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Dear Alumni,
The air here in Easthampton is definitely growing brisker, and the tips of the leaves are beginning to take on their stunning fall hues. For those of you who haven’t returned to the Pioneer Valley, or your alma mater, in far too long, now is the time to visit and behold the beauty of autumn in New England.
The fall trimester got under way on Tuesday, September 13, after class orientation programs finished. Seeing the radiant smiles and hearing the vigorous din of students getting acquainted (or reacquainted) with each other and their teachers has been inspiring and brings into focus the work of this community.
In addition to welcoming students back to campus, we are pleased to announce that several terrific new teachers have joined the Williston faculty this year, among them three alumni: Adrienne Mantegna ’94 returns as an English teacher after a year away; Kyle Hanford ’97 joins us from Canton High School (Canton, MA) as an English teacher; and Nicholas Katzenbach ’00 joins our French department after working in the field of media production. We are also delighted to announce that Charlotte Wilinsky ’07, fresh from Amherst College, has joined the Advancement team as assistant director of annual giving. (Read more about Charlotte below.)
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Students at Convocation
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As we eased into the cadence of our new routines, the opening of the 2011-12 academic year (and Williston Northampton’s 171st year) was marked officially by Convocation, held on Friday, September 16. Keynote speaker Shamus Khan, assistant professor of sociology at Columbia University, addressed the crowd about the privileges of education and our collective obligation to put our schooling to good use.
Following Convocation, Marine Corps Captain Colin D’Amour ’03 joined the Class of 2012 at their Fall Senior Dinner, where he spoke about leadership and what it means to be a good, effective leader. Captain D’Amour served in Helmund, Afghanistan, from March 2010 to February 2011 as the Afghan National Forces Construction/Engineer officer for Regional Command Southwest.
Please enjoy this issue of Connections, and should you find yourselves passing through Western Massachusetts this fall, please be sure to stop by and say “hello.”
Warm regards from Easthampton,
Melanie Sage, Director of Alumni Relations
Beth Somerset, Assistant Director of Alumni Relations
Alumnus in the Spotlight: Bissell Hazen ‘87
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Bissell Hazen '87
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A successful freelance photographer and self-identified ski bum, Bissell Hazen ’87 has just published a compilation of breathtaking images of the extreme sports and landscapes he loves. We asked him a few questions about his book, From Duck to Dinosaur, which is available online for preview and purchase.
How would you describe this book?
Most outdoor adventure photography books illustrate a specific sport or activity, but mine is different because it has ocean, surfing, and scenic shots as well as climbing and skiing. There is very little text. What ties it together is that 99 percent of the images were created in Washington State, and the sports are all gravity-based and nature-fed.
Describe something you’ve done to get a good shot.
There is a very steep run at Alpental [near Seattle]. I rappelled part way down a nearby cliff so I could photograph my friend skiing from above. It looks similar to footage shot from a helicopter.
What inspired you to take up photography?
After college, I moved out West to basically be a ski bum, and never left. I got a job working for [well-known ski photographers] Wade McCoy and Bob Woodall. I also worked for nature photographer Tom Mangelsen. I became a professional ski mountaineer, and I would hike for hours and then ski in the backcountry. I saw so much beautiful scenery that I just wanted to photograph it.
What do you remember about Williston?
I loved it there. I came from South Hadley, where there was not a lot of diversity. At Williston, people embraced differences and creativity and thinking for oneself. It was fun to be challenged academically and also to have lots of fun sports to do and so many people to meet.
What is the meaning of the book title?
A “duck” is a newbie. I was a duck when I moved out West. Since then, I've skied adventurous mountains, rock climbed and surfed all over, and had my photos in magazines both as an athlete and photographer. Now I feel like a dinosaur. Not quite a has-been, but older. This book illustrates my journey From Duck to Dinosaur.
Annual Fund
Last year, we saw an amazing jump in Annual Fund participation, and after the year finished, my kids asked me, “Now what happens?” And I told them, “We start all over again . . .” which stunned them a bit, but that’s one of the great things about schools—every year, things start anew.
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Charlotte Wilinsky ’07 speaks at Fall Senior Dinner.
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We rely on the Annual Fund each year to provide the foundation of the Williston Northampton experience. Every September, the classrooms open up to fresh ideas, the teams take the fields again, the new students learn “Sammy” and the alma mater—and all throughout our community, the clock resets with new possibilities and opportunities.
Speaking of new, I’m incredibly pleased to welcome Charlotte Wilinsky ’07 as the assistant director of annual giving. Charlotte graduated from Amherst College this spring, and she returns to Easthampton to join the Advancement Office and to coach boys’ tennis. In addition, she will be living in Logan House. I hope you will have the opportunity to meet Charlotte in the year ahead and that you’ll join me in welcoming her back.
Finally, you will be receiving your Annual Fund appeal in just a week or two, and I’d be grateful if you’d consider a gift again this year. We can’t be Williston Northampton without you!
Best,
Traci Wolfe, Director of Communications
Acting Director of Annual Giving
Campus Scene
This year, the Dean's office built class spirit and camaraderie by giving all students class T-shirts to wear during Orientation and beyond.
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