SPRING | 2009 MAGAZINE TechKNOWLEDGEy as an Agent of Change in Learning A Campus Connected: Technology at Thomas Thomas Admissions in the Palm of Your Hand SPRING | 2009 THOMAS GIVES BACK FEATURES 6 Volume 7 | Issue 1 LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT MAKING A DIFFERENCE Thomas Thomas students volunteer in the MAGAZINE greater Waterville community WE AT THOMAS COLLEGE are sensitive to the current EDITOR-IN-CHIEF economic climate and its impact on our students, alumni, their 7 Katie Greenlaw THOMAS FOCUSES families and our community-at-large. Those of us who teach and ON SUSTAINABILITY MANAGING EDITOR work at Thomas College place the highest priority on the welfare College increases efforts in the Lee Allen area of environmental stewardship of our students. We strive to do what is in our power to help them CONTRIBUTING develop a skill base that will serve them well in their lives and careers. 9 pg. 7 WRITERS LENDING A HELPING HAND We are proud of what we do and we are intensely committed to Lee Allen Thomas Peer Mentors volunteer their Deb Biche its success. services for the Evening Sandwich Program Jay Brock DEPARTMENTS Thomas is taking responsible measures to trim down our costs, and yet continue to Diana Dority CAMPUS NEWS Cathy Dumont offer the high quality education for which we are known. We will continue our Guaranteed Tom Edwards 38 Juliet Graves ’09 Job Placement program regardless of the state of the economy. We will continue to meet 11 THOMAS ATHLETE FINDS TechKNOWLEDGEy Katie Greenlaw student financial aid needs, as we have in the past. We will continue to exhibit the same NEW CHALLENGE Sherry Pineau pg. 38 AS AN AGENT OF Julia Nyitray ’10 skates in Crashed Ice Krista Specht ’10 high level of care for—and attention to—the students who attend Thomas College. We will Competition CHANGE IN LEARNING Megan Tapley continue to request the support of our generous donors to help us to fulfill our mission. Just as technology is changing the way we communicate, it is also affecting the CONTRIBUTING As an institution, we continually assess ways that we can be more efficient, in terms of 40 way we teach. FREDA STAPLES SMITH PHOTOGRAPHER expenditures, as well as the environment and energy efficiency. The theme of this issue Katie Greenlaw RECEIVES DEGREE AT AGE 85 21 of the Thomas Magazine is technology. We hope that you will enjoy reading about the Smith gives new meaning to the words A CAMPUS CONNECTED: DESIGN “senior class” many ways that the College and our faculty are using technology to enhance our students’ TECHNOLOGY AT THOMAS Mahan Graphics In the technology-rich environment at Bath, Maine academic experience. 42 Thomas, the role of the faculty member MY SEMESTER ABROAD pg. 40 One of the many advantages to being on the leading edge of technology, aside from the is no longer the primary source for sub- PRINTING Krista Specht ’10 reflects on her ject matter information, but instead, the J.S. McCarthy additional learning opportunities it offers, is the impact on spending. By holding classes in semester abroad in Heidelberg, Germany guide for students on how to approach Augusta, Maine problems systematically and how to use virtual classrooms or submitting homework assignments online, printing and paper costs ATHLETICS the information they have critically LETTERS AND NEWS are reduced. This also helps accomplish our goal of being environmentally conscious. and analytically. ITEMS WELCOME 51 The Thomas Magazine is A new section of the Thomas Magazine, headed Thomas Gives Back, includes a report WINTER SEASON REVIEW 27 published two times per year, on the College’s increased focus on sustainability and the new Energy Conservation Men’s basketball clinches #1 position THOMAS ADMISSIONS IN spring and fall, by Thomas in North Atlantic Conference THE PALM OF YOUR HAND College. Signed letters Guidelines. These efforts will help the College to protect the environment, and be even pg. 42 With the technology boom gaining momentum as today’s high school stu- may be sent to the editor, more fiscally responsible. ALUMNI Katie Greenlaw at the dents are nearing college age, a new Thomas Magazine, 180 While the College is well-positioned to thrive in these difficult economic times, we will 58 generation has formed. Colleges that West River Road, Waterville, want to recruit successfully are finding continue to use these methods of assessment to make sure that we maintain our high THOMAS ALUM’S new and creative ways to market to Maine 04901, or e-mailed to these students. [email protected]. Letters quality educational experience for our students. ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT SPELLS SUCCESS and news items may be There are remarkable things happening at Thomas College, as profiled in this magazine. edited for length and style. Todd Smith ’92, M.B.A. ’99 shares the We hope you will read it and take pride in our success. secrets to his successful business record www.thomas.edu 5 THOMAS GIVES BACK PERSPECTIVES This publication is printed on 33 COURSE OVERVIEW 50 percent recycled content. 62 CAMPUS NEWS TECHNOLOGY AS A TOOL 36 Greg Savard ’89 shares his perspective 45 FACULTY/STAFF NEWS GEORGE R. SPANN on the impact of technology President 48 ATHLETICS pg. 51 55 CLASS NOTES [email protected] Cover and inset: Christopher Rhoda ’88, M.B.A. ’89: Man of Mystery Cover Illustration by David Perry, Mahan Graphics 58 ALUMNI PROFILE LETTER FROM THE EDITOR editing Thomas Gives Back THE MISSION KATIE IS…WRITING AND EDITING, and writing.” So went my status update on Facebook one day AND VISION FOR ITH HUNDREDS OF THOMAS ALUMNI of our mission: “Thomas College’s mission is to THOMAS COLLEGE as the Thomas Magazine writing deadline loomed near. With in the Waterville area, nearly one thousand students prepare students for success in their personal and posting status updates on social networking sites such as Face- W professional lives, and for leadership and service book and Twitter becoming as essential to the daily routine on campus and more than 150 faculty and staff employed in their communities.” “Those we serve are as say, brushing your teeth, it is no surprise that colleges have by the College it is evident that Thomas College, and the foundation of harnessed this technology to enhance students’ learning its supporters, have a tremendous impact on the local Throughout the years, the Thomas Magazine has included numerous stories of how our students are our future” experiences. community and the State of Maine. According to Thomas College is no exception. There is evidence of President George R. Spann, “The impact of thousands excelling in the classrooms, shining on the sports field this fact throughout this issue of the Thomas Magazine. of Thomas graduates on the regional economy has been, and thriving as graduates in the world of work. With It begins with the recruitment methods used by the Admissions staff (pg. 26) and continues to be, substantial. Our students graduate this issue, we continue to tell these stories of student Thomas College prepares and continues to students creating avatars to hold online meetings with faculty to become business leaders, community volunteers and achievement in an exciting new section called “Thomas students for success in their when meeting in person is not convenient. It even transcends to Thomas alumni mentors of youth.” Gives Back.” personal and professional becoming fans of Thomas College on Facebook to continue their relationship The impact on our community begins long before Community service means giving back to our society with the College after graduation. lives, and for leadership and graduation. Thomas students are genuinely concerned and the people that surround us. This new section high- When I received a friend request from my 84-year-old grandmother, one thing with being advocates for others, doing their part to lights the important volunteer work that Thomas students, service in their communities. became particularly clear to me: people of all ages have hopped on board—or online— improve the lives of the people in their communities faculty, staff and the College as an institution are under- Thomas provides a supportive and embraced technology as an essential part of their lives. And a large part of suc- taking in our local and regional communities. cessfully using technology is just keeping up with the pace. New technology—or and learning about the personal rewards that come learning environment that Because environmental concerns are also TechKNOWLEDGEy, as we have dubbed it in this issue—is infiltrated throughout from lifelong community service. They believe that values the needs and goals the Thomas campus, thanks in large part to Chris Rhoda, Thomas’ vice president their volunteer efforts for various community groups very important to Thomas students and to of individual students. At for Information Services. and charitable organizations can really make a difference. our community-at-large, this section will also highlight environmental efforts on Thomas, students discover I’m confident that you’ll find this “TechKNOWLEDGEy-obsessed” issue enrich- The College administration strongly supports students’ ing. Thomas faculty are blending technology and traditional teaching in surprising participation in community service activities. It’s part campus and in the community. and fulfill their unique ways. For those who are not as well-versed in the world of technology, we’ve potential. Each program at included a glossary of terms (pg. 30) to help you hold your own when a millennial the College promotes profes- co-worker references their latest “tweet” at the water cooler. We’ve also expanded our content with this issue by placing links on the Thomas Magazine Web site sional excellence, informed (www.thomas.edu\alumni\magazine) to let you, our readers, dig a little further by ethics and integrity.