September 2006

UNIVERSITY NEWS >

Mount Celebrates Start of Academic Year
On Aug. 23 President Thomas H. Powell inducted 427 students into the first-year class, the second largest in Mount history. Mount St. Mary’s seminary welcomed 52 new seminarians, and 75 new students enrolled in the Mount’s Continuing Studies Division.

The first-year class joins the university at a time when the Mount is ranked #25, up from #29 in 2006, in U.S. News & World Report’s 2007 magazine.

Read more about the ranking criteria.

For more about the class of 2010, see the On Campus section in the fall edition of the Mount Magazine, arriving in your mailbox this November.

Clare Boothe Luce Scholars Named

Mount St. Mary's University received a grant of $216,270 in June 2006 to support three undergraduate scholarships over three years. Recipients are Alison P. Kopreski, a double major in mathematics and theology, from Vineland, N.J.; Natalie L. Norris, a mathematics major with a minor in information systems, from Frostburg, Md.; and Kelly A. Leonard, from Sound Beach, N.Y., a mathematics major pursuing certification in secondary mathematics education.

Learn more about the Clare Boothe Scholarships.

Professors Receive Special Recognition

Dr. A.J. Russo, professor of science, has been named the Class of 1964 Professor. The three-year appointment honors excellence in teaching, scholarship and service to the Mount community and is awarded by the president on the recommendation of an academic committee. Professor Russo will deliver an annual lecture on a topic related to science, direct the work of the student fellow, and involve students in research.

Dr. Peter Dorsey, chair of the English department, has been named the Delaplaine Professor, also for a period of three years. This honor recognizes Dorsey for excellence in teaching and scholarship and for his contributions to curricular development, particularly the Core Program. He was selected by the president based on the recommendation of an academic committee. Dorsey will hold summer seminars and events as well as a public lecture.

New Lecture Series!
Mount Connections is a new lecture series held at the Mount's Frederick campus. The October 16 talk features Ross Peddicord discussing his adventures starting Maryland Life magazine. Peddicord, formerly the director of marketing for the Mount's Continuing Studies program, will describe the magazine's creation, which grew out of a class in entrepreneurship in the Mount's MBA program. For more information and to reserve a seat at the 5 p.m. talk, please call the Mount's Frederick campus at 301-682-8315.

ALUMNI NEWS >

Two Outdoor Adventure Expeditions Planned for Alumni

Elevation - A True Mountaineering Expedition for the MSM "Mountaineers"

An international mountain climbing trip to Mexico , in partnership with Alpenglow Expeditions, trip is open to everyone (Faculty, Staff, Administrators, Students, Graduate Students, Family and Alumni) and no previous experience is necessary. During this chance of a lifetime, participants will attempt to summit the 17,000+ and 18,000+ foot peaks of Iztaccihuatl and Orizaba respectively.

Find more information here.

Exposure - An Exotic Spring Break for the Truly Adventurous

Get thoroughly exposed to a culture, to a sport, and to the sun in Costa Rica. Traveling off the beaten path and away from tourist traps, participants will have a genuine immersion experience while learning to master whitewater kayaking. This trip is open to everyone (Faculty, Staff, Administrators, Students, Graduate Students, Family and Alumni) and no previous experience is necessary.

Click here to learn more.

Save the Date!

For contact info, visit www.msmary.edu/alumnievents or email alumni@msmary.edu

National Alumni Association - Leaders Meeting
Saturday, October 7
Mount St. Mary's University

New York Metropolitan Chapter - Wine Tasting Afternoon
Saturday, October 7
Noon
Long Island
Begin at Raphael's with a tasting and tour ($10) and continue to Bedell Cellars and Corey Creek Vineyard for a wine and cheese tasting ($5).

Reading, Pa. Chapter - Dinner with Dr. Powell
Wednesday, October 11
Cocktails at 6 p.m. (cash bar) and dinner at 6:45 p.m.
Viva Good Life Bistro (www.vivagoodlife.com)
$26 includes dinner (choice of chicken cordon bleu or shrimp fettuccini alfredo) and soft drinks.

Mount Athletics - Men's Soccer vs. Monmouth
Sunday, October 15
3 p.m.
www.mountathletics.com

Baltimore Chapter - Happy Hour
Thursday, October 19
6 p.m.
Bleachers Sports Bar (2501 Fleet Street, Baltimore)
$5 all-you-can-eat buffet and great drink specials.

Washington, D.C. Chapter - Happy Hour
Tuesday, October 24

SEMINARY NEWS >

Priests Reunion Begins Oct. 3
Bishop Paul S. Coakley, S'83, Diocese of Salina, Kansas, will be the main celebrant of the traditional Homecoming Mass at the Priest Alumni Reunion on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2006. Other reunion highlights include the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the laying of the McSweeny Hall cornerstone and the presentation of the 31st Annual John Cardinal McCloskey Award, which will be a posthumous tribute to Monsignor Richard M. McGuinness, rector from 1979-87.

Click here for more.

All in the Family
Mount St. Mary's Seminary will host its first ever Family Weekend Oct. 21-22 for seminarians' parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters and other family members.

For a schedule of events and more information, please contact the Office of Seminary Development at 301-447-5017.

"Long in Coming: The Integration of the Roman Catholic Priesthood"
Mount St. Mary's Seminary is hosting a lecture by Steve Ochs, a faculty member in the social studies department at Georgetown Preparatory School in Garrett Park, Md., on Thursday, Oct. 26, at 7 p.m. in Knott Auditorium.

Learn more here, or contact the Department of Church History at 301-447-3413.

ATHLETICS >

Home Improvement
The new Athletic Lounge in the ARCC has been completed. The area, located by the windows overlooking the athletic fields, features a computer, television, new tables, couches and chairs. This summer also saw improvements to classrooms in the Knott Academic Center.

Six classrooms received new furniture including tables, chairs and student armchairs with tablets. These updates mark the first year of renovations in a proposed three-year sequence.

Men's Basketball Barbecue
The men's basketball barbecue held at Beef O'Brady's in Frederick on Sept. 8 was a success. Former players dating back to 1944 were in attendance as well as the entire Mount coaching staff and team. Shown (l to r) are: Coach Milan Brown, President Powell, Silas Cheung, C'96, and Michael Watson, C'95.

Men's Basketball Season Tickets Available
Don't miss out on the excitement of another season of Mount basketball! Season tickets are on sale now. Contact the Mount Ticket Office at 301-447-5700 or click here for the schedule.

Men's Soccer Team Opens Strong
The Mount men's soccer team opened the 2006 season with its best start in nine years. The Mount, ranked 10th in the North Atlantic region last week, showcased its abilities against a pair of nationally ranked teams.

Learn more about the men's soccer team.

DEVELOPMENT >

Be Part of Mount History!
There is still time to join the more than 500 Mount alumni and friends who have become Bicentennial Pioneers and to help make the Bicentennial a celebration truly beyond our imagination. All donors of $2,008 will have their names permanently etched in the Founder's Plaza. Find more information or contact Pamela M. Zusi, executive director of development (301-447-5361) or e-mail zusi@msmary.edu.

GROTTO NEWS >

Refresh your spirit at one of these upcoming Masses and Spiritual Conferences

Mass and Spiritual Conference: "St. John of the Cross"
directed by Fr. Jack Lombardi
Fridays, October 6, 13 and 27
7 p.m.

Mass directed by Fr. Jack Lombardi, followed by Spiritual Conference on Healing, directed by Emma de Gusman
Saturday, October 7
6 p.m.

Mass and Spiritual Conference: "Sacredness in Worship"
directed by Fr. Jack Lombardi; music by St. John's a cappella chorus
Friday, October 20
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.