The e-newsletter of Chestnut Hill College

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The e-newsletter of Chestnut Hill College

News & Notes

News & Notes

Students, faculty and staff gathered to pray at the Peace Pole.
Students, faculty and staff gather to pray at the Peace Pole.
Marilee Gallagher '14

Concern for the Earth is one of Chestnut Hill College’s core values.

With this in mind, CHC celebrated Earth Day last month, giving students, faculty and staff the chance to take in the natural beauty of the campus as well as learn more about the dangerous and real consequences of climate change.

The College provided two screenings of the film, “This Changes Everything,” a documentary inspired by Naomi Klein’s bestseller of the same name. The film examines how the world can address the climate change crisis by confronting it, ultimately creating a better world.

In addition to the film screening, the College’s Campus Ministry team led the group to the Peace Pole located near the Summerhouse lawn, where they joined in prayer and song. Attendees reflected on Laudato Si, Pope Francis’ encyclical on climate change, and came together through intercessions on protecting the Earth as stewards of God’s creation.

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The processional opening the commencement ceremony is a special part of the day.
The processional opening the commencement ceremony is a special part of the day.
Linda Johnson

CHC Celebrates 89th Commencement 

CHC will celebrate its 89th Commencement on Saturday, May 14, when nearly 400 students will receive their diplomas.

Graduates from the School of Undergraduate Studies will join those from the School of Continuing & Professional Studies and the School of Graduate Studies in the traditional procession down the hill from Fournier Hall as faculty line the route, cheering them on.

The 2016 Commencement speaker is The Honorable Kevin M. Dougherty, justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and father of Sean Dougherty, who will graduate with a degree in political science. Justice Dougherty also will receive an honorary Doctor of Laws degree.

Three additional honorary degrees will be awarded this year. John F. Haught, Ph.D., a research professor at Georgetown University, will receive a Doctor of Humane Letters. Carol McCullough Fitzgerald, a former member of the College’s board of directors and Executive Director of The Pennsylvania Society, will receive a Doctor of Laws degree. The Honorable James J. Fitzgerald, III, senior judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, also will receive a Doctor of Laws degree.

Read more at www.chc.edu/commencement.

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Students learn about the forensic sciences at last year's Forensic Sciences Summer Camp.
Brenda Lange

Summertime = Time for Forensic Sciences Summer Camp

For the third consecutive year, CHC’s biology department will offer students in grades 5 through 12 a chance to immerse themselves in forensic sciences and genetics for a week. The camp’s curriculum includes the various forms of collection and analysis of crime scene evidence and provides students with hands-on experience in techniques used by professionals during crime scene investigations.

The camp is directed by Joe Kulkosky, Ph.D., professor of biology and chair of the department, who believes some of the increased fascination in the field of forensics comes from the popularity of television shows such as “CSI” and “Law and Order,” which highlight DNA and fingerprint analysis and other interesting methods of catching criminals.

This year’s camp will be held from July 11-15 for middle school students and from August 8-12 for high school students.

Read more and view photos of the program here.

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Made entirely of plant materials, this Barbie-sized green gown won a blue ribbon and Best of Show for creators Leslie Purple and Emilie Lapham.
Made entirely of plant materials, this Barbie-sized green gown won a Blue ribbon and Best of Show for creators Leslie Purple and Emilie Lapham.
Leslie Purple

SugarLoaf in Bloom

The Wissahickon Garden Club held its first flower show in years at SugarLoaf the last weekend in April. The show, “Look Both Ways,” featured flower designs and exhibitions created by competitors from around the country, according to Leslie Purple, the show’s co-chairman.

“People of all ages came and enjoyed this show. We had nearly 200 for Friday’s preview and Saturday and Sunday were both well-attended,” she says. “Flower shows are visual and the title shows that we were giving an opportunity to look at flowers and plants in a different way.”

That “different way” included displays of botanical jewelry, nature photography, a conservation exhibit about pollinators and a live exhibition bee hive, a boutique and garden shop offering plants for purchase, and a garden history and design exhibition.

“This was one of the largest events we’ve seen at SugarLoaf, and I’m grateful for all the CHC departments that helped make it a success,” says Drew Westveer, director of event planning. “This event helps CHC integrate into the Chestnut Hill community and we hope this partnership with the Woodmere Art Museum and the Wissahickon Garden Club is just one of many more such events in the future.”

To view a full album of the flower show's transformative effect on Sugarloaf, click here.

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Justice Dougherty and his son Sean Dougherty ’16, pose with Sean’s girlfriend, Regina Trabosh ’17, one of the new inductees into Nu Epsilon.
Justice Dougherty and his son, Sean Dougherty ’16, pose with Sean’s girlfriend, Regina Trabosh ’17, one of the new inductees into Nu Epsilon.
Marilee Gallagher '14

New Students Inducted into Nu Epsilon

On March 31, the Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honor Society, which recognizes academic excellence and promotes community service, educational leadership and unity, inducted its newest class into its Nu Epsilon chapter at Chestnut Hill College.

Each of the 25 inducted students has achieved a minimum 3.2 GPA in both their major courses and overall course work. Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin M. Dougherty, J.D., father of Sean Dougherty ’16, offered the keynote address.

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Meral Güneyman warms up prior to her April 20 performance.
Meral Güneyman warms up prior to her April 20 performance.
Linda Johnson

She Makes Beautiful Music

Steinway performance artist and Grammy nominated jazz musician Meral Güneyman performed at CHC on April 20 as part of the Steinway Master Artist Series. Güneyman performed at the College in 2012 for the Steinway Master Artist Series and in 2011 for the College’s celebration of becoming an All-Steinway School. To learn more about Meral Güneyman, visit her website www.meralguneyman.com

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Jessica O'Neill '13 poses with her students from Little Flower CHS.
Jessica O'Neill '13 poses with her students from Little Flower CHS.
Photo courtesy of Jessica O'Neill

CHC Alums Lead Students to Concert of Excellence

On March 22, a group of more than 500 music students from area schools throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, performed during the Reverend Monsignor Louis D’Addezio Concert of Excellence at the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts. Among this talented group were students from Little Flower Catholic High School for Girls, taught by instrumental music teacher, Jessica O’Neill ’13; Archbishop John Carroll High School students, taught by honors choral director, Jeremy Triplett ’11; and students from St. Joseph the Protector School, taught by music teacher, Alyssa Cherewaty ’13.

Alyssa Cherewaty '13 with some of her students from St. Joseph the Protector School.
Alyssa Cherewaty '13 poses with some of her students from St. Joseph the Protector School.
Photo courtesy of Alyssa Cherewaty '13

“All-Catholic was such a great experience for my students, some of whom had only just started playing their instrument the year before,” says O’Neill. “It was a proud moment for me as a teacher.”

“It was a wonderful opportunity. The students loved being able to perform but also loved just watching and listening to the high school groups, which gave them a chance, as musicians, to see where hard work can take them,” adds Cherewaty. “Meeting and reconnecting with fellow CHC alumni who are also Archdiocesan music teachers was a wonderful addition, and a lot of fun.”

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Wayne Jacoby presents information about the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals.
Marilee Gallagher '14

Sustainable Development Goals Introduced

In the first of a three-part videoconference series, the United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI) team in conjunction with Global Education Motivators (GEM), introduced students from Chestnut Hill and Effat University in Saudi Arabia, to the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals and led a conversation on how to implement these goals on each campus.

“We’re at a critical point where the minds of young people have to be turned, as they will be the ones to make these goals happen,” said Wayne Jacoby, president of GEM, in his introductory remarks. “To envision the future, you have to believe in the Sustainable Development Goals.”

Jacoby led the students in discussion with Ramu Damodaran, chief of the UNAI initiative, and Pragati Pascale, now-retired U.N. employee from the department of public information as well as development, as they came up with next steps on how they might work together to put the goals into action.

“The goal through these conferences is to get people working together, developing connections and then taking action,” Jacoby says. “It’s putting these things in place in order to make bigger things happen.”

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The College community enjoy IFR's workshop in April.
Marilee Gallagher '14

Forgiveness and Reconciliation Discussed

CHC’s Institute for Forgiveness and Reconciliation (IFR) sponsored the April workshop, “Learning to Forgive in a Hurting World.” Catherine Nerney, SSJ, Ph.D., director of the IFR, led the program with Cristina Diaz ’15, media and community relations manager.

The program gave participants the opportunity to explore the best ways to understand forgiveness, different stages on the path to forgiveness and the cycle of reconciliation. The workshop used stories of forgiveness in the world as well as personal stories as a foundation for learning. 

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Students from the IDHP Art & Justice class prepare to travel to Center City Philadelphia.

Off-Campus Learning 

In early April, the Interdisciplinary Honors Program Art & Justice class visited Family Court in Philadelphia. Bennie Price, deputy director of the Philadelphia Juvenile Probation Department, was the class’s guide.

Co-teachers, Suzanne Conway, M.A., associate professor of art history, and Sara Kitchen, J.D., professor of criminal justice, met Price when they visited the department with last year’s Art & Justice class, at which time he was impressed with the students and offered to host future classes.

 

Students in Sara Kitchen's Restorative Justice Seminar visit Villanova University.

Also, Kitchen’s Restorative Justice Seminar students attended the daylong conference, "Restorative Justice: Practices for Healing Philadelphia," at Villanova University in March sponsored by the Restorative Justice Coalition.

Kitchen explains: “The Restorative Justice Coalition is a group of citizens dedicated to promoting restorative justice as the best approach for improving our communities, schools and the criminal justice system. Coalition members include prison officials, judges, returning citizens, prosecutors, clergy members, community leaders, prison reform leaders and educators. Villanova University generously hosted the event where our students interacted with hundreds of professionals and academics and asked provocative questions.”

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