Greetings,

The start of the ’05-’06 academic year has been bittersweet. Just days after the excitement of Move-In Day and Orientation for the Class of 2009, Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on the city of New Orleans and other Gulf Coast areas. Just as in the days following Sept. 11, 2001 and the tsunami of Dec. ’05, the Saint Michael’s community rallied to help those in need. This relief effort was led by student leaders who have put the Edmundites’ “head, heart, hand” philosophy into action. These students were spurred into action because two of their own, Tyronne Walker ’06 and Will Sledge ’07, are from New Orleans. There were a few tense days until both Tyronne and Will made contact with their families and heard that they were safe.

In addition, the Edmundites have three apostolates in and around New Orleans. Given our strong relationship, the college community is raising funds to assist those who have been adversely affected by Hurricane Katrina. If you would like to contribute to this effort, please see instructions below. Gifts to the Katrina Relief Fund will assist students, families, and the Edmundite Apostolates impacted by Hurricane Katrina. Edmundite Campus Ministry will manage the Katrina Relief Fund and direct support to the Edmundite Southern Missions so the Edmundites on the scene can use the funds for those people most in need. If you would like to assist our apostolates you can make a gift to the Edmundite Campus Ministry Katrina Relief Fund as follows. In all cases, please note that your gift is to support this special fund:

• Use your credit card to make a gift through our secure website www.smcvt.edu/giveback. Please note “Katrina Relief Fund” on the designation line of the form or call 888.448.7111

• Mail your gift to Edmundite Campus Ministry Katrina Relief Fund, Campus Box 256. Please make your check payable to Saint Michael’s College and write “ECM Katrina Relief Fund” in the memo section of your check.

• Read the letter from Rev. Brian Cummings '86, S.S.E. in regards to Hurricane Katrina

On a lighter note, I am pleased to announce that Dr. Steven and Patricia Bookless P’08 have agreed to be co-chairs for current parents for the Saint Michael’s Fund. They have triplet daughters here, Michelle, Megan and Kim and look forward to their new role spearheading parent fundraising and volunteer efforts. If you’re interested in becoming a committee member please contact me.

Sincerely,

Terri Selby - tselby@smcvt.edu
Director for the Parent Fund
Office of Institutional Advancement
802-654-2462

Katrina: A Personal Story

Will Sledge ’07 is an alumnus of Bishop Perry Middle School, an Edmundite-run Catholic middle school in New Orleans. He had heard about Saint Michael’s College from Fr. David Cray ’67, SSE and Fr. David Theroux ’70, SSE, both of whom taught Will at BPMS.

Will is a business administration major who enjoys intramural basketball. He had an inkling the weekend before he was to return to Saint Michael’s for his junior year of college that this year may not start as routinely as previous years. That’s because Hurricane Katrina was bearing down on New Orleans and many stores, including the Wal-Mart he went to with his mother to stock up on college supplies was boarded up.

Will left for Saint Michael’s on Saturday, Aug. 28, the evening before Katrina hit. “The airport was packed because they had told the tourists to leave and I had to wait in line for three hours,” he recalled. His family lives in Algiers, the neighborhood across the Mississippi River from the French Quarter. When he saw the wreckage of his beloved city on the evening news he couldn’t believe it. “It was unreal what has happened to my city,” he says.

There were a few anxious days when Will was unable to contact his family but finally he was able to reach his mother on his cell phone. She had been able to get out and found herself in Lake Charles, LA. Ironically, she had recently lost her job as a social worker but now found herself fully employed as a counselor for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Will’s grandmother was evacuated to the Superdome, but she survived that harrowing ordeal and is now safe with extended family in Arkansas.

Will grows reflective when asked about the damage to his house, “No one really knows the full extent of the damage. I’m sure we have flood damage, but beyond that, who knows?” Algiers was one of the few neighborhoods that was said to have been spared from a lot of the most severe damage. Will also doesn’t know the fate of the current students at BPMS and their families. According to Will, many of them hail from neighborhoods hardest hit by Katrina. Will normally flies home for the Christmas break but right now that plan is on hold as he is not sure that he has a home to return to. Asked how he is coping with the enormity of the situation he quietly replied, “I’m just trying to focus on my studies.”

Fellow BPHS alumnus and SMC classmate Tyronne Walker ’06 is also from New Orleans. An interview with Tyronne will appear in the next issue of Parent Talk.

Special Note: Will’s mother recently had to evacuate Lake Charles due to Hurricane Rita. She is safe in Alexandria, LA.

Visions Campaign Wrap-Up

I am pleased to report that due to the generosity of parents, alumni and friends of Saint Michael’s College, the Visions Campaign for the Saint Michael’s Student exceeded the goal of $52 million. After a seven-year intensive effort a total of $52,843,348 was raised in gifts and pledges by the June 30, 2005 deadline. Thank you one and all for your support! We couldn’t have done it without you. Every single gift made a difference and helped us reach our goal. Here are some highlights:

• 14,318 individuals, corporations and foundations made a gift
• 6,049 were first time donors to the College
• 2,962 parents made a gift, an increase of 39% from the previous campaign!
• 68 new endowed funds and scholarships were established including:
  • David LaMarche Chair in Business
  • Leavy Family Chair in Chemistry
  • Henry G. Fairbanks Endowed Chair for the Humanities
• $18.9 million for the Saint Michael’s Fund and current operations
• $12.2 million for capital projects including:
  • $1.6 million for the Robert E. Sutton Fire and Rescue Station
  • $775,000 received for the Christopher Duffy Athletic Turf Field
  • $1 million for the Pomerleau Challenge for Founders Hall/Alumni Center

Saint Michael's included in The Princeton Review's Best 361 Colleges
Saint Michael's Launches New Web Site
Saint Michael’s recruits big, talented class of 2009

Fall Semester:

• Saturday, Sept. 24 – New Student Family Day
• Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 10, 11 – Columbus Day Break
• Friday-Sunday, Oct. 21-23 – Homecoming Weekend (Parents are welcome!)
• Tuesday, Nov. 22 – Thanksgiving Recess begins after last class
• Monday, Nov. 28 – Classes resume
• Monday-Friday, Dec. 12-16 – Final Exams
• Friday, Dec. 16 – All Residence Halls close at 6 pm*
• Friday, Dec. 16-Jan. 15 – Holiday Break

* All students must vacate their rooms 24 hours after their last exam or by 6 pm on 12/16, whichever comes first.

Spring Semester:

• Sunday, Jan. 15 – All Residence Hall open at noon
• Monday, Jan. 16 – Classes Begin
• Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 20-21 – Mid winter break
• Friday, March 10 – Spring Recess begins after last class, all Residence Halls close at 6 pm
• March 10-19 – Spring Recess
• Sunday, March 19 – All Residence Halls open at 10 am
• Monday, March 20 – Classes Resume
• Friday-Sun, March 31-April 2 – Family Weekend
• Thursday, April 13, Easter Recess begins after last class
• Friday-Monday, April 14-17 – Easter Recess
• Tuesday, April 18 – Classes Resume
• Monday-Friday, May 8-12 – Final Exams
• Friday, May 13 – All Residence Halls close at 6 pm (except senior housing)
• Wednesday, May 17 – Baccalaureate
• Thursday, May 18 – Commencement

2005/2006 Academic Calendar

For more information on these programs, visit our Parent Page or contact Terri Selby, Director of Parent Programs 802.654.2462 or tselby@smcvt.edu.

Saint Michael's Fund Update

Thank you, Dr. Steven and Patricia Bookless P’08 for agreeing to be the co-chairs for current parents and the Saint Michael’s Fund. They are parents of Kim, Michelle and Megan, ’08, from Barrington, RI. Yes, they are triplets! All three girls are active both in and outside of the classroom. If you meet them, please ask them about the “spreadsheet story!” Steven and Patty wanted to be involved in their daughters’ college careers and felt the best way to do that was to take a leadership role as volunteers. They look forward to co-chairing their first meeting on Family Weekend, March 31-April 2.

Parent Giving to the Saint Michael's Fund
(As of June 30, 2005)

If you would like to make your annual Saint Michael’s Fund gift now the easiest and most convenient way in which to make a gift is to go to the College’s secure online website: www.smcvt.edu/giveback or call toll-free 888.44.7111. If you have any further questions on how to make a gift, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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