IAFSA

Our Annual Meeting was “out of this world!”

admin — Wed, 02 May 2012 17:51:03 +0000

Our 2012 Annual Meeting was held at the Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Challenger Center at Framingham State on Saturday, April 28th. We were happy to have several FSU students join us as participants and recipients of IAFSA awards.

IAFSA presented the inaugural Touch the Future Award to Mary Liscombe, class of 1970, and the Director of the McAuliffe Center for Education and Teaching Excellence.

Graduate student Minna Scholten received the Marion L. Cronan Award. Senior Kristin Demoranville was the recipient of the Dr. William H.D. Meier Award. Cayla Allard, also a senior, was selected for the Dr. Joseph J. Previte Pre-Professional Medical Studies Award.

Four students were the first to receive the new Class of 1961 Textbook Assistance Awards this semester. Joan Murtaugh ’61, representing the Class of 1961 Award Committee, congratulated Corey Ciullo ’13, Kaitlyn Flenke ’12, Jacquelyn Johnston ’12, and Nicole Collins ’13.

Alums attending our Annual Meeting participated in the Challenger Center’s Voyage to Mars program with Center staff who were also alums. The mission was a great success!

There is still time to reserve your “space” mission slot…

admin — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:43:18 +0000

You are invited…

Members are invited to attend the Independent Association of Framingham State Alumni’s Annual Business Meeting to be held on Saturday, April 28, 2012 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Christa Corrigan McAuliffe Challenger Center in O’Connor Hall at Framingham State University. Coffee will be served during registration.

As a special activity, we have been invited to experience a Voyage to Mars mission. The Voyage to Mars is an educational simulation that takes place in authentic mockups of NASA’s Mission Control Center and a future-based spacecraft interior. The mission puts you into the roles of NASA scientists, astronauts, and mission controllers. This is a unique opportunity as the Challenger Center is not open to the general public.

Pre-registration is required to participate in the Voyage to Mars. Space is limited. Alums will be given preference.

During the business portion of the meeting the Director of the McAuliffe Center, Mary Kenney Liscombe ’70, will be honored as the first recipient of the new Touch the Future Award.

Akillian Scholarship Celebration

admin — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:31:26 +0000

~ For those of you who remember Jim and Margy Judge Akillian ~

Their sons, Tom and Dan, have planned an evening of dinner and fun with family and friends to benefit the continuation of the two scholarships in the names of their parents.

When: May 4, 2012

Where: Knights of Columbus Hall

Route 106, South Easton, Massachusetts

Time: 7:00 – 11:00 p.m.

Suggested Donation: $40.00 per person

Also, donations for a silent auction would be greatly appreciated.

For more details, call Tom Akillian at 508-846-1959 or Peter Judge at 508-269-8377

The Independent Association of Framingham State Alumni is proud to administer the

Akillian Scholarship for students at Framingham State University.

Your newsletter is in the mail!!

admin — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 14:41:53 +0000

The Echo Newsletter is in the mail! It includes information about our annual business meeting and exciting Voyage to Mars program at the Christa McAuliffe Center at FSU on Saturday morning, April 28th. The Echo features our annual report of donors, scholarship and award recipients, news about three programs initiated in 2011-12 and more!

Since we use bulk rate mail, it sometimes takes a while to reach addresses outside Massachusetts. Also, if you have moved, we may not have your current address. Please call us if you don’t receive your copy by April 15th and we will send you one.

You can also read our newsletter online here.

Class of 1961 helps four students with book expenses

admin — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 15:32:57 +0000

Thanks to the recently established Class of 1961 Textbook Assistance Award, four students received help with their book purchases this semester. Congratulations to Corey Ciullo ’13 – nutrition/biochemistry; Kaitlyn Flenke ’12 – elementary education; Jacquelyn Johnston ’12 – fashion merchandising and Nicole Collins ’13 – early childhood education, who each received $ 350 in credits to be used at the Framingham State bookstore for instructional materials. Recipients of this award were chosen from among students who applied for other IAFSA financial assistance options.

Scholarship, award, and loan applications are now available for the 2012-2013 academic year and are due March 15 by 5 p.m. Click on this link for more information.

Announcing…The Murtaugh Scholarship

admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 19:08:15 +0000

Lt. Col. (ret. USAF) Thomas H. Murtaugh and Mary H. Murtaugh

The Independent Association of Framingham State Alumni happily announces a new scholarship opportunity for FSU students. The Murtaugh Scholarship honors the memory of Thomas H. and Mary H. Murtaugh. Lt. Col. Murtaugh, ret. USAF, was a graduate of Manhattan College. He taught mathematics at the college level and also instructed members of the New York City Police and Fire Departments. Mary Murtaugh was a graduate of The Babies Hospital nursing program in New York City. This new scholarship is established in their honor by their daughter, Joan E. Murtaugh, ’61 who taught for 36 years in the Framingham Public Schools. Graduates of any high school in Framingham may apply, with preference given to the offspring of police, fire, or military personnel.

The scholarship and loan applications for 2012-2013 are now available online at this link and at Alumni House, 42 Adams Road, Framingham, MA 01702. Office Hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Applications are due March 15th, 2012 for the Murtaugh Scholarship and all other IAFSA scholarships and no-interest loans.

Here we come a-caroling!

admin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 16:08:33 +0000

Members of the FSU Newman Club stopped by Alumni House to sing carols during an Executive Board meeting. We didn’t have “figgy pudding” but we did have Christmas cookies to offer them. The carolers were distributing candy canes with seasonal messages and collecting food for a local food pantry.

Happy Holidays to one and all!

Out of Africa – A Request for Books

admin — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 14:53:08 +0000

IAFSA recently heard from Kevin Tobin, a 2003 graduate of Framingham State University. Kevin is a Peace Corps volunteer serving as a Health Economic Development advisor in Wukro, Ethiopia. He is working with an organization called Wukro Social Development Project (WSDP) which supports orphans, people living with HIV/AIDS, and the elderly.

Kevin contacted us about his efforts to establish a library for the orphan children of Wukro. There are presently about 560 orphans in Wukro receiving support from WSDP. He asked the Independent Association of Framingham State Alumni to spread the word about the need for books for the library. WSPD is looking for all types of books, both fiction, non-fiction, reference books, and school text books. Books can be new or used. They will be put to good use regardless.

If you would like to donate books to the WSDP library in Ethiopia, please contact Kevin directly at kevinltobin@gmail.com to discuss where to ship the books. He expects to remain in Ethiopia until mid 2013.

In Memoriam and Thanksgiving

admin — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:17:44 +0000

Recently two of our members passed away.

Both alums had their education serve them well in challenging situations.

One taught in a one-room school in Vermont and worked for the War Department in Washington, D.C. during WWII. After raising her family, she worked for the IRS.

The other alum used her home economics training as community development advisor to the government of Iraq in the 1950’s during King Faisal II’s reign. She was a county home economist and later county administrator in Connecticut. Through the Friendship Force of Connecticut, she entertained ambassadors and assisted foreign visitors.

These two accomplished women had expressed such a strong bond to their alma mater and our organization that their relatives asked that donations in their memory be made to IAFSA.

In the weeks following their memorial services, a flurry of envelopes arrived in the mail with donations large and small to salute and remember these loved ones.

At this time of year we stop to think about all our alums, living and deceased, and how our lives are enriched by our connection to members such as these.

And to all our donors, who have given to the Independent Association of Framingham State Alumni this year, whether goods, time, friendship, or donations, we give thanks for your support.

An Evening of Travel and Scholarship

admin — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:39:23 +0000

IAFSA Board members, Framingham State University administrators and professors, alumni, and the general public enjoyed thought-provoking presentations by six Whitney Travel Grant recipients. The presenters enthralled the audience with highlights of their travels and stunning photos. Their discoveries and research will be incorporated into their upcoming classes. Dr. Irene Foster, who was in the audience, commented that textiles and dress were elements common to their experiences.

Dr Lynn Parker of the English Department and Dr. Elizabeth Perry of the Art and Music Department contrasted the opulence and beauty of Victorian art and architecture with the darker, and less visited side of Victorian London. They noted the current Victorian influences seen in today’s culture, such as steampunk fashion and the Alice in Wonderland film starring Johnny Depp.

In America the word “diversity” usually connotes racial diversity, whereas in India, diversity includes religious, ethnic, and linguistic differences that co-exist to form the puzzle that is modern India. With equal parts anthropology, literary criticism, and travelogue, Dr. Lisa Eck of the English Department showed a series of slides from her 2011 spring sabbatical that aimed to make us all better “readers” of India. With Indian scenes as a backdrop, Dr. Eck discussed misconceptions and prejudices that we may hold subconsciously about people in other parts of the world.

Professors Karen Druffel of the Economics and Business Department and T. Bridgett Perry Galvin of the Philosophy Department found some surprises when participating in a conference in Turkey. They met many Middle Eastern women who would not have participated if it were held in a Western location and discovered that the number of women pursuing careers in business was declining across the world. They noted that all presentations at the conference were in English and that being able to speak English was held in high regard.

Dr. Erika Schneider of the Art and Music Department presented “Melville and the Starving Artist” at the 8th International Melville Conference at La Sapienza, the University of Rome. Schneider shared parts of her presentation as well as some art and historical insights gained while visiting 12 churches, 3 museums, 2 palazzos, and 6 ancient sites around Rome. She particularly noted that videos and photos do not compare to physically visiting places like Pompeii.

The presentations were taped by Francesca Cerruti-Harris ’09, of AccessFramingham cable television. We look forward to the broadcast of highlights from the presentations. AccessFramingham is delivered to Framingham homes via RCN Channel 3, Comcast Channel 9, and Verizon Channel 43. You can find information about their programming at www.accessfram.tv.