The Class of 2009 lives up to its name with
its commencement award winners

Michael Stefanowicz ’09
Hometown: Cohoes, New York
Degree: history and religious studies, magna cum laude
Award: Father Prevel Memorial Award
Achievements: Stefanowicz was an active participant and leader in MOVE, including co-coordinating the Special Events Program for three years and organizing numerous one-time service opportunities. He was also cited for his involvement with Edmundite Campus Ministry where he has served as a Eucharistic Minister, team member, rector of two retreats, and a peer adviser.
As senior class president, Stefanowicz was described as “a model of ethical and thoughtful leadership,” by Karen Talentino, vice president for student affairs.
Plans: high school teacher

Erik Wells ’09 and
Sarah Coghlan ’09
Hometown: Derry, NH
Degree: journalism and mass communication, magna cum laude
Award: John D. Donoghue Award, which is presented to the individual who “has provided strong support, leadership and commitment to one of the college’s student publications”
Achievements: Editing “The Naked Opinion,” the commentary Web site of the student online magazine The Echo; engaging the community in discussions on such topics as the 2008 election, public health, nutrition, sustainable living, fair trade, gender issues and pop culture; heightening dialog and sharing of diverse viewpoints in the community.

Jonathan Kaptcianos ’09
Hometown: Peabody, Massachusetts
Degree: mathematics, magna cum laude.
Award: The Saint Michael’s Award, presented to a graduate who has shown four years of “unselfish commitment to others and to the development of community at Saint Michael’s College.” ?
Achievements: A published scholar, student leader, musician and athlete, Kaptcianos’ research article, “A Graph Theoretical Approach to DNA Fragment Assembly,” appeared in The American Journal of Undergraduate Research in 2008. He was vice president of his class in his junior year, a Resident Assistant, a two-year member of the Orientation Board, and S.A. Secretary of Finance in 2009 as well as MOVE volunteer service coordinator of the Winooski Youth Connection, and a private math tutor, and a varsity soccer player.

Stephen O’Neil ’09
Hometown: Lancaster, Massachusetts
Degree: American studies and accounting
Award: Rev. Gerald Dupont Award, “in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Saint Michael’s community.”
Acheivements: President of the Class of 2009 for two years, co-secretary of programming on the Executive Board, 2008-2009 president of the Student Association; orientation leader for three years, for serving on the Pre-Orientation Weekend team for two years, working on LEAP retreats numerous times, as a candidate, team member and KC rector.

Whitney Hine ’09
Hometown: Southbury, Connecticut
Degree: biology, magna cum laude
Award: 2009 Donald Sutton Community Service Award
Accomplishments: A member of the Rescue Squad for four years, Hine took the rookie emergency response class her sophomore year and in her junior year she became the squad’s second lieutenant, coordinating and facilitating all training.
Plans: medical school

Stephanie Daudelin ’09
Degree: religious studies and sociology/
anthropology, magna cum laude
Award: The Elizabeth A. Durick Award,
presented to “a senior who has made a
significant contribution to the Christian
goals of Saint Michael’s College.”
Achievements: Involvement in Sunday liturgies and in Campus Ministry’s retreat programs, active in the MOVE Extended Service Program, sang in the liturgical choir, participated in liturgical planning and wrote personal reflections for Campus Ministry’s Lenten Reflections booklet. She was a member of Campus Ministry’s core leadership and peer ministry group and deeply devoted to pro-life activity, prayer and the Eucharist.

Courtney A. Lamdin ’09
Hometown: Barre, Vermont
Degree: journalism and mass communication, summa cum laude
Award: The Dr. Marie Henault Award, which honors a student who has contributed to women’s issues on and off campus.
Achievements: Lamdin served as executive editor of the student newspaper, The Defender, and was a leader in Web site design and development.

Kate Mooney ’09
Hometown:Gray, Maine
Degree: political science, magna cum laude
Award: Katherine Fairbanks Memorial Award
Achievements: Solid academic accomplishments, scholarly research and participation in student government as secretary of academics for the Student Association, as well as enthusiastic leadership of the Student Global AIDS Campaign for three years, and commitment to the Wilderness Program, where she was a senior instructor in the program, trainer of new instructors, and a nationally certified kayak instructor.

Megan Denardo ’09
Hometown: Rutland, Vermont
Degree: biology, summa cum laude
Award: The Valedictory Award, with a grade point average of 3.984 out of a possible 4.0. In presenting the award, Karen Talentino, vice president for academic affairs, cited one of her professors saying she brings ‘complexity and creativity of thought to classroom discussions’ and that her research paper on cloning of Bromeliad genes was “on par with what one would expect from a second-year graduate student.”
Plans: Graduate work in environment studies at Duke University next year.

Nicole
Marshall ’09
Hometown: Brewster, Massachusetts
Degree: sociology/anthropology, cum laude
Award: Frank G. Mahady Memorial Award, honoring moral leadership and concern for social justice
Achievements: Marshall organized a volunteer program for COTS (Committee on Temporary Shelter) in Burlington and volunteered with the children in the shelter for three years. With other Saint Michael’s volunteers, she brought the children to campus for meals, sports and homework help, and even continued the program during summers.   :