COMMENCEMENT 2006: Congratulations to the 417 students who received bachelor's and master's degrees Saturday, May 20, 2006. Families, friends, faculty and alums gathered around the Commencement tent in the quad to honor the graduates and officially welcome them as alumnae and alumni of Hood College. They join more than 15,500 other alums throughout the world. Click here to read more about Commencement 2006. Click here to view photos from Commencement.

KUDOS: Frances A. Delaplaine Randall '45 received an honorary doctorate from Hood College at this year’s Commencement exercises. Franny’s service to Hood spans several decades. She served as a trustee from 1988 to 2000 and was named trustee emerita in 2001. She has also been an active class leader and president of the alumnae and alumni association. At Commencement exercises, she received an honorary doctoral degree for her long-term service to the College and the community. Thank you and congratulations, Franny!

NEW ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF ANNUAL GIVING: Ron Slomski Jr., has joined the Annual Giving staff as assistant director of annual giving. Ron received his undergraduate and master’s degree from The Pennsylvania State University and is in the process of working on his doctorate. He comes to us from the office of development and alumni relations at The Pennsylvania State University, where he served as an intern assisting in alumni and fundraising events. Prior to that, he was with The Pennsylvania State University Public Broadcasting Development Office as development assistant. Welcome, Ron.

DOES THIS WHET YOUR APPETITE? The Council for the Center for the Humanities announced that the topic for the 2006-2007 National Endowment for Humanities Colloquium will be “Acquired Tastes: Food, Drink and Culture.” The Colloquium will explore the various roles that food and drink have played throughout history and how both the production and consumption of comestibles has inspired important works of art, music, literature, film and theater. More about the series will be announced at the beginning of the fall semester.

PROFESSOR RECOGNIZED BY CHEMICAL HERITAGE FOUNDATION: Dean A. Wood, professor emeritus of Hood, received recognition for his unique creation and donation to the Chemical Heritage Foundation. He created and developed a special purpose digital computer, called a chemical reaction simulator. Click here for more information.

PROFESSOR HONORED BY GERONTOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA: Joy Swanson Ernst, assistant professor and director of the social work program at Hood, is one of 12 social work faculty members throughout the U.S. to be inducted into the Hartford Faculty Scholars Program and to receive a Hartford Faculty Scholars award. Click here for more information.

BOARD OF ASSOCIATES McCARDELL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANTS AWARDED: The Hood College Board of Associates awarded 11 professional development grants to faculty and students for 2006. Click here to read the full story.

NEW WEB SITE TO BE LAUNCHED: A new Hood College Web site will be launched on May 30. We will keep you posted as to the official launch time. Keep your eye on the lookout for our new online look!

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

REUNION WEEKEND 2006: Friday, June 2-Sunday, June 4. Please join the classes of 1926, 1931, 1936, 1941, 1946, 1951, 1956, 1958, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1981, 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996 for this year’s reunion. Come to campus for this special weekend and participate in seminars, campus tours, the Alumnae and Alumni Luncheon and much more. Click here to download the reunion schedule and brochure. All alums are welcome!

RECEPTION FOR THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN ALUMNAE AND ALUMNI NETWORK: Saturday, June 3, 2006, 3-4:15 p.m. in Memorial Hall living room. Please join us on Reunion Weekend for fellowship, conversation and refreshments as we begin to plan for the upcoming year. All are welcome. For more information, contact Maya Laws ’04 by e-mail at hc_aaan@yahoo.com.

HOOD COLLEGE CAREER SERVICES: Take advantage of free lifetime services. We can help you with your résumé, give you advice on your job search and 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.

ALUMNAE AND ALUMNI ART EXHIBIT: In celebration of the reinstatement of the studio art concentration, a juried exhibition created by Hood alumnae and alumni will be on display until June 25 in the Hodson Gallery of Tatem Arts Center. Please join us for a reception honoring the alum artists Saturday, June 3, from 4-6 p.m. in the Hodson Gallery.

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, May 23, 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.