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The Class of '99 tossed beach balls and blew bubbles as they celebrated commencement day on a sun-soaked Armstrong Quad May 17. The parade of 547 degree-recipients yelped, hugged, and high-fived their way on and off the center stage to the delight of 5,000 friends and family in attendance.

About a dozen seniors wore surgical masks to let the keynote speaker, Energy Secretary Bill Richardson, know they disapproved of certain Department of Energy policies. One graduate, Kristin Markey, wore a gas mask and stood with his back to Richardson during his speech.

The highest-ranking Hispanic in the Clinton administration, Richardson was sworn in as the ninth United States secretary of energy shortly after accepting the students' offer to speak at commencement. Twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, Richardson is a former New Mexico congressman who served as the United States permanent representative to the United Nations from 1997 to 1998. As a diplomatic troubleshooter, he helped free hostages and prisoners in Bangladesh, Cuba, Iraq, North Korea (twice), and Sudan.

Professor David Finley, a teacher and administrator for 36 years at CC, retired this year. A graduate of Westpoint, Finley earned a master's degree in political science at Stanford and came to CC pre-Block Plan.

Professor Finley has been at CC since 1963. He headed the political science department from 1981 to 1985, and he acted as dean of the college from 1987 to 1991. In 1980, he was named the A.E. and Ethel Carlton professor, a rotating professorship awarded once every four years to a distinguished professor. The author of the 1968 book Soviet Foreign Policy, Finley is an expert on post-Soviet politics, Russian foreign ppolicy, and post-Cold War changes in international relations. He has also published recent essays, including "Domestic Roots of Foreign Policy under Khrushev and Gorbachev" and "The United States and the Soviet Union in Space."

When asked about the differences between the students of the sixties and students today, Finely replied, "There’s really not much contrast. The students today are concerned with different things, but are equally imaginative and bright and very challenging. It’s the quality of students and my colleagues that have made this place and my time here so remarkable."

Post-CC days will find Finley perfecting his photography skills and traveling with his wife, Judith Reid Finley '58. He'll return to teach a single course, Comparative Politics of Eastern Europe.

Article excerpted from The Catalyst.

By JENNIFER SHOUP HEISS '81, Board of Managers, Woman's Educational Society of the Colorado College

WES celebrates its 110th anniversary as CC marks its 125th. The Woman's Educational Society of the Colorado College has worked quietly within the college community for more than a century. Founded in 1889 by Mary Goodale Montgomery Slocum, wife of the college's third president, WES provides assistance to students of the college, particularly women, and undertakes projects that benefit CC. During its first century, WES helped more than 1,000 students by providing financial aid.

The long list of WES-funded, on-campus projects includes the construction of Montgomery Hall, the first women's residence that was dedicated in 1891. Other projects include an infirmary, furnishings for the Special Collections study room in Tutt Library, and congregational lighting in Shove Chapel. WES also purchased a stove for Shove Chapel, enabling Colorado College students to operate a community soup kitchen. To celebrate its centennial, WES endowed the Southwest Studies lectureship, "Women in the West."

In bridging the centuries, WES remains true to its primary commitment -- providing scholarships and mentoring. Five new scholarship recipients are selected annually. Because those who remain in good academic standing receive assistance and book allowances throughout their undergraduate career, WES supports 20 women scholars each year.

The board of managers at WES has established a new scholarship to commemorate the college's 125th anniversary and the 110th anniversary of WES. "The anniversary scholarship" will be awarded to a woman who is transferring to Colorado College from a junior or community college. Alternatively, the scholarship could be awarded to a woman returning to college to complete her undergraduate education after an absence to raise a family or to work.

WES is undertaking its first major fund-raising drive in more than 50 years to finance this new scholarship. Endowment will require $75,000 and, thus far, the WES board of managers has made contributions and pledges totaling more than $20,000. WES will now appeal to its membership, the college community, and the Colorado Springs community.

Additional information on contributing to the anniversary scholarship can be obtained by contacting WES at (719) 389-6684 or e-mail to jenshoup@aol.com.

The math department presented "Alice in PalmerLand" this fall to an appreciative crowd at Palmer Hall. Charles Dodgson (aka Lewis Carroll) wrote the Alice stories, but was also a well-known logician at Oxford University. Cast members include Werner Heim (professor emeritus of biology as Mein Herr), Ruth Barton (English professor as the White Queen), Robin Wilson (visiting math professor as Lewis Carroll), Gowri Meda (visiting assistant math professor as the logician,), John Fauvel (visiting Fulbright scholar from the Open University as the Mad Hatter), President Kathryn Mohrman (Queen Victoria), Ted Lindeman (chemistry professor as the senior censor), Amy Wielkoszewski '99 (a Barnes scholar as Alice), Joy Wilson (Robin's wife as Mrs. Liddell), Carole Mills (math department secretary as the Red Queen), Jane McDougall (visiting assistant math professor as Lady Muriel), and Marlow Anderson (math professor as the Mock Turtle).

Visiting Music Professor Patricia Sandler, pictured clapping, shows some students at Packard Hall how to play the mbira. One of the most popular traditional instruments in Zimbabwe, the mbira is an ancient African instrument consisting of reed or metal keys mounted over a bridge on a hardwood soundboard. Sandler, who taught African music and performed during the World of Friends campus luncheon, says musicians often place the instrument into a gourd or can to resonate the sound. A variety of "buzzers" -- bottle caps, shells or rattles -- can be attached as well.

Knocked out in the first round, the women’s lacrosse team earned its first-ever NCAA playoff bid as the 1999 season approached completion. Coach Susan Stuart’s Tigers had a 21-5-1 overall record, including a 6-5 mark against varsity competition. Senior attacker Mary Everett was the program’s all-time points leader with 250 (179g, 71a) for her career.

First-year head coach Greg Ryan of the women’s soccer team has received signed letters of intent from three recruits, who accepted scholarship offers to attend and play at CC starting next fall. They are goalkeeper Kristin Masunaga of Honolulu, Hawaii; defender Cortney Kitchen of Holden, Mass.; and forward Rebecca Carroll of Agoura, Calif.

Junior Damon Turney and sophomore Amy West highlighted a host of outstanding performances at the Dick Young Classic Track & Field Meet in Grinnell, Iowa, on April 17. Turney, who had never pole vaulted higher than 14-8, cleared 15 feet to win that event and help the CC men to a fifth-place team finish, their highest ever at Grinnell. West, who normally runs relays and the 400 intermediate hurdles, came out of nowhere to win the 100 meters in 13.59 seconds.

Colorado College’s No. 1 tennis doubles team of junior David Creswell (Lincoln, Neb.) and senior Matt Taylor (Ramsey, Minn.) qualified for the Western Regional Tennis Tournament in Ojai, Calif., April 22-25, after posting a 9-4 record this season. Creswell was also slated to compete in the singles competition at regionals.

Seniors Brian Swanson and Scott Swanson of the hockey team were among 12 players in the nation to earn First-Team All-America recognition after leading Colorado College to the NCAA quarterfinals. Brian, a center who was voted CC’s Most Valuable Player for the third consecutive season, finished his career in second place on the program’s all-time points list with 232. Scott wound up fourth all-time among Tiger defensemen with 159.

Posters of The Colorado College inspired by Saul Steinberg's New Yorker magazine cover are now on sale.

*18 x 22.5 inches
*Heavy poster stock

Order at $10/print (includes postage and handling)

Colorado College
College Relations - Poster
14 E. Cache la Poudre Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80903

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All proceeds benefit The Campaign for Colorado College