Good news about student loans? What can be good about student loans? Well, for starters, how about lower interest rates and fees and a smoother process?

Beginning with summer session 2010, Keene State College will switch from the Federal Family Educational Loan Program (FFELP), which we had been using, to the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan Program for Stafford and PLUS loans, because we believe the Direct Loan (DL) Program offers more advantages for our students and their families.

Because the FAFSA serves as the loan application, the application process is easier, and, because you’re now borrowing from a single lender – the federal government, instead of one or more of the 3,500 lenders who are part of the FFELP program – the process is much less complicated. Parents will be able to take out a Federal PLUS loan at a 7.9% fixed interest rate (FFELP charges 8.5%), with a loan origination cost of 2.5% (FFELP charges 4%). Now, you’ve got to admit, that’s good news.

Direct Loans are great for student borrowers too. Student borrowers can choose from among five repayment plans, including one in which the government forgives the balance of the loan after 25 years, if you’ve been making regular payments during that time. In addition, the government will forgive remaining debt after 10 years if the borrower has made regular loan repayments and been working in a key public service profession such as teaching, government, social work, law enforcement, or a non-profit organization. You can consolidate all federal loans to the Direct Loan Program and still be eligible for some of the loan forgiveness programs.

If you intend to borrow a Stafford loan during the 2010–2011 academic year, you must file your 2010–2011 FAFSA and complete a new Master Promissory Note (MPN). Please note: Stafford loan funds cannot be disbursed to a student account until a new MPN has been completed. The MPN can be completed online. Additionally, parents who would like to borrow a federal Parent PLUS loan during the 2010–2011 academic year must also complete a new loan application/credit authorization and MPN.

Visit the Student Financial Services webpages for more information.

Are you so passionate about something that you’d like to share it with the world – or at least, with the rest of the KSC community? Well, here’s your chance. The wonderful folks at the Thorne invite you to display your art, crafts, collectibles, or whatever you’re passionate about in a summer exhibition called Passionate Pursuits: Keene State College Alumni, Faculty, Staff, and Our Community Partner the Friends of the Thorne Share Their Creations and Collectibles. The exhibit opens Friday, June 4, and continues through Sunday, July 25; then it reopens Friday, September 3, through Thursday, September 30. The Friends of the Thorne will host a public reception on Friday, June 4, from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

This is a non-juried exhibit, and the gallery will accept pieces on a first-come, first-served basis and display as many items as it can. The exhibit is not meant to promote a business or product, so nothing will be for sale.

This will be the third Passionate Pursuits exhibit. Past exhibits have included a bird-carving collection, rock-climbing photos, handcrafted baskets, hand-colored photos, baseball memorabilia, a Native American collection, hand-knitted items, wood-turned containers, and an antique penny-farthing bicycle.

If you’d like to share your passion, please fill out our online form by Monday, April 19. We’d also like you to write a paragraph explaining why you are passionate about the material you’ve submitted and what the Thorne Gallery means to you and the community.

NEISDA 2010 Swimmers of the Meet Cody Larrimore and Kaila Umbarger.

The Owl men and women swimmers are awash in victory! They headed to the Upper Valley Aquatic Center in White River Junction, Vt., on Sunday, Feb. 21 to defend their New England Intercollegiate Swimming and Diving Association (NEISDA) Championships and did just that. Both teams expected Bentley College to be a formidable foe. Maybe it was, but that still didn’t stop the Owls. The women posted a 924-802 victory over Bentley, capturing their third-consecutive crown, and the men earned their second-straight title with a 656-555 victory.

The KSC men and women set 30 school records and six meet marks in the three-day event. Cody Larrimore, a senior from Trappe, Md., was named the men’s Swimmer of the Meet, while Kaila Umbarger, a freshman from Chelmsford, Mass., was selected as the women’s Swimmer of the Meet. Kristine Trutor, a Holden, Mass., native, won the award for most points by a senior.

More information.

Our own Melanie Gosselin ’90, executive director of the New Hampshire Food Bank, has just been named to the New Hampshire Business Review’s 2010 list of Outstanding Women in Business. These annual awards “celebrate the success and achievements of women across the state’s diverse business community.” NHBR states that each year, it recognizes “six women who have truly excelled, not only in their professional lives, but as leaders and role models.”

After Melanie took over the New Hampshire Food Bank in 2003, she saw the organization’s food distribution more than double from 2.3 to 5.8 million pounds in 2009. The Food Bank also now supports 411 programs – more than twice as many as it did when she first took the reins. Quite an accomplishment!

Do you know Melanie? Use the “comments” link below to drop us a note.

All the big blizzards seem to be far to the south lately, but a huge White Out is predicted to hit Spaulding Gym on Tuesday, Feb. 16.

The Owls hope that this White Out will bring the same luck as the first one, held back in Feb. 11, 2008, when the KSC women came from behind to beat UMass-Dartmouth (59-46), and the Keene State men stunned the heavily favored and #2 ranked Corsairs (92-85) with a thrilling upset. This year, the Owls take on Plymouth State. The women’s game begins at 5:30 p.m. Tip off for the men’s game is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

KSC students with an ID will be given a free specially designed t-shirt. Members of the public will be asked for a donation of at least $5 that will be given to the Kay Yow Breast Cancer Fund.

More information.

Are you looking for a career opportunity? Keene State College alumni and students are welcome to attend the annual New Hampshire College and University Council Job Fair, Wednesday, February 17, from 1–6 p.m. at the Center of NH Radisson Hotel (700 Elm Street, Manchester, NH 03101). This is the largest academically sponsored job fair north of Boston.

Nicaragua
Seven students and four staff members traveled to Nicaragua in January as part of an integrative studies course, Nicaragua in Change. The group met with journalists, environmentalists, women’s groups, musicians, artists, and community leaders who taught them about the economic, psychological, and political consequences of the Contra war on the next generation. The group also heard traditional folk music and live reggae in Managua and visited an active volcano in Masaya and a waterfall in Rio Blanco.

As part of the learning experience, there was also time for sampling local cuisine, staying with families on a rural farming cooperative, dancing, laughing, swatting piñatas, playing sports with the local kids, making tortillas, milking cows, riding horses, and watching monkeys on the lake in Grenada. Oh, and the gang helped local community members paint a preschool. The paint job included a mural featuring planet earth and the KSC owl. The small building, which had been unused, will now serve as a schoolhouse for the cooperative’s youngest children.

l–r: Dr. Margaret Walsh (sociology), Sam Wyman, Carleigh Warner, Brenna Donoghue, Katie Weiss, Lia Amante, Becca Lorden, Patrick Davis Also on the trip, but not in the photo were Eleanor Vander Haegen (professor emerita, sociology) and Tamara Stenn (adjunct faculty, management), John Halter (budget analyst, KSC)

The students are now back at KSC, wiser, more enriched, and more fulfilled. Please join them in April as they share their own experiences from the trip as well as their diverse research projects and perspectives on international issues and community service. They’d like to thank  everyone who bought poinsettias during their December fundraiser and the College for supporting this experiential learning course.

El Salvador
Fourteen students and four staff members headed to El Salvador in January for a Habitat for Humanity Global Village Project. Working with local masons, the group helped build a home for a local family. But besides all the hard work, the trip included hiking a volcano in San Miguel, sampling local foods, learning to dance the salsa, visiting an orphanage, and surfing at a local beach. The group had a great time and made many close friends. They’ve continued to stay in touch via the wonders of email and Facebook. When you’re on campus, please check out all the photos  in the display case on the third floor of the Student Center.

First row, l–r: Ellen Estabrook, Casey Bernier, Hannah Dumas, Ashley Lorrain, Kasey Donovan, Peg Richmond Second row, l–r: Marc Perreault, Kelly Manning, Kelsey Hubbard, Janelle Derella Third row, l–r: Mark Gempler, Mary McEntee, Glenn Field, Kristen Powers, Justin Powers, Brandon Knight, Ian LaBelle, Paul Striffolino

By now, you’ve probably heard the heartwarming story of Harriet Ames ’31, the Keene Normal School alum who received her long-awaited B.Ed. the day before she died – a couple of weeks after her 100th birthday. The story made the news across the country and around the world. One of the nicest write ups appeared in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, and we wanted to make sure you saw it.

Alumni Board President Sue Fortier '86 presented Past President David Gagne '73 with a handsome KSC wall clock at the Winter Celebration.

Though Alumni Board Past President Past President David Gagne ‘73 planned to attend the Winter Celebration in the Rhodes Hall atrium on January 30, he was very surprised when current Board President Sue Fortier ‘86 presented him with a handsome KSC wall clock at the gala. With wife Pamela and several alums, including Norma Walker ‘51, Mike ‘72 and Kitty ‘73 Maher, and Steve Fortier ‘86 looking on, David graciously accepted the gift of appreciation.

While David has served the college in many capacities in the past, including as an Alumni Board member and as the Alumni Trustee to the USNH system, he had a tremendous impact as Board president, a position he held for four years. Thank you, David, for your leadership and the vision you have for KSC alumni and students.

Construction on the Alumni Center, just across Main St. from Hale, is almost finished. Alumni from all over the country have pitched in to help raise funds for the project, and we truly appreciate everyone’s support!

The entire Advancement Division (Advancement Services, Alumni & Parent Relations, Development, and Marketing & Communications) are sorting files and packing boxes, getting ready to move into their new offices on March 16th!

For more information about the project or to help support the Alumni “All in” fundraising effort, please visit the Alumni Center page. There you will find architectural renderings, floor plans, and information about the new programs for alumni. We look forward to welcoming you to our new home!