Community
Angels we have heard on high
Mount continues annual Vespers tradition
Photos by Rosemarie Budhwa
For the Mount Saint Mary College community, the annual Christmas Vespers service of lessons and carols signals the joyous beginning of the holiday season.
The 2023 performance marked the first time that the college was able to resume the tradition with public attendance since 2019.
The first Vespers at the Mount took place in 1974.
The annual service features lessons and carols like “Angels We Have Heard on High.” Towards the end of the service, the audience joined in singing “Silent Night,” during which the lights are dimmed and the chapel is illuminated with candles.
The event was livestreamed, and the performance can be viewed in full here: https://livestream.com/knightproductions/vespers23
NFA students get a taste of college life at Mount bootcamp
Photos by Lee Ferris
The Mount’s Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP) and Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP), the Admissions Office, and the Writing Center teamed up in the Fall 2023 semester to host a “college bootcamp” for students at Newburgh Free Academy (NFA) West.
The event was the brainchild of Lakeya Stukes, a school counselor at NFA West. During the bootcamp, the NFA students:
improved their writing skills through the College Writing Workshop, hosted by the Mount’s Writing Center. Leading these four workshops were Rob Wakeman, associate professor of English; Peter Witkowsky, associate professor of English and chair of the Division of Humanities; David Gallagher, associate professor of Education; and Gina Evers, director of the Writing Center;
through HEOP/CSTEP, heard from current Mount students about life on campus during a student panel and participated in a campus wide scavenger hunt. These events were spearheaded by Grace Vazquez, CSTEP advisor;
and learned about the process of applying to a college with Arianna Guevara, Mount admissions counselor.
Later in the semester, HEOP, CSTEP, and the Admissions Office hosted a glimpse into life on a college campus for the NFA students.
The Mount’s HEOP/CSTEP Leadership Council spoke to the NFA students about the importance of starting their high school career strong and shared their personal experiences as Mount students.
Grace Vazquez, CSTEP advisor, spoke to students about these programs at the college and offered her advice for a successful high school career. Then the NFA students connected with Mount HEOP/CSTEP students before getting a tour of campus.
The Mount’s HEOP provides educational opportunities and support to traditionally underserved students who have strong academic potential, but would otherwise be excluded from higher education due to circumstances of academic and economic disadvantage.
CSTEP at the Mount works to increase the number of underrepresented students who possess strong academic and personal potential to pursue careers in mathematics, science, technology, health-related fields, or a licensed profession.
Perkins named employee of the year
Photo by Lee Ferris
Kristen “Sten” Miller Perkins, associate director of Marketing, was named the Mount Saint Mary College Employee of the Year for 2023.
At the start of the Fall 2023 semester, the college named Kristen “Sten” Miller Perkins, associate director of Marketing, as the college’s 2023 Employee of the Year.
Perkins received the award for her exemplary job performance; her positive attitude toward work responsibilities, co-workers, students, and campus visitors; and her willingness to carry out additional responsibilities beyond regular job assignments for the good of the Mount community. She was nominated for the award by her co-workers.
Perkins has worked at the Mount for 12 years.
“She skillfully oversees a vast array of projects, both large and small, on behalf of colleagues around campus,” said Sharnie Canary, director of Human Resources. “Her meticulous attention to detail, coupled with effective communications…results in creative and top-notch solutions for every project.”
The annual Employee of the Year selection was made possible by the Employee Satisfaction Committee, which was created to provide a voice for Mount staff to channel feedback and contribute towards creating a more engaging workplace environment.
