GirlQuest program named in guidebook for achieving girls

One of Wells' innovative summer programs for girls has been profiled in The Girl Pages: A Handbook of the Best Resources for Strong, Confident, Creative Girls by Charlotte Milholland. Released in February 1999 by Hyperion, the book contains a foreword by famed entrepreneur Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop.

This guide connects girls and their parents to what the author has identified, after extensive research, as the nation's best programs for developing leadership and life skills. Wells' Leadership Adventure For Girls (now known as GirlQuest) is profiled. The program teaches girls through outdoor activities such as ecology hikes, orienteering, canoeing, and ropes courses.

GirlQuest also includes writing workshops and discussions with guest speakers on topics such as how to care for the environment and preparing for college. "The emphasis is on teamwork, leadership skills, and building self-confidence," reports the guide.

Wells' Director of Conferences and Leadership Programs Terry Martinez said, "To have been chosen for such a select group from among all the programs for girls across the nation is certainly an honor, especially since the author conducted such exhaustive research. This recognition is an indication that we are doing something unique to support and encourage girls."

March, 1999

Top students from 18 states visit campus for Henry Wells Weekend

A surprise snowstorm only intensified the friendly atmosphere at Wells for the 74 prospective students who have been named Henry Wells Scholars of the Class of 2003. They visited campus as honored guests Saturday, March 7 and Sunday, March 8.

The prospective students traveled to Wells from 18 states: Alabama, California, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

"This geographic diversity reflects our stature as a national liberal arts college. Wells is also known for the lifelong connections that form between graduates and the institution," said President Lisa Marsh Ryerson in her address to the students.

Changes in the prestigious Henry Wells Scholars program this year have strengthened connections between the curriculum and real world experience. Students are now guaranteed a hands-on learning experience during their freshman year at Wells.

They will also each receive $3,000 to fund academically oriented and career-related projects during their upper-class years. The program's new focus allows more students to gain a high-quality liberal arts education accompanied by experiential learning - a winning combination, according to employers of college graduates.

During the weekend, current students, alumnae, faculty, and the administration joined the scholars and their families in activities that explored how Wells' unique experiential programs can lead to exciting careers and graduate study.

March, 1999

Wells names 1999 Alumnae Award recipient

In 1999, the 125^th anniversary year of the Wells College Alumnae Association, Carolyn Bunn Wood, Class of 1952, has been named the recipient of the college’s annual Alumnae Award. She is being honored for her service to the college and to her community.

A resident of New Jersey, Ms. Wood has been involved with every major fundraising effort at Wells since her graduation. As a result, she has helped ensure quality education in the liberal arts for several generations of students. She is currently one of the co-chairs of the $50 million Campaign for Wells College which has raised over $44 million to date.

In 1967, only 15 years after graduation, she was invited to join the Wells College Board of Trustees. In addition to her leadership role on the board, she has helped advance Wells’ recruitment effort and hosted students, faculty, and alumnae. She has held many positions in the New Jersey Wells Club, including president.

Her service activities are by no means limited to Wells. Ms. Wood has been president of New Eyes for the Needy, Inc., whose main purpose is to help provide better vision for the poor in each of the 50 states and in 25 countries.

As a member of the board of the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum and Bird Sanctuary in Short Hills, New Jersey, she was involved with extensive renovation and expansion projects.

From 1979 to 1985, she served as trustee of the Pingry School, an independent primary and secondary country day school in Elizabeth, New Jersey. During her tenure, she oversaw the planning and creation of a new middle and upper school campus.

Carolyn Bunn Wood will be honored at a campus ceremony on Saturday, May 29, 1999 at 10:30 a.m. in Macmillan Hall’s Phipps Auditorium; the event will be attended by alumnae from across the nation.

The Alumnae Award was established in 1968 by the Wells College Alumnae Association in honor of the Centennial of the college. The award honors those alumnae who have given outstanding service to their alma mater, either directly or by service and accomplishment in a field of endeavor that reflects distinction on Wells College.

February, 1999

Wells president speaks in Maryland about the Seneca Falls experience

President Lisa Marsh Ryerson was a featured speaker in Hood College’s program "Woman’s Rights = Human Rights: 150 Years After Seneca Falls" held on Tuesday, February 2, in Frederick, Maryland.

In her presentation, "Seneca Falls Revisited: Reflections on the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention," President Ryerson discussed the history of the women’s rights movement in Seneca Falls, her experiences as a participant in Celebrate ‘98 activities, and the important issues facing women in the 21^st century.

"When we visit Seneca Falls, with its streets shaded by ancient trees and stunning examples of 19^th-century architecture, we are reminded how far women have come in a very short time in gaining political freedom, influence, and power," she told the audience. "We can and should meditate on the fact that much work remains to be done. I encourage everyone to visit Seneca Falls. It is a way to become connected with a great historical continuum of visionary women."

By reviewing work done by many women’s groups during Celebrate ‘98, she identified a number of key issues that she urged the audience to explore and, where appropriate, take action.

The issues she discussed included the attainment of gender equity in our education system, the increasing feminization of poverty on a global level, the portrayal of violence against women in the media, the need for more women in leadership positions, and equal pay for equal work.

February, 1999

Experiential learning - a vital link to careers and graduate school

Involvement in experiential learning activities - internships, research, and off-campus study - provides a distinct advantage for college students today when they seek employment or entrance into graduate and professional school.

The Wells Internship Program enables students to earn academic credit while gaining practical experience in a wide variety of work settings over January break or in the summer months.

During the January 1999 intersession, more than 30% of Wells students held internships in 18 different states and three foreign countries. The students made selections from over 1,000 internships available through the college’s Career Development Services.

Director of Career Development Services Nancy B. Karpinski said, "Students typically complete two or three internships during their four years at Wells. It is an excellent way for them to start a job search, gain experience, and make contacts which are absolutely essential in the current job market."

A number of students selected sites in New York City and worked at HarperCollins Publishers; Christie’s, an international auction house; Newsweek magazine; the Frick Art Reference Library; the United Nations; and the Albert Einstein Medical Center.

Other students worked at the Capital Group in Los Angeles, California; the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports in Reston, Virginia; and U.S. Senator Arlen Specter’s office in Washington D.C.

Wells and nearby Cornell University have an active cross-registration program, so many Wells students arrange internships at Cornell - students interned in agricultural and biological engineering, the ornithology laboratory, the Johnson Museum of Art, and the music library.

Internships outside the U.S. are growing in popularity, and this year Wells students traveled to the Dominican Republic, China, and Kenya to gain cross-cultural as well as work experience.

Since 1986, Wells’ Corporate Affiliates Program - a selective partnership between Wells and high-profile companies - has also prepared students for rewarding careers through internships in leading corporate settings. This year The Bank of New York, American International Group in New York City, Wells Fargo Bank Historical Services in San Francisco, and Boston’s Fidelity Investments hosted Wells students.

Wells’ redesigned Henry Wells Scholars Program will now provide support for experiential learning. Students who are selected annually as Henry Wells Scholars are guaranteed a hands-on learning experience during the January intersession of their freshman year. They will receive $3,000 to fund internships, research done in collaboration with faculty, or study abroad, among other options, during the upper-class years.

February, 1999
 

Other Articles in Wells College News:

September, 2002	September, 2000. - May.,2001	May,1998	May - June,1997
August, 2002	September, 1999 - August, 2000	April,1998	March - April,1997
September, 2001. - May.,2002	August,1999	March,1998	February,1997
	May,1999	February,1998	November - December,1996
	April,1999	January,1998	October,1996
	February -March, 1999	December,1997	September,1996
	January,1999	November,1997	June - Aug.,1996
	Fall,1998	October,1997	May,1996
	August,1998	September,1997	April,1996
	June -July, 1998	July - August, 1997	February - March, 1996