Local Students Earn Williams College Degrees

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WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Williams College President Morton Owen Schapiro today conferred bachelor of arts degrees on 18 Berkshire County graduates at the college's 220th Commencement on Sunday.

Adams                                             

Kari A. Lyden-Fortier, daughter of Wayne Fortier and Beth Lyden-Fortier, majored in English and with honors in psychology.

Christopher K. St. Cyr, son of Kirk and Laurie St. Cyr, majored in economics.

Dalton

Brenna E. Baccaro, daughter of Robert J. Baccaro and the late Lorene Erb Baccaro, majored with honors in biology.

She was elected to the science honorary society Sigma Xi and was a Class of 1960 Scholar in biology and in biochemistry and molecular biology. She also was a Summer Research Fellow in biology. Baccaro was a junior adviser and in the Williams Community Building Program. She performed with the Irish dance/music group Inish, the step dance squad Sankofa and with the Williams percussion music ensemble.

Rahul Bahl, son of Vinod and Manju Bahl, majored in history and political economy.

He wond the Arthur B. Graves Essay Prize and was named a Lehman Scholar for service to both the Williams and wider community. He also was senior class marshal, participated in varsity golf, the Purple Bull Investment Club and All Campus Entertainment.

Katie F. Grace, daughter of Heather and Tim Grace, graduated cum laude and majored with honors in political science.

She served on the Sophomore Council, Committee on Undergraduate Life, Williams Women's Center Leadership Board and Political Science Student-Faculty Liaison Committee and was a leader for Williams Outdoor Orientation for Living as First-Years. She also participated in rugby and novice crew.

Lee

Brian J. Delmolino, son of Joseph Delmolino and Virginia Delmolino, majored in art and history.

Lenox

Brooks M. Sherman, majored in religion.

North Adams

Amber M. LaFountain, daughter of Mary Ellen LaFountain, majored in history.

She interned at the Williamstown House of Local History and participated in Ultimate Frisbee.

Jenna R. Taft, daughter of Lynn and Lawrence Taft, majored in chemistry.

She won the Frank C. Goodrich 1945 Award in Chemistry and participated in junior varsity basketball and Symphonic Winds.

Sarah J. Willey, daughter of James Willey and Donna Cuzzone, majored in biology.

She performed with the Symphonic Winds and Handbell Choir and participated in the Relay for Life.

Pittsfield

Jonathan P. Berch, son of Kathryn and Stephen Berch, majored in mathematics.

He was head chef of the Jewish Religious Association and performed with the Symphonic Winds, Student Symphony and chamber groups. He also participated in the Chess and Martial Arts clubs and taught chess at the Milne Public Library.

Emily M. Flynn, daughter of David and Deborah Flynn, majored in human ecology.

She was a Class of 1960 Scholar in psychology. She received an Erik K. Butler Scholarship and O'Herron Scholarship, and studied at the Williams-Mystic Maritime Studies Program in Connecticut. She served as class vice president, and was an ambassador and tour guide for the Admission Office, a Post-Katrina Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity, campus coordinator for Teach for America, contributor to the student newspaper, and leader for Williams Outdoor Orientation for Living as First-Years. Flynn also participated in the a cappella group The Accidentals and in junior varsity soccer.

Elizabeth A. Goggins, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Goggins, majored in classics and history.

She was awarded an alumni internship and was Currier Neighborhood treasurer, coordinator of the first-year orientation program "Where Am I?!" tutor at Mount Greylock Regional High School, and a Reunion Ranger. She also participated in junior varsity soccer.

Elizabeth A. Leibinger, daughter of David and Diana Leibinger, majored in history.

She earned a certificate in Spanish, was a contributor to the student newspaper and a leader of the first-year orientation program "Where Am I?!"

Kristen D. Milano, daughter of Arthur and Sara Milano, majored in English.

She was a peer writing tutor, elementary school volunteer tutor, tntern and docent at the Williams College Museum of Art, and musical director of the a cappella group The Accidentals.

Williamstown

Erica R. DeWitt, daughter of Mary Lou and William DeWitt, majored in geosciences.

She was a Class of 1960 Scholar in geosciences and studied for a semester at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. She also performed with the African music and dance group Kusika.

Alexander C. Kopynec, son of Renate Kopynec and Bohdan Kopynec, graduated magna cum laude in biology.

He was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, was a junior adviser and a member and co-president of the a cappella group The Octet. He also participated in Ultimate Frisbee.
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Letter: Vote for Someone Other Than Trump

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

I urge my Republican friends to vote for someone other than Donald Trump in November. His rallies are getting embarrassingly sparse and his speeches more hostile and confused. He's looking desperately for money, now selling poor-quality gold sneakers for $399. While Trump's online fans embrace him more tightly, more and more of the people who actually worked with Trump have broken with him, often issuing statements denouncing his motives, intellect, and patriotism.

Mike Pence is the most recent, but the list now includes William Barr, former attorney general (who compared him to a 9-year-old); former NSC Chairs Bolton and McMaster; former Defense Secretaries Mattis and Esper; former Chiefs of Staff Kelly and Mulvaney; former Secretary of State Tillerson; former Homeland Security chief Bossert; and former Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, who referred to Trump as a "wannabe dictator." This level of rejection by former colleagues is unprecedented in American politics.

Are these people just cozying up to the Establishment "Uniparty," as his fans would have it? No. Most of them are retired from politics. It's just that they see the danger most clearly. General Milley is right. Trump's most constant refrain is his desire to hurt his critics, including traditional conservatives. Although Liz Cheney lost her Wyoming seat in Congress, he now wants her jailed for investigating him.

This man should not be president of the USA.

Jim Mahon
Williamstown, Mass.

 

 

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