Vermont Corporate Cup Challenge!

For the past several months I have been training for my first 5K with a few of my colleagues. Last night was the big night - my first road race!

Yep, that says RUNNER.

My team, the Hoehl Raisers (Hoehl is the name of the Admission office, and is pronounced "hale." Get it?) was my colleague Katherine and the Director of Conferences and Special Events, Mark. Our goal was to finish without walking...and WE DID IT! The course was hillier than our training runs had been so I struggled a little bit towards the end, but as I rounded the final corner and saw my boss, Jacki shouting my name and cheering and my friend and colleague Christian yelling for me, I knew I could do it! I was elated when we crossed the finish line. And even more elated to see the water bottles and bagels for us :-)

After the run, we all went to the college's graphic designer's home in Waterbury for an afterparty. One of my fellow runners said that they best part of the race for him was the post-race pizza and adult beverage! I am so lucky to work with such fun, active, friendly, happy people. I can't wait until next year...but I also see more races in my near future!

The whole Saints on the Run team!

I'm in the front row in the purple shorts, my Hoehl Raisers teammates Kath, next to me in the orange shorts, and Mark, in the back row, second from the right.

Happy Graduation!

Congrats class of 2012!

My cousin Sara, Emily and me at the Baccaleaureate Honors Ceremony

My family after the ceremony

Congratulations Em!

Welcome to the family!

Our support staff members are in an all day meeting today, so all of us counselors are holding down the phones. I just took an admission deposit from a soon-to-be freshman on the phone and just naturally ended the call with "welcome to the family." Then I got to thinking...

I really, really, REALLY see St. Mike's as my second home and second family. It's not just a cliche thing that everyone says to sound happy, it's absolutely true. The relationships that you create while on campus, no matter who you are, are only explainable using the word "family."

I am looking forward to welcoming my younger sister, Emily, into the family of SMC alumni on Monday when she graduates from SMC! She's the best sister I could ever ask for, and I'm so proud of her!

Just a typical family picture.

This is from a photobooth at "Evening for Grace," a benefit dinner for Camp Ta-Kum-Ta that many of us went to. I won't identify who these crazies are, but I will say that there's a Vice President of the college, a senior staff member in the admission office and several other counselors, the director of publications...just showing our silly side :-)

Me with the future SMC Alum. Do you think we look alike? People say we look like twins...I don't see it :-)