Homecoming Weekend
October 23 - 25, 2009
Another edition of Homecoming Weekend has concluded with great success as over 1,900 people returned to F&M. This year's celebration was two-fold as the College marked its 40th year of coeducation and honored the Legacy of Women at Franklin & Marshall in addition to the traditional festivities. The weekend would not have been possible without the efforts of many hardworking alumni, staff, and students throughout the College community.
The weekend got underway with the Legacy of Women Celebration Luncheon, which included the presentation of the inaugural Helen Stahr Hartman Award. The award honors outstanding alumnae who have distinguished themselves in their field, while serving as a role model and mentor for women. This year's recipients were:
Elizabeth L. Miller, Ph.D. '73
A member of F&M's first female class, Miller is currently a professor of geological & environmental sciences at Stanford University.
Judith M. White, Ph.D. '73
A member of F&M's first female class, White became the first female to receive the Williamson Medal, awarded to a graduating senior for outstanding academic achievement. She is currently a professor in the Department of Cell Biology and the Department of Micobiology at the University of Virginia.
Maria Rocco Morris '84
Executive vice president and head of technology and operations for Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, where she has worked since graduating. Morris began as an account administrator in the company's National Accounts organization, and then held a number of roles with increasing responsibility.
Jane C. Orie '84
The highest ranking woman in the General Assembly, Orie is also the first woman to serve as majority whip in the history of the Senate of Pennsylvania. She has served the 40th District since 2001 and has taken the lead on state government and gaming industry reform, children protection, and Act 62 of 2008 mandating health insurance coverage for children with autism.
Anne M. Mascarenhas '94
Beginning her career as a staff accountant for Deloitte & Touche LLP, she became a senior accountant before leaving in 1997. She took the same position with KPMG LLP, and quickly rose through the ranks as a manager and then senior manager. She is currently an audit partner.
Shannon M. McNally '95
A singer/songwriter, married with one daughter, she has released 10 albums, and performed with John Mellencamp, Dr. John and many others. McNally has also performed on the David Letterman, Conan O'Brien and Jay Leno shows.
Lauren E. Paul '03
A two-time All-American and three-time First-Team Centennial Conference selection as a player, Paul became the women's lacrosse coach in 2008, leading the team to its second National Championship in program history. She was the first head coach in the history of women's lacrosse to win a national championship in her first year of coaching, and was recognized as the 2009 Division III Coach of the Year.
Layne S. Amerikaner '07
After graduation, she joined AmeriCorps and volunteered at A Wider Circle, a grassroots nonprofit in the Washington, D.C. region that works with children and adults transitioning out of homelessness, domestic violence, or deep poverty. After one year as their marketing and fundraising VISTA, she became the organization's Director of Development.
Patricia S. W. Epps
Epps came to F&M in 1978 and served in several capacities within the Athletics Department., coaching both women's squash and tennis. In 1993, she was named assistant director of athletics and recreation, and in 2004 became the College's first-ever senior associate director of athletics. Epps took over the department in 2007, becoming the first woman in the College's history to hold the position.
Alice M. Drum, Ph.D.
Drum came to Franklin & Marshall in 1985 as the first dean of freshmen. In 2001 after sixteen years in administration, she retired, briefly, and was named vice president of the college emerita. She began her second career at Franklin & Marshall as professor of English and professor of Women's and Gender Studies, which she chaired for seven years.
The luncheon was followed by the Legacy of Women Symposium entitled Inclusion to Impact: Insights and Inspirations from the Legacy of Women at Franklin & Marshall. Alumnae, faculty and students came together for a variety of engaging panel discussions. Topics included Should Women Run the World?, What's Above the Glass Ceiling?, Healthcare Reform, and Arts in Troubled Times: Flounder or Flourish?
Panelists for the event were Paula T. Dow Esq. '77, Rebecca S. Etz, Ph.D. '93, Michele L. Gougeon '74, Marcia Handler, Esq. '86, Debra Amper Kahn '75, Claudia E. Katz '88, Anne M. Mascarenhas '94, Shannon M. McNally '95, Maria Rocco Morris '84, Tracy Myers '79, Jane C. Orie '84, Barbara Stewart Schwartzberg, M.D. '75 and Elizabeth T. Wilson '01.
The evening wrapped up with a Career Networking Reception co-sponsored by the Office of Career Services. Panelist, award winners, alumni and students gathered to discuss the day's events.
The Department of Athletics and Recreation also welcomed its newest class to the Hall of Fame with a reception and dinner. This year's inductees were Carmen Trombini Glenn '98, Elizabeth C. Mackey '75, Todd C. Marshall '92, Jehangir D. Pandole '95, Joseph J. Rothermel, Ph.D. '40, Mary L. Schapiro, Esq. '77 and Paige T. Worth '92.
Saturday began with a Legacy of Women breakfast Celebrating Athletics at Franklin & Marshall. Guests were treated to a panel discussion with William A. Marshall, Ph.D., P'86, P'90, P'92, Susan Bowen McKay '80, Lois Lucente Narr, D.O. '86, Lauren E. Paul '03 and Lisa Anne Rowan '79 on the successful integration of coeducation and athletics, and the changing role that athletics have played in students' lives.
The day continued at A Conversation with Mary Schapiro, as Dr. G. Terry Madonna, Director of the Floyd Institute's Center for Politics and Public Affairs, engaged Mary L. Schapiro, Esq. '77, Chairman of the Securities & Exchange Commission, in a discussion on her role as the chief watchdog for the government agency at the forefront of financial regulation.
As the weather outside worsened, the Tailgate Extravaganza had to be moved into the Alumni Sports and Fitness Center - but that didn't stop record crowds from attending! The ASFC was transformed into a festive scene lined with tables from a variety of academic departments, students groups, Greek organizations, and athletic teams. The Alumni Association was also on hand giving out logo cups and prizes, and judging the Best Decorated and Most Interactive groups (Alpha Phi sorority and the Chemistry Department both successfully defended their titles).
On the gridiron, the Diplomats jumped out to a 20-0 lead against conference rival Muhlenberg and cruised to their 6th victory of the season. The win secured F&M its first winning season since 2004, and keeps the team in a group atop the standings in a fight for the Centennial title. The field hockey and volleyball teams also had wins on the day, and the men's soccer team battled to a tie.
The afternoon also featured the premier of two extraordinary student projects. Alma Mater's Daughters, a professional-quality film featuring interviews with 29 significant alumnae shows how the inclusion of women undergraduates over the past 40 years has irrevocably, and positively, changed the culture of the college. An Institution Re-Founded: Coeducation at Franklin & Marshall College, a Hackman-funded oral history project, features interviews with female and male alumni, administrators and faculty about the college's transition to coeducation. Large crowds packed into the Barshinger Life Sciences and Philosophy Building for the film screening, and had the chance to mingle with the alumnae who were interviewed as well as student filmmakers and researchers Joanna Schein '11, Ashley Lippolis '09, and Katie Stryker '11. (Heather van der Grinten '09 and Alysse Vaccaro '11 were unable to attend.)
Various students groups and Greek organizations also help their own receptions and gatherings throughout the day. That evening, members of the 1974 football team returned to celebrate the 35th anniversary of their undefeated season with a reception and dinner.
Click here for a complete photo gallery of the weekend's events.
