January 1, 2011 Saint Mary’s to Participate in Banned Books Week Saint Mary’s College will host the first ever on-campus readings of banned books in celebration of Banned Books Week from September 26-30. The readings will take place in the Mother Pauline Room on the second floor of the Cushwa-Leighton Library at the College from 12:15-1:00 p.m. The public is invited to attend. January 1, 2011 Student hosts event to simulate being homeless January 1, 2011 Composer of “Cross of Our Hope” to Speak at Saint Mary's College Saint Mary’s College is proud to host a lecture by Steven Warner, the composer “Cross of Our Hope,” a song that celebrates the tradition of the Congregations of Holy Cross and its founder Blessed Basil Anthony Moreau. “Crafting ‘Cross of Our Hope’: The Story of a Song and Saint Mary’s College” will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 26 in Regina Chapel of Regina Hall. The public is invited to attend this free lecture. January 1, 2011 Rachael Chesley ’11 Receives Fulbright Award Saint Mary's College is proud to announce Rachael M. Chesley ’11 of New Lenox, Illinois has been awarded a Fulbright U.S. Student Program scholarship to Malaysia in English Teaching Assistantship. She is one of over 1,600 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad for the 2011-2012 academic year through the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Chesley will depart for Malaysia in January. She spent July 13-15 attending the Fulbright Southeast Asia Orientation in Washington D.C. Rachael will use her time between now and January interning with U.S. Senator Mark Kirk (R) of Illinois as well as U.S. State Representative Renee Kosel (R) of Illinois’ 81st District. January 1, 2011 High School Women’s Choir Festival The College will host the High School Women’s Choir Festival Thursday-Friday, November 17-18, also in O’Laughlin Auditorium. It is the 27th year that the women’s college has hosted the high school event. The High School Women’s Choir Festival takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day on November 17 and 18. Approximately 800 students will participate with 20 choirs from Illinois, Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin. Local choirs include Penn High School, Niles High School, Lakeshore High School, La Porte High School, and Concord High School. Each choir will perform three or four pieces and receive written evaluations from commentators. January 1, 2011 Actress Sigourney Weaver's Day on Campus (various media) The Saint Mary’s College Theatre Program welcomed Academy Award nominated actress Sigourney Weaver to campus on September 26 as the 2011/2012 academic year’s Margaret Hill Endowed Visiting Artist. Weaver, known for starring roles in films like Aliens, Gorillas in the Mist and Avatar conducted two master classes with Saint Mary’s College theatre students during the day and held a public lecture in the evening. Her husband Jim Simpson, artistic director of New York City's The Flea Theater , accompanied her and helped conduct the master classes. January 1, 2011 Future of Religious Life and Young Adult Catholic Women (National Cath... The Center for Spirituality recently welcomed Sister Sandra Schneiders, IHM, to campus for her lecture titled “The Future of Religious Life”. This article mentions the talk and how the sister and scholar stated during it that "women's ministerial life has a future in this time and beyond." January 1, 2011 Fall Choral Concert On Wednesday, November 16 at 7:30 p.m., the Fall Choral Concert will be held in O’Laughlin Auditorium. The Fall Choral Concert consists of the Saint Mary’s College Women’s Choir, Collegiate Choir and Bellacapella, a student a cappella group. January 1, 2011 Saint Mary's College Receives $4.7M Bequest (various media) Saint Mary's College gratefully announces a gift of $4.7 million from the trust of Marjorie A. Neuhoff ’61. It is the largest bequest in the 167-year history of the College. The gift will be used to establish endowments for a chair in nursing, a need-based scholarship, and the Summer Science Research Communities, all in Ms. Neuhoff’s name. Ms. Neuhoff’s classmates celebrated her gift at the President’s Reception and Dinner for the Class of 1961 on Friday, June 3. The class marked its 50th anniversary as part of Reunion Weekend. Below is a summary of news coverage.