January 1, 2012 Saint Mary's College Announces $10 Million Combined Gift With gratitude, Saint Mary's College President, Carol Ann Mooney, announced today that Saint Mary’s received the largest single private gift in the College’s 167-year history. January 1, 2012 A Student's Best Friend (South Bend Tribune) Most college dormitory policies clearly state "no pets allowed," but that's no longer the case at Saint Mary's College. In an attempt to attract more seniors to live on campus, the college now allows seniors living in Regina South to keep dogs weighing less than 30 pounds and cats. Students Cassandra Jerkovic '13 and Mara Scott '13 are interviewed for this article, as is Janielle Tchakerian, assistant vice president for Student Affairs and director of Residence Life. January 1, 2012 Human Trafficking, More Common Than We Think (Ask an Expert, WNIT-PBS) She's appeared on The Today Show, MSNBC and several other television shows and Friday, Theresa Flores spoke at Saint Mary's. As a teen from an upper-middle class family in Michigan, Flores was forced into the sex trade and talked about her experience. Her story is an example of human trafficking. The College’s Justice Education Program and Congregation’s Justice Office coordinated the engagement, with support from Social Work students in the course Human Behavior and the Social Environment II. Flores, who is a licensed social worker, also spoke about what students can do to join the abolitionist movement. On this local PBS program, "Ask an Expert," Flores appears with Jan Pilarski, director of Justice Education at Saint Mary's; Amy Smessaert, director of communications for the Sisters of the Holy Cross; and Becky Callendar, with S-O-S of St. Joseph County. January 1, 2012 College Announces New Director of Gift Planning Saint Mary’s College is pleased to announce and welcome Jennifer Winnett Denniston ’98 as director of gift planning. Denniston began her position earlier this fall. In her new position Denniston serves as the primary representative for the Mother Pauline Society, the College’s gift planning society. Denniston works with alumnae and friends of the College as Saint Mary’s gift planning representative for the development and administration of a comprehensive gift-planning program. January 1, 2012 Old Issues Linger in This Election (South Bend Tribune) Political science professor Sean Savage is interviewed on what the issues are that voters care about. He says it boils down to how much people want the government to be involved in the economy. "Even though technically the recession ended in 2009, we still have a stagnant economy and slow economic growth," Savage said. "People are trying to figure out why we have a slow economy and what we can do about it." January 1, 2012 Mahoney Tabbed as MIAA Player of the Week ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association has named Saint Mary's guard Patsy Mahoney its Player of the Week in women's basketball for games played through February 4. January 1, 2012 Christmas Madrigal Dinners Are Coming! (WNIT-TV) The Saint Mary’s College Department of Music will present its 40th annual Madrigal Dinners, November 30-December 2. It's a Renaissance-style Christmas banquet and performance celebration. The merry feast includes entertainment provided by colorfully attired singers, instrumentalists, jugglers, a jester, and a lord of the manor. This year there's a new set (designed and constructed by students), a new script (by a faculty member), and the Madrigal Dancers are back. Tickets available at moreaucenter.com. Conductor and music professor Nancy Menk and Joy Viceroy '13, a Madrigal Singer, recently appeared on the WNIT (PBS) program Experience Michiana. January 1, 2012 Belles Earn NSCAA Team Academic Award KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The Saint Mary's College soccer team was one of 498 NCAA Division I, II, and III and NAIA women's teams to earn the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award for the 2011-12 academic year. January 1, 2012 South Bend Chamber Singers Auditions The South Bend Chamber Singers (SBCS), the region’s premier vocal chamber ensemble, announces auditions for experienced singers from northern Indiana and southern Michigan for its 24th concert series, 2012-13. Auditions will be held Sunday-Friday, August 26-31 in room 309 of Moreau Center for the Arts at Saint Mary’s College.