Gerda Weissmann Klein (Mark Corliss photo)

Gerda Weissmann Klein, Holocaust survivor; author of All But My Life (her autobiography), The Hours After, and Promise of a New Spring: the Holocaust and Renewal (a children’s book); and subject of the 1996 Academy Award-winning documentary, One Survivor Remembers (watch her acceptance speech), packed the Mabel Brown Room with a standing-room-only crowd on Monday night, Sept. 21, when she delivered this year’s Holocaust Memorial Lecture. Her powerful and inspiring story stirred her audience, which included KSC students, faculty, and staff; members of the local community; and students and their teachers from several area middle and high schools.

Though Mrs. Klein grew tired after speaking for over an hour, she displayed a remarkable graciousness as she praised teachers for the hope and leadership they provide for the future signed books carried by a long line of people, including many young students.

Have you seen Gerda Weissmann Klein? Use the “comments” link below to tell us your impressions of her moving story.

Gerda Weissmann Klein speaks to a standing-room-only crowd in the Mable Brown Room. (Tom White photo)

KSC alum Natali Kendrick Pope ’85 headed to Hollywood to become an actress but found a rewarding career as a set dresser for several feature films and TV shows, including the current season of House.

As Theatre and Dance chair Daniel Patterson recalls, “Natali called me several years ago and wanted pictures of our theatre rigging fly gallery and loft.  She had to recreate the fly gallery of an old theatre for the movie The Majestic.  I also called her when I needed a roast suckling pig for my production of The Servant of Two Masters. She asked, ‘How big?’ and sent me a lovely plastic one on a platter to use in the show.  She knows how to get or build just about anything one might want.”

Here’s an audio slideshow from the LA Times of her work on the set of House.

In August, Dr. Anne-Marie Mallon was named 2009 Distinguished Teacher by the Keene State Alumni Association. Congratulations to Dr. Mallon, who, like her predecessors in receiving this award, is characterized by excellence in the classroom, encouragement of independent thinking, rapport with students both in and out of the classroom, and effective student advising. For more on her scholarship and background, take a look at the official news release.

But if you didn’t go through “The Mallon Experience” yourself at KSC, and want to get a sense of how she presents to students, we have a fantastic video of her address at this year’s New Student Convocation (also available at the KSC YouTube Channel):

Keene State has teamed up with the Building Performance Institute to offer Certified Building Analyst training, which presents a holistic “house as a system” approach. Participants will learn fundamentals of building science, identifying and understanding such building performance issues as ice dams, mold and mildew, and indoor air quality, and they’ll learn effective diagnostic techniques.

The second fall session runs from October 20 through November 17, Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 6 to 10 p.m. Besides the training, the $1,200 fee covers the written and field certification examinations.

More information.

Just a reminder to parents and families: Parent and Family Weekend is next weekend, and registration ends this Sunday! Get in while the gettin’s good!

If you’re in town Saturday with a generous heart and a dirty car, the women’s basketball team’s annual charity car wash is this Saturday (9/12) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mobil gas station on West Street in Keene.

Donations will go to the Alzheimer’s Association and will coincide with the association’s Memory Walk in Keene that day.

KSC’s annual Alumni Homecoming event is getting a well-deserved makeover. Unfortunately, this means we will have to suspend the event for 2009 during our renovation period.

The Alumni Association Board of Directors, supported by the Keene State administration, has decided to take the time to envision and plan a new Homecoming Weekend for 2010 that will appeal to the entire alumni body, as well as students and the campus community, based on questions, discussions, and feedback from alumni, students, the alumni board, and members of faculty.

A task force of alumni, current board members, past board members, students, and KSC staff is being assembled and offers a wonderful opportunity to revive some beloved traditions and begin some new ones that we can all be proud of as we move forward.

To join the renovation team, please contact me, Kay MacLean (603-358-2424) or Sara Telfer (603-358-2425) know as we certainly would like your involvement. Please also  share your thoughts on what Homecoming means to you and your favorite event at Homecoming.

In celebration of his 25th year as the Women’s softball coach at KSC, Charlie Beach will be hosting an alumni game/reunion of all softball players, their families and Fans on Sunday, October 4th at 11 a.m. at the softball field and will include a BBQ. Please bring your own drinks — no alcohol — and chairs to sit on.

Come to play, come to  watch, come to cheer; current players will host and umpire.

RSVP to Charlie Beach.

Irene Herold, Dean of Mason Library, is hoping to identify KSC Alums who have gone on to be employed in the library profession. While KSC does not have library program/courses offered, we do know some former students have entered the field.

If you are such a person (or know one), please contact her, as we are planning a special centennial event this November at the Library and would like to extend invitations.

This year the Clarence DeMar Marathon will again be partnering with Keene State College to celebrate our Centennial. The marathon is named for a seven-time winner of the Boston Marathon and former Keene Normal School faculty member. The race will be held on Sunday, September 27, starting in Gilsum and ending on Appian Way.

Among the ways that KSC is participating this year are:

• President Giles-Gee will be the official starter for the marathon.
• The design for the shirt and the medal was chosen from designs submitted by students in one of Bob Kostick’s graphic designs classes. It’s beautiful and commemorates our Centennial.
• There will be a special Keene State College division for marathon runners (faculty, staff, students and alumni) with a plaque for the top KSC male and female finisher. Register online, and then e-mail Ockle Johnson so he can add you to the list of KSC runners. And encourage any KSC-affiliated runners you know to register, too!
• Members of the KSC Cross Country teams and others will be providing directions along the course. If you would like to help out on the course providing directions at your favorite turn or helping at the finish line on Appian Way, please contact Ockle as soon as possible.