A L U M N I M A G A Z I N E - Colby-Sawyer College

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From the Heart Derek Veilleux ’12 and Meghan Fligg ’10 Win Student Art and Essay Contests I n the spring of 2009, the college held a contest for students called “My Colby-Sawyer Experience.” In order to compete, students were asked to submit essays and artwork describing what Colby-Sawyer meant to them. The rules of the contest required artwork entries to be accompanied by a short essay. Cash prizes were awarded. Following is the impressive winning submission by artist Derek Veilleux ’12 and the moving, heartfelt entry of essay winner Meghan Fligg ’10. Derek D k VVeilleux ill ’12 “Good “G d Company” C ” Watercolor W t l (18” x 23”) 28 COLBY-SAWYER ALUMNI MAGAZINE So often it seems people forget there’s more of a purpose to the existence of one’s daily schedule or day-to-day routine than what “time allows.” For some, however, the consciousness of a more significant motive is present in the moments of each and every day. These are individuals who share an understanding for the importance of our relationships with one another. At Colby-Sawyer, people
The Family I Found On Kelsey Field by Meghan Fligg ’10 The few months of summer before I started my freshman year were interesting to say the least. I had decided to play soccer here at Colby-Sawyer and could not find a solid stance on how I felt about it. On one hand I was excited to meet new people and play a game for which I have a true passion, but on the other hand I was apprehensive about leaving the world I knew and starting all over again. Pre-season was something I had never experienced before. Coming into it I thought I was in pretty good shape, but, once we began three-a-days, it was an entirely different story. We spent hours running and pushing to become faster, stronger, more agile, to become better athletes. It was hard work and required extreme amounts of diligence and perseverance, countless days of sweat and pain, yet, somewhere in between all of that, something more important began to happen. We were 20 girls, some who knew each other, others who did not, and we were becoming a team, we were becoming a family. We were a group of girls who were all working toward the same goal. We each wanted to improve our own skills, we each wanted to make the team better, we wanted to win, but we also wanted to learn. In those first few weeks we were not only taught the fundamentals of soccer, but the determination it takes to be a better person and a better teammate. I can admit there were times when I thought about quitting, but the girls would not let that happen. Each of us ran together side by side, and, if one person began to fall behind, it was the job of the team to pick her up. Sometimes in life it is hard to find people willing to do whatever it takes to help someone else succeed, but we were lucky to find that in every person on our team each year I’ve been here. I am currently a junior, and will be going into my last season this coming fall. It is difficult to imagine only being able to play on Kelsey Field a few more times, but even are cognizant and appreciative of such lasting bonds. I can’t say I’ve been here a long time, but I already feel more connected with this community of the most welcoming people than I ever could have imagined. As a freshman, the transition from the comfort and security of high school to the diffidence of a first-year college student is a foreboding experience, often of serious concern. Yet, I can say this: being part of the Colby-Sawyer community for less than nine months, I know I’m in the right place. I’ve enjoyed local cuisine with professors on more than one occasion, scored a game-winning goal as part of a collegiate athletic team, met more people than I can remember names for, made friends who are already closer to me than those from home, attended plays, games, and art exhibits, as well as community events and other scholastic functions. I’ve had conversations with the president, completed my first semester as a college student, and never in my life have I been harder to think of not being with the team. In the past three years I have been blessed with meeting some of the most incredible, talented athletes I have ever encountered. These girls have not only influenced me as a soccer player, but they have also helped mold the person I have become. At the end of our season during my freshman year my father passed away of a lung disease. I was supposed to be embarking on one of the most exciting stages of my life, and I was forced to cope with the greatest loss I have ever known. My strength had been tested before, but never to that extent. I was not sure how I was going to handle everything by myself, but I soon found out that was not going to be an issue. The same girls who I ran with, who helped pick me up when I was falling behind, were now with me once again. My teammates and my coaches were there to stand beside me when I was not sure I could do it on my own. Through this unimaginable loss there was also an even greater discovery. I found out what it means to be a true friend, and what it means to be a teammate. I realized that although I was uncertain about joining the team when I came here, it was one of the most amazing things I could have ever done. I have made friends who, I can claim with undeniable conviction, will last a lifetime. I know that when I grow older I will sit with my children and tell them of their grandfather and how blessed I was to have known him. I will tell them of the team I became a part of and how my family of seven grew to a family of 27 in an instant. I will tell them of Colby-Sawyer, of Kelsey Field, and the greatest choice I ever made. ■ part of something so important. My Colby-Sawyer experience is one that includes both the people and the place: a setting fit for one’s growth and development as part of a cohesive community. Seldom do you find a more inviting place that you can truly call home. Distinguished by tradition, Colby-Sawyer provides close interaction among faculty, staff, and students in a supportive environment—a place made of its people. ■ by Derek Veilleux ’12 WINTER 2010 29
Page 1 and 2: C LBY-SAWYER A L U M N I M A G A Z
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Page 6 and 7: Baird Health and Counseling Center
Page 8 and 9: New Trustees Harry Gazelle Harry re
Page 10 and 11: FACULTY NEWS Colby-Sawyer Welcomes
Page 12 and 13: Two New Distinguished Professorship
Page 14 and 15: Old Science Labs House New Technolo
Page 16 and 17: Extravagantly Beautiful Photos prov
Page 18 and 19: 2009 Athletic Hall of Fame Class In
Page 20 and 21: Sealed evidence bags are brought to
Page 22 and 23: crime-solving tools, and the one th
Page 24 and 25: Mountain Day is Colby-Sawyer’s ol
Page 26 and 27: 24 COLBY-SAWYER ALUMNI MAGAZINE
Page 28 and 29: The new Windy Hill School, seen her
Page 32 and 33: Colby-Sawyer College Alumni Fall Fe
Page 34 and 35: The Department of Fine and Performi
Page 36 and 37: Colby-Sawyer College Alumni Fall Fe
Page 38 and 39: With members of the Sho family (l t
Page 40 and 41: LEARNING TO SEE: Global Beginnings
Page 42 and 43: Florence, Italy. The Basilica di Sa
Page 44 and 45: Strasbourg, France. Strasbourg is h
Page 46 and 47: Baseball (15-24; 9-13 TCCC) The bas
Page 48 and 49: Jen Stavenger ’10 led the equestr
Page 50 and 51: CLASSNOTES ACADEMY to 1934 Please s
Page 52 and 53: Colby-Sawyer may be coming to an ar
Page 54 and 55: The late Jean Bush Gabriel ’44 an
Page 56 and 57: A picture is worth a thousand words
Page 58 and 59: Take a European vacation with your
Page 60 and 61: trip to China was terrific. In the
Page 62 and 63: dent of the Pastel Society of NH an
Page 64 and 65: A picture is worth a thousand words
Page 66 and 67: Leah Caswell ’65 Which dorm(s) di
Page 68 and 69: got a job! She landed a job as the
Page 70 and 71: Laurie Ferguson ’75 Which dorm(s)
Page 72 and 73: on their 400-acre cattle, tobacco,
Page 74 and 75: Check out the Colby-Sawyer College
Page 76 and 77: Blushing bride Lauren Smyrl Koron
Page 78 and 79: Tara Schirm Campanella ’00 with h
Page 80 and 81:
Gathering for a Class of 2004 mini-
Page 82 and 83:
In May this group of young alumni w
Page 84 and 85:
Amy Tarte ’06 Most of us, upon he
Page 86 and 87:
Valerie Campbell ’07 exchanged vo
Page 88:
Office of Advancement Colby-Sawyer
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