Greetings-alumni, parents and friends!

If this summer is any precursor to our future together, I can easily anticipate a positive and fulfilling venture for us all, as a community-a community of learners. Like all communities, we will grow and change, with new opportunities and challenges as they present themselves. As Assumption's newest member, I am already impressed by the warm "sense of community," the inclusiveness that I feel from you. Thank you.

"LEARN. ACHIEVE. CONTRIBUTE." was the slogan I noted on the College's admissions literature-concepts that attract students to Assumption-that say that we provide excellent academic opportunities, and more-a feeling of accomplishment, and an understanding that it is important to give back to our society.

Learn. A "freshman" myself here, I look forward to our upcoming academic year, especially greeting our new first-year class and transfers, and sharing our first year together. We start these students off with considerable pride in our academic offerings, and the promise of exciting plans to increase our teaching facilities for them in the near future. The new Living/Learning Center activities will be a wonderful example for them. Experiential learning, as we know, provides some of life's best lessons-and we will all benefit from the Living/Learning students' experiences.

Lifelong learning is important to me. The Continuing Education and Graduate School are an integral part of Assumption, extending the legacy. I am also continuing my education at Assumption and welcome my new colleagues. I congratulate those who have completed their degrees and certificates through this avenue of ongoing professional development.

Achieve. In this issue you'll share in the successes that result from the opportunities we provide at Assumption. You can take great personal pride in these accomplishments.

Contribute. Only having just met Ann McCarron, director of the Plourde Recreation Center, I am greatly impressed with her dedication, and join you in anticipating her return from biking across America. With our support and blessing, Ann, with the able assistance of student volunteers from the Reach Out Center, faculty and staff, is raising money to help prevent child sexual abuse.

So, a beginning-our future learning, achieving, contributing as a community, together. I look forward to the adventure.

Dr. Thomas R. Plough

President