartered new ground and was among the first wave of female jet engine mechanics. She had a diverse and distinguished military career and retired at the top NCO rank of Chief Master Sergeant in 2004.

Class of 1978
James F. Bernazzani, Jr., was honored in recognition of his extraordinary career with the FBI. In 2002, he was named principal deputy director of the newly formed Terrorist Threat Integration Center. Bernazzani spearheaded efforts to restore stability in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and received the Presidential Award for Meritorious Service in 2006. One of FSC’s all-time hockey greats, he was elected to the Athletic Hall of Fame in its inaugural year, 1991.

Class of 1993
Forest M. White was recognized for his cutting-edge scientific research in the Division of Biological Engineering at MIT. White focuses on understanding how protein phosphorylation-mediated signaling networks drive biological responses to cellular stimulation. He is also a member of the Center for Cancer Research and the Center for Environmental Health Sciences.

Above: Sims, President Flanagan, White, Plichta, Bernazzani, Fitzgerald.

The improvement of public education in Massachusetts continues to be a priority for many. Educators, parents, students and others from the region gathered at FSC in the College Center Forum Monday evening, June 2, seizing an opportunity to pose their questions and concerns to Governor Deval Patrick.

Click for photos of the event.

For the past 18 months the governor has held public forums on education around the state as part of his Readiness Project which aims to strengthen the quality of instruction and access throughout the system.

This meeting was the last in the series. The recommendations for the project are due to be made public later in June.

Framingham, MA — Emma Abby of Natick, a geography major with a concentration in environmental studies and the valedictorian of the 2008 class at Framingham State College, has received a prestigious Fulbright Program Fellowship to pursue an international master’s program in environmental studies and sustainability science at Lund University in Sweden.

“I couldn’t be happier,” says Abby. “I wasn’t really expecting anything and it couldn’t have been a better surprise.”

According to the program’s Web site, the Fulbright Program “is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries.” The program, which was established in 1946 under legislation introduced by then Senator J. William Fulbright of Arkansas, is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State.

Timothy Flanagan, president of Framingham State College, says, “Emma is an exceptional example of how a public higher education prepares students for very competitive, prestigious programs. We’re very proud of her accomplishments. She exemplifies how Framingham State alumni make a genuine difference; her work in environmental and sustainability sciences will be important to us all.”

Carl Hakansson, a professor of geography at Framingham State College, says, “Emma’s accomplishments are a testament to how commitment and discipline can pay off. Her enthusiasm and dedication were an inspiration to students and faculty alike and I believe that inspiration made all of us better teachers and students.”

Osama Abdelgadier, a professor of geography at Framingham State College, says Emma is a competent and hard-working student. “She made us all at Framingham State College proud of her and of our program, and I am quite sure she will be an excellent ambassador of Framingham State College to Lund, Sweden.”

Before coming to Framingham State College, Abby attended the Sudbury Valley School in Framingham.