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Six chosen as McNair scholars--Sophomores Crystal Alberts, Madelyn Baez, Jenny Cui, Nguyet Huynh, Maureen Khoo, and Damaris Rivera have been selected as summer 1997 Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program Scholars. The awards are made on the basis of students' strong proposals for research projects, solid academic records, exceptional leadership qualities, and active participation in cocurricular activities. McNair scholars participate in a two-year program of research training and experience designed to enhance their preparation for and increase their chance of success in pursuit of doctoral degrees.

Are you yearnin' for German?--German language skills will take center stage at the twentieth annual German Theater Festival and Competition on May 1. April Stroud '99, Raluca Cernahoschi '99, and Kim Szafranski-Taylor '97 will serve as stage managers for twenty-minute presentations made by younger German language students. Performers will present, in German, both original works and selections by classic writers in German such as Goethe and Brecht. Donna Van Handle, lecturer in German studies, organized the event this year.

Glint of gold--Vista, the quarterly publication produced by the Office of Communications and sent to alumnae, prospective students, and other friends of the College, has won two national awards for publication excellence. It was awarded a gold medal in the "external audience tabloid improvement" category, and received a bronze medal in the general external audience tabloid category in the annual contest run by CASE, the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education. Vista is edited by periodicals editor Emily Harrison Weir, and design services director Tim Toffoli is the publication's designer.

Another CASE competition gold medal went to the communications office for the comprehensive public relations and media campaign for the 200th anniversary of Mary Lyon's birth, which included coordination of numerous events, promotion of a World Wide Web site to educate students about Mary Lyon's life and times, and placement of articles in the media. The news wing of the communications office, which was largely responsible for the campaign, includes news services director Kevin McCaffrey, media relations associate Sarah McClurg, and administrative assistant Mary Fanelli. The Mary Lyon Web site was created collaboratively by electronic media manager Dan Wilga, Tim Toffoli, multimedia and operations director Rick Flashman, freelance photographer Jim Gipe, and freelance writer Lu Stone; the project was coordinated by McCaffrey.

Have a book look--Need a break from your huge "to read" pile of textbooks? Then wander over to the library's Miles-Smith seventh floor to see the exhibit of books read by MHC students during the College's early years. The eleven representative books in the show, which was organized by Mellanye Lackey '98, have a generally religious bent. Even a book featuring an illustration of a human heart shown in crosssection is titled not "anatomy" or "human biology," but Natural Theology. It is accompanied by a general ecclesiastical history, books on botany and geometry, an English grammar, Alexander Pope's essay on man, Oliver Goldsmith's Grecian history, and several works on theology. A look at these tomes--on display through June 1--may make your week's reading seem a lot more palatable.

A massive "preview"--Admission office organizers and student hosts were expecting around 500 admitted students and parents to visit the campus during the April 13-15 "Preview" program. But 622 showed up, making this the largest Preview ever. Numbers are significant, because past experience has shown that about 70 percent of admitted students who attend Preview choose to enroll at Mount Holyoke.

Undergraduate psychology research conference hits the half-century mark--Student researchers from more than fifty colleges and universities in the Northeast have been invited to present their work at the fiftieth annual Undergraduate Psychology Research Conference, to be held here on April 26. (See calendar section for details.) This year's conference is dedicated to the memory of Professor Ellen Reese, who taught for more than fifty years in the MHC psychology department.

The gathering is the oldest of its kind, according to organizer Kristen Pepe, psychology lab director and instructor. Organized by the local chapter of the national psychology honor society Psi Chi, the MHC conference has an impressive pedigree. It began with the bold action of Barbara Cellana Bernard '48, who strode into world-famous behaviorist B. F. Skinner's office at Harvard and asked him to speak at Mount Holyoke. He accepted, and the enthusiasm Bernard saw at that event prompted her to organize the first intercollegiate psychology conference in 1948. Bernard has been asked to speak at this year's conference, and the keynote address will be given by Rachel Conrad of Hampshire College.

One good turn deserves another--For National Student Employment Week, many MHC supervisors entered names of student workers who'd been especially helpful in a raffle sponsored by the human resources department. Eighty-eight students were nominated, and the randomly selected winners (listed with their work site and prize) are: Jessica Van Brunt (admission office, movie passes at Tower Theaters), Anna Marie Eaton (office services, movie passes at Tower Theaters), Julie Young (buildings and grounds, set of mugs from the Alumnae Association), Jennifer Hanrahan (biology department, cookbook from the Alumnae Association), Anand Landrum (technical support and repair, a plant from the botanic gardens), Lazarina Todorova (custodial services, a gift certificate from Blanchard Cafe), and Angella Yap (health education, a T-shirt from MHC bookstore).

Alum wins fellowship in Israel--Beth Ellen Fishman '85 has been awarded a Dorot Fellowship in Israel. The fellowships are intended to help build "a knowledgeable and impassioned lay leadership for the Diaspora Jewish community." The award funds Hebrew language study, other academic work, and an internship in Israel.

New SGA leaders elected--Congratulations to the newly elected Student Government Association leaders: Avery Ouellette '98 (president), Damaris Rivera '99 (vice president), Lisa Yasufuku '98 (secretary), Margaret Baker '99 (treasurer), Amy Schuppert '98 (public relations officer), Jesse Young '00 (appointing committee), and Katherine Gordon '99 (council on student affairs).

What's new with you?--Send news for "New & Notable" to Emily Weir, Office of Communications, or email eweir@mtholyoke.edu.