Century Club Newsletter: February 2009
Dear Century Club Member:
Each semester, Stonehill students seek out fresh challenges and put their ingenuity to work both in and out of the classroom.
One impressive way that they do this is through campus programming of popular events, like Mr. Stonehill (above) and the Asian Festival, which are created and implemented by our students.
"Our focus is on empowering students to take initiative," explains Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Pauline Dobrowski.
"When students take complete ownership of their programs, there is a higher level of learning and growth that occurs. It allows them to draw and build upon their leadership skills."
Mr. Stonehill is one of the campus' most highly anticipated entertainment events of the year. Each fall, in front of a packed audience in the Sports Complex, contestants compete in various categories and one is ultimately crowned "Mr. Stonehill."
Headed by students and overseen by a class advisor, the class committee organizes the entire event from budgeting and designing t-shirts to making posters, scheduling rehearsals, securing a panel of judges, and requesting prize donations.
Becca Honohan '09, (above center) is the programming director for the senior class, and she believes that getting to know people who have different stories was one of the most important life lessons she learned from coordinating the event in November. "This is something I will undoubtedly carry through into the workplace," reflects Honohan.
John Merian '81, (left) a two-time judge for Mr. Stonehill and the owner of Tuxedos By Merian in Brockton and Taunton, draws the connection between this type of student-initiated event and real life responsibility.
"Initiating and creating programming teaches students to motivate themselves when they get out into the real world. This is an important component to determining your success," he says.