An article in the New York Times Sunday magazine, “Building a Better Teacher,” features Katie Bellucci ’08, who is teaching at Troy Prep.
The story mentions her degree at Union and ends with this comment from Doug Lemov, an educational consultant and co-founder of UnCommon Schools:
“You could change the world with a first-year teacher like that,” he said.
To read the story, click here.
Read MoreCharles Dickens visited Albany on two separate occasions, in 1842 and 1868. His trips are highlighted in a new exhibit at Schaffer Library, “Dickens in America.” The show coincides with a senior seminar on Dickens, taught by Harry Marten, the Edward E. Hale Jr. Professor of English. It also celebrates the library’s collection of early Dickens works, a recently acquired first edition of “A Christmas Carol,” and related materials from contemporaries of Dickens.
“Dickens in America” runs through April 12, when a staged reading of “A Christmas Carol” will be held in the Nott Memorial. The program, featuring Union students and faculty, is being directed by Patricia Culbert, senior artist-in-residence with the Theater and Dance Department.
To read a story in the Times Union, click here.
Read MoreStephen Ainlay loves to tell the story of when he proudly called his mother in Indiana four years ago to tell her he got the job as president of Union College. His good news, however, was trumped by his younger brother, Chuck, who had just called home to report that he’d won a Grammy Award.
The divergent career paths of the Brothers Ainlay will intersect again on Monday night when President Ainlay sits in as the guest DJ on WRUC, the College’s radio station. Between 8 and 9 p.m., Ainlay will play the music of artists who have worked with Chuck, an accomplished music producer and recording engineer in Nashville.
Though Ainlay won’t tip his hand to the tunes on his playlist, it’s a safe bet the sounds of Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Peter Frampton, Sheryl Crow, Emmy Lou Harris and maybe even Taylor Swift will be heard throughout campus and beyond.
The guest gig came about when Zachary Pearce ’12 attended a dinner for sophomores that Ainlay hosted at Everest Lounge last month. Pearce, who has a show featuring classic rock on Mondays, thought it would be a “pretty cool opportunity” to have Ainlay take the mic for a night.
Landing the president is a bit of a coup for WRUC, “the first station in the nation.” In 1920, Union students used makeshift equipment in a shed behind the electrical engineering lab to broadcast 27 minutes of music through the airwaves, widely considered the first scheduled radio broadcast in the country.
In addition to playing music, Ainlay is scheduled to chat with Chuck, whose Grammy was for Best Surround Sound Album of 2006 for Dire Straits' “Brothers in Arms” 20th anniversary edition.
An English major, Pearce has been brainstorming for a name to promote Monday’s show, usually called “Wolfman Zach.”
“I thought about ‘The Rock Prof,’ said Pearce, “but he’s not really a professor. He’s our president.”
WRUC (89.7 FM) is based in the Reamer Campus Center. You can also listen through its streaming Internet feed at http://wruc.union.edu/.
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In case you haven’t heard, The New York Times did a piece on the relationship between Union and Schenectady, and our role in the city’s revitalization, on Monday, March 1. The reporter, Lisa W. Foderaro, was in town and on campus last month. To read the story, click here.
The story was among the most viewed story on the Times Web site Monday.
In addition, alumni, parents and friends of Union have weighed in on the coverage. Matt Malatesta, vice president for Admissions, Financial Aid and Enrollment, heard from a college counselor in Kansas City who enjoyed the piece.
It was the second time in recent years a Times reporter has come to campus. In July 2007, the Minerva Houses were featured in the newspaper. To read that story, click here.
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In honor of an unrestricted $2 million gift from Frank L. Messa ’73 and his wife, Colleen, Blue House will be renamed Messa House, with an official dedication to be held ReUnion weekend, May 27-30.
The Messas are longtime benefactors to the College. Their gift comes during the College’s $250 million “You are Union” campaign, which has raised more than $180 million to date. The recently expanded campaign is forging ahead with new momentum for significant initiatives tied to the College’s Strategic Plan.
“We are delighted to make this gift to name one of the two remaining unnamed Minerva Houses,” said Messa, who is chairman of the College’s Board of Trustees. “As we enter the last phase of the capital campaign, it is important that we achieve as many of our strategic objectives as possible. The Minerva House system is one of the key elements of the plan.”
The Messas, of Saratoga Springs, have three children: Christopher, Peter and Keri ’08, an all-American lacrosse player who was a member of Blue House.
“It’s impossible to grow up in the Messa household without having Union College be a part of your life,” said Keri. “The Minervas are an important part of Union, and it is fitting that our family's gift be recognized by the naming of a Minerva House.”
President Stephen C. Ainlay hopes this gift will inspire other supporters of the College to consider a gift to rename Green House, the last of the Minervas with naming rights.
“We are extremely grateful to Frank and Colleen Messa for their many contributions to Union College,” Ainlay said. “Their tireless efforts on the College's behalf and their remarkable generosity have enriched our campus in so many ways. The Messas should serve as an inspiration to all of us, and it is very appropriate that their name will now grace one of our Minerva houses.”
At Union, Messa earned a bachelor’s degree magna cum laude in political science and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He is a graduate of Albany Law School and former senior partner with the Ayco Company, a local tax and financial consulting firm. He retired in 2006 after 30 years with the firm.
Messa is co-chair, along with Mark L. Walsh ’76, of the “You are Union” campaign. He and his family have provided funds for the renovation of Frank L. Messa Rink at Achilles Center, the renovation of Schaffer Library and the establishment of the Frank Messa ’73 Endowed Scholarship and the Steinway Piano Fund for the Taylor Music Center. He also created endowments for the hockey program and women’s athletics.
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