What is new at Unity College?  There are a lot of new exciting and yet bittersweet changes going on.  First off with the bittersweet news, our President Mitch Thomashow has completed his contract time here at Unity.  We are thankful for his time here and his great job in moving the college forward.  I wish best of luck to him, his wife Cindy, and their dog Paco.

Exciting news is that Unity College is currently working on building a passive house for a new resident’s hall.  Professor Doug Fox and a group of students are helping design this new residence hall.  Currently, the designing of this net zero residence hall is all happening in a class that Doug is teaching.  This house will not use up engery but, it will produce energy.  Go Unity!!   

More exciting news at least for the seniors, we are graduating.  The registrar’s office has sent an email to submit your application for degree no later than February 15, 2011.  Seniors don’t forget to do that.  Our commencement ceremony will take place Saturday May 7th 2011.  It is exciting.  Some of my friends have jobs.  Other’s are going to law school or graduate school.  It has been a great adventure here at Unity.

     I just want to say thank you for those of you who have taken the time to read this blog and also answer an email that I received for those of you wondering the same questions.  The email was from an adult who already has a bachelor’s degree but is considering going back to school. 

     At Unity we see a wide variety of students, traditional and non traditional.  We have students that are as young as 17 and 18 years old to our older crowd that have life experience under their belt.  There is no age restriction for an education and Unity for sure does not have an age limit.

     Another question was what are the surrounding areas near Unity?  I personally would say lots of woods; however that would not suffice as an answer.  Unity is a very small town in central Maine that is approximately two hours from Portland.  It is equally a half an hour from Waterville and Belfast.  Bangor, which is like a mini city is 45 minutes north from us.

     The last question was regarding employment on campus also known as work-study.   There are many positions for work-study.  However, not everyone gets work-study.  In order to get work-study you have to qualify.  How do you know if you qualify?  Well, you have to talk to Financial Aid and they can let you know what steps to take.

               For those wondering what NOVA is, it is a 4 to 5 day wilderness experience.  It is part of new student orientation.  What happens in NOVA?  Well, you are out with 10 other incoming students on a trip that you have chosen.  You have two NOVA leaders per trip who are trained students that serve as guides and are trained to handle pretty much any situation in the wild.  Pretty awesome, huh?  Well this is an opportunity where current Unity students get to show their leadership and serve future students transition to the college life here at Unity. 

               There are several different trips that are available from kayaking to canoeing to backpacking.  So whatever the trip may be you bond with a couple of other people, live the same experience, cook and eat the same food, and even smell a little funny too.  It is all ok though because, at the end of the day you are all in it together and you are having fun.

               I remember my NOVA experience.   I loved it.  I went on the 100 mile wilderness on the Appalachian Trail.  I met people from different states and also a student from Germany.  We had to evacuate someone because they had a spider bite that was not looking to good.  We hiked 8 to 9 miles a day.  We even went on a solo hike which was nice.  I thought my NOVA leaders were cool.  They knew so much about different plants that were edible and wild.  I saw my first moose and a huge leech.  It was a great experience.  It was a neat way of meeting my fellow classmates.

So finally the search committee has made a decision on the new Student Activities Director/ Assistant to Residence Life. Her name is Rebecca. Currently she is getting the ropes on what goes on for Student Life. Hey Student Activities work-study you guys are all going to have a blast this year working with her. She has so many ideas already to make this year successful.

A couple of week’s back we had employee appreciation day. The faculty, staff, and summer work-study worked half a day and then we all headed down to the Field of Dreams, a Unity College owned recreation facility. There, we had a BBQ which was catered by a local caterer, Rita’s Catering, which did a phenomenal job providing burgers, grilled veggies, salads and of course a delicious fruit salad. The best part of that I must say was the softball game which were oldies vs. youngish. President Mitch aka Mitch was pitcher and even in the field where competition should rein the main thing that was shown was unity.

My normal route for tours has slightly changed because; we currently are hosting Maine Arts Camp. Unity College welcomes you and hope that you guys enjoy using our facilities. It seems like they are having so much fun. Based on what I have briefly seen from passing through with my tours is that they have fashion classes, dance classes, art classes, theatre classes, and singing classes. I would have loved to go to this camp because they sure have a variety of activities I like.

Last week was a very busy week for me giving tours. We had our annual Lobster Bake, where high school counselors and our faculty get invited to attend. I met some awesome counselors who were very friendly and gave them a tour as well. So Unity isn’t as quiet as I was expecting.

 I am really excited for school to start and meet the new incoming students and hear of the wonderful adventures that some of my classmates have had.

     At this point you do not understand why I say this is my favorite tour that I have given.  Well, let’s just say that these visitors were able to fully understand what type of community Unity really is.  As we were getting ready to enter Westview, a freshman resident hall, President Mitch came walking along heading to his house, the Unity house.  He stopped by and I introduce him to the mother and daughter and he pretty much took up the rest of the tour.  We were invited to go down to his house and chat for a while.

     The mother had very good questions for Mitch.  She asked about his journey to Unity.  We learned how he ended up in Unity and pretty much his biography.  He mentioned how he and I attended the same high school in New York, but of course years apart.  He also explained that Unity students really make an impact in their surrounding here in Unity and beyond.  He mentioned, as an example, one of our graduate’s who wasn’t the best student in High School but found his niche here at Unity College.  That Unity alum is now in grad school and is very successful.  Mitch also talked about the Unity House, which is LEED certified and how it gives back to the grid .  This link is for more information if you are interested in learning about the Unity House(http://livinggreeninunityhouse.blogspot.com/).

     During each of my tours I try to emphasize what our community is really like.  As much as I try to explain it, people do not get a sense of how it really is until we come across the President during the tour.  Not everyone gets that opportunity but the ones who do really enjoy meeting Mitch.

     Unity really is unique.  How many students can say ‘I have been to the College President’s house’ or ‘I played a game of basketball with the President of the College.’  Even better ‘I have had a class that the President of the College teaches.’  This is Unity, a true community. 

     The rest of the tour of course was rushed and all I kept hearing from the family was WOW.  The daughter said ‘that was so cool.’  This family really enjoyed being able to get to know President Mitch just like Unity faculty/staff and students know him.

     So what has been going on at Unity?  The lucky students that were in Costa Rica are back.  Professor Emma Creaser took her Marine Ecology class to study the biodiversity at the Drake Bay or like they would call it in Costa Rica, la bahia Drake.  They encountered many obstacles, like running out of OREO’s.  For those of you who have never left the country, that is a big deal. 

     They attended la Universidad de Costa Rica, where a professor there talked about the biodiversity and environmental history of Costa Rica.  They went out and identified lots of organism out there near the beach and jungle.  They also had the chance to experience yummy Spanish food.  We do hands on work all year, then more hands on work and to top that off in a beautiful country. I must say Unity College is a one of a kind school. 

      Last week I was able to meet the candidates that have applied to work as the Director of Student Activities/Assistant to the Director of Residence Life.  The hiring committee has a tough choice to make.  They were all highly qualified for that position and were great candidates.  This is another aspect of Unity College that I enjoy.  Students are encouraged to be active participants, either in a committee or meeting potential faculty and staff.

      Student Activities is where all student events are planned, designed, and coordinated.  Mike D. was our Student Activities Director; he was responsible for all the bands, coffee houses, game nights, and not to forget my favorite Karaoke.  He did a great job!  He felt it was time to give someone else a chance for some new idea’s.  Mike is currently opening a music store.  We wish him the best of luck and he will be missed dearly.

     More Unity College students are starting internships.  Rory just started his internship in Ohio at a zoo.  I quote him as he says on Facebook that it is ’Way different than his last internship.  Excitement is building.’ 

     Well, what about our recent graduates?  Melinda an aquaculture and fisheries graduate is working for the Department of Marine Resources in Hallowell, Maine.  While some have started working some are taking a break to do other things, like Shorty and Jen.  Shorty and Jen who also graduated this year are starting to hike the Appalachian Trail (AT).  This trail extends through Maine down to Georgia and approximately takes six months to hike.

Keep emailing me at rayala07@unity.edu.  I would love to hear about your experiences!

Safe travels, 

Rosie

     So, many people are curious as to what the campus is like during the summer.  Well it is pretty quiet.  However, it is not quite as quiet or eventless so far.  There is a May session of Wilderness First Responder (WFR) that is taking place on campus through SOLO, which is a school that is local to New England, that teaches wilderness medicine.  I have also  seen a couple of fellow class mates around campus.  They are either working in the garden, in financial aid, or preparing the resident halls for Maine Arts Camp that will take place here in our own home, Unity.  There are also a lot of renovations taking place.  It is somewhat noisy you can say.

     I am really excited about this summer so far.  I am, and will be working in Admissions.  I am really excited about meeting, and giving tours to our incoming class, fall 2010, and giving tours to our summer visitors.  I must say, that I am really enjoying myself with labeling and preparing brochures that will be mailed to prospective students.  So, if you receive a brochure from Unity College, you can say ‘Rosie sent this to me.’  My OCD kicks in especially when I am alphabetizing papers or filing.  This summer I have planned to stay busy and not bore myself.  The folks in Admissions are helping me fulfill my goal.

     I hope everyone has a great summer. Come and visit, and I will gladly take you on a tour.  I know that a couple of my classmates are doing internships, others are working, and some are traveling.  My good pal Haden is currently in Alaska.  He is going to be trapping, counting, and taking scale samples of baby salmon.  I heard through the grapevine, aka Facebook, that Olivia has a summer internship at the American Bear Association in Orr, Minnesota.  Amanda is doing an internship at Maine Audubon and US Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.  Bill himself informed me that his internship is at the Deering Police Department in New Hampshire.  There he will actually go out and do police field work.  Pretty cool!  These are just a handful of examples of internship opportunities, that us Unity College students get to do.

  I hope to hear from you all and please send emails and pictures at Rayala07@unity.edu

Pleasant travels to all,    
Rosita aka Rosie