Incoming First Year Students: A Sneak Peek
Keene State welcomed the bright and fresh faces of its first-year students, who descended on campus from parts near and far on August 21. The class of 2017 is a varied and interesting group. We checked in with a few, including some who have been on campus this summer through the Links program, and asked them about the accomplishments they’re most proud of.
Kayla Renaud of Somers, Connecticut, who plans to major in nutrition, was captain of the Somers High School varsity field hockey team and was named All State and All Conference in her junior and senior years. She’ll be playing field hockey for the Owls.
Kevin Dix of Epping, New Hampshire, was the only member of his class at Epping High School to graduate in January. He finished with a 3.1 GPA.
Emma Cote of Candia, New Hampshire, wrote a song to honor three of her high school’s alumni who died at Pearl Harbor. The song was professionally recorded, performed at many school events, and was performed by her school marching band when it traveled to Pearl Harbor in 2011 to honor those three fallen alumni.
April Erickson of Grafton, Massachusetts, was named to her high school’s National Honor Society and National Technical Honor Society. She also played on her school’s varsity field hockey team during its inaugural season.
Hannah Benoit from Hardwick, Massachusetts, worked on a six-month project writing a 10-minute composition based on the four seasons. Her high school band played the composition at two of its performances.
Micah Arends of West Simsbury, Connecticut, was one of a group of engineering students who, based on their general engineering knowledge, won a $20,000 grant for their high school’s engineering department. He then won the school’s Outstanding Achievement in Technological Education award.
Kirsten May of Dover, New Hampshire, was a member of the Dover High School Chamber Choir, which was the featured high school chorus at the 2012 All New England Choral Festival at Plymouth State University.
Whitney Roberts of Ashfield, Massachusetts, who is joining the Keene State field hockey team, spent a week volunteering at an orphanage in the Dominican Republic in 2010.
Claire Carman of Albany, New York, landed a contract with a local modeling agency.
Will Kobar of East Lyme, Connecticut, has spent the past few summers repairing trails in Utah with the Sierra Club.
Alex Turner of Lakeville, Massachusetts, is a swimmer who is ranked third in New England at the 500 freestyle. He’ll be swimming for the Keene State team.
Katie Gillum of Hudson, New Hampshire, coached a second-grade boys’ soccer team to the championship in her town’s recreational soccer league. The team won every match it played.
Cameron Casali of Milford, New Hampshire, is proud to be entering Keene State College.
Jesse Patterson of Southington, Connecticut, is proud to have played on the Connecticut Werewolves, a team that won a national hockey title for the state.
Marjorie Holcombe of Old Lyme, Connecticut, survived a 16-day canoe trip in the Canadian wilderness with a camp group two years ago.
Kharyn Collins of Scarborough, Maine, was a member of her high school academic decathlon team, which made it to the national competition.
Christianna Berti of Adams, Massachusetts, brought her high school GPA up from a 2.9 to a 3.3 in three years.
Incoming first year students: Add your name to our list! Email Jane at jeklund@keene.edu, and tell us your hometown and the activity or achievement that you’re most proud of. We’ll update the story as responses come in.
