NEWS@Naz August 2008 - Vol. 7, No. 8
We want to hear from you. Drop us a line at alumni@naz.edu.
News and Updates
- Celebrate Naz!
- U.S. News Recognizes Nazareth in Best Colleges Guide
- Nazareth Welcomes the Class of 2012
Photos of the Month
- "Move In" Day at Nazareth
Spotlights
- Alumni: Ross Comerford ’02: Ex-Scarsdale star stays involved with hoops
- Faculty/Staff: Nazareth Staff Making a Difference One Step at a Time
Alumni Notes
- It’s Fall Phonathon Time!
- Save the date – Reunion Weekend 2009!
Events
- Nazareth Reads
- Celebrate Naz!
- Nazareth College Visual and Performing Arts Events for 2008-2009
Educational Opportunities
- Grad Info Session
- Noon Yoga at Naz
Athletics
- Fall season starts up
- Academic honors
- Golden Flyers Golf Tournament
- Athletic Alumni Events
| News and Updates |
Celebrate Naz! September 23-25, 2008
This year, the College will host its second annual Celebrate Naz festivities to honor our alma mater and heritage. Events will feature Nazareth celebrities, student performances, the unveiling of the Heritage Trail, and multiple alumni gatherings through the country.
If you live in the Rochester area, feel free to join us for any of the campus events or the Wednesday evening happy hour to toast the purple and gold! If you live in any of the six chapter areas (Syracuse, Buffalo, Boston, DC, NYC/NJ, or Albany) get together with alumni and friends at the locations listed in the events section.
If you can't do either, gather together with Naz grads at your local pub, coffee shop, or restaurant and celebrate by raising a toast to the College you love. Regardless of your location, all alumni are encouraged to sport your favorite Nazareth gear and other paraphernalia: t-shirts, sweatshirts, or just wear purple and gold on Wednesday, September 24th to Celebrate Naz! Send us photos of your college spirit after the big day at: alumni@naz.edu.
U.S. News Recognizes Nazareth in Best Colleges Guide
U.S. News & World Report, one of the nation’s leading sources of service journalism and news, has listed Nazareth College in the top tier of colleges and universities in the categories of Universities-Master’s, North Region in its 2009 America’s Best Colleges guide. Nazareth ranked 23 (up from 27 in 2008) in the Best Universities-Master’s North category (ranking is done by region) which covers 11 states and the District of Columbia.
“The entire Nazareth College community is proud to be listed in the top tier of colleges and universities in the north region by a widely respected publication like the 2009 America’s Best Colleges guide,” said Nazareth President Daan Braveman. "The ranking confirms our belief that the Nazareth faculty and staff are doing an outstanding job preparing our students for engaged and productive lives when they leave school."
The 2009 America’s Best Colleges package represents the most comprehensive look at how more than 1,400 accredited four-year schools compare on a set of 15 widely accepted indicators of excellence. Among the many factors weighed in determining the rankings, the key measures of quality are: peer assessment, graduation and retention rates, faculty resources, student selectivity, financial resources, alumni giving, and graduation rate performance.
This recognition comes directly after Nazareth was listed as one of the nation’s best institutions for undergraduate education, according to The Princeton Review. See Nazareth's new Princeton Review ad below.
Nazareth Welcomes Class of 2012
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| The Class of 2012 was ready to make Nazareth College its home away from home last week as new students moved onto campus! The freshmen class includes 481 new faces coming from 12 states, including Arizona, California, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Vermont, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, and Texas, as well as international students from the United Kingdom. In addition, 156 new transfer students also arrived on campus. More than 90% of Nazareth's freshmen were in the top 50-percent of their graduation class (30% were in the top 10%). In addition, 91% of students are involved in either off campus volunteer work or experiential learning. |
| Photos of the Month |
"Move In" day at Nazareth
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| President Braveman lends a helping hand moving a mini-fridge. |
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| Completed just in time for move-in, Nazareth's newest residence hall, Clock Tower Commons, houses 149 beds for freshmen and upperclassmen, as well as a smart classroom and computer lab. |
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| A family affair...turning a dorm room into a home away from home. |
| Spotlights |
Alumni Spotlight
Former Golden Flyer Ross Comerford '02 Stays Involved with Hoops
Ross Comerford '02 was recently featured in The Journal News for his company "Fast Model Software." Below is an excerpt from the article.
The idea came to Ross Comerford during his basketball career at Nazareth College. The former Scarsdale standout saw the need for a software program that could help coaches do a better job of evaluating statistical information from their games. Upon graduation in 2001, he started pitching it.
"I sent out all types of things to people, and they wouldn't pay any attention - you know how those things go," Comerford said. "So I found out where (Nets president) Rod Thorn lives and put together scouting reports with all sorts of personnel stuff, and left it right on his doorstep. He had his secretary call me the next day. I had an hour-long interview with him. It was a great experience." Comerford got a job working at Nets training camp the following summer, doing odds and ends - including keeping stats. "I always kind of had this idea of charting things," he said. "I was trying to figure out what I was going to do and how I was going to do it. So that helped."
Read more about Comerford's story and his business.
Faculty/Staff Spotlight
Jane Kelly making a difference one step at a time!
When the Director of Student Activites, Jane Kelly, works with students to provide opportunities for community service, there is always one event every year that hits very close to home, and that is the annual Breast Cancer Walk.
"Hope Starts with Us!" is the theme for Rochester's annual Breast Cancer Walk. "Like many of you, far too many of our lives have already been touched by breast cancer. As I approach my 9th year as a survivor, this walk is also very personal," says Kelly.
Making a difference in the lives of others is one of the highest goals at Nazareth, where 91% of undergraduates participate in community service. Faculty and staff continually look for ways to connect with and serve the community. Nazareth students will again be out in full force to support the cause this fall. In an effort to connect alumni with current students, we would also like to invite you to participate. If you're wondering if Naz is still a close community, Kelly enourages everyone to join her in walking with the students. The answer will be obvious! Last year, more than 60 students hit the pavement to participate. If you would like to join the Nazareth College team, simply sign up at: www.makingstrides.acsevents.org and search for Nazareth College under "join a team."
The walk takes place on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 10 a.m. at Frontier Field.
Questions? Contact Jane Kelly at jkelly5@naz.edu or call (585) 389-2320.
Celebrate Nazareth College with your support!
The air is getting crisp, classes are back in session, and Nazareth students are 
practicing their best on-the-phone voices. That can only mean one thing....it’s Fall Phonathon time! This time of year, current students ask alumni, parents and friends to support Nazareth College's highest priorities. Get ready to answer a call from a Naz student between September 14-October 16 asking for your contribution to the Nazareth Fund.
Did you know that tuition provides only 75% of what it costs to educate each student at Nazareth? Your support of the Nazareth Fund is needed to help make up the difference. Gifts of all sizes have a profound impact both in the classroom and out. Simply make your gift online or if you prefer, mail in a check to Nazareth College. Please note, if your gift was received prior to September 8, 2008, you will not receive a call from our students during the phonathon. Thank you for helping Nazareth students be the best!
Reunion 2009
It's never too early to start making plans to attend Reunion 2009, May 29-31. In fact, you can RSVP and let your friends and classmates know you are planning to attend by visiting the Reunion 2009 web site (www.naz.edu/reunion2009). While you are there, check out the status of your class's feathered companions in the Golden Flyer Challenge and view photos from Reunion Weekend 2008.
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| Events |
Nazareth Reads
Join Dr. Carl Wiens, Assistant Professor of Music, for an engaging book discussion of Autobiography of a Face by Lucy Grealy, on Wednesday, Sept. 3, in Colie’s Café, Elizabeth George Hall beginning at 6:30 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information and to RSVP, contact alumni@naz.edu or call (585) 389-2472.
Be one of the first to join and buy your book online today! Visit www.naz.bncollege.com and select "NAZ ALUMNI BOOK CLUB" for the Term. Select "ALUMNI" as Department, select "BOOK CLUB" as the Course, and select "AUG 2008" for the Section. Click Continue and then click View Textbook List. Complete the transaction as normal. The shipping & handling fee will be waived if you purchase this book online.
Did you miss out on the last Nazareth Reads? The next opportunity for alums will be in conjunction with the
Center for Interfaith Studies and Dialogue. The CISD book discussion will be held on Thursday, Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. at Nazareth College (exact room location TBA). The book to be discussed will be "A HISTORY OF GOD: THE 4,000-YEAR QUEST OF JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM" by Karen Armstrong. This discussion will be led by Dr.
Muhammad Shafiq.
To RSVP for this program, please contact the CISD office at (585) 389-2963 or by email at cisd@naz.edu.
This book is currently available for purchase at the Nazareth College Bookstore. Regularly priced $15.95, the book is now on sale for 20% off, or $12.76 (plus tax).
Celebrate Naz!
Tuesday, September 23
Kick Off Day
11:50 a.m. - The Nazareth College Jazz Combo presents music from 1924 ’til now.
12:10-1:10 p.m. - A Trip Down Memory Lane
Travel to a bygone era with a panel of Nazareth’s emeriti luminaries, sharing stories both humorous and poignant from past decades. Led by panel moderator Mary T. Bush — herself the veteran of more than fifty years of service to the College — you’ll catch glimpses of a world long-gone … but at a place that you know well. Remember some of the highlights of the past.
1:10 p.m. - Re-enter the present-day Nazareth world as you share refreshments with the Naz community in the Reading Lounge.
Location: Otto A. Shults Center Forum
Wednesday, September 24
Purple and Gold Day
1:30-2:20 p.m. - The first day of classes for our 1924 pioneer undergrads! Commemorate this auspicious day by wearing your purple and gold and with a new tradition: a ribbon-cutting for the new Heritage Trail. Combining the latest technology with our own history, the Heritage Trail covers campus landmarks large and small—a trip you can take with our purple-and-gold group today, or in the future. Many thanks to the Alumni Board for their efforts in developing the trail.
Location: We’ll start in front of Smyth Hall, by the doors facing the Arts Center. (If it’s raining, we’ll gather instead in the Forum for the ribbon-cutting, with an official Nazareth birthday cake to follow in the Reading Lounge.
Chapter Events
Wednesday, September 24th
Join other local alumni from your area as we celebrate the heritage of Nazareth across the country, share memories of days gone by, and wear purple and gold to display Nazareth pride! Please RSVP for all chapter events by email at: alumni@naz.edu or by phone at: 585-389-2472.
| Rochester |
| Happy hour at MacGregors' (Henrietta location) |
| 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. |
| 300 Jefferson Road, Rochester, NY 14623 |
| http://www.macgregorsgrillandtaproom.net/ Visit their website to create your very own e-vite to send to friends and classmates. |
| Buffalo | |
| Lunch at Harry’s Harbour Place Grill | Happy hour at Shanghai Red’s |
| 12 noon | 6 p.m. |
| 2192 Niagara Street, Buffalo, NY 14207 | 2 Templeton Terrace, Buffalo, NY 14202 |
| (716) 874-5400 | (716) 852-7337 |
| www.harrysharbour.com | www.shanghairedsrestaurant.com |
Albany |
| Happy hour at Albany Pump Station – CH Evans Brewing Co. |
| 6 p.m. |
| 19 Quackenbush Sq, Albany, NY 12207 |
| (518) 447-9000 |
| www.evansale.com |
Syracuse |
| Cocktails & hors d'oeuvres at Verizon Theatre Room in the Syracuse |
| Technology Garden building |
| 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. |
| 235 Harrison Street, Syracuse, NY 13202 |
| Click here for specific directions |
NYC/NJ |
|
| Happy hour at Stout | Happy hour & dinner at Chevy’s Fresh Mex Restaurant |
| 6 p.m. | 6 - 8 p.m. |
| 133 West 33rd, New York, NY 10001 | 1900 West Route 10, Morris Plains, NJ 07950 |
| (212) 629-6191 | (973) 644-2660 |
| www.stoutnyc.com | www.chevys.com |
Boston |
|
| Happy hour at The Black Rose | Dinner at Sylvan Street Grille |
| 6 p.m. | 6:30 – 8 p.m. |
| 160 State Street, Boston, MA 02109 | 12 Sylvan Street, Peabody, MA 01972 |
| (617) 742-2286 | (978) 774-1724 |
| www.irishconnection.com | www.sylvanstreetgrille.com |
Washington D.C. |
|
| Lunch at the Old Ebbitt Grill | Lunch at Willow Restaurant |
| 12 noon | 12:30 p.m. |
| 675 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005 | 4301 North Fairfax Dr, Arlington, VA 22203 |
| (202) 347-4800 | (703) 465-8800 |
| www.ebbitt.com | www.willowva.com |
| Happy hour at Harry’s Tap Room | |
| 6 p.m. | |
| 2800 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, VA 22201 | |
| (703) 778-7788 | |
| www.harrystaproom.com |
Thursday, September 25
Pomp and Circumstance Day
12:10-1:10 p.m. - The culminating event for this week will be a moving program in the Paul and Judy Linehan Chapel. Listen to inspirational words from President Daan Braveman and Dr. Marion Hoctor S.S.J., followed by the placement of plaques in honor of the College’s founders.
Nazareth College Departments of Visual and Performing Arts Present 2008-09 Season
Nazareth College departments of Visual and Performing Arts announce an exciting 2008-2009 season of exhibitions, concerts, and performances.
Each year, through its academic program events and Arts Center presentations, Nazareth College makes a significant contribution to arts and culture in the region.
The Arts Center was just awarded the distinction of ninth Best College Theater in the country by The Princeton Review - in good company with universities like Yale and Vassar. Nazareth earned its #9 ranking for Best College Theater with student comments like “all of their (music and theater) productions are always spectacular,” and “I constantly feel like I’m watching a Broadway show whenever I go see one.” For more information about Nazareth College department of theatre arts presentations, please contact (585) 389-2180.
During the renovation of the Arts Center, Nazareth College will present the exciting season detailed above – some on a “Renovation Tour” of the campus and greater Rochester. When the renovated Arts Center opens patrons and the departments of Visual and Performing Arts programs will benefit from a state-of-the-art gallery and theatre, greater accessibility, new seating with better sight lines as well as a new formal entrance.
Nazareth College department of art exhibitions are in the Margaret Colacino Gallery at the Arts Center, 4245 East Avenue, Rochester, NY. Colacino Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 12:00 until 4 p.m. All exhibitions are free and open to the public. For more information about Nazareth College art exhibitions, please contact (585) 389-2532.
Nazareth College’s excellent department of music recitals are free and open to the public. For more detailed recital information, please contact (585) 389-2700.
To view the full season, visit the Arts Center news and updates.
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| Educational Opportunities |
Graduate Program Information Session
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2008
Learn about Nazareth's graduate programs at the next Graduate Information Session on Thursday, Sept. 4 in the Shults Center Forum at 6 p.m. Meet with faculty from your specific area of interest and get answers straight from the source. Applicants who attend will receive an application fee waiver. RSVP online today.
Noon Yoga at Naz, Fall Semester 2008
The start of a new school year brings along with it a new back-to-school yoga program. Experience the joy of yoga! If you have your own mat, please bring it with you as there 
are a limited number of mats available. All levels are welcome and there is no need to change clothes. Classes are offered every Tuesday and Thursday starting on August 26th until December 11th from 12:10 – 12:50 p.m. in the Shults Dance Studio. Instructor Marget Braun RYT 500 teaches yoga at Nazareth College and in private practice. She directs Yoga Cara, a program for yoga therapies. Visit www.YogaCara.org for more information.
Discounts are available for Nazareth faculty, staff, and alumni. Join a trial class for free anytime. To register, email mbraun6@naz.edu or call (585) 415-2519.
Cost:
$70/14 classes. Attend 14 classes any Tuesday or Thursday
$110/28 classes. Attend all Tuesday and Thursday classes
$6/drop in fee per class
With gratitude to Nazareth Health Services and Substance Abuse Services for support of Noon Yoga.
| Athletics |
Fall Sports Season Gets Underway
The Nazareth men's soccer team has been picked to finish fourth in the Empire 8 Conference standings for the 2008 season, according to a pre-season poll conducted among the league's eight head coaches. In addition, the field hockey team, defending Empire 8 Conference champions, is picked to finish third in the conference standings for 2008. The volleyball team, which advanced to the finals of the New York Regional in the NCAA Tournament last year, was slated to finish third as well. The women's tennis team (5-3 in 2007) was picked to finish fourth in the E8 out of nine teams.
Log onto the Nazareth athletics web site to stay up-to-date with all the Golden Flyers action, including 2008 fall sports rosters, schedules and game recaps.
Academic Accolades
Nazareth's 2008 women's lacrosse team is among Division III teams that have been selected as Academic Squads by the Intercollegiate Women's Lacrosse Coaches Association. The Golden Flyers were one of 56 Division III teams that were mentioned for having a collective grade-point average of 3.0 or better. In addition, five players gained status on the Academic Honor Roll for '08.
Sixth Annual Golden Flyers Golf Tournament
On Friday, September 26th the sixth annual Nazareth College Golden Flyers Golf Tournament will be hosted once again at Irondequoit Country Club. The tournament is organized through the cooperative efforts of the Nazareth Department of Athletics and the Office of Alumni Relations, with all proceeds to benefit the Nazareth College Athletics Department. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor or entering a team, click on the link below to print out the tournament brochure.
Golden Flyers Golf Tournament Brochure
Upcoming Alumni Games
For more information, please contact the head coach of the particular sport.
Volleyball - September 6 - Head Coach Cal Wickens - 389-2189 or cwicken0@naz.edu
Women's Soccer - September 13 - Head Coach Gail Mann - 389-2813 or gmann8@naz.edu
Men's Soccer - September 27 - Head Coach Danny Gilbertson - 389-2191 or dgilber5@naz.edu
Women's Basketball - September 27 - Head Coach Devin Gotham - 389-2190 or dgotham6@naz.edu
Men's Basketball - September 27 - Head Coach Mike Daley - 389-2814 or mdaley8@naz.edu
Women's Lacrosse - September 27 - Head Coach Traci Lian - 389-2835 or tlian9@naz.edu
Men's Lacrosse - September 27 - Head Coach Rob Randall - 389-2194 or rrandal5@naz.edu
Purple and Gold Swim Meet - October 18 - Head Coach Martie Staser - 389-2198 or mstaser3@naz.edu
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Kerry Gotham '98 |
Mimi Wright '04 |
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Nazareth College
4245 East Avenue, Rochester, NY 14618
