Campus Spotlight

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.

First regional and then national recognition. In May The Gatepost campus newspaper, the voice of students for 76 years, was named one of two national finalists for editorial writing in the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ 2007) national “Mark of Excellence” competition.

The names of the national winners and finalists are posted on the SPJ Web site. They will be honored at the SJP’s annual conference in Atlanta in September.

The national award followed The Gatepost’s selection as the winner of a first-place SPJ “Mark of Excellence” award for editorial writing in Region I (the New England and mid-Atlantic states), presented in April at the University of Southern Maine.

Above, 2008 graduating Gatepost editors, from left to right: Assistant Living Arts Editor Stephanie McNulty, Associate Editor Alex Smith, Editor-in-Chief Brad Petrishen, and Staff Writer Heather Maconochie. Not present, Sports Editor Chris Calzolaio.

The editorials were written by Petrishen with the assistance and support of the editorial staff.

“We are the only state college in the country to be recognized by the SPJ this year in any of its national award categories for college newspapers, magazines, and radio, television, and on-line reporting,” says Dr. Desmond McCarthy, ’81, professor of English and advisor to The Gatepost.

“To receive first place in our region is an honor, and to be recognized nationally is an even greater achievement,” says Smith. “It is great to know that our hard work has paid off and that we do stand among the best.”

Petrishen is proud to bring the award home “not to the journalism building at an Ivy League university but to College Center 410, Framingham State College.”

“Revel in your accomplishments and enjoy this beautiful day,” said the Honorable Barbara Gardner, ’82, chair of the board of trustees, addressing master’s graduates at FSC’s first-ever graduate commencement Sunday, May 25.

“All of you sitting here today hold in your hands the ticket to your future,” the speaker at the graduate commencement, Chancellor Patricia Plummer,’69, told the graduate students. Plummer is a former FSC faculty member and associate academic vice president.

Three undergraduate history majors, Saigayan Kugabalasooriar, Katherine Jillette, and Sean Holt here reflect the happiness of students at both ceremonies. Click for a slideshow of the day’s events.

At the undergraduate commencement the speaker, Mr. Robert Maresca, president of the Bose Corporation, told the graduating class their “people education” was just beginning. What is now important, he said, “is the ability to get on with people and have them respect your input.”

Dr. Marguerite Mahler of the Modern Languages Department was named the Distinguished Faculty Member for 2008. “She is an excellent representative of a faculty who care about their students,” said Academic Vice President Robert Martin in presenting her.

Maresca was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree and Dr. Philip Dooher, former vice president for enrollment management, received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.

The 2008 valedictorian was Emma Abby, a geography major with a concentration in environmental studies who was the 2007-08 president of the Green Team. Next year she will study in the master’s program at the Center for Sustainability Studies at Lund University in Sweden.

The part-time student with the highest academic achievement was June B. Hudnall, a fashion design and retailing major.

Six hundred and eighteen bachelor’s degrees were awarded and four hundred and sixty one master’s degrees.

The spring semester and academic year are quickly drawing to a close but the fiscal year does not end until June 30, 2008. There is still time for faculty and staff to make a donation to the college. It’s not the amount you give but the act of giving that matters.

The hard work you do every day directly contributes to the success of the college. Please also support our educational mission by making a gift to the Framingham State College Foundation Legacy Fund.

A united commitment from within the college community shows outside constituents—alumni, corporations, and foundations—that Framingham State is a good investment. Our support leads to more support from others.

You can designate your gift to benefit scholarships in general or a particular scholarship fund. You may also give in memory of or in honor of a special individual. Click for information about giving.

Please join us in making a gift to Framingham State College before June 30, 2008, and thank you in advance for your generosity.