The Turkey has been Eaten...CHRISTMAS TIME IS HERE

When late November rolls around, you can be sure that you'll be eating a whole lot of food. Between Alliot Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving(s), and the actual holiday with your family, there's a good chance you'll be stuffed (get it? like turkey?)

(Follow @smcknights on Snapchat for all the current happenings at SMC!)

However, as great as it is celebrating a holiday almost completely devoted to food, I can now properly celebrate my favorite time of year without being heckled by my turkey-loving peers!!!

It began to look a lot like Christmas only a short week ago, when we got our first snow and it actually stuck! Thanks to the power of social media, quite a few SMC-ers got great snapshots of the event and shared them with #smcvt.

Last night campus became a winter wonderland. Who’s ready to let it snow? ❄️ (📷: Saint Michael’s College Dept. of Public Safety) #smcvt

A photo posted by Saint Michael's College (@saintmichaelscollege) on Nov 21, 2016 at 7:32am PST

Who wants to study for Econ when you just want to play in the snow? ❄️️❄️️❄️️

A photo posted by Paige Bulson (@paigesb16) on Nov 22, 2016 at 5:43am PST

Please welcome our new official Library Greeter, Roberta Frost! We hope she sticks around. #smcvtlibrary #smcvt

A photo posted by St. Michael's College Library (@smcvtlibrary) on Nov 21, 2016 at 7:00am PST

Happy Monday 🎃❄️

A photo posted by emma_kal (@emma_kal) on Nov 21, 2016 at 5:48am PST

Now the St. Mike's trees are lit, people are jolly (and maybe a bit stressed about finals), and there's a chill in the air.

It's my favorite time of year, and I wouldn't want to spend it anywhere else.

Happy holiday season to you and yours!



Email: cholloway@mail.smcvt.edu
Twitter: @thebeardedchris
Insta: @christhebeard
Snapchat: christhebeard

And They Lived Happy Aca-After

There is no better way to spend my Monday and Wednesday evenings than with Mike Check, the all-male a cappella group at St. Mike's. These guys are like brothers to me, and their humor keeps me alive (and sometimes drives me insane). The semester is quickly starting up and I'm so glad to be back to singing! The year started up with auditions...

Acapapa wants YOU pic.twitter.com/Ap2XJ3Mdm2

— Mike Check (@MikeCheckSMC) September 8, 2016

...which went incredibly well! We have three new members: Evan, Joe, and Spencer!

Say hello to our NEW MEMBERS!!! What handsome boys! #AcapellaBoys #MikeCheck #smcvt

A photo posted by Mike Check (@mikechecksmc) on Sep 21, 2016 at 5:28pm PDT

If you haven't heard us before, we sing a mixture of current hits, nostalgia from the 90s, barbershop re-imaginings, jazz standards, and more.

From our family to yours, we'd like to wish all of our fans a very Happy Thanksgiving. pic.twitter.com/W4tqCtp8m1

— Mike Check (@MikeCheckSMC) November 26, 2015

Once auditions are over, we begin learning the songs in our set list (which we choose in the first week of the semester). Some of the songs are fan favorites from past semesters, and some are brand new arrangements! In recent years, we began a trend of arranging (adapting a song for a cappella) our own music, so about half of our songs are arranged by Mike Check members. Below is an old clip of Take One Me, arranged by Pat Cornacchio '18.

Pat loves Mike Check! Do you? Come listen to us this Friday at 8:00! (@patcorn95) #smcvt #vt #btv #acapella #music #singing

A video posted by Mike Check (@mikechecksmc) on Dec 9, 2015 at 7:59pm PST

This year, we actually have six seniors! That means (up to) six senior songs between the two end-of-semester concerts! Senior songs are a great way to showcase veteran members of Mike Check as well as a wonderful excuse to sing a variety of music. All of the members of the group have very different tastes in music, which makes for a great variety in concerts! You can learn about the members of Mike Check here.

We're really looking forward to this year, and we hope you are too!


Want to catch updates on everything Mike Check? Follow us on social media!

Facebook
Twitter (@MikeCheckSMC)
Instagram (@MikeCheckSMC)
Snapchat (MikeCheckSMC)

Taking Time to Breathe

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around for a while, you could miss it.

College is a whirlwind. Senior year is one hundred times that. The last four weeks have blown by, but this weekend I finally had a chance to take time to breathe. 

On Friday, I hung out in the new residence hall to celebrate my friend Kelly's birthday! There was Chinese food from Jin (literally a minute down the road) and fantastic company.

Kelly's apartment in Res Hall 4!

Saturday, I got to relax! Corinne and I had our radio show (every Saturday from 12-2pm on wwpv.org!) and we went to Firebird Cafe after, which has some of the best lunch food around. For the rest of the day, there was a whole lot of nothing going on, which was exactly what I needed. I saw some friends in the evening, and it was a great time to decompress after a crazy week.

Our super professional radio show.

Finally, Sunday was more than just homework day! Corinne and I finally went on a hike, hopefully the first of many. We hiked Mount Philo which is a short drive from campus and only takes about an hour to summit! It was a nice way to start the day, and the perfect way to get some exercise in and enjoy nature. It was the first of many things to cross off my senior year bucket list!

The view was simply stunning.

We're cute sometimes.

Now that I'm settled into the semester, you can expect to hear from me more often! Let me know if there's anything in particular you want to learn about. Until next time!

Questions, comments, concerns, cat videos?

Email: cholloway@mail.smcvt.edu
Twitter: @thebeardedchris
Insta: @christhebeard
Snapchat: christhebeard

And here's a raccoon with a hat because why not:

A photo posted by Jonathon (@jonathontheraccoon) on Sep 25, 2016 at 11:48am PDT

#latersummer

It's been quite the few months! I'm so excited for students to return to campus, and to meet the ~500 new students that will be coming home for the first time. It's so gorgeous up here at SMC during the summer, but it's not the same without everybody here.

Sunday morning views. (Props to Facilities for the beautiful gardens!) #smcvt

A photo posted by Saint Michael's College (@saintmichaelscollege) on Jul 24, 2016 at 6:47am PDT

I've learned a whole lot this summer. I've seen what it looks like to work in college admissions, and I've realized this is the type of place that I could work in for a long time. I love the college process, and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life working with it, as an admission counselor and as a guidance counselor (or so I hope). It's so exciting to me to see students come to campus for the first time and realize that this is home for them. (If you're thinking about St. Mike's and haven't come for a visit yet, please do - I knew this was the place for me the moment I stepped on campus.)

One of the best parts of my job was the wonderful people I worked with! Here are some rad photos:

We also made these super cool First Year Fridays videos! If you haven't watched them yet, I definitely suggest it. They're great for a lot of laughs, and you might learn a thing or two, too.
















Hope you enjoy! You'll hear again from me soon.


Questions, comments, concerns, cat videos?

Email: cholloway@mail.smcvt.edu
Twitter: @thebeardedchris
Insta: @christhebeard
Snapchat: @christhebeard


Cute animal post of the week:

* おはようございます✨ Good morning! あずきのハムカップケーキ😋 Hammy cupcake❣️ ． 食べてるから触ったらムッとされるけど、 そこがまたかわいくてたまらない😂❤️ ． Don't touch me🐹 ． #ハムスター#ジャンガリアン#hamster#hamstagram#hammy#hammie#pet#petlover#instapet#petstagram#petsofinstagram#instaanimal#fluffypack#weeklyfluff#cutepetclub#animalsco#petsvideo#fluffy#ふわもこ部#IGersJP#カップケーキ#🐹

A video posted by nori🐹 (@nococo.k) on Jul 11, 2016 at 6:10pm PDT

Symposium Weekend: Celebrating the Academic Year

In the last full week before final exams every spring, Saint Michael's celebrates the end of the academic year with the Academic Symposium. Throughout the week, students present their work that they have spent either a semester or a full year completing, and it's really a fantastic experience. I know -- "academic symposium" doesn't sound too exciting. But, to know so many of these students and see the culmination of months and months of hard work is really amazing.

The week starts off with presentations from the Fine Arts department on Monday and Tuesday, which includes the student recitals for many of those who have been taking music lessons for the last year. On Wednesday, senior Media Studies, Journalism, and Digital Arts (known as MJD) majors present their final projects that they have worked on for the entire year. They consist of documentary films, web documentaries, and books, all of which require a huge amount of time (conducting interviews, editing, research, and more). Here are a few of my favorites!

Guarding the Flame: Classic Automobiles and Their Custodians
A documentary film by Sean Faust and Connor Vandagriff

Intronet: An Exploration of Introversion in the Digital Age
A book by Erin Murphy

Cabin Fever: A Behind the Scenes Look at American Summer Camps
A book by Susanna Shigo (blog here)

Not Forgotten: Death and The Evolution of Memorialization in the 21st Century
A documentary film by Kathryn Miyahira and Paul Detzer (Kathryn's blog here)

Not pictured:

The Talk: Sexuality Education in a Promiscuously Prude America

A documentary film by Meghan Lynch, Julie Shea, and Jessica St. George

Watch the film here!

Over the course of Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, there are many research presentations all over campus. Many of these come out of various courses, but many of them are also from independent research! It's impossible to make it to all of them, especially when you have your own classes and commitments. However, I was able to make it to my good friend Erin's fantastic presentation entitled: The Evolution of Anti-Abortion Terrorism: Examining Attacks by Christian Extremists as Acts of Domestic Terrorism in the United States.

Erin's presentation!

Finally, Saturday is the campus-wide poster session in which students from many of the departments on campus are able to present their research and work in a concise little poster! It's nice to have all of these posters in one contained area so that students and other visitors are able to see all sorts of research without having to go too far! A bunch of my friends were presenting. Here are a few!

Fiona Moynihan '16
Childhood Bipolar Disorder: Epidemic or Misdiagnosis?

Jordan Moore '16
Stage Management for "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Mariah Kelley '16
Social and Academic Anxiety in the Context of the High School Classroom

Anna-Maria Forger '17
Costume Design for "A Midsummer Night's Dream"

Patrick Cornacchio '18 & Melissa Hickox '18
Dramaturgy for "The Crucible" & Stage Management for "The Crucible" 

Nathan Dean '16
Surface Enhanced Flourescence from Magnesium Nanoparticles

Symposium is a really nifty way to finish off the year right before the insanity of finals hits everybody. If you're in the midst of your own finals, I wish you the best of luck!

Feature on SMC Theatre Blog

Hello readers!

This week, I am being featured on the Saint Mike's Theatre Department blog. Please check it out!

Link is here.

Photo from the SMC Theatre blog!

On that note, I'm very excited to start working on all of my projects for senior year. In the spring, I will be working on my theatre capstone project (and collaborating with a friend and fellow theatre major, as WOTW will be her capstone as well). In the fall, I will be taking History and Issues, the psychology capstone course, in which I will be drafting my final thesis for the major. I will also be taking Directing in the fall, which I am incredibly excited for. All year long, I will be interning at a local high school for Practicum, a psychology internship course with an in-class component as well.

I look forward to sharing all of those adventures when they begin. But first, it's time to finish off this year strong! I hope to post here more often in the next month as well as next year.

Please contact me if there's anything at all you would like me to write about! Social media links are above, you can email me, or comment below.

Thanks for stopping by!

Spring Has Sprung!

We're just a day away from Spring Break here at St. Mike's (which includes Easter break this year). It's a beautiful 50 degrees, the sun is shining, and students finally have the opportunity to go outside and enjoy the weather! Spring means a whole lot of things when you're in college.

1. Hanging out with friends

From the Color Run last spring!! It was such a beautiful day to be outside.

If you look outside on any given spring day (given that it's not raining), you'll see a ton of students hanging out on the green. The Ultimate Frisbee players are out on the library lawn every day at 4:00, people bring their guitars and ukuleles outside and play, students sit at picnic tables and chat, and everybody just gets to enjoy the weather.

2. Spring break!

I'll miss this campus while I'm gone!

You might go on a trip with friends, go visit family, or just take the week to relax. No matter what you do, spring break is looked forward to by all, as a chance to breathe after months of hard academic work. Enjoy it!

3. Time to apply for internships

My intern family from Saint Michael's Playhouse two summers ago!
They're hiring - contact me to find out how to apply!)

Many consider college as one of the best times of their lives. One of the greatest benefits of college is the opportunity for internships, both during the academic year and the summer. Whether they're paid or unpaid, internships are a great way to get experience and give you a better chance for graduate school and future employment opportunities. Summer internship applications tend to be due in March, so if you're planning on applying, make sure to check your due dates!

4. The semester is almost over (AHH!!)

My drama club family from the end of last year. 1/4 of them have gone and graduated,
and we're losing more this year. I miss them all terribly.

When we get back from break, there is only a short month and a half before the semester is over. It's scary how quickly college flies by. Take advantage of every moment, and love what you do!!!

Closing Weekend: A Midsummer Night's Dream

The Spring 2016 Mainstage Production, A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare opened on March 3, ran for three performances, and has two more this weekend, March 11 & 12.

Midsummer is my first ever Shakespeare play, and it's been quite the experience. It's taught me the importance of understanding the text, and making sure I understand what each and every word truly means. I'm incredibly thankful that I don't have an enormous part; it's been the perfect size for me to digest the language and context. I look forward to using this newfound understanding for both contemporary and classical works in the future; I've realized that I must not only make sure I understand the dialogue. but also make sure not to fall into a pattern of speech. Each word and sentence has to have meaning, and this show has been a great reminder of that.

Furthermore, the cast and crew of this show is absolutely fantastic!! I love these wonderful people so much, and I'm going to miss sharing this experience with them. It's been such a pleasure working more closely with some actors/classmates that I hadn't had the pleasure of knowing well until know (shoutout to my fellow Nobles). I'm certainly going to miss the seniors in the cast, but I'm so happy for them that they will be going onto bigger and better things. It's scary to think that next year I'll be in their place, and I realize that I'm going to miss the theatre department here very much.

SMC Social Ambassador Theatre Majors took over the school's Snapchat account, @smcknights, last Thursday to hype up opening night. Here are some of the highlights!!

Come see Midsummer this Friday and Saturday at 7:00pm! Admission is free for all! 

A Midsummer Night's Dream (Mini-Post)

Hello friends!

I'm sorry that I've been so busy and haven't posted lately, but here's the reason why! William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream is opening tonight! It is the SMC Spring Mainstage production, and it's a can't-miss! Details are on the poster below:

I'll be posting all about the production and the process soon, but if you're in the area (or are already a student/faculty), please come see this fantastic show!

P.S. I recently went to New York City with the drama club, and you can read all about it on Pat's blog here!

Until next time!

Finding Warmth in the Vermont Winter

Hello friends!

It's been a very cold couple of days, as you may know if you live in New England. It can be pretty easy to complain, but there are plenty of ways to find refuge when it feels like -30 degrees outside.


1. Stay inside

If my home looked like this, I'd probably never leave.

It sounds like a given, but there's not much to complain about when you're indoors. There's heating in the doors, academic buildings...in fact, in all of the buildings at St. Mike's. So, aside from going to classes, try to stay indoors as much as possible!

2. Dress appropriately

It amazes me to see people outside with shorts and a hoodie on in the winter weather. You're not only going to be cold, but you can get very sick! Invest in a good, warm winter coat, and don't forget your hat, scarf, and gloves. Warmth is priority, but you can look good too while still layering up. 

3. Cuddle

My favorite mug!

I know not everybody has a special person to keep them warm, but a blanket, Netflix, and a hot beverage can do just the trick. Hot chocolate, coffee, or tea can do magical things for keeping you warm and relaxed. Try to get your homework done early so you have time to yourself! 

4. Embrace the winter weather

Since I forgot what day it was, here's a delayed #tbt to skiing at #Smuggs last Sunday. I haven't skied in 10 years but went from the bunny slope to Madonna in one day! Couldn't have done it without our bomb $65 season pass deal #smcvt ⛷ #skivt #skivermont #skinewengland #skitheeast

A photo posted by The St. Mike's Community (@knightlifevt) on Feb 5, 2016 at 11:07am PST

Although below freezing is a tad too cold to ski, most of the winter is bearable. Enjoy the beauty that Vermont has to offer! The Wilderness Program offers so many options for every season, including winter! The Smuggs Pass allows you to ski or board all season long for only $65 with a free shuttle every Saturday and Sunday. There are also trips for snowshoeing, ice climbing, cross-country skiing, and more! Vermont is gorgeous, and it would be a shame to give it all up just for a little cold weather! (Photo by Julie Shea via the student-run Instagram account.)

Thanks for reading! Questions or comments? Catch me on social media, check out the other student blogs, @knightlifevt on Instagram, comment below, or email me!

Stay warm!!

Welcoming in the "Spring" Semester

Hey everybody! Just a few days ago, the campus went from nearly barren to buzzing with students moving back in and preparing for classes. In proper Vermont fashion, we were greeted with a lovely blizzard complete with cold winds and snow in the face. Honestly, I love this type of weather! (Just make sure you dress warmly to stay safe; scarves are your friends!)

I'm super excited for this semester because I'm taking a good variety of classes in addition to being in two productions! My class schedule looks like this:

As you can see, my Tuesdays and Thursdays are pretty full, but it's totally worth it as I'm done at noon every other day! One of the things I love about St. Mike's is that if you plan well enough, there's a good chance that you have some freedom and flexibility with your schedule. I know people that try to take classes only on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday so that they have extra time to ski! Personally, I like to have my afternoons free when possible so that I have time to relax and do homework before rehearsals.

Speaking of, this semester I'm going to be busy rehearsing for two shows. I'll be playing:

• Theseus in A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare (Spring Mainstage Production, performances in the first two weekends of March)
• Jason in Ordinary Days, a musical by Adam Gwon (Senior Seminar Production, performances in mid-April)

I'm so happy to be back here and back into the daily schedule; there's nothing worse than boredom! I can't wait to start blogging more and showing you the wonderful life we live here at SMC. 

Want to know more? Social media links are above, follow @knightlifevt on Instagram, check out other student blogs here, email me (cholloway@mail.smcvt.edu) or comment below!!