Hamilton, who was a double major in music and English at Holy Cross, spent last summer in New York City taking acting courses at the Stella Adler Studio of Acting Summer Conservatory. She made the decision to pursue musicology in September, and since then has been visiting Holy Cross frequently to meet with professors and conduct research in the music library. In addition, she took an Introduction to Musicology tutorial at Holy Cross with Jessica Waldoff, associate professor of music.

During her year at Southampton, she will apply for Ph.D. programs in musicology, with plans to become a music history professor.

At Holy Cross, Hamilton was the Brooks Music Scholar, a four-year, full tuition scholarship, in which she spent a lot of time playing cello. She was in the Holy Cross Chamber Orchestra and played in many string quartets, trios, quintets, and duos. She took cello lessons with Jan Müller-Szeraws and voice lessons with Beth Keusch, both of whom are lecturers in the music department.

Hamilton’s involvement in the arts wasn’t limited to music. She was involved in the theatre department, taking acting and directing classes and acting in three Alternate College Theatre plays (“Urinetown,” “Cabaret,” and “Baby With the Bathwater), and one theatre department show (“Phoolan Devi: The Bandit Queen”).

In addition, she participated in Student Programs for Urban Development, the College’s umbrella service organization, and the Spring Break Immersion Program. She studied abroad at the University of Oxford, where she sang in the a cappella group, The Oxford Belles.

Each year approximately 1,000 college students are awarded grants through the Fulbright Program, the U.S. government’s flagship program in international educational exchange. Fulbright grants are made to U.S. citizens and nationals of other countries for a variety of educational activities, primarily university lecturing, advanced research, graduate study and teaching in elementary and secondary schools. Since the program’s inception in 1946, more than 300,000 participants — chosen for their leadership potential — have had the opportunity to observe each other’s political, economic and cultural institutions.

Related Information:

• Points of Distinction

Holy Cross won the first contest, 9-6, and claimed the victory in game two, 3-0. Sophomore pitcher Donny Murray, of Walpole, Mass., tossed 7.1 scoreless innings in the second game, picking up his seventh win of the season.

Holy Cross improves to 28-23 overall, while the Bison conclude their season at 16-33. The No. 1 seeded Crusaders are set to take on No. 3 Army next weekend in the Patriot League Tournament championship series at Fitton Field. The Black Knights won both of their games versus third-seeded Navy on Saturday afternoon.

Holy Cross will host the Patriot League Championship Series on Sunday, May 19 and Monday, May 20 (if necessary).  It is a best two-of-three series with games one and two taking place on Sunday beginning at 1 pm.

Read the entire story on GoHolyCross.com

NAME Christine Freije

HOMETOWN Worcester, Mass.

STUDIES Theatre major in the College Honors Program

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM President of the Alternate College Theatre (ACT); director of ACT’s Musical “Spring Awakening;” Spring Break Immersion Program; international immersion trip to El Salvador; Summer Research Program; Escape retreat leader; Manresa retreat leader; resident assistant in Clark Hall and Wheeler Hall; senior interviewer; tour guide; summer study abroad program in London; cantor at campus liturgies; actor in theatre department and ACT productions

UP NEXT Working as an assistant director for the Berkshire Theatre Group’s production of “The Lion in Winter” this summer.

HOMETOWN Philadelphia

STUDIES History major with Asian studies concentration in the College Honors Program

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Founder and cochair, Holy Cross Political Union; chancellor, Knights of Columbus; copy editor, The Fenwick Review; member of Student Advisory Committee, Center for Interdisciplinary and Special Studies.

UP NEXT Traveling to Sri Lanka next academic year on a Fulbright research grant to study the role of education on post-war reconciliation.

HOMETOWN Collinsville, Conn.

STUDIES Mathematics major with peace and conflict studies concentration

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Naval science (NROTC); study abroad; Student Programs for Urban Development; liturgical ministry

UP NEXT Moving to Honolulu to begin her first tour as a naval officer on board the USS Halsey.

HOMETOWN Concord, N.H.

STUDIES Political science and Catholic studies double major in the College Honors Program

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Admissions Office senior interviewer; Student Government Association; head Eucharistic minister; executive editor of The Fenwick Review; cochair of political science Student Advisory Committee

UP NEXT Moving to Washington, D.C., to work in public policy, with plans to pursue a Ph.D. after a couple of years.

HOMETOWN Fairport, N.Y.

STUDIES Economics major, art history minor

BEYOND THE CLASSROOM Men’s varsity ice hockey; Alpha Sigma Nu; Power Play Points for Pink; Crusaders for Kids; student analyst for Holy Cross Endowment Fund

UP NEXT Playing professional hockey and eventually pursuing a career in the financial services industry.

Midnight Breakfast

Recognizing that students stay up late to study during finals period, administrators at the College of the Holy Cross— including President Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., —volunteer each semester to serve the scholars breakfast late into the night.

Don’t miss out on the late night fun! The menu includes popular breakfast items, such as scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage links, assorted bagels, Belgian waffles and topping bar, assorted juices and nightly specials.

The events kick off Wednesday, May 8. The following members of the College community have volunteered:

Wednesday, May 8, Hogan Crossroads 11 p.m. – 1 a.m.

William Bellerose, associate athletic director/business manager
Gary Carskaddan, director of development
Scott Sandstrom, associate professor of economics/prelaw advisor

Thursday, May 9 Hogan Crossroads 11 p.m. – 1 a.m.

John Anderson, dean, class 2015
Nancy Baldiga, dean, class of 2013
Margaret Freige, associate dean
Ronald Jarret, dean, class of 2017
Esther Levine, dean, class of 2014

Sunday, May 12, Kimball Hall 8:30 p.m. – 11:30 p.m.

Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., president
Jacqueline Peterson, vice president for student affairs and dean of students
Frank Vellaccio, senior vice president
Rev. John Savard, S.J., rector
Rev. James Hayes, S.J., associate chaplain
Rev. Gregory Lynch, S.J., assistant chaplain
Chris Ryan, grants associate

Monday, May 13, Hogan Crossroads 11 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Jesse Anderson, director of audio-visual services, ITS
Brian Bergeron, software developer, ITS
Everett Carr, senior software developer, ITS
Denise Davies, senior business analyst, ITS
Andre Mailhot, software administrator, ITS

Tuesday, May 14, Hogan Crossroads 11 p.m. – 1 a.m.

Edwin Coolbaugh, assistant dean/director of residence life and housing
Neal Lipsitz, associate dean for student development
Brian Regan, community development coordinator, Lehy
Derek Zuckerman, associate dean for student life

Year after year, research shows that liberal arts majors are not only very employable — and even preferred by many employers because of their well-rounded education and critical thinking skills — but  graduates holding liberal arts degrees are also increasingly paid comparatively well.

Graduates of the College of the Holy Cross particularly fare well, both in terms of the level of their starting pay and in the variety of job opportunities available to them.

Consider research conducted recently by the Career Planning Center of Holy Cross, together with independent research conducted by the National Association of Colleges & Employers (NACE):

Starting pay above average
For 2012 graduates of the College of the Holy Cross, based on a response rate of 83 percent of the class, the average starting salary was $43,650. That’s higher than the average starting salary that NACE reported for liberal arts graduates nationally ($43,100). Holy Cross’ average starting pay is also above NACE’s findings for Math & Sciences ($42,471) and Humanities & Social Sciences ($36,988) graduates nationally.

Mid-career pay even more impressive
Holy Cross graduates fare even better over time. In a study of mid salaries of bachelor degree graduates, PayScale.com ranked Holy Cross No. 7 among all liberal arts schools, and No. 21 among all types of schools nationally. The mid-career median salary for Holy Cross graduates was $107,000.

Industrious grads
The industries in which recent Holy Cross graduates are employed are also wide and varied. Financial services, education and health care are far and away the top Holy Cross employers, followed by communications/media, government/law, accounting/professional services and technology. But 15 other industries also employ significant numbers of Holy Cross grads, spanning architecture to scientific fields.

Grad school cool, too
Graduate school is another path commonly pursued by Holy Cross graduates. Fifteen percent of the Class of 2012 is now pursuing their masters, law degrees or Ph.D.s. Notably, Holy Cross consistently has one of the highest acceptance rates of its graduates to medical/dental schools and law schools — 82 percent and 85 percent, respectively.

Others above all else
Of course, average starting pay and graduate school acceptance rates are only a few indicators of successful college outcomes. A substantial number of Holy Cross grads find fulfillment in serving others — not coincidentally a core value of Jesuit education. Nearly 7 percent of the Class of 2012, or 47 students, are now providing full-time service work, predominantly for the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and AmeriCorps.  Which raises another point of distinction: Holy Cross consistently leads the nation in the number of its graduates entering the Jesuit Volunteer Corps.

College of the content
Whether entering the for-profit, non-profit or public service sectors, Holy Cross graduates tend to be happy. Just ask The Alumni Factor. In its recent national study, Holy Cross ranked No. 2 among all liberal arts schools and No. 5 among all types of schools based on its graduates’ career success, financial success, and overall happiness. “Holy Cross excels at developing graduates who are highly successful, happy and loyal,” reports The Alumni Factor. The College’s “powerful combination of graduate success, happiness, and broad development puts Holy Cross among the country’s elite schools.”

• Holy Cross Report on the Class of 2012 (PDF)

Related Information:

• National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) Annual Salary Survey, Class of 2012

• Points of Distinction

Sanctae Crucis

Five graduates of the College of the Holy Cross have received the Sanctae Crucis Award, the highest non-degree recognition bestowed by the College on an alumnus or alumna. The 16th annual presentation of the awards took place at the College on Friday, May 3.

This year’s recipients are:

Richard F. Connolly, Jr. ’61, philanthropist; financial advisor at Morgan Stanley; considered one of nation’s most successful stockbrokers

Recognized in financial circles as one of the nation’s most successful stockbrokers and currently overseeing an estimated $3.7 billion in assets through Morgan Stanley, Connolly has vast and varied involvement in educational and philanthropic causes—raising millions of dollars for scholarships, medical research, direct service, and operational costs.  He has served in leadership positions and chaired countless fundraising events ranging from the American Stroke Association to the New England Province of the Society of Jesus. His contributions on behalf of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Children’s Medical Research Foundation, Francis Ouimet Annual Golf Tournament, Catholic Charities, Inner City Catholic Schools, Massachusetts Affordable Housing Alliance, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, Children’s Hospital in Boston and scores of other educational, medical and social service organizations have made the world of difference to families and individuals, neighborhoods and cities.  He lives in Concord, Mass.

Kara C. Dallman ’87, retired naval commander; director of business development at United Through Reading

After her Holy Cross graduation, where she was the recipient of the O’Callahan Award and received the Distinguished Military Graduate honor upon her commissioning in the U.S. Navy, Dallman served as an officer and reservist until her retirement as a commander in 2008.  As an officer, she distinguished herself as a leader with every assignment—from undersea surveillance in Bermuda and Hawaii to teaching in San Diego to a posting at the NATO base in Naples, Italy.  She became involved in United Through Reading as a part-time USO liaison in 2006.  Now, as director of business development, she works to advance the mission of this unique nonprofit dedicated to uniting military families who are physically separated by sharing the experience of reading aloud together. Since its founding in 1989, more than 1.5 million children, parents and other caring adults have participated in the program. She leads a team working directly with the Department of Defense service branches, military medical facilities serving Wounded Warriors, program partners like the USO, and with volunteers to provide training and support.  She holds an M.B.A. from San Diego State University, and lives in Fairfax, Virginia.

Peter J. Deckers, M.D., ’62, surgeon, teacher, and former dean of the University of Connecticut’s School of Medicine

A surgeon and teacher, Dr. Deckers is dean emeritus of the University of Connecticut’s School of Medicine and former executive vice president of the university’s Health Center. Dr. Deckers facilitated a major transformation of the way the medical school taught by supporting the development of a new forward-thinking curriculum that won national recognition for the Health Center.  During his remarkable tenure, Dr. Deckers was adamant that the Health Center’s special strength came from its combined mission of research, education and clinical care—propelling the School of Dental Medicine to a No. 1 ranking; building new facilities, developing signature programs, and nearly doubling research expenditures.  He published more than 150 scholarly contributions and served as president of the New England Cancer and New England Surgical societies.  He is a Boston University School of Medicine graduate who completed his fellowship training in the surgical branch of the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health. He lives in Avon, Conn.

Mary Cahoon McGinnity ’77, executive director of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps

Currently the executive director of the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC), Cahoon McGinnity has spent her entire career in the service of faith and the promotion of justice.  After a post-Holy Cross stint with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps, she became a teacher and mental health clinician working with underserved populations. She continued her vocation by developing social service nonprofits, and providing leadership in furthering the social justice outreach of the Church in faith formation, Catholic social teaching, direct service and legislative advocacy.   She served the Archdiocese of Washington as executive director for service and justice, and served as Diocesan Director of both Catholic Relief Services and the Catholic Campaign for Human Development.  Now, as leader of IVC, she helps provide men and women over age 50 with opportunities to serve the needs of people who are poor, to work for a more just society, and to grow deeper in Christian faith by reflecting and praying in the Ignatian tradition.  She is a 2009 recipient of the Benemerenti Papal Award, and is cofounder of Rosaria Communities, Inc., and president of Prison Outreach Ministry Inc. She lives in Rockville, Md.

Katherine T. Volk ’00, advocate for the homeless, victims of violence and those dealing with trauma; managing director of t3 (think.teach.transform) and a senior associate at the Center for Social Innovation

A leader in her field, Volk trains thousands of people around the world each year on the best practices of assisting men and women who are homeless, children who are victims of violence, and anyone dealing with trauma.  She is managing director of t3 (think.teach.transform) and a senior associate at the Center for Social Innovation in Needham, Mass., where she leads a training institute committed to improving the knowledge and skills of people working in human services.   Prior to joining the Center, she spent seven years at the National Center on Family Homelessness, where she worked with communities in the post-Katrina Gulf, was lead author of a Homelessness and Traumatic Stress Training Package, and developed the PEACH Initiative, a physical and emotional awareness program for children living in transitional settings.  She was co-author of “Homelessness: Minimizing the Impact, Ending the Epidemic.”  In addition to writing and leading training programs, she is frequently called upon to lecture at and lead programs around the world.  She has a joint master’s degree from Tufts University in child development and urban policy.  She lives in Arlington, Mass.

ABOUT THE SANCTAE CRUCIS AWARDS: The Sanctae Crucis Awards were established in 1998 to recognize the distinguished achievements of alumni. “The primary goals of the Sanctae Crucis Awards are to honor outstanding alumni and in so doing recognize and celebrate the distinctive mission of Holy Cross,” says Frank Vellaccio, senior vice president, who presents the awards to recipients. The Holy Cross Mission Statement is the foundation for the awards program, which honors alumni who are leaders in business, professional or civic life, who live by the highest intellectual and ethical standards, and who are committed to the service of faith and promotion of justice.

Past recipients have included: Erin Boyd ’99, a nutritionist and humanitarian relief worker with USAID and UNICEF; Jay A. Clarke ’88, a curator at the Chicago Institute of Art and the Clark Art Institute; John Higgins ’76, Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist for the Chicago Sun-Times; Paul La Camera ’64, former general manager WBUR Radio in Boston; John A. Zaia, M.D. ’64, a pioneering researcher and physician, City of Hope National Medical Center; and Francis M. Carroll ’60, legendary figure skating coach.