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The King's College Alumni E-Newsletter
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October
2007
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Homecoming
2007 |
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Combining Traditions and Creating New Ones |
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Lynn Albanese Mitchell
('86) |
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President |
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The King's College Alumni
Association |
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Those of you who know me
well realize I'm not easily impressed. However, after
experiencing Homecoming 2007, I walked away in awe of
the The King’s College student. Their intellect, poise,
talent, creativity, enthusiasm, and love for the Lord
and each other are testaments to what God is doing at
the college. After experiencing Homecoming 2007, I can
assure you that The King's College—New York City aspires
to the same mission and vision upon which our alma mater
was founded in 1938.
During past Homecomings,
students were conspicuously missing from the weekend. It
always saddened me to come to New York City and not see
current students not having as much fun as we all did
back when we were enrolled at The King’s College. But
this year, things changed. I am very encouraged to
report that, for the first time since the early 90's,
there was significant student participation. From the
fight cry contest, to the annual student vs. alumni
soccer game, to the crowning of the homecoming king and
queen, to the student and alumni talent show, the
students came out in droves. And their enthusiasm was
contagious. |
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Though we as alumni have
always had a desire to involve the current students, the
change in campuses, leadership, and curriculum has made
it difficult. But with each passing year, the disconnect
shrinks and our relationship with the student body grows
stronger. We are finally becoming one. |
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I want to thank those
who made this year so successful by organizing,
promoting, and directing the events. Thanks to
Lynne Straton Head ('86) and Dea Diller
Davis('86), who came out to crown the 2007
Homecoming Court. Also, thanks to Sharon Hedgepeth
('89) and Patricia Gleason ('86) who gave
wonderful performances at the talent show along
with recent alumni, Josh Schurr and Luke Anderson
('07). Thanks to Mike Mitchell ('87) who did a
wonderful job of announcing at the soccer game,
and who had the honor of introducing the 2007
Homecoming Court. Thanks to Judy Barringer ('85)
and Lori Straton Millham ('90), for judging the
Fight Cry Contest. And Finally, thanks to the
faithful registration table volunteers, including:
Nadine Lima Booker ('87), Steve French (NBC)
('80), Ruth Grose ('77), and Katherine Kish ('75).
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We were also graced by
the presence of John Spier ('72), who received the
2007 Alumnus of the Year Award presented by his
wife, Doris McGutkin Spier ('70). Our own Rick
Millham ('90), Alumni Executive Board
Vice-President, was awarded the 2007 Distinguished
Service Award for exemplary service to The King's
College, presented by Rick Veit ('84).
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Other distinguished
alumni present were the Honorable Vincent DeMacedo
('87), Republican State Representative from
Massachusetts, Robert Straton ('57) who toured with
Percy Crawford as a featured soloist in the "Youth
on the March" program, Roy McCandless ('59), who
served as Admissions Director to The King's College
for over thirty years, and Howard Miller ('64), who
led our soccer team to the NCCAA national
championship in 1985 and comes back every year with
most of his team to lead them to victory over the
students (see article below). |
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Homecoming reminds us
that we are more than just classmates, we are first
and foremost brothers and sisters in Christ. Our
relationships with each other are lived out in an
eternal/kingdom context within God's providence.
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As a graduate of the
Briarcliff Manor campus, I remember fondly that the
students eagerly anticipated Homecoming as much as
the alumni. It was always an event that united the
old and the new. It gave the current students a
sense of their long and esteemed history, and the
alumni a vision and hope for the future. I am
thrilled to report that we have once again achieved
this balance. I hope that the success of this event
will be the foundation for many great future
Homecomings. I hope that the success of this event
will be the foundation for the Alumni Association to
re-establish itself as the valuable resource to the
students that it once was. |
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ALUMNI VS. STUDENT SOCCER GAME 2007 |
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Rick Millham ('90) |
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Vice-President |
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The King's College
Alumni Association |
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The word of the day for
the alumni was ASPIRIN, and lots of it! 2007 was the
dawning of a new era for the traditional Homecoming
Soccer Game. Gone are the days when the students
fielded just enough players to carry a team (most in
tennis shoes). This year, it was evident the
admissions department used soccer skills to
determine admissions eligibility. The student team
fielded 18 players in matching jerseys, who gave the
alumni quite a scare. I’m sure some of the player’s
intensity was due to the exciting pep rally prior to
the game. |
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Apparently, the BUZZ
around campus was that this was the year the
students would finally beat the alumni. But it just
wasn’t so.
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Mike Mitchell ('87) got
the game started with pre-game introductions.
Thankfully he is a SLOW talker because just as he
finished introducing the players, a honk of the horn
ushered in Henny Brassinga ('88), Geoff Duncanson
('87), Randy Erb ('87), and Gary Pieratti ('87). If
not for these last minute additions, we would have
had to borrow players from the student’s team. As
such, it was a huge relief to see the guys faces,
and I gladly removed my goalie gear and handed it to
Randy. |
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The students brought it
this year, and being on the back line they came at
us HARD. A few minutes in and they had their chance
with a penalty call on Al Scottson ('87) in the box.
The students barely squeezed it by a diving Randy
Erb ('87) for a 1-0 lead. The students went nuts
(about 70 + watching) and the upset was afoot. Five
minutes later the alumni had a corner kick to the
left of the goal and Geoff lined up for the direct
kick. As the ball swung in, Gary flicked it onto the
head of Peter Siwek ('89) who headed it into the
back of the net, tying the game at 1.
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In the second half, the
alumni team committed themselves to playing strong
after a prayer and some strong encouragement from
Coach Howard Miller ('64). About five minutes into
the second half, the alumni switched the ball to the
right side and Geoff Duncanson cleared it into the
corner. Pete Siwek chased it down and dribbled the
ball right on the student goal-keeper, touching it
right inside the post for a 2-1 alumni lead.
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For the balance of the
game, it was a matter of hanging on as the students
crashed the net hoping for the tying goal. With
three minutes left they kicked a blistering shot
headed just under the cross bar, but Randy Erb
launched into the air and deflected it up and over
to preserve the win.
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It is so much fun to
play against the students. They love the game and
look forward to playing us every year. If you have
not come back to play for Coach Miller you are
missing out. Even if you come and watch, the
fellowship is sweet. I get to do a lot of great
things during the year with The King's College, but
I can assure you there is nothing I can think of
that would keep me away from Roosevelt Island for
the Homecoming soccer match.
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I hope you will pass
this along to anyone you know who played soccer at
King's and ask them to come out next year. Block out
the first week of October 2008 on your calendar now
and come join us. We would love to have you. By the
way, the students were very happy to hear Rob Milner
('92) was not coming this year. Let's not let that
happen again Rob! |
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THE KING’S NETWORK |
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We have heard your
cries and have decided to take The King's Network
off-line in order to work out the kinks. You've
made it clear that you prefer the functionality of
the old bulletin board and we apologize for the
frustrations during registration for Homecoming
2007. You can now view the bulletin board, in its
original form, as well as the alumni newsletters
by linking off the homepage. |
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Please recognize that
we are committed to creating a functional, state
of the art online forum for you as a King's
alumnus/alumna. We have worked hard in the last
year to make sure our alumni have a place to stay
connected to their alma mater and their peers. We
do not want to jeopardize the momentum we've
gained over the last year, and realize that your
time at King's was for many, life-changing. Our
goal is to provide a avenue for you to reconnect
to the past and network with peers for the future.
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We'll be in touch
soon with more information on the new and improved
site just for you. |
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Please feel free to contact
alumni@tkc.edu with any questions or concerns or
call
212-659-7117.
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