HAPPY HOLIDAYS: The office of institutional advancement would like to wish everyone a happy holiday and a happy new year! Hood will be operating with a limited staff from Thursday, Dec. 21 through Monday,
Jan. 1. Please visit the Hood home page for details regarding the holiday break. The alumnae and alumni programs staff will be checking voice and e-mail messages daily.

KUDOS: ALUMNA RECOGNIZED IN EFFORTS TO PASS THE BREAST CANCER PATIENT PROTECTION ACT: The Lifetime Network cited Kristen Zarfos, M.D. '75 as the first to inform one of the bill's lead sponsors, Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), of the need to end "drive through mastectomies" in 1996. Kristen was also recognized for her efforts by President Bill Clinton that year during his State of the Union Address. Though previous versions of this legislation have stalled in committee, the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2005 (Senate Bill 910/House of Representatives Bill 1849) currently has 179 bipartisan cosponsors in the House and 17 in the Senate.

KUDOS: ALUMNA NAMED TO GOVERNOR-ELECT O'MALLEY'S TRANSITION TEAM: Patricia Pascoe Cushwa ’89, M.A.’94 has been named a member of Governor-elect Martin O’Malley’s transition team. Patricia, of the U.S. Parole Commission, is among civic, community and business leaders from across Maryland who O’Malley announced would help ease him, and other cabinet members, into the state’s top office. Commissioner Cushwa will play a significant role during the transition in the O’Malley and Brown administration by developing plans to reform the state’s offices of parole and probation, corrections and juvenile services over the next four years.

YEAR END REMINDER: Amid the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, please take a moment to celebrate Hood’s success with a gift to the Annual Funds in an amount that is meaningful to you. Click here for our holiday greeting and to make your gift online.  Remember, your gift made before Dec. 31 can provide tax benefits for you on your 2006 return. You also may be eligible to take advantage of further tax benefits through the Pension Protection Act of 2006 by making your gift directly from your I.R.A. For more details, contact your financial adviser or the office of planned giving at Hood by phone at (301) 696-3702.

RECENT GIFTS FOR THE WALTERSDORF HENSON CHALLENGE CAMPAIGN: Thanks to the generous gifts of several lead donors, Hood has raised more than $50,000 for the Waltersdorf Henson Challenge Campaign of the Community Foundation of Washington County, Md., Inc. These scholarships support qualified students from the greater Washington County area to attend Hood. The College’s goal of $100,000 will be matched by the John M. Waltersdorf Family—Mr. Waltersdorf is a former Hood trustee—and the Richard A. Henson Foundation for a total of $200,000. Gifts to the campaign count as a gift to Hood and toward reunion class gifts. Hood is one of 16 organizations and agencies chosen to participate in this campaign, which ends in 2010.

IT IS TIME TO NOMINATE SOME GREAT ALUMS: The Alumnae and Alumni of Hood College is taking nominations for three awards: Excellence in Alumnae or Alumni Service Award, Distinguished Alumna or Alumnus Award and the Outstanding Recent Alumna or Alumnus Award. Each year three distinguished alums are honored at the alumnae and alumni luncheon during reunion weekend for their service to the College and for their career achievements. Click here for additional information about the awards and to access the Awards Nominations Form. Send completed forms to Linda S. Hoffman, associate director of alumnae and alumni programs, or e-mail your nomination to hoffmanl@hood.edu.

BUSINESSES FOR HOOD SEEK YOUR SUPPORT: As an end-of-year reminder, Constellation Energy has issued a matching challenge grant to Hood to encourage Annual Funds support from corporations and foundations. The challenge grant of $20,000 will be awarded contingent upon Hood raising $40,000 in new and increased gifts by the end of the fiscal year, June 30, 2007. For more information on the challenge or the Businesses for Hood program, contact the office of institutional advancement at (301) 696-3700 or visit www.hood.edu/businesses.

WHAT ARE THEY DOING NOW?  If there are retired faculty or staff members you would like to see profiled in our “What are they doing now?” series, send her or his name to Linda Hoffman at hoffmanl@hood.edu.

RECOMMENDED HOLIDAY READING: Karen Hoffman and Steve Wilson, religion and philosophy professors at Hood, have written a book review of Susannah Clark’s debut novel, "Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell." Both Karen and Steve enjoyed the book immensely and wanted to recommend it to others for holiday reading. Click here for the complete review.

NEW HOOD COLLEGE ORNAMENTS FOR THE HOLIDAYS: Three Hood College ornaments or suncatchers are now available through the bookstore. The ornaments or suncatchers, designed by Frederick artist Yemi, are available in colorless or blue glass with etched designs of the Pergola, Alumnae Hall or Coffman Chapel. A double-sized mug is also available. Ornaments or suncatchers are $15 and mugs are $20, plus shipping and tax. They are perfect as a treat for yourself or as a gift for someone special! Phone orders can be placed by calling the bookstore at (301) 696-3480.

HOOD PURSES: Significant Journey is a new line of exquisitely designed "purses with a purpose." It all started with Kathy Pires-Lengyel's '81 dream to create beautiful products that would inspire women. After graduating from Hood, she pursued a career with the advertising and publishing industry as a graphic designer and illustrator. From there she designed and authored several books, patterns and embroidery designs for the sewing market. All of this led to Kathy’s vision to do more than create a beautiful product but also to give back to society. Kathy has designed a purse exclusively for Hood. The price is $150 with 10 percent of the sale going to the Hood Annual Funds. The purse is a symbol of the College’s central landmark—the pergola. This purse is a limited edition of 100 and is signed and numbered by Kathy. For more information, or to order the purse, click here. Purses are custom made and take 3-4 weeks for delivery.

BRIGHTEN SOMEONE'S HOLIDAY SEASON: Are you struggling for a holiday gift idea for someone on your list who seems to have everything? Give the gift that keeps on giving—a gift to Hood College in honor of that special person. Hood will send a letter of acknowledgement to you and the person you are honoring. You can easily make your gift online at www.hood.edu/giving, or by calling (800) 707-5280, option 4.

THE LESTER AND ROLDÁN DUO: This brand-new recording is a compilation of highlights from the 30-year career of duo pianists Noel Lester and Nancy Roldán. The CD, which will be available for Christmas, is a mix of stellar live performances and studio recordings of two-piano works by Rachmaninoff, St. Saens, Arensky, Beethoven, Bizet and others. For purchase information, please contact Noel Lester directly for purchase information at nlester@hood.edu.

To R.S.V.P. or for information on upcoming events, e-mail us at alumoffice@hood.edu, or call (800) 707-5280, option 2, or (301) 696-3900.

HAGERSTOWN, Md., Tuesday, Dec. 19, 6 p.m., Fountain Head Country Club, Club Road, Hagerstown, Md. Please join the Hagerstown Hood Club for its holiday party. The cost for the event is $18 per person. A cash bar and dinner will be provided along with other holiday festivities. For additional information or to respond, contact Becky Fishack ’03 at (240) 291-3049, or e-mail her at gdmrf@aol.com

WASHINGTON, D.C., Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2007, 12:30 p.m., brown bag lunch at Amgen, 555 13th St., NW, Suite 600 West, Washington, D.C. Please join area alums for an informal lunch get-together. The event is hosted by Donna Peterson ’79 and Jewel Smith ’96. Please respond to Smith at (202) 585-9625 or by e-mail at jewels@amgen.com

HOOD ALUM HAPPY HOUR SERIES: Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2007, 6-8:30 p.m., La Palapa Cocina Mexicana Restaurant, West Village, 356 Sixth Ave., New York City. Enjoy a casual gathering, catch up with old friends, network and make new connections at our Hood Happy Hour. Don’t miss the fun! For more information, or to respond, send an e-mail to alumoffice@hood.edu or call (800) 707-5280, option 2, or (301) 696-3900.  Please R.S.V.P. by February 2, 2007.

Save The Date events are scheduled, and we will continue to keep you updated as plans become firm. If you have any questions about the upcoming events, e-mail us at alumoffice@hood.edu or call (800) 707-5280, option 2, or (301) 696-3900.

HODSON GALLERY DISPLAY: Jan. 26-Mar. 9, 2007, Hodson Gallery, Tatem Arts Center. Stop by the Gallery to see artist H.I. Gates’ display entitled "Eastern Icons."

CHEER ON THE BLAZERS! Saturday, Jan. 27, 2007, 2 p.m., Gov. Thomas Johnson High School. Join President Ron Volpe along with students, alumnae, alumni, faculty and staff to cheer the women’s and men’s basketball teams on to victory. During the basketball double-header, mix and mingle at the open house reception located in front of the concession stand. Light refreshments will be served along with great give-aways.  Don’t miss the fun! More information will follow.

EXCLUSIVE PRIVATE TOUR OF SENATE LIBRARY: Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2007, 4 p.m., Russell Senate Building. Join fellow alums on an exclusive tour of the U.S. Senate Library and the Russell Senate office building. The event will be hosted by Melanie Jacobs '99. See your government at work with this exciting opportunity for Hood alums. Following the tour, mix and mingle and make new connections at our Hood Happy Hour and Reception from 6-8:30 p.m. More details on the reception location will follow.

LIBERATION OF THE BLACK MIND WEEKEND 2007: Friday-Sunday, March 23-25, 2007. The weekend’s activities will include programs in The Black Family, Reconstructing the African-American Image and Keeping the Faith. For more information, contact the student activities office at (301) 696-3575.

HOOD COLLEGE JOB FAIR 2007: Wednesday, Mar. 28, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Whitaker Campus Commons. Numerous recruiters who are actively seeking candidates and are ready to hire for jobs and internships will be on hand. Professional attire is requested. Bring your résumé and references and be prepared to meet potential employers. Your professionalism and polished appearance will pay off, so if you need help preparing, contact the Career Center today! For more information click here.

HOOD COLLEGE CAREER SERVICES: Take advantage of free lifetime services. We can help you with your résumé, give you advice on your job search, talk to you about career options and much more. Contact us at (301) 696-3583 or by e-mail at careers@hood.edu to schedule an appointment.

HOOD COLLEGE CAREER SERVICES DIRECTOR FEATURED IN FREDERICK NEWS-POST: Nancy Hoffman Hennessey '83, director of career services and service learning, was featured in the Dec. 8 edition of The Frederick News Post. Click here to read more.

CVC JOB FAIR: Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2007, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Eisenhower Conference Center, Gettysburg, Pa. Mark your calendar today for the 23rd Annual Cumberland Valley Consortium (CVC) Job and Internship Fair!  Don’t miss this opportunity to meet with employers in person.

MINORITY TEACHER CANDIDATES' DAY FOR CALVERT COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Friday, Feb. 23, 2007,
9 a.m.-1:45 p.m., 1305 Dares Beach Road, Prince Frederick, Md. Explore teaching opportunities, learn about the process of obtaining a teaching position and talk to instructional supervisors. For more information, call (410) 535-7223.

WE NEED YOUR HELP: Recently the Hood College Career Center and Office of Service Learning switched to a new service provider for its online mentor program.  The new provider, Opportunities Network (OpNet), allows students and alums to interact with increased flexibility. Please update your account soon. Click here to update your information or to register for a new account. Thank you!

ANNUAL CRÈCHES DISPLAY: The annual exhibit of nativity sets (or crèches), a holiday tradition at Hood, is now on display in the library’s lobby. This year, you can see a total of 78 crèches, as well as a Christmas tree decorated entirely with crèche ornaments, representing the work of artisans on four continents and from more than 30 countries. The crèches are from the collections of Beulah Munshower Sommer ’44, the Rev. Richard Kukowski and Jan Samet O’Leary, director of the library. The exhibit will be on view until Jan. 12, 2007.

STOP SMOKING CLASSES AVAILABLE: Hood will be offering free Stop Smoking Now classes beginning in February. These sessions will be brown bag lunches from 1-2 p.m., with the location to be announced. The sessions will be held on five consecutive Thursdays from Feb. 15-Mar. 15, 2007. For more information or to register, contact Sharon Smith in Hood’s human resources office, by phone at (301) 696-3592 or by e-mail at smithsk@hood.edu.

WINTER ATHLETICS NEWS: The men's basketball team (7-2, 3-1 CAC) picked up a pair of Capital Athletic Conference victories last week. The Blazer men earned a decisive 99-70 win over St. Mary's College of Maryland at Gov. Thomas Johnson High School Wednesday. All five starters netted double figures in the victory as the Blazers nearly tied the school record for three-pointers with 15 in the contest. Then on Saturday, Hood traveled to Washington, D.C., to take on the defending champion Catholic University Cardinals. Junior Jesse Gutekunst and sophomore Ryan Junghans combined for 43 points and the Blazers used a strong second-half effort to upend the Cardinals, 79-73. Heading into the holiday break, Hood sits in third place in the CAC standings behind Salisbury and Mary Washington. The Blazers will be idle until Dec. 29-30 when they travel to Lexington, Va., for the Washington & Lee University Tournament. Hood will take on Emory University in the opening round. Click here to read more.

The Blazer women's basketball team (0-6, 0-0 AWCC) dropped two hard-fought decisions last week, falling 72-45 to Catholic University Monday and 80-51 to Christopher Newport University Saturday. One bright spot for the Blazers was freshman Jennifer Willison who registered back-to-back double-doubles in both outings. She finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds against the Cardinals and a career-high 20 points and 14 boards opposite the Captains. Senior Dana Shook also had a solid all-around effort versus CNU, tallying 10 points, nine rebounds, six assists and three steals. Newcomer Sara Hartlaub contributed nine points, 11 rebounds, four blocks and three assists against Catholic. The Blazer women are idle until Dec. 29-30 when they travel to Erie, Pa., for the Penn State Behrend Winter Classic. Hood's opening round opponent is the College of Mt. St. Joseph. Click here to read more.

Two members of the men's swim team (2-4, 1-4 CAC) represented Hood at the Randolph-Macon Invitational in Ashland, Va., Dec. 1-2. Sophomore Jeff Dickens’ top finish was a 12th–place effort in the 200 free (2:37.52). He also registered a pair of season-best times in the 50 free (28.67-16th) and in the 100 free (1:05.73-17th). Senior Stu Kaufman placed fourth in the 1650 free (19:36.49), sixth in the 500 free (5:33.64) and seventh in the 200 free (2:03.93). His time in the 500 free was a season-best by eight seconds. The Blazers will be idle until Jan. 6 when they host their first home meet of the season against Salisbury University. Click here to read more.

The women's swim team (4-7, 1-2 AWCC) finished seventh out of 12 teams competing at the Randolph-Macon Invitational in Ashland, Va., Dec. 1-2. Junior Amy Kaufman placed third in the 1650 free (19:45.00), third in the 500 free (5:44.92) and seventh in the 400 IM (5:17.45). Sophomore Sarah Haney touched the wall fifth in the 100 fly in a season-best 1:07.16 in addition to taking 10th in both the 100 breast (1:17.28) and the 200 IM (2:34.38). Freshman Erica Hamor was seventh in the 100 free (59.40), ninth in the 400 IM (5:21.06) and 13th in the 200 free (2:14.64). The Blazer women will be idle until Jan. 6 when they host their first home meet of the season against Salisbury University. Click here to read more.

To read all the Hood College Athletic news and events, please visit the athletics Web site.

Have you moved? Changed jobs? Gotten married? Had kids? We want to know! Click here to update your information!

Want to tell your classmates what's new with you? Click here to share your news in the next issue of Hood Magazine!

Inter(net)actions, Dec. 19, 2006: This edition of Inter(net)actions is also available on the Hood College Web site. Click here to view Inter(net)actions on the Web.