Close to Home update
From Kim Schmidl-Gagne:
I have been very fortunate to be a member of the Keene State College staff for over twenty years. I came to Keene fresh out of my graduate program at The Ohio State University to become a residence director. I chose Keene because of the sense of community I felt during my interview day. As the day concluded, I was invited by the staff to come to the old Zorn Dining Commons to participate in the finals week “Late Night Breakfast,” where faculty and staff members served the students breakfast at 9 p.m. Immediately upon my arrival I was greeted by an overwhelming group that was thrilled to be there and to interact with students during a stressful time. It felt like everyone already knew my name, and I was enveloped into a fun and caring community. People wanted to know what I thought about Keene – and what else I needed to know about the college and the town to help make my decision. They wanted me to know that I would be supported to be successful but that there was also a strong expectation that it was everyone’s responsibility to help students be successful. So I spent the evening serving eggs to hungry students and developing the sense of belonging for which Keene is renown. Needless to say, the decision about the position was fairly simple after that.
I came to Keene believing there was much I could offer the campus. I understood the value of a public liberal arts program and appreciated the transformative power of a college education, having received my Bachelor’s from the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (then North Adams State) and my Master’s degree from The Ohio State University. I understood the struggle to afford a college education. I remember night after night during my senior year of high school, going through encyclopedia-sized books with my mother, looking for potential loans and grants to make attending college a possibility. I wound up attending college on a patchwork of small scholarships and grants sponsored by individuals, groups, North Adams and the government. Every little bit made a difference to me in achieving my goal of becoming the first in my family to receive a college degree.
Financial situations are more challenging today than ever, but I know that the sense of community I experienced during my interview and our shared expectation that we are all here to help students succeed will help us each find our own way to show students that we care. Just like all the little scholarships that got me through, any small gift you make will make a huge difference. The faculty and staff of Keene State College always come through for students.
The Campaign is moving into its final weeks. Participation remains close to 20%, and almost $25,000 has been received in gifts from our campus family.
I would like to invite you to join me in making a gift to this year’s “Close to Home” campaign. It’s easy! You can write a check, use payroll deduction, or you can make your gift securely online at www.keene.edu/giving. On behalf of the 2010 Faculty/Staff Campaign Chairs, thanks for considering participating. You may be helping that one special student in your class.
