Union men's hockey coach Nate Leaman announced the hiring of Gary Heenan to the coaching staff. Heenan, the former head coach at Utica, replaces Tony Gasparini who was an assistant for the past two years.
Heenan and Leaman were opponents in college. Heenan was a defenseman at Hamilton while Leaman was at SUNY Cortland. Now coaching side-by-side on the same bench, Leaman looks forward to the addition of Heenan.
“Gary started a program basically from scratch,” Leaman said. “Within four years he took them to the top of the league ECAC West), so he has a proven track record. He's a very polished guy and will be a great fit here at Union.”
Heenan compiled a 52-40-11 record during his tenure at Utica. He was hired in 2000 to begin a hockey program at the school and the Pioneers began play the following season in 2001. In his third season, Utica had its first winning record at 15-10-1. Last season, he was named ECAC West Hockey League Coach of the Year after guiding the Pioneers to the regular-season conference title with a 9-1-2 record, and a 16-5-6 overall mark.
Heenan began his coaching career as an assistant at SUNY Brockport in 1998. He returned to his alma mater as an assistant before being hired by Utica. Heenan will work with the defensemen at Union.
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – Jessica Critchlow has been named the Head Women's Lacrosse Coach at Union College. The announcement was made today by Jim McLaughlin, Director of Athletics at Union.
Critchlow, the Head Women's Lacrosse Coach at Utica College since July of 2002, takes over the program from interim head coach Lacey French, who serves the College as the head women's field hockey coach.
“We are pleased to announce that Jessica Critchlow will be joining our staff to lead our women's lacrosse program in pursuit of academic and athletic excellence,” commented McLaughlin. “Jessica was selected from a talented pool of candidates and I'm confident that she will build upon the program's strong foundation and achieve new levels of success both on and off the field.”
Critchlow has guided a Utica program that completed just its fifth varsity season in 2005, and coached the Lady Pioneers for the last three seasons. She led Utica to the 2003 New York State Women's Collegiate Athletic Association (NYSWCAA) Lacrosse Championship tournament. Her first two seasons at the program's helm resulted in the team recording its best finish ever in Empire 8 Conference competition, and many individuals garnering conference and national honors. Critchlow's teams continued to excel academically as well, with many of the Lady Pioneers consistently producing a 3.0 or higher GPA.
“I am very excited about coming to Union College, an institution and a program with such a rich history of tradition and excellence,” stated Critchlow. “In particular I look forward to working with a talented core of returning players. I believe there is a great opportunity to build upon solid past success and together, we'll make it happen.”
Critchlow began her duties at Utica in August of 2001, serving as an assistant women's lacrosse and women's soccer coach. She took over both the women's lacrosse and women's soccer head coaching duties in July of 2002, and served in both roles until May of 2004. Critchlow was named the Empire 8 Women's Soccer Coach of the Year in 2003, turning the program around with an 11-4-1 mark after a 3-12 record just two years earlier.
A letterwinner in both lacrosse and soccer at the College of Wooster (Ohio), Critchlow captained the Scots lacrosse team her senior year and won the North Coast Athletic Conference's Defensive Player of the Year Award in 2001. She was also selected as a regional All-American and was named to the North Coast Athletic Conference All-Star First Team as a midfielder.
Union was 13-4 in the 2005 season and won the Liberty League title at home on Frank Bailey Field. The Dutchwomen competed in the NCAA tournament and took a 12-game winning streak into the NCAA's before losing at Colorado College (a national semi-finalist).
Founded in 1795, Union is a highly selective residential college of 2,100 students, located in upstate New York. Union is well known for its excellence in athletics while being fundamentally committed to academic achievement. Union sponsors NCAA Division III sports for 23 men's and women's varsity teams that participate in the Liberty League, the Division I ECAC Hockey League for men's and women's ice hockey, club sports, intramural, and recreational programs.
A premier music building, state-of-the-art fitness center and residencies by prominent religious studies scholars are on tap for Union College, thanks to major gifts by alumni.
“With these latest acts of generosity, we are able to fulfill our strategic campaign goals in several key areas, invest and re-invest in Union's core strengths and innovative initiatives, and add enrichment opportunities for our students and faculty,” said Frank L. Messa of Saratoga Springs, a 1973 alumnus who is co-chairing the “You are Union” capital campaign with Mark L. Walsh of Chevy Chase, Md., of the class of 1976.
To date, the $200 million “You are Union” campaign, launched in October 2004, has received gifts and pledges of more than $90 million. The newest gifts will support initiatives to expand the arts, energize athletics, reinvigorate residential life and strengthen faculty.
“Alumni and friends of Union continue to show tremendous support and dedication so the College can keep its momentum as a leader in the 21st century,” said Walsh.
The biggest new outpouring of support for the capital campaign goes toward the music facility, with more than $4 million raised to renovate North Colonnade and equip it with everything from a music technology studio to electronic classrooms.
Of that, $1.5 million comes from Gloversville, N.Y., businessmen James (Jim) W. Taylor of the class of 1966 and his brother, John Taylor, class of 1974.
Jim Taylor is chairman and CEO, and John Taylor, vice president of administration and manufacturing, of the Taylor Made Group, one of the world's largest manufacturers and suppliers of boating products. The two are sons of the late Willard H. Taylor, who graduated from Union in 1942 and is a College benefactor.
Construction will begin this fall on the facility, located in the campus' historic Ramée section. In addition to the technology studio and classrooms, it will house a music library, lecture/rehearsal/recital hall, electronic piano room advanced music students' work station, practice rooms, faculty offices and instrument storage lockers.
Funds also have been raised for an endowment to maintain and operate the music facility, which is slated for completion by next summer.
An anonymous benefactor is changing the face of one of Union's most-used buildings, Alumni Gym, a part of which will be converted into a state-of-the-art fitness center. The $2 million project will be ready for faculty, students and staff by January.
Dating to 1909, Alumni Gym was often the site of large, formal dances, as seen in the movie, “The Way We Were.” The gym has undergone several major renovations over the years, most notably in 1947 and again in 1985, when a new pool was added.
The family and friends of the College's late dean of faculty and vice president of academic affairs, Christina E. Sorum, have made a commitment to name a Minerva House (the existing Yellow House) in her memory.
Sorum, nationally recognized as a strong champion of liberal arts education, died suddenly in May.
One of the College's most innovative new initiatives in years, Union's Minerva House System features seven hubs designed to provide new avenues for leadership, community building and self-governance and to integrate living and learning activities. Each Minerva has about 300 members, including students, faculty and staff, and hosts a range of social, intellectual and academic activities.
In support of Union faculty, two major benefactors of the College, John S. Wold of the class of 1938 and his wife, Schenectady native Jane (Pearson) Wold, have created two chairs in religion –a permanent chair and a rotating chair in religion and conflict.
The rotating chair will bring to Union nationally recognized scholars for one- to two-month residencies.
Wold, a geologist and Union Trustee who is honorary chair of the “You are Union” campaign, is president of Wold Trona Company Inc., Gastech Inc. and various family mineral organizations in Wyoming. In 2002, the Wolds made a $20 million commitment to the College, the largest gift in Union history, to support a variety of programs, from scholarships to scientific and technical equipment.
“This is a pivotal time in Union College history, and we are delighted to be a part of it,” said Wold, whose endowment commitment also included the newly named Wold House, a centerpiece of the Minerva system. Wold grew up in the former faculty house; his father Peter I. Wold, chaired Union's renowned physics department from 1919 to 1945.
Roger H. Hull, who made the gifts announcement before stepping down as president last month, said, “Union is stronger now than it has ever been, and these latest gifts strengthen that position. In every regard, Union is poised to move to the next level of excellence.”
Alban Molineaux's daughter Diane is with 11 other Union College students studying abroad in London. After hearing about the attacks, Molineaux said he and his family were either glued to the television or trying to reach Diane on her cell phone.
“I'm so glad to hear your voice. That was the very first thing I said. Because until that you just didn't know, even though they said everyone was fine. The statistics change all the time. To hear they were pulling bodies out of Russell Square. You just don't know,” said Molineaux.
Diane and the other students live and go to class right near Russell Square — the location of one of the subway station explosions.
Molineaux said his daughter didn't hear any of the attacks, but when she went outside she said it was mayhem.
“She said there were helicopters flying overhead, ambulances, people running all about,” said Molineaux.
Hearing his daughter describe what she saw reminded him of another terrifying incident. His other daughter was in Columbia High School when a student began shooting last year.
“This is worse. You know, because you don't know. With Columbia, I had direct contact. The phone lines weren't tied up. In London, you can't get through,” said Molineaux.
Molineaux has tried several more times to talk to Diane, but he continues to have trouble. For now, Diane's family members are keeping her and the victims in their prayers.
A decision has not yet been made if the students will return home or relocate to a different location.
When first walking into a classroom at Union College, it appears to be your typical group of students. However, it's a summer program that brings high-schoolers together from all over the country to participate in the Summer Science Workshop.
Summer Science Coordinator Karen Williams said, “The program is for under-served high school students which includes certain minorities, economically disadvantaged students, as well as students who are the first generation in their family to attend college.”
Students are chosen for the two-week program by a committee that reviews their essays and transcripts. It's a unique experience for students — particularly for those who haven't been exposed to higher education. In fact, one student even returned to the program as a counselor.
LaToya Roper said, “Since I was in high school I thought it was a good opportunity to learn more about it, the field trips were very enriching, we got to speak to different doctors and pre-med students.”
The Summer Science Workshop started 10 years ago. For the past several years the theme has dealt with HIV/AIDS research. Students conduct experiments in an actual laboratory setting, but they also get an education in other ways.
Summer can still be a time for learning, and that's no exception for some high school students. In fact, they've gone up to a level they never experienced before.
Beside completing college level courses, students also experience other elements of campus life, such as living in the dorm, eating in the dining halls and meeting with professors.
Student Major Capers said, “The dining hall, the dorms and stuff, they were nice and everything, it took a while getting used to the beds. It's a lot different than my bed.”
Roper said, “Staying in the dorms gave us an idea on everything, what it's like, getting familiar with the campus made it very easy for me once I became a student here.”
All these elements spell out success for the program, and they remain hopeful for the future.
Karen Williams said, “I'm sure the college and the biology department will consider it important enough to discover a source of funding to keep it going for a long time.”
And to enable high school students to give it “that old college try.”
