OCTOBER: President Hansen congratulates 2009 NCAA Division III doubles champion Ben Stein ’09 as he and partner Amrit Rupasinghe ’10 (looking on with head coach Paul Gastonguay ’89) present their championship trophies to the College at a special halftime celebration during the Oct. 3 football game vs. Tufts. The women's rowing team, runners-up at the NCAA Division III Rowing Championships, was also honored.
Members of the undefeated 1989 volleyball team and their former coach, Marsha Graef (right), enjoy a recognition ceremony in Alumni Gym during their reunion at Homecoming 2009. From left, Rachel Clayton ’90, Cathy Meoni Ringling ’90, Laurie Plante Graumann ’90, Julie Roche Simplicio ’91, Cindy Simonides Farina ’93, Allyson Reynolds Wachtel ’93, and Graef.
SEPTEMBER: Thomas Hedley Reynolds, known for nearly three decades of transformational leadership at two Maine educational institutions, died Tuesday, Sept. 22, at his home in Newcastle, Maine, after a long illness. He was 88 years old.
NOVEMBER: President Elaine Hansen makes a point during the annual Higher Education Media Dinner with Andrew Hacker of The New York Review of Books and Jane Karr of The New York Times. Nine college and university presidents were invited to join 24 members of national news media in a dialogue on higher education. Earlier in the fall, Newsweek called on five thought leaders in American higher education, including President Hansen, for its cover story debating "the merits of a three-year degree and assess the state of higher education." Photo by ASU Media Relations.
OCTOBER: A video of high-energy dancing in New Commons, organized by the student group ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Energy Action Movement, has been posted on YouTube. The dancing occurred at lunchtime Monday, Oct. 19, as part of the international 350.org climate change initiative. See the .

• Click the thumbnails to view the slide show above
Through this retrospective slide show, we invite you to look back at some of the major ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ stories, events and achievements of 2009, as published in ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½News, the College’s monthly e-newsletter to alumni, parents and friends.
Whether showing happy jubilation, pensive reflection or intense competition, the photographs tell about ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ people setting the pace and attending to their friends, communities and world. As skier Sylvan Ellefson ’09 said as he competed at the ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½-hosted NCAA Skiing Championships last winter, “Seeing all my friends and all the people from ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ that were here today really made my day.”
Complementing the slide show are links to a few multimedia pieces about life at ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ in 2009:
- President Elaine Tuttle Hansen’s annual “President for a Day” exchange with student Walter Garcia ’11;
- The 2009 Mount David Summit, the College’s annual celebration of student academic achievement;
- Dedication of and made possible by the Class of 2004 and other donors.
- Student-produced video of to spark interest in the 350.org climate-change initiative;
- Kickoff of North American tour of Beautiful Me, first-ever ÀÖ²¥´«Ã½ Dance Festival concert held during the academic year;
- Football team’s euphoric rendition of the “Fight Song” after the Bobcats’ victory over Bowdoin at Garcelon Field;
- , the heart behind the College’s medical studies program.