Freshman Student Honored for her Volunteerism

On November 4, the Daily Breeze newspaper presented its first Women of Distinction Awards. After receiving more than 160 nominations, the Daily Breeze and a panel of community leaders narrowed the field to 33 finalists in 11 categories. Marymount College freshman, Erica Fine, was selected as a finalist in the category of Young Woman of the Year.


Erica has spent more than 1,200 hours doing volunteer work while enrolled at Palos Verdes High School. Now a student at Marymount, she is involved in Marymount Opportunities for Volunteer Experience and is serving at the Boys & Girls Club of the Los Angeles Harbor helping after-school students with homework, play activities and sports. “I like to spend my time wisely, rather than doing something like watching TV. That doesn’t really help anyone. I mean it’s fine, but I like to see what my time benefits and what I can do with that time,” says Fine.

Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society welcomes new members.

On Tuesday, November 9, the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society welcomed seven new members into its Marymount Chapter, Alpha Omega Kappa.  The College would like to congratulate the following new members: Joshua Arakaki, Bianaca DiGuiseppe, Brianna Duggan, Clay Scheffey, Michael Spittel, Sandy Yang, Serena Yniguez.



One Campus, One Book Discussion

The Marymount College Community participates in "One College, One Book" which is a program that promotes the student body to all read the same book. This semester the book chosen is Planet Walker: 22 Years of Walking. 17 Years of Silence by John Francis. The college then holds a discussion open to all students to discuss different aspects of the book. It's a great way to collaborate with others and gain insight into different perspectives of the book.



Marymount students volunteer with Operation Teddy Bear

On Saturday, November 6th, 2010, a group of Marymount students went to the Volunteer Center in Torrance to participate in Operation Teddy Bear.  While there, they packed books and school supplies in backpacks for underprivileged first graders in our area.

Thanks to Assistant Director of Student Life Alyse Intagliata and MOVE president Alejandra Toribio
for their leadership of this event.

HOMEWALK2010 Make a Difference! Walk to End Homelessness!

Marymount College is participating in Homewalk2010, a Unite Way sponsored event. We have over 50 walkers so far... 

The 5K (3.2 mile) walk takes place Saturday, November 13 in Exposition Park (near USC) beginning at 9:00 am. If you are interested in more information about the walk, please call 310.303.7239 or email croyal@marymountpv.edu.  If you are not able to participate in the walk, please think about supporting our efforts with a donation. To donate go to http://www.homewalkla.kintera.org/marymountcollege

Your help and support are greatly appreciated. Thank you!!

UPDATE:

Thank you for all your support in making HomeWalk 2010 a success.  The Marymount College Team was almost 80 walkers strong (68 students, 4 faculty/staff, and 6 family/friends).  So far, Marymount College has raised almost $3000 in helping to end homelessness.  Special mention to fellow walker Darren Hall. Darren individually raised $500.

If you would like to donate, there’s still time.  http://www.homewalkla.kintera.org/marymountcollege

You can donate to the Marymount College general fund or to one of the registered walkers (listed via the link).  Your help and support are greatly appreciated.

Finally, a special “Thank You!” to Susan Garman, Greg Narleski, Alyse Intagliata, Darren Hall, Elizabeth Nicolello, Adrienne Sanchez, and Audra Platz for their support both before and during the Walk.

Marymount College is on Twitter!

Marymount Twitters! Check out our page at: http://twitter.com/MarymountPV

and come follow us for updates, fun facts and any health, safety or emergency notices.

Marymount Students Participate in Unparalleled Service Opportunity

A partnership, first of its kind in scope and impact, was launched this fall between Marymount College and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Los Angeles Harbor.  More than 350 students in Marymount’s freshman class are serving  as volunteers at the local Boys & Girls Club.  With more than 8,000 after-school  students being served by the Clubs the need for additional “hand-on” assistance was a priority for Club leadership. 

Climbing aboard a shuttle bus, Monday through Friday, Marymount students are transported to the Clubs where they serve as homework helpers, engage in play activities and strive to be role models to kids who may not yet be considering college in their future.

“It’s hard to imagine a better way for Marymount students to sustain our founding order’s mission: to serve others so that all may have life.  Our collaboration with the Boys & Girls Club is simply our deepest and most impactful educational partnership,” says Marymount College President Dr. Michael S. Brophy.

“I don’t know of another college that has forged a partnership of service of this magnitude,” says Dr. Brophy.  Continues Dr. Brophy,  “We are very pleased that the Boys & Girls Clubs encouraged and facilitated the opportunity for our freshman students to volunteer. “

"The Wheeler Boys" Ito/Matsuura Film Series

Please join us at the Warner Grand in San Pedro this Thursday, November 4th at 7 pm for the last of the Ito/Matsuura films this year - "The Wheeler Boys," a film by Philip Flores.

With their father lost in a fog of anger and self-loathing, "Truck" Wheeler has raised his younger brother Ted as best he could, given he's just a teenager himself.  Now, Ted is entering high school just as Truck readies himself for his final year, and the younger boy is seeing everything - girls, life in a small town, the brother he's always idolized, in a different light.

"The Wheeler Boys" is the winner of the 2010 Netflix competition "Find Your Voice," contest, selected out of 500 entries.

Mr. Flores will attend the screening along with his cast for a Q & A.

Local Cyclists and Marymount College Dedicate Drinking Fountain to Fallen Cyclist

On Saturday, Oct. 23, Marymount College and local cyclists joined together to dedicate a drinking fountain on the college’s campus in memory of a Peninsula cycling legend and retired police officer Steve Hartt.  Hartt died tragically in April 2008 when an accident involving a truck took his life while he was returning home from a ride up the famous switchbacks, leading up to Marymount College.  During the dedication a bronze plaque was installed adjacent the fountain in memory of Hartt.

The drinking fountain is located adjacent to the roadway, making hydration accessible to all enthusiasts as they pass by the college.

Marymount College is happy to provide this drinking fountain to thirsty cyclists who need to refill their water supply,” said Marymount College President Dr. Michael S. Brophy.  “Steve Hartt regularly rode his bicycle by our campus and we are pleased to join with the Peninsula cycling community to honor his memory,” said Dr. Brophy.

“Dedicating this drinking fountain to Steve, and his family, at the very place where he so often excelled, at the summit of the switchbacks, was a very generous gesture by the college", said attorney and cyclist Michael Norris. “ We had the cycling community, and Steve's friends, join with us for this special memorial event,” said Norris.

Gathering to dedicate a plaque in the memory of fallen cyclist Steve Hartt, at the drinking fountain located on the Marymount College campus, is Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church Pastor Fr. John F. Provenza; President of Marymount College Dr. Michael S. Brophy; and family members Bret Hartt, Mallory Hartt and Brooks Hartt.

Marymount Students Raising Money to Eradicate Polio

A student-led fundraising campaign, “Pennies for Polio,” will take place at Marymount College in Rancho Palos Verdes, on Oct. 21 and 22.  Rotaractors will be collecting pocket change from campus students, faculty and staff to provide polio vaccines to children living in Pakistan, Afghanistan, India and Nigeria, the only remaining areas of polio victims.

The Rotaract Club, sponsored by the Palos Verdes Sunset Rotary Club, will be collecting funds as part of the Rotary International (RI) effort to end polio.   A sixty-cent donation will provide the life-saving vaccine for one child. RI has raised over a Billion dollars to end polio by 2012 and recently received a $350 Million challenge grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to achieve this goal.

Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30. Rotaract clubs are either community based or Rotary club sponsored university organizations.

Polio is a contagious, historically devastating disease that was virtually eliminated from the Western hemisphere in the second half of the 20th century. Although polio has plagued humans since ancient times, its most extensive outbreak occurred in the first half of the 1900s before the vaccination, created by Jonas Salk, became widely available in 1955.

At the height of the polio epidemic in 1952, nearly 60,000 cases with more than 3,000 deaths were reported in the United States alone. However, with widespread vaccination, wild-type polio, or polio occurring through natural infection, was eliminated from the United States by 1979 and the Western hemisphere by 1991.

Marymount's Family Weekend - Fall 2010

Study travel options    

Is your student interested in a study-abroad opportunity?  Marymount has some great ones!  This session will focus on the opportunities Marymount provides for students to study at Regent’s College in London.  Dr. David Draper, faculty coordinator of the Regent’s program, will share a slide show highlighting the experience of students who recently participated in the summer or fall programs.  Dr. Ghada Masri, professor of Global Studies, will discuss other study abroad options that are currently being developed.

Service Learning

Coordinator of Service Learning, Susan Garman, will be joined by students who have participated in our new Service Learning programs.  All freshmen students are participating in a Service Learning program during their first semester and this session will help participants gain insight into the importance of this College program.

Advising and Career Services

Learn the steps students must take to earn a degree at Marymount College.  Key questions such as “What if I don’t know what my major is?” and “Which degree is right for me?” will be addressed, in the context of developing an Education Plan.  This fall, first-year students will begin developing their Education Plans in their ID 117 class.  Students and parents are invited to join this session to gain a better understanding of this important advising process.

Exciting New majors

Highlighting opportunities for study in our new BA programs, faculty members, Dr. Rex Draman, from the Business Department, and Dr. Duncan Earle, a professor of Global Studies,  will lead this session focusing on trends in Business education and our global world.

Marymount Advantage 

Learn about Marymount’s innovative co-curricular graduation requirement where students’ classroom learning is enhanced by out of the classroom activities.  This session will be led by Dean of Students Shane Armstrong.

For more information please contact:
(310) 303-7254
familyweekend@marymountpv.edu

Success by the Sea Scholarship Gala

The recent Success By The Sea Biennial Scholarship Gala was an evening of outstanding achievement.  This elegant event honored Sr. Gregory Naddy, RHSM, Yvonne Bogdanovich and Sandra Sanders for their many generous contributions to Marymount College and the community. 

More than 250 guests were delighted by the gourmet meal prepared by Bon Appétit and the energetic music and dancing led by the Wayne Foster Entertainment Group.  A reception, a student art show, a chic boutique and music by the Marymount College Jazz Ensemble greeted the guests upon arrival.  It was a warm, slightly breezy eve, which made the photos taken of each guest particularly lovely with the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean and Catalina Island in the background.

Success By The Sea raised funds for student scholarships.  With more than 70 percent of Marymount students this year requiring tuition assistance, the annual need is more than $4.1 million.  Sophomore Christian Gomez shared her road-to-college experience with the Gala attendees and was applauded for her academic and co-curricular achievements at Marymount College.

This event, led by Tara Brophy and supported by a committee that had exciting ideas and endless enthusiasm, provided a five-star experience for its guests.  Committee members included Bon Appétit General Manager Donna Novotney; Assistant to the President Kimberly Ramsay; film and TV actress Stacie Randall Allocco, who emceed the event; parent liaison and volunteer Nadine Bobit; and Board Trustee Lia Reyes.  

Marymount College Breaks Record at Blood Drive!

Marymount has done it once again! Breaking all former records. Marymount students, faculty and staff member contributed to 58 pints of blood for the donation drive! Way to go!

Cardinal Mahony visits Marymount and Celebrates Mass of the Holy Spirit

On Wednesday, September 15, Cardinal Roger Mahony of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles presided over the Mass of the Holy Spirit.  Attending this special Mass held in the College's Chapel were students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni and community members.  The Mass of the Holy Spirit is part of a long tradition, dating from the founding of the first European universities in the Middle Ages, and is offered at the start of the academic year.

"This is a special year for Marymount College," said President Dr. Michael Brophy. The Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges granted Marymount its Bachelor of Arts accreditation in February. This fall, the College offers Bachelor of Arts degrees in Business, Media Studies and Liberal Arts.


Marymount welcomed more than 750 students - 40 to the baccalaureate program - at the start of the school year.  These impressive enrollment numbers are within the Rancho Palos Verdes city-mandated cap of 793 students, and represent an increase of about 25 percent over last year’s enrollment.

"We experienced great enrollment growth, which is a very good sign for the College.  We attribute this growth to the new baccalaureate programs," said Dr. Brophy.


The College has hired faculty and staff members to accommodate the bachelor's programs and enrollment growth.  In addition to the Bachelor of Arts programs, new developments on campus include men’s and women’s soccer teams with membership in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics, and the addition of a study-abroad program with exciting worldwide locations, such as the Netherlands and China.

Marymount Professor’s New Book Explores Catholics and the Civil War

Marymount professor Kenneth Zanca, Ph.D., recently published his intriguing Civil War-era book, The Catholics and Mrs. Mary Surratt:  How They Responded to the Trial and Execution of the Lincoln Conspirator.

Professor Kenneth Zanca, Ph.D.

Dr. Zanca, who is a professor of philosophy and religious studies, explores the Catholic Church and its reaction to the Lincoln assassination.  In particular, he looks at Mary Surratt, the only woman convicted of taking part in the conspiracy to assassinate Abraham Lincoln and the first woman executed by the United States federal government.

Dr. Zanca, whose book has been very well received, was invited to present his findings at the annual national conference of the Surratt Society.  Recently, he received a letter from Marshall Surratt, a direct descendent of Mary Surratt, who thanked him for his excellent work and confirmed that Mary’s involvement in Lincoln’s assassination remains both a mystery and a controversial topic.

Dr. Zanca says that he is currently working on the first volume of a multivolume work dealing with Catholics and the Civil War, a topic that he says has not received in-depth study in years.

Dr. Zanca says that he approached this topic with care.  “I worked hard to present the data and not pass judgment on Mrs. Surratt’s guilt or innocence – which to me will always be an unanswerable question unless new documents are found.”Since the execution took place in 1865, questions have remained about Surratt’s involvement in Lincoln’s assassination.