Alumni, Parents, & Friends

YourIthaca E-news

November 2004

A Note from the Director

Ah, November in Ithaca. We're seeing the last of the brightly colored leaves and the first of many snowfalls. It's dark at 5:00 p.m., and colder weather has already arrived. But we Ithacans can't complain: we do enjoy all four seasons, even though some are longer than others. And the cold temperatures don't prevent us, or our many alumni friends, from thinking ahead to the warm, sunny days of next June, when we'll celebrate Alumni Weekend.

We’re heralding our 5th-, 10th-, 25th-, and 50th-year reunion classes -- those with class years that end in 0 or 5 -- but Alumni Weekend is for all alumni, regardless of graduation date. So make Ithaca a vacation destination: take in the wineries and the festivals, hike the trails, and check out your old IC stomping grounds. Mark your calendars today for June 3-6, 2005.

All of us in Alumni Hall will be on the road more in the coming year. So if you don't make it to campus, we'll look for you at a regional gathering, college fair, or Network Night event.

Warmest wishes from Ithaca College.

Graham Stewart '81, M.S. '01
Director of Alumni Relations

Upcoming Alumni Events

Homecoming 2004
Last month at Homecoming, alumni young and old returned to campus to enjoy the fall foliage; honor this year's inductees into the athletic hall of fame; celebrate the dedication of the newly renovated pub, now called IC Square, the gift of the class of 2004; and cheer on the Bombers to victory over the Lycoming Warriors. It was a great time of celebration and reuniting.
» Photos from Homecoming: http://www.ithaca.edu/alumni/galleries/hc_04/

December 3: Alumni Reception at the New York State School Music Association, Rochester
December 11: Mount Vernon by Candlelight, Washington, D.C.
January 6-13: 19th Annual Ithaca College Network Nights: Don't think you've got connections? Think again. Not only are Ithaca College alumni movers and shakers, they also help each other out. Got connections? Share your expertise and give a leg up to a student or an alumna or alumnus. You'll meet some great people, and it's a fantastic way to start the new year!

Online registration is now available:
January 6: New York City
January 10: Boston
January 11: Rochester, N.Y.
January 12: Philadelphia
January 13: Washington, D.C.

» More Alumni Events

(back to top)

Online Community

The online community is a free, secure site for alumni. In order to access the features of the online community, you need to register. If you are not yet registered, request your security ID. Registered but forgot your username or password? Get it now!

Recent Class Notes
Please note that the following class notes are as submitted by alumni and have not been edited for grammar or style.

Beth Gruben Clark (2000, School of H&S) and Chad Clark (1999, School of Business) were married August 7th, 2004 in Stony Point, NY. It was a beautiful day with the sun appearing just as the wedding processional began outside on the grounds of Marvello Country Club. Alumni from IC that were in the wedding were Melissa (Bloomrose '00) Bluey, Kate McCumber, Ryan Cady, and Brett Fuentes. Other IC alumni in attendance were Rosemary (Merola '00) Garbowski, Jill Emhof, and Cindy (Cassidy '00) Fuentes.

Apurva Chandola (2004, School of Communications) writes, "I have been appointed Director of the Kronicle Film Channel, part of the online broadcast network www.kronicle.com. I want to create a community where digital media created by you can be broadcast to the world. Eventually, this site will be a chronicle of what IC students created in the past, are doing today, and will give future generations of IC artists a global platform to broadcast their work. In the meantime you are welcome to become members of www.kronicle.com and enjoy fresh works from independent artists. We currently have the hottest independent hip-hop on the planet! Please email me at apu_chandola@yahoo.com if you can help with this effort, have any questions, or want your work on the network. The idea is simple: if we all unite and keep creating, we will prosper!

Jason Gonzalez (1993, School of Business) writes, "Jason Gonzalez is releasing his 4th CD, a double CD called 'Live' due out in December 2004. The CD, released through his own record label/recording studio/publishing company, JAG Enterprises, Ltd., features 15 new tunes and 7 remiz and arranged songs from his CDs 'Through My Eyes' (1998) and 'On the Edge of the Edge' (2001). Jason has also completed Open Water and Advanced Open Water Certifications for Scuba and Free Diving."

Lauren Acton (1982, School of Communications) is proud to announce the birth of a baby boy, John Thomas Phillips III. He was born on August 20, 2003 in Bryn Mawr Pa., and weighed 9 lb., 3 oz., and it was amazing to give birth at 44! Same birth date as classmate Stephan Newbold!

Evelyn Panagakos (M.S. 1975, School of HSHP) writes, "I've recently returned to Long Island after living in Boca Raton, Florida for nearly 20 years. While in Florida, raised two terrific sons (University of Florida at Gainesville students) and practiced as a Speech Language Pathologist with Boca Raton Community Hospital and School District of Palm Beach County. I am THRILLED to be back home with family and friends. Speech pathology and special education advocacy remain my career passion. Looking forward to reconnecting and catching up with former grad school classmates."

John Beach (1969, School of Business) writes, "John Beach, Class of 1969 (Business Admin.) retired on November 1, 2003 after a 34 year career with Tompkins County government in Ithaca. John, and his wife Kris DeLuca, IC Class of 1981, have four children and two grandchildren. John now directs a program, for the Family & Children's Service of Ithaca, which assists and advocates for victims of violent crime. He would enjoy hearing from any of his old IC friends at jpbeach2003@yahoo.com."

» More class notes
» Submit an online class note!

(back to top)

Campus News

Bombers Drown Dragons
The men's swimming and diving team seems to be riding a wave of up-and-down results so far this year. After hitting a trough with a season-opening loss to RPI October 30, the Bombers reached a crest with a 139-103 victory over Cortland November 3, only to fall back again with a third-place finish out of four at the RIT Invitational November 6.

» More

Rally Promotes Participation
About 50 students toting signs promoting democracy and peace plowed through the College's academic buildings November 5, urging students to keep active in politics and to make their voices heard in response to the November 2 election.
» More

Handwerker Gallery Exhibits Works by Susan Weisend and Harry McCue
Currently on display at the Handwerker Gallery is Editing Nature: Recent Work by Susan Weisend and Harry McCue. Weisend and McCue, both of the IC art department, use nature as a point of departure for the prints, paintings, and drawings exhibited.
» More

ICQ Alumni Spotlight: David Ackert '92

Role Model
Actor David Ackert '92 makes his mark on-screen and with the kids in the neighborhood.

by Ellen Potter

Not long after David Ackert '92, star of the recently released independent film Maryam, moved to Los Angeles to a career as an actor, he noted one of the most common pitfalls of the profession. All around him he saw other struggling actors who had been feverishly chasing fame for years; and in the end all they had to show for their efforts were -- maybe -- "a walk-on role on Friends and a string of unfulfilling day jobs," he says. Unwilling to put his life on hold until fame came knocking, Ackert, along with Melissa Fitzgerald who plays the recurring role of press secretary aide Carol on NBC's The West Wing), decided to put their talents to immediate use.
» More

Hey, I just saw that guy! If you watch the CBS show Dr. Vegas you may have just seen Ackert, who, according to ICQ editor Maura Stephens, just had "a juicy guest-starring role playing exactly the kind of guy you would go out of your way to avoid at the casino."

(back to top)

Good to Know

Are you a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or allied Ithaca College graduate?
If so, we'd like to hear from you! We want to keep you informed about how LGBT issues are addressed today on-campus. There are also many opportunities to put your unique experiences and skills to work to support current students:

- Attend the annual Rainbow Reception, which celebrates the achievements of LGBT and allied graduating seniors
- Help plan alumni networking events
- Invite a student interested in your profession to shadow your job
- Write a guest piece for the LGBT center newsletter
- Be in contact through the LGBT and allied alumni list-serve

If you were a member of Gala, GayLa, Bigala, BIGAYLA, or Created Equal while at IC, we'd especially like to hear from you. The 25th anniversary of the first Ithaca College group interested in the issues of LGBT and allied students is next spring. To help celebrate, the Ithaca College LGBT center wants to reconnect with our alumni.

For more information, please contact Lisa Maurer, LGBT coordinator, at lmaurer@ithaca.edu or 607-274-7394, or visit the LGBT center website at www.ithaca.edu/lgbt. (back to top)