Christmas is just two months away and the crisp, cool mornings and evenings are reflecting that. We have a lot of exciting activities planned between now and the end of the semester, so stay tuned!
This week, we officially launched our new Stamford Graduate Center at Landmark Square. Although classes have been taking place there since the beginning of the semester, this was a chance to show off our beautiful new facility to members of the Stamford community as well as to our own community. We had a great turnout and received lots of positive feedback from our guests. As Stamford Mayor Michael Pavia said in his remarks, Stamford is the perfect place to expand our graduate programs as the city and surrounding area are populated with professionals who want to improve their knowledge and skills and companies that want workers with those skills. I predict this is just the beginning of our growth in Stamford and that we will be adding more square footage very soon.
We
continued to strengthen our relationships in Stamford by co-sponsoring
yesterday’s mayoral debate there. It was a lively debate hosted by our own Gary
Rose who had all he could do to keep the candidates in check as they attacked
one another’s positions on a variety of issues.
We announced this week that the forum in the new academic building currently under construction will be named the Frank R. and Marisa Martire Forum. Frank is an alumnus of Sacred Heart and a member of our Board of Trustees. We are grateful not only for the one million dollars they gave toward the new building, but also for all they do to support Sacred Heart and our students.
The Forever Pioneers, the SHU student philanthropy group, has launched its 2013-2014 student giving campaign. Their focus is on increasing awareness among their fellow students of the importance of philanthropic support to Sacred Heart. This year, in honor of our 50th anniversary, new SHU Board of Trustees member Gary Levin ’78 and his wife Mary Anne ’78 have agreed to match any student gifts dollar for dollar up to $5,000. I hope we can take advantage of this generous offer. We are extremely grateful for the support of both our students and the Levins.
Yesterday, Sacred Heart hosted the Seventh Annual Today’s Students Tomorrow’s Teachers Technology Conference. Forty high school juniors and seniors were bussed to campus to participate. The students attended three one-hour sessions in the morning, had lunch at 63’s and ended the day with a campus tour before returning to Bridgeport. The three tech sessions were led by Toni Bruciati, Maria Lizano-DiMare and Mike Giarratano (pictured below). Rob Gilmore of Admissions spoke to the students about attending Sacred Heart and the great reputation of our education programs. The SHU Education Club volunteers also assisted with the day’s events. Thanks to all for creating a very positive experience for these future educators.
Also yesterday, members of our community gathered on
the quad to form a heart while raising money for local veterans hospitals. The
event was sponsored by Hearts United—a new campus organization with the goal of
providing veterans and current military personnel with items related to
their personal and professional needs.
If you have time this afternoon, you might want to
stop by Pioneer Park for the 100-inning softball game between the baseball and
softball teams. Both teams will be decked out in Halloween costumes, and
spectators are encouraged to come in costume as well. It sounds like a fun way
to show your support of these two teams.
Congratulations to the equestrian team on their 3-0
record! They moved to 3-0 last weekend
after finishing as High Point Team last weekend at the Mystic Valley Hunt Club
in Gales Ferry. They are back at the Mystic Valley Hunt Club for another meet
tomorrow morning, and we wish them the best of luck!
We are expecting another record-breaking crowd tomorrow for our Graduate Program Information Session. More than 400 potential applicants have registered to attend. Two big draw are our new master’s in speech-language pathology and doctorate in education that are both anticipated for next fall.
Students Today Alumni Tomorrow is sponsoring its Third Annual Safe Halloween event on Sunday. This is an opportunity for faculty and staff with children to bring them to campus for trick or treating from classroom to classroom in the HC wing of the Academic Building. What a fun way to kick off Halloween with the little ones.
Other events this weekend include the hilarious and entertaining student production of Boeing-Boeing, Mitzi Gaynor at the Edgerton on Sunday as part of the 50th Anniversary American Legends Series and the Pipescreams organ concert at the United Congregational Church Sunday afternoon. Our own John Michniewicz will open the concert with Bach’s Toccata in D minor on the church’s powerful pipe organ.
Have a wonderful weekend.