Commencement 2008
UConn celebrates inauguration of President Hogan
'Puppets through the Lens'
Turfgrass programs earn national ranking
Then & Now: Celebrating UConn's literary tradition
Neag School of Education moves up in U.S. News rankings
Mounting a Husky dynasty in women's polo
Lee: Do the right thing with education
UConn Health Center seeks partner to build new hospital
Honey of an experiment
Working in harmony
New era opens in academic leadership
Law library named for former Governor Meskill '56 J.D.
UConn By the Numbers
Students and faculty treat Mapuche children
Back to the Future: Time travel in style

Raveis gift expands cancer program
'Looking at Birds'
$250,000 gift sustains Litchfield County Writers and Artists Project
Helping hand for students at Waterbury campus
Natales endow scholarship in fine arts, leadership

All-American chat
Play Ball!
Giaquinto, Hunters enter Hall of Fame
Husky Stats

Alumni address graduates at series of separate ceremonies

Photo by Frank Dahlmeyer

Nearly 7,000 students received associate, bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, juris doctor, dental or medical degrees during the commencement ceremonies, which for the first time were held as separate events for all schools and colleges.

Several alumni were among the speakers to address graduates or receive special recognition:

Rebecca Lobo '95 (CLAS) addresses the College of LIberal Arts & Sciences ceremony.

Photo by Peter Morenus

UConn trustee and ESPN basketball analyst Rebecca Lobo ’95 (CLAS) drew laughter, applause and a standing ovation from graduates of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Gampel Pavilion in the day’s largest ceremony.

Philanthropist Gary Gladstein ’66 (CLAS), retired chief operating officer of Soros Fund Management and a member of the UConn Foundation board of directors, received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during Graduate School commencement.

Entrepreneur Samuel Kalmanowitz ’61 (PHR), a leader in the practice of community pharmacy, addressed the School of Pharmacy commencement and received the University Medal, one of UConn’s highest honors. Mr. Kalmanowitz passed away just days after receiving the honor.

Denis J. Nayden ’76 (CLAS), ’77 M.B.A., managing partner of Oak Hill Capital and former chairman and CEO of GE Capital, addressed graduates of the School of Business.

Roger Newton ’74 (CANR), co-discoverer of Lipitor and now managing director of Esperance BioVentures, addressed the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Ratcliffe Hicks School of Agriculture.

Kevin Bouley ’80 (BUS), president and CEO of Nerac Inc., addressed graduates of the School of Engineering, where he serves as a member of the advisory board.

Clockwise From Upper Left: Lauren Grimley ’08 (CLAS) added some style to her cap and gown during undergraduate commencement ceremonies for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. The student a cappella group Rubyfruit sang the national anthem during ceremonies in Gampel Pavilion for the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Graduate School students from the Neag School of Education celebrate their achievements during commencement. President Michael J. Hogan recognizes Samuel Kalmanowitz ’61 (PHR), right, with the University Medal during undergraduate ceremonies for the School of Pharmacy. Mr. Kalmanowitz passed away just days after receiving the honor.
Photos by Peter Morenus

Lamb Chop and Howdy Doody from television and The Muppets’ Scooter and Caddyshack’s Gopher are among the familiar puppets included in the special exhibition “Puppets through the Lens: Puppetry in Film, Television and the Internet” at The Ballard Institute and Museum of Puppetry through Nov. 30.

The turfgrass programs in the Department of Plant Science of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources were nationally ranked in 2007 by TurfNet, the Magazine.

Both the baccalaureate and associate degree programs were ranked among North America’s top turf schools. The four-year turfgrass science program was rated seventeenth, and the two-year turfgrass management program rated eighth.

While both programs are fairly new, they have roots going back to the 1960s and 1970s when Robert Peters, professor of plant science emeritus, and William Dest, associate extension professor of plant science emeritus, taught turf courses. The turfgrass science program was established in 1998, and the turfgrass management program in 2002.

“What is remarkable about these rankings is that many of the schools with which we were compared have had comprehensive turf programs for 75 or more years,” says Karl Guillard, professor of plant science.

Both of UConn’s turf programs are well respected within the industry. Students majoring in these programs often find employment in the golf industry, athletic field management, conservation and wildlife habitat, and commercial and residential landscaping.

“It’s a great success story,” says Guillard. “We’re pleased to be ranked in the top programs, but we’re not satisfied. We want to be number one.”

For a detailed story about the turfgrass programs, see the Summer 2004 edition of UCONN Magazine.

Celebrating UConn’s literary tradition

Photo by Frank Dahlmeyer

With a longstanding tradition dating back to the Eclectic and Ionian Societies in 1893, literary societies have been an integral part of the University.

In the early 20th century, campus literary journals were published, including Pencraft (1935), Touchstone (1949), Fine Arts Magazine (1956) and Penny Paper (1964).

Today, the annual publication party of The Long River Review, the University’s literary and arts magazine, was celebrated in the Co-op with a standing room only event to hear readings by student authors such as Christopher Venter ’06 (CLAS), ’08 M.A., who read “Our Savior in the Year 2000,” which won the Long River Graduate Award.

The Neag School of Education is ranked the 21st best graduate school of education in the U.S. and the 12th best at a public university in the nation, according to the latest U.S. News & World Report guide to colleges and universities.

The magazine’s individual assessment of the Neag School’s core programs placed fourth among the nation’s top 20, including: elementary education (13), secondary education (17), curriculum & instruction (19), and special education (20).

The Neag School’s overall ranking (21) has climbed since 2003 when it was ranked 50. Last year, it was positioned at 31. Another recent study, sponsored by the Teachers for a New Era (TNE) program, shows that an overwhelming majority of Neag School graduates stay in the classroom for 10 years or more, and in far greater numbers than their colleagues nationwide.

Using data from the Connecticut State Department of Education, the study looked at more than 66,000 teachers who were working in Connecticut between 1994 and 2005. The group included 1,100 UConn graduates from either the Integrated Bachelor’s/Master’s program or the Teacher Certification Program for College Graduates in the Neag School of Education.

Other UConn schools ranked in the U.S. News top 50 include Pharmacy (29); Social Work (42) and Law (46), with Business ranked 52. Graduate programs, in addition to education, ranked in the top 50 include the master of public affairs program in public finance and budgeting (7), speech pathology (25), audiology (31), primary care medicine (43), public affairs (49) and environmental engineering (50).

Mounting a Husky dynasty in women's polo

Photo by Peter Morenus

The Women’s Polo Club Team captured its fourth consecutive national championship in April and seventh in 13 years beating Texas Christian University 19-13 in Lexington, Ky., a victory that capped the squad’s 18-0 season.

The winning team took time for a portrait at the barns on Horsebarn Hill.

From left: Lizzie Wisner ’11 (CANR), Kelly Wisner ’08 (ED), Elizabeth Rockwell ’08 (CLAS), Marcos (horse), Lindsey Marrotte ’08 (CANR), Jim Dinger, coach and associate professor of animal science in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Photo by Frank Dahlmeyer

Award-winning filmmaker Spike Lee delivered a keynote address on the importance of education as part of a three-day conference on the Harlem Renaissance organized by UConn’s Institute of African American Studies.

The UConn Health Center is seeking one or more partners to help replace the aging John Dempsey Hospital, a move triggered by a recommendation by the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering (CASE) to the state legislature that a new hospital is needed to support excellence in academic medicine.

The partnership request was made available to all the hospitals in Connecticut and to others throughout the country in response to the report, prepared in March at the direction of the General Assembly, that concluded that John Dempsey Hospital is outdated and too small.

“The request for proposals supports our ongoing efforts to engage other hospitals in conversations to define common ground and shared interests,” says President Michael J. Hogan.

“Hospitals now have the opportunity to come forward and suggest ways in which a new, state-of-the-art hospital can be constructed and financed on our Farmington campus.”

According to the report, formalizing and strengthening relationships with clinical care partners, coupled with construction of new clinical facilities on the UConn Health Center campus, “provides the Health Center with the opportunity to strengthen undergraduate and graduate medical education, grow research opportunities, and continue to provide high-level clinical care.”

The report details the UConn Health Center’s significant contribution to the region’s economy and underscores its untapped economic potential for the region and says: “Growing the UConn Health Center is, simply stated, a smart investment.”

Hogan says the report recognizes the unique contributions of an academic health center and the opportunity for the UConn Health Center to become a leading academic and research center.

“The report makes clear that a flourishing UConn Health Center, working in partnership with area hospitals, can elevate the quality of health care for the region, enabling it to become a recognized center for health care excellence,” he says.

Under the “aggressive timetable” recommended in the report, UConn has eight months to develop a vision for establishing partnership agreements and to formalize plans. CASE has been appointed by the legislature to act as an independent monitor to report on progress.

The report is available at www.ctcase.org

UConn beekeepers are working with 100,000 bees as part of an experiment to make honey for use in University dining halls. Students on campus spoon nearly 1,000 pounds of honey into their tea and onto their toast every year and University chefs in nine dining halls use another 2,800 pounds of honey each year in marinades, sauces and baked goods. It is believed to be the first such effort at a college or university in the country.
Photos by Peter Morenus

Photo by Peter Morenus

Kenneth Fuchs, center, UConn professor of music in the School of Fine Arts, works with Edward Cumming, music director of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, and Richard Todd, principal horn of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, during a rehearsal for the world premiere of Fuch’s “Canticle to the Sun, Concerto for Horn and Orchestra” at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford last April.

The classical composition by Fuchs is the title track from his highly praised 2008 compact disc, “Canticle to the Sun/United Artists,” which was recorded by the London Symphony Orchestra.

Successors to four long-serving deans will expand a new era in academic leadership at UConn that began last year with newly named leaders in business, engineering, law and nursing.

Jeremy Teitelbaum, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Jeremy Teitelbaum, a mathematician and senior liberal arts and sciences administrator at the University of Illinois at Chicago, is the new dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the University’s largest academic unit.

Cato T. Laurencin, a nationally prominent orthopaedic surgeon, professor and administrator from the University of Virginia, is the new vice president for health affairs at the UConn Health Center and dean of the School of Medicine.

Gregory Weidemann, dean of the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and associate vice president for academic programs at the University of Arkansas is the new dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Salome Raheim, senior associate to the president and director of the School of Social Work at the University of Iowa is the new dean of the School of Social Work.

Salome Raheim, dean of the School of Social Work.

“These four accomplished individuals join an outstanding group of deans who are leading the University of Connecticut to greater recognition among the top public institutions in the nation,” says Peter J. Nicholls, provost and executive vice president of academic affairs at UConn. “I am excited about these appointments and look forward to working with them as part of the UConn family.”

The new deans replace Ross D. MacKinnon in liberal arts and sciences, who retired after 12 years; Peter J. Deckers in medicine, who retired after 13 years; Kirklyn Kerr in agriculture, who retired after 16 years; and Kay Davidson, who returned to the faculty after 10 years.

Teitelbaum earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics summa cum laude from Carleton College in Northfield, Minn., and a doctorate in mathematics from Harvard University.

He has been a Sloan Research Fellow and a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow and Postdoctoral Fellow and has lectured and taught in China, Israel and Germany.

Cato E. Laurencin, vice president for health affairs at the UConn Health Center and dean of the School of Medicine.

He is a co-investigator on a National Science Foundation grant that is designed to increase the number of minority students seeking degrees in technical fields such as math, science and engineering.

Laurencin will also hold the Van Dusen Distinguished Endowed Chair in Academic Medicine and will be a professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

He is an expert in shoulder and knee surgery and an international leader in tissue engineering research. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the American College of Orthopaedic Surgeons, is widely published in scholarly journals and holds more than 20 U.S. patents.

He earned his undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University and his medical degree from Harvard Medical School, where he was a magna cum laude graduate and the recipient of the Robinson Award for Excellence in Surgery. During medical school, he also earned his doctorate in biochemical engineering/biotechnology from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Gregory Weidemann, dean of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

Weidemann joined Arkansas’s Department of Plant Pathology in 1983. As a faculty member, his research focused on the taxonomy and biology of plant-pathogenic fungi and biological control.

As a teacher, he has received several awards, including the National Association of Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture Award of Merit in 1990, the John W. White Teaching Award and the Gamma Sigma Delta Teaching Award of Merit.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in zoology and a doctorate in plant pathology from the University of Wisconsin.

Prior to joining the University of Iowa, Raheim held positions at Augustana College in South Dakota, the University of Sioux Falls, The State University of New York at Albany and Bowie State College.

She received her bachelor’s degree in social work from Bowie State in 1974, completed doctoral studies at The George Washington University in 1983, received her master’s from the Catholic University of America in 1976 and her doctorate in communications studies from the University of Iowa in 1990.

Her research interests include cultural competence, social justice, human rights, social and economic development, and organization and community practice.

The School of Law library will be named for Thomas J. Meskill ’56 J.D., former governor of Connecticut, U.S. Representative in Congress and member of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, who died last fall at the age of 79.

The Board of Trustees approved the renaming of the library following a suggestion from Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who is an ex-officio member of the board.

Meskill served as governor from 1971 to 1975. He also was mayor of New Britain from 1962 to 1964, a U.S. Congressman from the sixth district from 1967 to 1971 and a member of the U.S. Court of Appeals from 1975 to 1993.

He served as the court’s chief judge from 1992 to 1993 and held senior status on the court from 1993 until 2007.

In 1972, the School of Law Alumni Association presented him with the Distinguished Graduate Award and, in 1982, the Connecticut Law Review presented him with the Law Review Award.

Photo by Peter Morenus

Ron Mallett, professor of physics in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was filmed entering a 1981 DeLorean, the automobile which was unsuccessful as a product but made famous as the time machine in the Back to the Future film series.

Mallett will be featured in an episode of “Naked Science” titled “Time Machine,” scheduled to air later this year on the National Geographic Channel.

Mallet has received international renown since the publication of his book, Time Traveler: A Scientist’s Personal Mission to Make Time Travel a Reality. The production company of director Spike Lee has acquired the film rights to Mallet’s book.

A $750,000 pledge from the William Raveis Charitable Fund, Inc. will expand the Navigator Care Program at the Carole and Ray Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center, a part of the UConn Health Center.

The program, which pairs newly diagnosed patients with trained volunteers who assist them through the treatment process, is currently focused on breast cancer. The Raveis support, in conjunction with the American Cancer Society, will provide for full-time, on-site Navigator staff and expand their focus to other cancers as well.

Nancy Baccaro, a nurse practitioner who coordinates the existing program, says Navigator makes a substantial difference for patients at any stage of their journey through diagnosis, treatment and care.

“When patients enter the health care system with a complicated condition like cancer, it’s overwhelming.

Through the Navigator program, we have an opportunity to decrease that anxiety, guide and direct a patient and, most importantly, give the patient knowledge,” Baccaro says.

“With knowledge comes power and control in a situation where patients often feel powerless. The Navigator acts as an adjunct to the professional provider and serves as the eyes and the ears of the patient throughout the process.”

“We’ve seen how useful Navigator has been for patients with breast cancer and recognize the need to provide this service for all of our patients,” says Carolyn D. Runowicz ’73 (CLAS), director of the Neag Comprehensive Cancer Center.

“This program is a real resource for our patients and empowers them to become more active partners in their treatment and recovery.

This support is so important because it allows us to expand the scope of our program and help more of our patients.”

Carolyn Deal, president and COO of William Raveis Real Estate, Mortgage& Insurance, is a cancer survivor who knows firsthand about the strong emotions resulting from a cancer diagnosis.

She believes a Navigator program would have been helpful in her own case, and she sees great possibilities for the future.

“When you’re first diagnosed, you only halfway hear the things people are telling you. You don’t even know what questions to ask,” she says.

“And you quickly find that the more you ask other people, or the more you look online, the more overwhelmed you get, because everyone’s cancer is different. When I learned about the Navigator program, I remember thinking how useful this would have been for me. Supporting the Navigator program lets us make a difference to thousands of cancer patients today.”

Lorraine Megenis, vice president of operations at Raveis, adds that many of the company’s 1,900 sales associates have either been diagnosed with breast cancer or have family members or friends who have faced the disease.

An interdisciplinary, multimedia exhibition and related symposium titled “Ornithology: Looking at Birds” was a collaboration between the University’s Contemporary Art Galleries, part of the School of Fine Arts, and the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences during this year’s spring semester.

Both the exhibition and symposium focused on the importance and symbolic value of birds in art production, scientific research and human psychology.

The programs were underwritten by a generous grant from Pratt & Whitney, a leading developer of air travel technologies that has a long history of supporting programs in the UConn School of Engineering.

“Ornithology: Looking at Birds” was the company’s first project in the fine arts.

The largest ever gift to support programs at UConn’s Torrington campus will help to sustain the Litchfield County Writers and Artists Project (LCWAP) through an endowed fund and also renovate the M. Adela Eads Classroom Building.

The anonymous $250,000 gift will convert one room in Eads into a dual-purpose teaching and gallery area while also supporting an endowment that provides fellowships for writers and artists.

Additionally, the endowment will support events for LCWAP, which has become a touchstone of the University and brought dozens of highly acclaimed authors and artists to campus.

An exhibition featuring the works of Robley E. Whitson, a distinguished writer and artist from Litchfield County who helped to coordinate the gift, will be the inaugural display in the renovated facility.

Involving the Litchfield County community plays a large role in the success of the LCWAP, which is the primary outreach effort of the Torrington campus.

The lectures attract audiences from across Connecticut to the northwest corner of the state to hear presentations by such authors as Frank McCourt and the late Arthur Miller.

“I don’t think there’s any other community quite like this one,” says Davyne Verstandig, director of LCWAP, who notes that the surroundings of Litchfield County itself may provide some of the artistic and literary inspiration for the program to thrive.

“There are dozens of award-winning authors in this area and it’s fascinating to see that talent come together with this community. The fact that our project is free and open to the public matters a great deal. At each lecture, one can find a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives and viewpoints.”

Dorothy Bessette-DeSomma ’61 (ED) and Martin DeSomma ’66 (CLAS), who met while they were undergraduate students at UConn’s Waterbury campus, have established a $100,000 endowment to assist financially challenged students attending the Waterbury campus.

“UConn has helped us move through life and it was a wonderful experience for both of us,” says Martin DeSomma, who established a successful dental practice in Woodbury, Conn.

“Because of where we came from, and having developed a work ethic early in life, supporting students who have a financial need just makes sense.”

The DeSommas, who both attended the Waterbury campus from 1957 to 1959 and graduated from Storrs, first became acquainted while serving in student government.

Martin was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Europe for several years before completing his degree.

“When I was growing up, Waterbury was a strong industrial town, with lots of different groups living and working together,” he says.

“The Waterbury campus, with its renovations, has become an even bigger boost to the city. We’re very impressed with what we see. I hope that our gift will allow young men and women to possibly gain their footing to get into the middle class.”

A $50,000 gift from an alumni couple has endowed two new permanent scholarship funds for fine arts majors and student leaders.

The J. Peter & Jennifer Natale Student Leader and Fine Arts Scholarships will be awarded to high-achieving students who take on leadership roles, such as peer mentors, community assistants or student government representatives.

“Our hope is that students who benefit from our gift will in turn give, and continue the cycle of giving for generations of UConn students,” says J. Peter Natale ’82 (CLAS), ’83 (CLAS), ’85 M.B.A. and Jennifer (Young) Natale ’92 (CLAS), who are longtime supporters of the UConn track and field team.

“Our primary mission is to provide support for students interested in pursuing opportunities that we both found to be of such great value: athletics, fine arts and leadership.”

The scholarships reflect the Natales’ wide-ranging passions, and the couple credits their leadership training at UConn with their success. Both were involved in student government and the Department of Residential Life as resident assistants and hall directors.

Peter is a former professional musician who now serves as chief information officer for Becton, Dickinson & Co., a Fortune 500 medical technologies company.

He earned degrees in geography, geology and geophysics and an M.B.A. Jennifer, who earned a degree in psychology, was a member of the UConn track and field team and now works with local charities and international philanthropic foundations.

“Both of us were actively involved in student leadership organizations while attending the University of Connecticut. The value of these experiences has paid dividends for us in the roles we have today,” says the couple.

“Scholarships such as this expand and enhance the possibilities for students. They contribute significantly to the stature and quality of our program,” says David Woods, dean of the School of Fine Arts, adding the fine arts scholarship will provide critical assistance for talented students.

Maya Moore talks about an unprecedented first year at UConn

Maya Moore ’11 (CLAS) became the first freshman, male or female, ever to be named Big East Player of the Year and only the second first-year player ever to be named to the Associated Press All-America First Team, as she led the women’s basketball team back to the NCAA Final Four in April.

Coach Auriemma is known for expecting the most from talented players. How did you adjust to his coaching?
Once you come to the understanding that he’s never satisfied and that he’s always going to have something he wants you to improve, it makes it a lot easier to make progress. It’s one of the reasons he is a great coach. He’s always pushing you to get better. He’s always going to be in your face. You have to get used to it.

What are you working on to improve yourself as a player?
My offensive aggressiveness, not necessarily shooting more or scoring more, but being more of an offensive threat. I want to get some of my fundamentals to a higher level. You have to be extremely sharp with ball handling, defense and dribbling. I want to tighten those skills.

What have you liked most about UConn?
The best part is the whole reality of being here. I feel so blessed to be in this situation. Academically it’s a great school. I like to learn; I was one of those kids who asked tons of questions.

I’m an inquisitive person by nature. On the court I get to play with some of the best players in the country every day in practice and get to be coached by one of the best coaches in the world.

To know that I was one of those little kids watching all the women’s college basketball games on TV and now I’m finally here. It’s humbling and gives me the feeling I’m accomplishing my goals.

Is there anything you would change from this year?
I can’t say that I would, other than the way the season ended. This year definitely fueled us. I got a chance to see what it was like to fight to get back on top. We’re in a really good place to do great things.

What should people know about you that they may not know?
They should know I’m a Christian and that comes first in my life. Hopefully, that’s what I portray—to be a good person. That’s what I try to keep first and not get caught up with anything else.

What do you want to accomplish at UConn by the time you complete your degree?
To continue to focus on relationships, be a blessing to as many people as I can and take advantage of everything that college offers. After I graduate I want to go into broadcasting or journalism.

Major league umpires Dan Iassogna ’91 (CLAS) and Jim Reynolds ’91 (CLAS) are nearing completion of the 2008 baseball season. Reynolds, right, became a Major League Baseball umpire in 1999 and worked the 2005 American League Division Series between the Yankees and Angels and the 2004 All-Star Game. Iassogna, above, right, became a full-time umpire in 2004 and worked the 2005 American League Division Series between the Red Sox and White Sox.
Photos: AP 2008/Elaine Thompson (above); AP 2008/Lenny Ignelzi (right)

Three accomplished Husky student-athletes who went on to play professionally were inducted into the UConn wing of the Fairfield County Sports Hall of Fame, located at UConn’s Stamford campus, in June.

Nick Giaquinto ’79 (ED), who still holds the Husky record for rushing yards in a game with 277 against Holy Cross, played for the Miami Dolphins and earned a Super Bowl XVII championship ring with the Washington Redskins.

Two brothers, Paul Hunter ’83 (BUS) and Tim Hunter ’81 (CLAS), each had All-American soccer careers for the Huskies in the 1970s and each also played in the North American Soccer League.

Both Hunters were elected to the Connecticut State Soccer Hall of Fame in 2004. Tim was a two-time All-American in 1972 and 1974, and is still in the top 20 all-time Huskies scoring list. He played professionally for four seasons.

Paul earned All-American honors in 1975 and 1976 and received the Squires Award, which goes to the Husky voted the consummate team player.

His professional career, from 1977 to 1981, included his rookie year with the legendary New York Cosmos.

BASEBALL
The team finished 27-28 and 11-16 in the Big East. Pierre LePage ’11 (BUS): All-New England, first team. Mike Olt ’11 (CLAS): Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and All-New England, second team. Elliot Glynn ’11 (BUS): All-New England, second team. Peter Fatse ’10 (CLAS): All-New England, second team.

MEN’S BASKETBALL
The team finished 24-9 and 13-5 in the Big East and advanced to the NCAA tournament. Head coach Jim Calhoun: NABC Coaches vs. Cancer Champion Award. Hasheem Thabeet ’10 (CLAS): NABC National Defensive Player of the Year, Big East Defensive Player of the Year, All-Big East, second team. A.J. Price ’09 (CLAS): USBWA District I Player of the Year, USBWA All-America, second team; All-Big East, first team. Jeff Adrien ’09: All-Big East, first team.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
The team was 36-2 and 15-1 in the Big East. Won the Big East regular season and tournament titles and advanced to the Final Four of NCAA Championship. Head coach Geno Auriemma: USBWA and WBCA National Coach of the Year; Big East Coach of the Year. Maya Moore ’11 (CLAS): USBWA National Freshman of the Year; USBWA All-America, first team; Associated Press All-America, first team; State Farm Coaches’ All America; Big East Player of the Year; All-Big East, first team. Renee Montgomery ’09 (CLAS): Associated Press All-America, third team; State Farm Coaches’ All America; All-Big East, first team. Tina Charles ’10 (CLAS): Associated Press All-America, third team; State Farm Coaches’ All America; All-Big East, first team. Ketia Swanier ’08 (CLAS): Big East Sixth Man of the Year.

CROSS COUNTRY
Will Sanders ’09 (CLAS): All-Northeast Region from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association.

GOLF
The team’s best finish of the year was second place in the fall New England Championship. Brian Travalja ’08 (BUS): PING All-New England Region Team.

MEN’S ICE HOCKEY
The team finished 13-21-3 and 11-14-3 in Atlantic Hockey and reached the Atlantic Hockey quarterfinals. Beau Erickson ’10 (CLAS): All-Atlantic Hockey, second team.

WOMEN’S ICE HOCKEY
The team was 22-8-5 and 13-5-3 in Hockey East and ranked in the top 10 nationally. Dominique Thibault ’10 (CLAS): All-America, second team; Hockey East Player of the Year and All-New England. Jaclyn Hawkins ’08 (CLAS): All-New England, All-Hockey East, second team. Jennifer Chaisson ’11 (ED): All-Hockey East Rookie Team. Jody Sydor ’11 (CLAS): All-Hockey East Rookie Team.

ROWING
Varsity Eight Boat finished eight of 38 at the Dad Vail Regatta in Philadelphia and fifth at the Knecht Cup in Camden, N.J.

SOFTBALL
The team was 28-22 overall and 13-7 in the Big East, advancing to the Big East Championship semifinals. Micah Truax ’09 (ED): Easton Sports All-American, second team; All-Northeast, first team; Big East Player of the Year. Allie Gendron ’08 (ED); All Big-East Tournament Team, All Big-East, first team. Daniele Del Ponte ’09 (CLAS): All Big-East Tournament Team. Jillian Ortega ’09 (ED): All-Big-East, first team.

MEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING
The team was 8-1 and won the Terrapin Invitational. Stephen Ferreira ’11 (CLAS): NCAA Diving Regionals. Alex Davidson ’11 (ED): All-Big East, 200- yard backstroke.

WOMEN’S SWIMMING AND DIVING
The team was 7-3 and won the Terrapin Invitational. Courtney Haney ’08 (CANR): advanced to NCAA Championship in the 100- and 200-yard breaststroke. Allison Coleman ’08 (CLAS): Advanced to the NCAA Diving Regionals. Liza Marianni ’08 (CANR): Advanced to the NCAA Diving Regionals.

MEN’S TRACK & FIELD
The team won the Big East and New England Indoor Championships and finished second at both events during the outdoor season. Coaching staff led by head coach Greg Roy: Big East Indoor Coaching Staff of the Year. Brian Gagnon ’09 (CLAS): Indoor All-America, 800-meter run. Mike Rutt ’10 (ED): Indoor All-America, 800-meter run.

WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD
The team won the Big East, New England and ECAC titles during the indoor season and New England and ECACs during outdoor season. Coaching staff led by head coach Bill Morgan ’86 6th Year: Big East and Regional Indoor Coaching Staff of the Year. Clive Terrelonge: Northeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year. Tamara Highsmith ’08 (BUS): All-America, NCAA Indoors in the triple jump; USA Under-23 National Team. Carin Knight ’10 (CLAS): All-America, high jump. Phylicia George ’10 (CLAS): ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District, first team.

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