I have been writing for Plymouth State University in central New Hampshire (my younger daughter Molly’s alma mater) for several years now. My stories about students, alumni, and campus projects have appeared in the university’s alumni magazine and on its website.

Most recently, I wrote the following piece, and rather than offering it in full here on my site, I am providing the link to read it on the Plymouth State website:

Kelvin Cochrane ’22: Sharing Lessons in History and Humanity

Kelvin Cochrane ’22 was a history buff as a child, piqued by stories his maternal grandmother shared about her World War II experience as a Japanese Canadian woman. Cochrane would later recount her life to audiences at Plymouth State, where he was honored as his class year’s distinguished history graduate, and they also inspired his path to graduate school.

Cochrane grew up skiing in Calgary and followed several friends who skied for Plymouth State to campus, where he excelled in the classroom and built relationships with students and professors alike.

“Plymouth gave me confidence,” says Cochrane, noting the “soft skills” he learned from skiing—such as time management and prioritizing—have helped him in life as well.

Read more about Cochrane and his story in this article.

The post Kelvin Cochrane ’22: Sharing Lessons in History and Humanity appeared first on Beetle Press.

I have been writing for Plymouth State University in central New Hampshire (my younger daughter Molly’s alma mater) for several years now. My stories about students, alumni, and campus projects have appeared in the university’s alumni magazine and on its website.

Most recently, I wrote the following piece, and rather than offering it in full here on my site, I am providing the link to read it on the Plymouth State website:

Nicole Pennell ’23MEd: “I Love the Process of Connecting”

The greeting cards are handmade, and even though they are sent to strangers, they hold tender messages.

One note to a refugee says, “Thinking about you, caring about you, wishing you strength and peace!”

Another, for a veteran, reads: “Courage, bravery, love, and strength are just a few words used to describe you. Our hero.”

Every month, dozens of these cards are created by college and elementary school students, inspired and led by Nicole Pennell ’23G, who also distributes them to hospital patients, refugees, and veterans. The circulation and operations manager at St. Anselm College library, Pennell puts out card stock, markers, pencils and crayons, and students come and create.

Read more about Nicole and her project in this article.

The post Nicole Pennell ’23MEd: “I Love the Process of Connecting” appeared first on Beetle Press.

I have been writing for Plymouth State University in central New Hampshire (my younger daughter Molly’s alma mater) for several years now. My stories about students, alumni, and campus projects have appeared in the university’s alumni magazine and on its website.

Most recently, I wrote the following piece, and rather than offering it in full here on my site, I am providing the link to read it on the Plymouth State website:

Fulbright Scholar Laura Tilghman Opens Students’ Eyes

Laura Tilghman learned about other cultures as a child through extensive family travel. In first grade, yet another new experience came when her family hosted a Mexican exchange student for a year.

Veronica was in sixth grade, and Tilghman loved hearing about her friend’s way of life, but Tilghman didn’t know there was a word for the study of other societies until she was in college earning her bachelor’s degrees in environmental studies and environmental biology.

Anthropology, it’s called.

Read more about Laura and her impact in this article.

The post Fulbright Scholar Laura Tilghman Opens Students’ Eyes appeared first on Beetle Press.

I have been writing for Plymouth State University in central New Hampshire (my younger daughter Molly’s alma mater) for several years now. My stories about students, alumni, and campus projects have appeared in the university’s alumni magazine and on its website.

Most recently, I wrote the following piece, and rather than offering it in full here on my site, I am providing the link to read it on the Plymouth State website:

Chris Steffanci ’96: “Plymouth gave me everything I needed to be successful”

Working his way through college while also earning good grades taught Chris Steffanci ’96 about hard work, and the experiences propelled him into almost instant success in the business world. In his 30s, Steffanci was Heineken’s youngest-ever regional vice president. For the past decade, he’s been president and CEO of Columbia Distributing and is now also a minority owner. The firm is the fifth largest beverage distributer in the United States with locations on the West Coast, where Steffanci lives in Seattle.

Read more about Chris and Columbia Distributing.

The post Chris Steffanci ’96: “Plymouth gave me everything I needed to be successful” appeared first on Beetle Press.

I have been writing for Plymouth State University in central New Hampshire (my younger daughter Molly’s alma mater) for several years now. My stories about students, alumni, and campus projects have appeared in the university’s alumni magazine and on its website.

Most recently, I wrote the following piece, and rather than offering it in full here on my site, I am providing the link to read it on the Plymouth State website:

Janaysia Gethers ’22: Talent, Drive, and Training Earn a Standing O

During a late-September run of North Shore Music Theatre company’s Little Shop of Horrors, Janaysia Gethers ’22 was an understudy for a key role and had to step in quickly for an actress during a performance. 

Read about that experience and Janaysia’s successful acting career thus far.

The post Janaysia Gethers ’22: Talent, Drive, and Training Earn a Standing O appeared first on Beetle Press.

I have been writing for Plymouth State University in central New Hampshire (my younger daughter Molly’s alma mater) for several years now. My stories about students, alumni, and campus projects have appeared in the university’s alumni magazine and on its website.

Most recently, I wrote the following piece, and rather than offering it in full here on my site, I am providing the link to read it on the Plymouth State website:

Lt. Col. Christopher Thompson ’05, ’10G: Leader, Family Man, Entrepreneur

Lt. Col. Christopher Thompson ’05, ’10G knows sacrifice—as does his wife, Cheyanne Bacon ’05. Three times between 2007 and 2017, when Thompson was deployed by the New Hampshire Army National Guard to serve in northern Iraq and other countries in the Middle East, Thompson had to leave his family behind.

He and Cheyanne believe his service is worth the stress, the separation, the nights alone. And his message to all is multifaceted. Be the best person you can be. Take advantage of all the opportunities available to you as an American. Develop a work ethic.

Read more about Lt. Col. Thompson.

The post Lt. Col. Christopher Thompson ’05, ’10G: Leader, Family Man, Entrepreneur appeared first on Beetle Press.