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.  

Nate Jones Sculpture Exhibit

Artist Nate Jones will exhibit his “industrial abstract” sculpture on the campus of Marymount College until May 22 2010.  This exhibit, titledCustomers, is open to the public and may be viewed during daylight hours on the college’s lawn areas.  Marymount College is located at 30800 Palos Verdes Drive East, Rancho Palos Verdes.

Jones creates his sculptures from tire shavings. He is employed by a retail tire store. “The work that I call ‘industrial abstract’ began as an experiment with the materials I use every day at the shop,” says Jones. “Although the work will remind you of abstract expressionism, my ‘painterly gestures’ are not spontaneous.  My work is intentional and carefully directed.” His exhibit, Customers was inspired by tire customers.

“I created this exhibit from my experiences with different types of people.  I found a growing desire to represent the tire customer visually in some way, says Jones. “So, to create their portraits, I use the very material for which they come to the shop in the first place – tires.”

Jones has a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts from California State University, Long Beach and studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, Italy.



  

Marymount Community Freshens Up Elementary School Library

On May 1, Marymount College students spent the day at the 93^rd Street Elementary School in south central Los Angeles helping to renew a school library. The service day included painting murals to brighten the library and the donation of 2,090 books collected by Marymount students.

“Our students heard how the 93^rd Street Elementary School  didn’t have money to refresh the school library’s book collection for their budding readers.  New and replacement books hadn’t been available in more than 10 years” says Melanie Sellar, a Marymount College librarian  and the service project’s leader.

“Many of our students went to great lengths to visit used book stores and thrift stores, and to raid family and friends’ closets. For many of them, it became very personal as they recalled their favorite books as children and tried to imagine life without those stories, “ says Sellar.

This project is one of many community service projects that Marymount students, staff and faculty contribute time and resources to serve others.

view the entire Service Day photo album

Marymount College Spring Recital 2010

On Wednesday, April 28 at the Norris Center for the Performing Arts, Marymount College presented its annual Spring Recital.  Community members, faculty, staff and students attended the event and enjoyed an evening family-style entertainment.  The Recital is provided without charge to those attending and has become a much-anticipated event for many who reside in the community.  Performing that evening was Vox Marymount, a student “Glee” group who sang and danced to a variety of popular songs from the past few decades.  The Marymount Dance Ensembleshowcased their talent to All that Jazz, Mrs. Officer and Gravity.  Rounding out the evening was musical performances including a saxophone grouping, piano and flute and violin and keyboard performances.  The evening was emceed by student Joerelle Bennett.


View Videos from 2009 Recital

Dr. Brophy to Present Leadership Lecture

At 6 p.m. on Monday, April 5 at the Wisconsin Center for the Advancement of Postsecondary Education at the University of Wisconsin – Madison, Dr. Michael S. Brophy, president of Marymount College, Palos Verdes will present Critical Leadership Challenges at Two-Year Institutions: Reflections from the Perspective of the President.  This program is co-sponsored by the Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis and is open to the public and free of charge.

President Brophy will address the topics of academic change, innovation, governance and leadership within the context of his tenure at public and private institutions.  His remarks will be grounded in his research on leadership practices that contribute to positive change in higher education.

Marymount College Celebrates Founders Week 2010

Marymount celebrated its Founder’s Week 2010 with an alumni reunion on Saturday, March 20 that was sponsored by the newly formed Alumni Association.  Classmates and their families gathered for a BBQ lunch, catching up with old friends and a College update and tour.  On Monday, March 22, an ice cream social was held in Chapel Circle and students, staff and faculty gathered to celebrate, hear music and meet representatives from non-profit organizations where Marymount students currently volunteer.  On Tuesday, March 23 a gathering of faculty, staff and trustees heard a lecture presented by the Rev. James L. Heft, S.M., chairman of the board of trustees of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at USC. He presented “Mission and Margin:  A Distinctive Future for Marymount?”  That same evening the students presented awards to faculty and staff.  On Wednesday, March 24, a Mass was held by Bishop Joseph M. Satoris in commeration of Marymount College’s founding.  The Founder’s Award was presented to former trustee Dr. William Petak who received this honor in the presence of the sisters of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, trustees, faculty and staff in a reception following Mass.

Los Angles Food Bank - Volunteer Day

Marymount gets into the spirit of volunteering!

Marymount staff and faculty kicked off the new year by volunteering at The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. Volunteers helped package, sort, and assemble food packages that feed needy individuals, families, seniors, and children in our community.

On behalf of the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and the network of 900 charitable agency sites in Los Angeles County, thank you for choosing the Food Bank for your volunteer service project. The fact is; without volunteers the Food Bank would not be able to accomplish its mission “…to mobilize the resources of our community to fight hunger.”

For more information on volunteer opportunities through Marymount please contact:

Susan Garman 
Coordinator of Service Learning Programs
sgarman@marymountpv.edu
Marymount College
30800 Palos Verdes Drive East
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
310-303-7290 (office)
310-377-6223 (fax)

Cheslea Heritage President of student club M.O.V.E.
cheritage@marymountpv.edu

Click Here for more info and volunteer opportunities with LA Food Bank

Marymount College Senior Accreditation Celebration

In Rancho Palos Verdes: 'New and exciting times'

Story and photos by Doris Benavides - The Tidings

For years Marymount College has been known as the only two-year higher education Catholic institution left in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. To celebrate the achievement, faculty, staff, students, the board of trustees, the president and the founders all gathered on a sunny March 12 at the Rancho Palos Verdes campus' Chapel Circle.That changed Feb. 24, however, when the college board of trustees and president Michael Brophy announced the accreditation of the Rancho Palos Verdes school as a four-year, co-educational Catholic college by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Accrediting Commission for Senior Colleges and Universities.

read more...

Will Keim, Ph.D - "Welcome to the Time of Your Life"

On Thursday, February 18, Marymount College enjoyed an empowering and humorous presentation by Will Keim, Ph.D., who is the author of Keys to Success in College & Life.  Through inspirational stories, sound advice, and a genuine personality, Dr. Keim demonstrated to students how to make the right choices for success in both college and life.  This event was hosted by James Little’s family as a reminder of the goodwill of James R. Little.