Category Archives: Visiting Speakers

Patricia McCormick: Sadness with a Redemptive Quality

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2013_10_Chattman_Patricia McCormick_profile Patricia McCormick doesn’t pick the lightest fare to write about. Topics of her award-winning novels have included self-harm, teenage substance abuse, sexual slavery, and Cambodian genocide.

In an introduction to her fellow author on October 7, Madeleine Blais P’00, ’04 recounted how Ms. McCormick’s son once asked, “Where do you come up with your ideas for books, Mom? What do you do, Google the word sad?”

Yet, Ms. Blais said that of the people she knows, Ms. McCormick is one of the upbeat and optimistic—sharing a quality of all good writers: a deep and abiding belief that stories matter.

“She gave you a very good summary of the books,” agreed Ms. McCormick. “They are sad, but they all have a redemptive quality.”

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Posted in: Special Programs, Upper School, Visiting Speakers, Writers' Workshop Series

16th Annual Writers’ Workshop

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From October 3 to November 11, the Williston Northampton School will host the 16th Annual Writers’ Workshop Series. This year the series features award-winning authors Rebecca Makkai, Patricia McCormick, Elinor Lipman, and Mary Jo Salter. Lectures are free and open to the public and begin at 7:00 p.m. in the Dodge Room of the Reed Campus Center.

Rebecca Makkai, author of The Borrower, will visit campus on Thursday, October 3 to speak about her short stories and upcoming novel, The Hundred-Year House. Williston will welcome National Book Award finalist, Patricia McCormick author of Sold and Purple Heart on Monday, October 7. Elinor Lipman, parent of a Williston alumnus and author of such novels as The View from Penthouse B and Then She Found Me, will return to campus on Tuesday, November 5. Poet and former Mount Holyoke College professor Mary Jo Salter will conclude the series with her talk on Monday, November 11.

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Posted in: Academics, Events, Special Programs, Upper School, Visiting Speakers, Williston Northampton News, Writers' Workshop Series

Williston to Host Youth Genetics Conference

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The latest breakthroughs in the field will be the focus of the day on Friday, September 27 when Williston Northampton hosts a Genetic Update Conference (GUC) presented by Sam Rhine. The external event, which will take place in the Williston Theatre from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., is open to the public and tickets are available at www.samrhine.com.

Mr. Rhine received a B.A. and an M.A. from Indiana University, was a doctoral candidate at Indiana University School of Medicine, and held the Lalor Foundation Fellowship at Harvard Medical School. Mr. Rhine was awarded the Distinguished Hoosier Scholar Award, given to a native Hoosier for outstanding commitment to science education, by the Hoosier Association of Science Teachers (HASTI) in February 2007.

For the past 30 years, Mr. Rhine has spoken to high school students across the country and around the world about the field of genetics. His expertise is taking biology out of the textbook and applying it to real life. During one-day GUCs at schools like Williston, Mr. Rhine presents on, and holds discussions concerning, genetic advances, hot-topic research areas, and career opportunities.

Posted in: Events, Special Programs, Visiting Speakers, Williston Theatre

Reverse Selfies and Acts of Kindness at Williston’s 173rd Convocation

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As he stepped to the podium for Williston Northampton School’s 173rd Convocation, Head of School Robert W. Hill III pulled a cell phone from his pocket. With the school community looking forward to a year of new technology, it was only appropriate that Mr. Hill kick off the ceremonial beginning with what he described as a  “reverse selfie.”

Mr. Hill turned his phone toward his audience and took a quick panorama of the assembled students in their formal jackets and dresses. The students waved and smiled.

In thinking about the upcoming year, Mr. Hill said he was reminded of another modern wonder: the Panama Canal.  Mr. Hill said there was a metaphor in the human ingenuity, colossal machines, and transnational cooperation that each canal passage required.

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Posted in: Special Programs, Upper School, Visiting Speakers, Williston Northampton News

Final Photographers’ Lecture Series Asks ‘Where is the Truth?’

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Photographers Braden Chattman and Michael Zide are so in sync with one another that, during a recent talk at the Williston Northampton School, they finished each other’s sentences.

“The big word at Hallmark is ‘intention,’” said Mr. Zide. “As someone who absorbs photography,” Mr. Chattman chimed in, “that’s what ultimately matters.”

The Hallmark Institute of Photography teachers were at Williston on April 23 to give the final evening talk of this year’s Photographers’ Lecture Series. That afternoon, Mr. Chattman and Mr. Zide had also spent a class period speaking to Williston’s photography students about what a professional career in photography involves.

“Photography is a lot more than a career decision,” said Mr. Chattman. “It’s a lifestyle.”  He described his dream retirement: traveling the country with his wife, who is also a photographer, in a motorcycle with a tripod mounted on its sidecar. That way there would be no glare from car windows. Continue reading →

Posted in: Arts, Events, Photographers' Lecture Series, Special Programs, Upper School, Visiting Speakers, Williston Northampton News