Posted on Dec 20, 2005

Phillip J. Wajda, former city editor of the Albany (N.Y.) Times Union, has been named director of media and public relations at Union College, Director of Communications and Public Affairs Bill Schwarz has announced.

“We are thrilled to have Phil on board,” Schwarz said. “His passion for higher education coupled with his vast experience as a reporter and editor will serve the College well as we seek to enhance our academic reputation – locally, regionally and nationally.”

Wajda, 41, spent eight years at the Times Union, the last three as city editor.

“I'm eager to be a part of the Union family and look forward to helping the College continue to attract high-quality students and faculty,” he said.

Wadja's staff won numerous state and national journalism awards, and the paper was honored as a “Newspaper of Distinction” by the Associated Press of New York for four of the past eight years.

“This is an incredibly exciting time to be at Union College. Few schools in the country have the rich history and tradition that has been created over the past 210 years here at Union,” Wajda said.

“The College has an outstanding reputation for being a place where innovation is the rule, not the exception. That energy and vitality will grow under the leadership of the new College president, Stephen C. Ainlay.”

Before joining the Times Union, Wajda spent eight years at the Courier-Post, a Gannett newspaper in southern New Jersey that has been honored by the New Jersey and Philadelphia Press Association. He holds a B.A. in communications from Rowan University in Glassboro, N.J. He was named outstanding alumnus by the school in 1999.

Wajda lives in Schenectady with his wife Catherine and their five children, Mary Grace, Daniel, Helen, Caroline and Peter.

Posted on Dec 19, 2005

The Foundation for Excellent Schools (FES) recently honored Union College for its contributions to various programs, including the Adirondack Scholars Program, which focuses on 12 rural central schools in the Adirondack region.

As part of the program, Vernon Castillo, assistant dean of admissions, recently participated in a workshop at Keene Central School. In December, he followed up with schools from the Adirondacks at the Consortium for Educational Excellence through Partnerships Conference, which helps schools design and submit mini-grant proposals for school/college partnership activities.

FES is a national, nonprofit organization that partners with public schools in high-need communities to help strengthen student performance and raise educational aspirations.  

Posted on Dec 19, 2005

Cellist David Finckel and pianist Wu Han, perennial favorites among Union classical music lovers, return to Memorial Chapel at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, as part of the College's 2005-2006 Chamber Concert Series.

The popular duo's 14th series appearance will include The Two Cello Sonatas by Brahms and Bach's Italian Concerto and Gamba Sonata.

Over the years, their recitals have featured a growing number of works written specifically for their exceptional talents, including those by such American composers as Bruce Adolphe and Augusta Read Thomas. 

Finckel and Han are ranked among the most esteemed and influential classical musicians in the world today.

Their wide-ranging repertoire includes equal emphasis on the classics as well as pieces by contemporary composers. They have performed significant works by leading 20th-century composers including Prokofiev, Britten, Alfred Schnittke and Andre Previn.

Their international engagements have taken them to Mexico, Canada, the Far East, Scandinavia and continental Europe to unanimous critical acclaim.

Highlights from recent seasons include their debuts in Germany and at Finland's Kuhmo Festival, their presentation of the complete Beethoven cycle in Tokyo and their signature all-Russian program at London's Wigmore Hall.

Tickets are $25 for the general public and $12.50 for students, at the door one hour before the performance or available at the College Facilities Building.

For more information, call 388-6080 or call 372-3651, or visit the Union College Web site at www.union.edu.

Posted on Dec 19, 2005

The holidays will shine brighter for dozens of local children and adults in need this winter, thanks to an outpouring of thoughtful, beautifully wrapped gifts from the Union community.

Kathleen D. McCann, director of College Relations Data Systems, expanded her department's informal tradition of sponsoring people through the Schenectady County Department of Social Services.

“I can tell you first hand how appreciative the recipients are, and how excited the donors are, so this year I thought others on campus might want to participate, too,” McCann said.

Seventy Union staffers pitched in with gift bags, cards, food and more. Gifts ranged from Spiderman sheets, Dora the Explorer toys, books and a dollhouse to hats and gloves; even a toaster popped up in one package.

“Everyone was very generous,” McCann said. “One person literally had to drag her gift package into our office, as it was just bursting with stuff.”

Participants also enjoyed the opportunity to involve their children as a lesson in sharing and giving.

“In our family, my three-year-old's the official gift wrapper,” McCann notes.

Helping McCann with the gift-giving effort were Records Coordinators Erin Adams, Nancy Beekman, Rita Damiano, Wendy Duff, Nanette Krantze, Mary Lyford, Tonya Martinez-Hilton and Marilyn Tommasone.

Posted on Dec 19, 2005

SCHENECTADY — ReUnion 2005 — Union College's annual alumni weekend, which brought together more than 1,000 former students this year — won special recognition from the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education.

The District II Accolades Awards lauded the program with a “silver award” that will be presented to the college's Office of Alumni Relations at the council's annual conference in Pittsburgh in February.

“This is a wonderful recognition for the college and our ReUnion programming,” said Nick Famulare, class of 1992, director of alumni relations, in a statement. “But more importantly, it is a testament to the hard work of our many alumni volunteers who make ReUnion so special.”

Nearly 1,500 alumni attended ReUnion 2005 in May. About 40 percent of the 50th ReUnion class attended for events that ranged from a medallion ceremony to a handshake with members of the graduating class. Thirty-five percent of attendees were graduates of the last decade. Total giving from classes was nearly $3 million, with a participation rate of 43 percent.

The entry for the awards program was prepared by Betsy Seplowitz, class of 1996, associate director of alumni relations, who directs the ReUnion programming.

Plans are already in the works for next year's event, slated for May 18-21. The weekend will include a golf outing, foot race, medallion ceremony, class photographs, alumni parade, family picnic and other activities.