Dear Alumni, Parents, and Friends,

Last semester was nothing short of whirlwind. From Fr. Augustine posing for the press at the Fox News anchor desk to Peter Jennings broadcasting live outside the Abbey and Hollywood director Rob Reiner enjoying a national debate inside the Dana Center, the experience was indeed memorable. It was also educational for our students who witnessed politics live and served as interns and college ambassadors throughout the month-long process. [photo gallery]

The campus has returned to relative calm since the departure of Fox News and the presidential candidates. The spot on the quad that once held the Fox Box has been reseeded and nursed back to health, a sign of spring and new beginnings. Beyond presidential politics and the unprecedented media exposure it meant for the college, much else has happened over the last few months. In this brief update, I will focus on the "rest of the story."

• On May 22, we said farewell to 399 members of the Saint Anselm College Class of 2004. Rain forced our ceremony inside Sullivan Arena, a true test of our staff and of this new facility as a commencement venue. To anyone who remembers the Carr Center as our former alternative, I am pleased to say the event was superb.
  
  Commencement speaker Brian Lamb, CEO and founder of C-SPAN, left the graduates with 14 tips to remember. From "read a daily newspaper" to "believe in something," his advice was a practical reminder, as well, to the parents and other seasoned professionals sitting in
  the audience.
  
  Among the honors that day was the college's inaugural award for service and citizenship, established to recognize a senior "who has demonstrated to an extraordinary degree two hallmarks of a Saint Anselm education: service to one's community and engagement as a virtuous citizen." With great pride, I announced Elizabeth Condron, of Worcester, Mass., as the recipient.
  
  We also awarded honorary degrees to Brian Lamb, Trustee Lucille Davison, of Manchester, Neal Finnegan, president and chairman of Citizens Bank Massachusetts, and our own Fr. Mark Cooper, O.S.B., who recently completed 25 years as treasurer of the college.
  
  Part of a family legacy of 13 Saint Anselm grads, Fr. Mark was joined by many following the ceremony, including his uncle, Bishop Joseph Gerry, O.S.B. After serving 14 years as bishop of Portland, Maine, Bishop Joseph submitted his resignation to the Pope as required on his 75th birthday. He returned to the Abbey in March on the same day his successor was installed. A former chancellor of the college, Bishop Joseph believes deeply in the mission of the church and has had significant influence in shaping the modern day Saint Anselm College. We are delighted to have him back home.
  
  
• From curriculum development to traffic patterns, virtually every aspect of the college will be examined as we undertake our most intensive strategic planning effort in history. Under the leadership of Executive Vice President Marie George, Ph.D., strategic planning is a visionary process that includes input from our entire community. Dozens of alumni have already participated in focus groups from Hartford, CT, to Washington, D.C., to Chicago, IL. The plan will take shape over the next several months and will result in campus-wide strategies to guide us to become one of the best Catholic liberal arts colleges in the nation.
  
  
• In what is becoming an annual trend, a record number of students applied to Saint Anselm this year. This milestone of more than 3,200 applicants for fall 2004 (an increase of 700 since 2001) also generated the largest waiting list in college history.
  
  
• The Meelia Center for Community Service has won the 2004 Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Education Excellence Award for "outstanding contributions to the well-being and success of education throughout the region." While 300 Saint Anselm students contributed more than 16,000 hours of service in greater Manchester this past year, this award really is a tribute to the thousands of student volunteers who over the years have built the foundation of a center dedicated to civic engagement and human compassion.
  
  
• Thanks to the generosity of alumni, parents and friends like you, The Campaign for Saint Anselm College continues to thrive. While there is still work to be done in reaching our $50 million goal, the Board of Trustees has decided to end the campaign early, December 31, 2004. As of this writing, we have $45.2 million in gifts and pledges. Among our goals is to establish a chair in memory of Professor Barbara Stahl. The loss of a beloved senior faculty member has inspired giving to The Barbara J. Stahl Chair in Science and Humanities. If you are interested in supporting this endowed fund or any other aspect of the campaign, please call (603)641-7196.
  
  
• As many alumni know, giving back to Saint Anselm doesn't always involve opening your checkbook. Alumni Relations and Career and Employment Services are seeking volunteers to take part in a new Mentoring and Career Development Network. The program connects alumni with other Anselmians who are negotiating various aspects of their careers. Participation can take many forms, including keeping the college informed about employment opportunities, conducting informational interviews, and participating in networking events on campus or in a city near you. For more information, please call (603) 641-7490.
  
  
• This spring, two athletic teams earned first-time invitations to their respective NCAA tournaments. Ranked 17th in the nation with a record of 30-22, baseball won the Northeast-10 regular season, but unfortunately was eliminated in the first round of the national tournament. Women's tennis also came out swinging with its best season ever, a record of 10-3. The women, however, were also eliminated in the first round of national play.
  
  
• If your summer travels take you through Manchester Airport, be sure to check out the college's latest advertisement featuring some of our recent alumni success stories. "Imagine it, Accomplish it" is an 8-by-4 foot billboard located on the concourse. Directed toward prospective students, it was created by the Office of Public Relations. A special thanks to the young alums for "starring" in our latest promotion.

Finally, I offer my personal thanks to you, our dedicated alumni, parents and friends, for your continued support of our good work. Many blessings for a healthy and restful summer. Please feel free to write or e-mail (president@anselm.edu) with your thoughts.

Sincerely,

Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B.
President