July 2006

UNIVERSITY NEWS >

Mount Mourns Loss of a Favorite Son and Former Board Chair
Monsignor Andrew J. McGowan, C'47, S'49, Honorary Degree recipient '81 and former Chair of the Board of Trustees at Mount St. Mary's University, died on Wednesday, July 19, 2006, at the University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, after a brief illness. He was 80 years old.

Monsignor McGowan served terms totaling two decades on the Mount Board, including eight years as its chair. The Mount's McGowan Center is named after the major gift given by the Monsignor's brother's foundation, the McGowan Foundation, of which Monsignor McGowan was a principal. "The Mount community mourns the loss of a true son of the Mount," says University President Thomas H. Powell. "Monsignor McGowan understood all facets of the school, from his undergraduate years and seminary formation here, to his commitment to the Board of Trustees for more than 20 years. His presence will be missed."

Click here for a timeline of his life and accomplishments.

Read his obituary from the Diocese of Scranton.

Mount Offers New Bachelor of Science Degree in Environmental Science
Developed by the university's science department, the program was endorsed by the Maryland Higher Education Commission on June 8, 2006.

To learn more, click here.

Bud Burkhard Appointed Director of Academic Services for Continuing Studies
Mount St. Mary's University has appointed Bud Burkhard as director of academic services for Continuing Studies effective July 1, 2006. He has most recently served as the academic director for history at the University of Maryland University College.

Read more.

Mount Unveils First Look at Bicentennial Video
Click here to see a short introduction to a video, currently under production, celebrating the Mount's 200 years of distinction.

The Emmy Award-winning team of Virginia Wolf/MVI Post Productions, located in Falls Church, Va., is producing the video and the final version will debut near the Bicentennial Kick-Off, scheduled for August 2007. Stay tuned

Learn more about the Mount's upcoming Bicentennial plans.

ALUMNI NEWS >

Alumni Mentors Needed!
Looking for a way to give back to the Mount? Want to do more to stay involved and help others make the most of their Mount experience?

Join the Mount Alumni-Student Mentor Program. Now in its second year, the program matches current freshmen with alumni mentors to help students adjust to college life and create networking opportunities as they choose majors and careers. The commitment level can be as much or as little as you choose.

Help ensure each student who wishes to participate will have a mentor! Click here to download a questionnaire or e-mail alumni@msmary.edu with questions.

Bruté Medal Awarded
The Mount St. Mary's University National Alumni Association awarded its highest honor to two individuals during Alumni Reunion Weekend, June 2-4. Alexander H. Belmonte, C'56 and Robert W. Farrand, C'57 received the 43rd Annual Bruté Medal.

Click here to read more.

Mount St. Mary's University Inducts Five Into Sports Hall of Fame
Mount St. Mary's University has inducted five new members into the Mount St. Mary's Sports Hall of Fame. This year's inductees included Susan A. Janowiak, C'81; Susie Rowlyk, C'95; Fran Smith, C'56; James Stevenson, C'95; and Michael Watson, C'95.

Learn more.

Refer a Student to the Mount!
Have a potential Mount student in mind? Suggest they attend one of our Admissions Information Sessions, Open Houses or Fall Discovery Days.

For upcoming dates and more information, click here.

Save the Date!
NEW YORK METROPOLITAN CHAPTER - Saturday, August 12 - Annual Day at the Races at Monmouth Park. Join us for a fun-filled day, including a trackside picnic for all alumni, family and friends! There's also a playground in the Picnic Area. Gates open at 11:30 a.m., lunch begins at noon and the first race's post time is 12:55 p.m. For more information please contact Alison Walsh, C'90, at 646-734-8815 or alisonjwalsh@hotmail.com. Click here to download a registration form.

BALTIMORE CHAPTER - Sunday, August 20 - 33rd Annual Crab Feast - Ocean Pride Restaurant, Lutherville, Maryland

Saturday, September 9 - Dragon Boat Races - Baltimore, Maryland

WASHINGTON DC CHAPTER - Wednesday, August 23 - Happy Hour - Details TBA.

For more info, email alumni@msmary.edu

SEMINARY NEWS >

Bishop Paul Coakley to Attend Priests' Reunion
Bishop Paul S. Coakley, S'83, Diocese of Salina, Kansas, will be the main celebrant of the traditional Homecoming Mass at Priests' Alumni Reunion on Tuesday, October 3, 2006. Bishop Coakley was appointed on October 21, 2004, by the late Pope John Paul II as Bishop of Salina and ordained for the diocese on December 28, 2004. He became the 47th Mountaineer priest to be elevated to the bishopric. Bishop Coakley was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Wichita and served from 1998-2002 as director of spiritual formation in the Mount Seminary.

Click here for more information.

ATHLETICS >

Summer Preview: Defensive-Minded Mountaineers Look to Contend in Northeast Conference
Mount St. Mary's men's basketball coach Milan Brown hopes to see his 2006-07 team maintain the momentum generated by the last year's squad who had the team's best season in seven years. The Mount finished fourth in the Northeast Conference last year, its best finish since 1996. The team also hosted a NEC playoff game for the first time since 1996.

Read more about the upcoming season.

DEVELOPMENT >

Be a Part of Mount History!
Join your fellow alumni who have become Bicentennial Pioneers. The Mount is seeking the support of $2,008 from 1,000 individuals to help fund our bicentennial's many projects and programs. More than 500 alumni have already become Bicentennial Pioneers, and we need your support to properly celebrate 200 years of Catholic education in America.

For more information on the Bicentennial Pioneers contact Pamela Zusi, executive director of development, at 301-447-5361 or zusi@msmary.edu.

Founder's Plaza Groundbreaking
A groundbreaking and blessing for the Founder's Plaza was held on June 22. The formal dedication of the Plaza in the fall of 2007 will serve as the centerpiece of the Mount's Bicentennial Kickoff Celebration. The Plaza will include a water feature and bronze statue of a young Fr. DuBois planting the first cross on St. Mary's Mountain.

The class of 1958 has undertaken the leadership to fund the Founder's Plaza. This class, which graduated in the year of the Mount's Sesquicentennial, will once again play a significant role in the Mount's history.

Raise the Flag High!

Every year, reunion classes compete for the honor of flying their class flags in front of Bradley Hall for the coming year. This year, the class of 1981 won the flag for having the most money by reunion weekend. They raised more than $60,000. The class of 1961 had the most participation by reunion and is now at 37% participation, surpassing this year's target goal of 34%. Congratulations to both classes for their successful support of the Mount Annual Fund! If you would like to see how your class performed or make a gift, click here.

GROTTO NEWS >

Refresh your spirit at the Grotto
The Mount's National Shrine Grotto of Lourdes will be offering the following events and spiritual conferences in August:

Day of Prayer for Peace Through Conversion
Thursday, August 3
10:30 a.m. Talk and Rosary, 12 Noon Mass, 2:45 p.m. Holy Hour and Benediction.

Mass and Spiritual Conference: "Praying with the Heart"
conducted by Father Stephen Valenta, OFM. Conv.
Saturday, August 5
6 p.m.

Annual Novena in Honor of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Monday, August 7 through Tuesday, August 15
7 p.m. each night
Mass, Sermon and Novena Devotions

Mass and Healing Service
conducted by Rev. Clement Machado, Society of Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity.
Thursday, August 17
7 p.m.

For information and to register, please call the grotto office at 301-447-5318 or email grotto@msmary.edu.

Around the Mount is the monthly electronic newsletter for alumni and friends of Mount St. Mary's University. We need your feedback! Let us know what you think of this newsletter and/or suggestions for improving it. Please send your comments and suggestions to the office of communications via email at communications@msmary.edu or by telephone at 301-447-5366.