Photo Blog

The Study Abroad office sponsored their second annual study abroad photo contest this year, and once again the results were impressive.

Allison Hartman ’13 captured the first place prize for her photo titled “Hard Life in Thin Air,” which shows Taquile Island, Lake Titicaca in Peru. “Taquile Island in Lake Titicaca does not allow any machines so residents must carry everything on their backs. Lake Titicaca is a deep blue because it is the highest navigable lake in the world,” says Hartman.

The second place price went to Elizabeth Mahoney ’13 for her photo titled “Positano: A City Built into the Side of a Mountain” which was shot in Positano, Italy. “Positano was one of the quaintest and most charming places that I have visited in my year abroad,” says Mahoney. “The tiny town of just under 4,000 residents is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Built literally into the side of the mountain, Positano has only one main road which is one way. It is known for its phenomenal seafood, extremely kind residents and incredible location along the Amalfi Coast.”

Charlotte Gellene ’13 garnered third place for her photo titled ” La Maleta,” which was taken in Pamplona, Spain. “This was one of the first interesting things I saw during my times abroad,” explains Gellene. “In Pamplona we came across a street in which every house had a differently decorated suitcase hanging outside its window. One looked like an old boom box, another had handlebars and wheels as if it was a bicycle, and others had stories written on them. This one was simple but stunning nonetheless with the intense red interior set against the calm white exterior.”

Gellene also nabbed an honorable mention for ” Valldemossa,” shot in Mallorca, Spain. “This photo was taken in a small town near the city of Palma. Each of the towns in Mallorca has a unique and beautiful character. Valldemossa is known for its cobblestone streets, green shutters and the small plant pots suspended on the walls that line every street. I think this photo really demonstrates the tranquility that Mallorcan towns have been able to maintain despite the years of development and tourism on the island.”

Mary McClay ’13 received an honorable mention for her photo titled “Agatha’s Smile,” which was taken in the village of HaMakuya in South Africa. “I interviewed Agatha for one of our research projects as she was drying spinach in the afternoon sun. The joy she radiated as we spoke was inspiring,” says McClay.

Peter Mondani ’79 P14 (front row in khaki shorts), vice president of financial leadership development and human resources for General Electric, at the annual Holy Cross alumni and intern summer picnic at his home in Cheshire, Conn. Mondani has hired more than 50 Holy Cross graduating seniors over the past 10 years.

Michael Hofmann ’14, of Stamford, Conn., is spending his summer working directly with free clinics serving uninsured patients. The economics major is interning until August with AmeriCares Free Clinics, three Connecticut free clinics that have served tens of thousands of low-income people. Here he is at work generating a document to help people access social services in Connecticut.

Photograph by Alex Ostasiewicz/AmeriCares

The Holy Cross flag flies on the City Hall building in downtown Worcester in appreciation of the College’s support of the mobile library and in honor of Rev. Philip Boroughs, S.J., president, for creating partnerships with the city. Fr. Boroughs was recognized by the City Council on May 1 following the unveiling of the mobile library on the Holy Cross campus.

Photograph by Ed Augustus

This coming academic year, Predrag Cicovacki, professor of philosophy and director of Peace and Conflict Studies at the College, needs to make sure he has a lot of minutes on his cell phone plan. He will be traveling to Banaras University in Varanasi, India, in the fall semester as a Senior Fulbright-Nehru Fellow at the Malaviya Centre for Peace Research. Meanwhile, daughter Vera Grek ’14 will be heading to Spain for a study abroad experience. Eldest daughter, Heidi Grek ’12, is heading to Germany to study and teach after earning a Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship. Cicovacki’s youngest daughter, Lydia, will be starting her Holy Cross experience as a member of the Class of 2016, so at least one member of the family (along with his wife), will be holding down the fort here on the Hill. Above, Cicovacki surrounded by his three daughters, from left, Vera, Lydia and Heidi. Read more about this Holy Cross family of scholars in the Summer 2012 issue of Holy Cross Magazine in July.

Photograph by Rob Carlin

John “Declan” Crowley ‘14, of Ballston Lake, N.Y., pauses backstage at a production of “Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance.” Since late September he has toured the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Hungary, Italy and France. He will continue touring through the spring semester. “The American/Canadian tour is traveling through a few cities where I hope my family, friends, and possibly Holy Cross alumni and friends of the College can come see the performance,” he says. The closest stop to Holy Cross will be at the University of Massachusetts Amherst when the troupe puts on a performance at the Mullins Center on April 5.

A team of Holy Cross students, and students from Furman University, who helped create an electronic edition of a tenth century manuscript of the great mathematician Archimedes, are recognized in an exhibit running at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore through Jan. 1, 2012.

The exhibit, titled “Lost & Found: The Secrets of Archimedes,” includes information regarding the manuscript’s preservation and digitization efforts.  The digital edition of the manuscript was released in October 2008. A photo of the Holy Cross team is featured in a section devoted to project contributors. Back row, from left: Scott Dube ’10, Christopher D’Alessandro ’10, Joshua Whelan ’10, Michael Kinney ’10, Greg Kakas ’08, and Professor Smith. Front row, from left: William Dolan ’10, Jennifer Adams ’10, Stephanie Wheeler ’09, Jennifer Curtin ’10, and Danielle Bacon ’09.

Photography by Jennifer Adams ’10

The student group SADER (Student Ambassadors Developing External Relations) hosted a Holiday Neighborhood House Decorating Contest on Dec. 6 for off-campus students and other residents of the College Hill Neighborhood. Twenty three Caro Street, pictured above, won first prize ($100 restaurant gift card); 13 Boyden Street earned second prize ($75 restaurant gift card); and 12 Clay Street was awarded third prize ($50 restaurant gift card.) Judges included students, administrators and neighbors.

Photography by Elizabeth Geraghty ’12

Two neighborhood superheroes pose during the College’s Halloween Extravaganza trick-or-treat event for local children. Sponsored by the Holy Cross student group S.A.D.E.R. (Student Ambassadors Developing External Relations), participants enjoyed free refreshments at the College Hill Civic Association Building (79 Kendig Street) before heading out to trick-or-treat at off-campus residences.

Photography by Elizabeth Geraghty ’12

Members of the Holy Cross Ballroom Dance team pose with coach Gary Jacobik during a cancer research fundraiser held in the Hogan Campus Center Ballroom. Jacobik owns an Arthur Murray Dance studio in Worcester, and founded the Holy Cross Ballroom Dance club about 20 years ago. The event raised close to $10,000. From left, Christopher Michaud ’13, Courtney Lyons ’12, Cecilia Carlowicz ’12, Jacobik, C. Dan Earley ’12, Kallen Bakas ’12, Samantha Hullihen ’13, and Allie Gitto ’14

Team captains Cecilia Carlowicz ’12 and C. Dan Earley ’12 enjoy the open floor following their performances.

Ballroom Dance team co-chairs Cecilia Carlowicz ’12 and Samantha Hullihen ’13 helped facilitate the “Dance for Hope” event, which raised close to $10,000 for cancer research.

Holy Cross graduates and professional ballroom dancers, Mike Creeden ’03 and Jessica Spink ’06 perform during the event.

Photography by Dan DeConinck ’13