News From Clarkson - The E-Newsletter for Clarkson Alumni

September 2007

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CLARKSON UNIVERSITY SLATED FOR LARGEST CAREER FAIR EVER
Representatives from more than 140 companies were on the Clarkson University campus recruiting students yesterday, September 20, at the annual fall Career Fair. The event was the University's largest fair ever, with 141 companies registered. "The size of this fall's Career Fair is an excellent example of the value that companies place on hiring Clarkson University students," said Career Center and International Study Director Marty Ford. "These companies are coming to Clarkson because our students represent a combination of two key ingredients required of today's workforce: an outstanding education from a demanding and highly regarded university, and an incredible work ethic." Clarkson students filled the Cheel Campus Center, looking for internships, co-ops and permanent positions. Students from all majors got the opportunity to speak with corporate recruiters, as this is the first year that the Career Center has signed up companies representing every discipline taught at Clarkson. Companies like General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, IBM, Procter & Gamble, Apple and UBS were there, among many others. The companies attending came from across the United States, representing a wide cross-section of career opportunities. But even with the entire campus center, including the Cheel Arena, now being used to accommodate the recruiters' displays, the overwhelming response has forced Clarkson to implement a waiting list for the recruiters.

WALKER CENTER GETS AN UPGRADE
Walker Center, the longtime home of the Golden Knights’ nationally recognized hockey team, and a current facility for indoor recreation at Clarkson University is undergoing a transformation. Renovation of Walker Center began in the spring with the first phase of the upgrade scheduled to be complete in the next few weeks. The facade of the building is being redone (reconstructed to resemble the original design from 1938), a new roof has been put down, and the old carpet turf has been replaced with a layer of new synthetic turf. The current phase of the project also includes upgrades to the heating system and lighting, repair of the dasher boards and replacement of broken plexiglass panels around the playing surface. The funding for the project came from a $1 million grant provided by New York State Assemblyman Darrel J. Aubertine. Northeast Construction was hired for contracting the project, and Bill Dillon, director of Facilities and Services at Clarkson, is overseeing the project. The field will be used by the same groups as before, which includes the men’s and women’s lacrosse and soccer teams, and baseball, as well as intramural and club sports. The field will be open to all Clarkson students and organizations during peak hours, which are typically nights and weekends. The field will also be used by the Potsdam community; the grant which pays for the renovations requires that the town be able to make use of the field also. Next phase in the project will include new men’s and women’s lacrosse locker rooms, renovations to the public bathrooms, training room, coach’s offices and laundry facilities. Constructed in 1938, the building was originally called Clarkson Arena and then renamed Walker Arena in 1975 in honor of Murray Walker, a local businessman and contributing founder of Clarkson Hockey. For 53 years the Golden Knights enjoyed a very successful era on Clarkson Avenue before moving up to the hill into Cheel Arena in 1991.

“I LIVE NEW YORK” SUMMIT RECOGNIZES RECENT CLARKSON GRADS WHO STAYED IN POTSDAM
Two recent Clarkson University graduates were recognized by Dan Gundersen, co-chair of the Empire State Development Corporation, during First Lady Silda Wall Spitzer's "I Live New York" Summit in Cortland on Tuesday. The summit was convened to find ways of stemming the loss of young people from New York State, especially the upstate region. Jonathan Parry and Kurt West, each turned down offers with a Fortune 100 company to stay in the region and work for a start-up company, and are now both homeowners in Potsdam. Abigail Nugent, a recent SUNY Potsdam graduate, also attended the summit. The three work for Golden Technology Management, LLC, which manages Potsdam start-up company ZeroPoint Clean Tech, Inc., a renewable energy technology project development company headquartered in Potsdam, with offices in New York City and London. “The ‘I Live New York’ Summit is aimed at taking a hard look at one of the most serious economic problems facing the state," said Spitzer. “By bringing together key stakeholders, I hope to initiate a comprehensive and coordinated examination of the factors driving young people out of New York and explore the public and private initiatives that may help reverse this troubling trend.” Jobs for recent area college graduates is a benefit of Clarkson University's increasing role in the economic development of the North Country. Utilizing collaborations with government, private industry and with other universities, that goal is beginning to be realized. "Fostering the start-up of high tech businesses is a high priority for the University because it provides our students, as well as those from the other colleges and universities in the area, an educational environment to apply all that they have learned, as well as the opportunity to find challenging and rewarding jobs upon graduation and remain in the area," said Clarkson President Tony Collins. "The transfer of technology from Clarkson's laboratories spurs the development or commercialization of new technologies and creates exciting new entrepreneurial and employment opportunities." Jonathan Parry, a Baldwinsville native, graduated with great distinction from Clarkson in 2007 as president of the senior class with a B.S. in business and technology management. Passing up an employment opportunity with a Fortune 50 corporation, he pursued his passion for entrepreneurship and innovative technology start-ups. Joining ZeroPoint Clean Tech as an intern in 2006, he has concentrated primarily on business development and marketing. Parry is responsible for managing communication with manufacturers, project developers and investors. “It has been a great experience to be involved with such a forward thinking company working toward solving world-wide environmental and energy problems right here in Potsdam, New York," said Parry. "Clarkson provided me with an opportunity to work with accomplished alumni, innovative researchers and cutting-edge renewable energy technology. It is important for New York to become the center for a knowledge-based economy and I appreciate the efforts made by local and state government to support employment opportunities for a new generation of working professionals.” Kurt West, a native of New Portland, Maine, is also a 2007 graduate of Clarkson with a B.S. in financial information and analysis, who joined ZeroPoint in 2006 as an intern, and started full-time upon graduation in May. He has been working primarily on financial projections for ZeroPoint projects. The economic analysis that ZeroPoint conducts when evaluating potential projects is extensive, and West works with various stakeholders to conduct this diligence. “The opportunity to become involved with a company that could potentially impact rural America in a positive and meaningful way was too great to pass up," said West. "Both Clarkson and the State of New York are taking the right steps to innovate the way business is conducted, and I could not have asked for a better opportunity to start my career.” ZeroPoint Clean Tech, which has developed a highly efficient biomass gasification process capable of converting many forms of biomass into renewable synthesis gas, electricity or liquid fuels, is building prototype equipment in Potsdam's Commerce Park location. The company's renewable energy and water treatment equipment was constructed at "bench scale" in a Clarkson laboratory. The technology was invented by ZeroPoint and Clarkson Senior Research Scientist Philip D. Leveson, who serves as chief scientist for ZeroPoint. The company's biomass to energy and clean water technologies will provide sustainable and carbon neutral electricity, transportation fuel and water purification solutions to communities around the globe. ZeroPoint Clean Tech currently has six full-time employees, and one Clarkson student intern, and is managed by Golden Technology Management, LLC, founded by Clarkson alumnus and entrepreneur John Gaus.

KNIGHT TO KNIGHT
The Clarkson University Career Center and the Office of Alumni Relations are excited to announce the launch of KNIGHT TO KNIGHT. KNIGHT TO KNIGHT is the alumni to alumni job search program now being offered through the Career Center. It is designed to allow alumni seeking jobs to connect with alumni employers who are seeking skilled and experienced Clarkson alumni. The process is simple to access. The alumni who are seeking jobs and the alumni employers who wish to post open positions, please go to www.clarkson.edu/knightlink and once there in the right hand column you will see respective log-in links. For alumni seeking jobs, you need to click on the Alumni Registration link and follow the directions for completing the registration process. You will create your own user name and password for the system. Once you have completed the registration page you will receive, within 24-48 hours, a confirmation from the Career Center that your registration has been accepted. Additional instructions about the system will be part of that confirmation e-mail. For alumni employers, you will click on Employer Registration link. Alumni Employers need to be aware that your company may already be registered so if you encounter problems please contact Linda Hastings in the Career Center at 315-268-6477. If you are a new employer to Clarkson, you will need to fill out the registration page. You will receive a confirmation e-mail from the Career Center that you have been accepted as a new employer and then you will be able to post your current positions directly in the system. When postings positions, we ask that you clearly identify the position as for alumni only and click the appropriate link to post the job just for alumni. For both alumni job seekers and alumni employers, we ask that you contact the Career Center if you have problems. For job seekers, please contact Marty Ford, Career Center Director. For employers, please contact Linda Hastings, Recruiting Coordinator. They can be reached at 315-268-6477.

CLARKSON UNIVERISTY ALUMNI IN ADMISSION PROGRAM IS IN FULL SWING
It’s fall and that means recruiting is in full swing for the newest class of Clarkson students! Our Alumni Network can have a huge impact on enrollment numbers for the University. Becoming an Admission Volunteer is a great way to share your passion for Clarkson and truly have an impact on prospective students’ lives. Admission representatives are on the road attending College Fairs, visiting high schools, hosting Receptions, and conducting off-campus interviews. They would love to have you join them at some of these events or even participate in those that they can’t make it to. Erin (Soluri) Draper ’03 has recently taken over the Alumni in Admission program and will work with you to be sure you have the information you need – please visit http://clarksonalumni.com/stay_involved/recruit/admission.html or e-mail her at edraper@clarkson.edu if you are interested in helping!

DID YOU KNOW …
Over 1,400 alumni have logged on and used the alumni online directory! Have you tried it yet? Perhaps you’ve loaded a recent photo or updated your contact information - many have! Our new online alumni directory located at http://directory.clarksonalumni.com/ is live and ready for you to use. Your user id is located in the upper right hand corner of this newsletter and your password is your birth date. If you have problems logging please send an e-mail to steve@clarksonalumni.com and we will be happy to assist you!

CLARKSON WOMEN’S HOCKEY LOOKS TO BUILD UPON FIRST FOUR YEARS
With a solid foundation established by the Class of 2007, the Clarkson University Women’s Hockey team will now look to secure a position as one of the top teams in ECAC Hockey this winter. Entering its fifth year as an NCAA program, the Golden Knights have high hopes for a very successful 2007-08 campaign. Although the Green and Gold will miss the dedication of the 12 graduated seniors who put their mark on Clarkson Hockey as the first class in the history of the fledgling program, the Knights feel that this season could be its best so far.

CLARKSON PICKED FOR 7TH PLACE IN ECAC HOCKEY COACHES PRESEASON POLL
"The natural order for when you are starting a program is for every class to get stronger, and I think we have followed that progression," stated Seeley. "This year we added 10 players who we are very high on. It is hard to replace the experience and leadership of the players that left, but I think we are more talented than we have ever been. It will take some time for us to gel, but I think once we do, this should be our best team with potentially the best chemistry." Senior captain Katie Morrison (Ridgefield, CT), along with classmates, assistant captains Brooke Beazer (Kingston, ONT) and Jessica Cloutier (Parker, CO), will lead Clarkson into another demanding schedule. The Knights will face a 35-game campaign which includes eight contests against teams that competed in last year’s NCAA Tournament and four games against defending league champions. "We feel with the games in the ECAC, which overall from top-to-bottom is the toughest conference in the country, and our non-league games, we face a very challenging season," stated Seeley. "Without a question, this is the toughest schedule we have faced." After an exhibition contest against the Stoney Creek Jr. Sabres on September 29, Clarkson will begin NCAA play by hosting a weekend series against College Hockey America tournament runner-up Wayne State at Cheel Arena on October 5-6. The 22-game ECAC slate begins on October 26 when the Knights travel to New Jersey to take on Princeton, the only program in the 12-team conference that the Green and Gold have yet to defeat. Clarkson will have to wait until late in the season before it faces North Country rival St. Lawrence. The Knights and Saints will face-off for the first time during the 2007-08 campaign on February 1 in Potsdam before traveling down Route 11 the following night to battle in Canton. The Knights will face defending ECAC champion Dartmouth in Hanover, NH, on November 24 to close out a four-game stretch against teams from last year’s NCAA tourney. Clarkson will play a weekend non-league series at up-and-coming Hockey East power Maine on November 2-3 and host CHA champion Mercyhurst on November 16-17.

KNIGHTS PREPARE FOR 2007-08 HOCKEY SEASON
With the 2007-08 season less than a month away, the Clarkson University Hockey team is hard at work with dry-land training. The Golden Knights hope their efforts during the hot, muggy days of early September will pay off in late March and early April with a strong run in postseason play. After an exhibition contest against Acadia University on Saturday, October 6, at Cheel Arena, Clarkson officially opens the season at St. Lawrence on Sunday afternoon, October 7, with a non-league game to be televised live by ESPNU starting at 4 p.m. Alumni groups looking to come to Cheel for a Saturday evening home contest, and would like to have a pre-game tailgate and tickets for the game, should coordinate this with Steve Newkofsky, Alumni Relations by calling 315-268-3852.

MARCELL MALLETTE TO JOIN THE PHILANTHROPY TEAM
Marcell Mallette will be joining the Clarkson Philanthropy Team as director of the Clarkson Fund. Marcell has more than 11 years of progressive experience in the higher education advancement field. She served for several years as the first-ever director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving at her alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford. She then went on to help rebuild a $2.2 million annual fund program at St. Bonaventure University as director of their annual fund program. Marcell most recently served as director of Donor Relations at St. Lawrence University. She received a B.A. in public relations from the University of Pittsburgh and earned an M.A. in integrated marketing communication from St. Bonaventure. Marcell lives in Canton with her husband, Bryan, and their children Spencer and Madison.

CEO CLUB FUNDRAISER FOR BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and the Clarkson CEO (Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organization) is gearing up for a month of fundraising. Last year, the club raised and donated $10,289.00 to The Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation. The club is putting on at least 8 events during the month of October and is looking for friends and businesses to donate to this cause. To get more information about the events or about how to donate, please contact the CEO club’s philanthropy coordinator Nicole Waldow at waldownl@clarkson.edu.

NASA COMPLETES UNDERSEA MISSION
Chris Gerty, class of 1997 was part of the crew! Three astronauts and a Constellation Program aerospace engineer began a 10-day NASA mission in the ocean depths off the Florida coast Aug. 6. They tested lunar exploration concepts and a suite of long-duration spaceflight medical objectives. Veteran space flyer and aquanaut Nicholas Patrick lead the undersea mission aboard the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Aquarius Underwater Laboratory. NASA Astronaut Richard Arnold, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) Astronaut Satoshi Furukawa and systems integration engineer Christopher Gerty completed the crew. During the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations 13 (NEEMO 13), the crew conducted a variety of undersea "moon walks" to test concepts for future lunar exploration using advanced navigation and communication equipment. “This crew will work much more independently from the mission control team than on previous missions,” said NEEMO Project Manager Bill Todd of the United Space Alliance at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. “This autonomous mode of operation will encourage the crew to make real-time decisions about daily operations similar to what we think will be necessary for lunar and Mars missions. The idea is to show how procedures and training for future missions can be adapted, considering the reduced direct communication with Mission Control those crews will encounter.”

IN WOOD’S WORDS
Thank you Jim for your continued contribution to the electronic newsletter and for your tireless support of Clarkson and alumni engagement! You have built up a great following! Here is Jim’s latest piece entitled, “If Not You….Who?”

KNIGHTS OF NOTE
Chris McGrath for serving the Clarkson Alumni Office for the past nine years! Though we are sad to see her leave, we are happy that she will continue to work for Clarkson. You can visit her at her new home in the IE&M department.

The Clarkson Alumni Council for coming to campus for their annual meeting on October 5-6! Thank you for your time and dedication!

The Men and Women Soccer Alumni who made the trip up to Potsdam for their annual alumni weekend! We look forward to seeing you again next year!