Anna Maria College’s 75 Anniversary:

Alumni Edition

By: Diane Vankevich

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Table of Contents

Diane Vankevich
Snow Days – Cover
Editor’s Note
Audhinn Pelletier and Tyler Perron – 2
Robby Bryant
Sheldon Church – 3
Margo Enrico
Portraits – 4
Sunny Armstrong
I Have a Nick Story Book – 5
Maggie Guillette
Photos – 8, 10, 12, 27
Lori Nelson
O Spring – 9
Stephen DeVincent
Very Proud – 11
Maria Gurriere
Library Magic – 13
Tiffany N. Thibodeau
The Impact of Professors and Staff During my Undergraduate Experience… – 14
Nic Luce
Scroll of the Unconquerable – 17
Sloane M. Perron
Beautifully Haunted – 19
Jeffrey P. Frizzell
The Role of a Liberal Arts Education in a Modern World – 22
Ernest W. Brooks
Untitled – 25
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Editor’s Note – Audhinn Pelletier and Tyler Perron, Class of 2021

We would like to thank everyone who helped put this special portion of the Habit

Literature Magazine together. In celebration of the 75th Anniversary of Anna Maria College, the

Humanities department has compiled a collection of works from many alumni to create a unique

chapter for the Habit magazine. A special thank you goes to Professor LeBlanc and Professor

Blais for helping us get this idea off the ground, and much appreciation to the Alumni office for

helping us reach out to more alumni to have their works shown in this chapter! We want to

congratulate Anna Maria College on 75 years and thank everyone for all the work they’ve put

into making Anna Maria fantastic. Lastly, we want to thank every alum for submitting

something, whether it was drawings, photography, poetry, or even just a note saying how happy

they are to be an Anna Maria graduate. Please enjoy the Alumni Edition of the Habit Literature

Magazine.
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Robby Bryant, Class of 2013, Emergency Management – Sheldon Church

“Sheldon Church has lain in ruin for more than 120 years. Its gable roof, pediment, windows,

and interior have disappeared, but the classic simplicity of its design still remains. One of the

first Greek-Revival structures built in the United States, Prince William's Parish Church, erected

1745-55, was once one of the most impressive churches in the Province. During the Revolution,

the Patriots are believed to have stored gun powder in it. In 1779, when the British General

Augustine Prevost invaded the Lowcountry, the church was burned by a detachment which

according to tradition, was commanded by the flamboyant local Tory, Andrew Deveaux. Rebuilt

in 1826, the church was again burned by Sherman's men in 1865.”

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Margot Anrico, Class of 1966, Education – Portraits

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Sunny Armstrong – I Have a Nick Story Book; Note Publications and Press Release

Article Notes: “Sunny Armstrong has a “Nick story.” In fact, she has a book full of Nick stories.

So, who is Nick and why is this Seal Beach woman insisting on telling his stories? Nick

Armstrong was Sunny’s son. He died June 5, 2013, of an overdose of heroin. He was 26. The

Los Al High grad told his mother that he tried heroin in late 2012 and quickly became hooked.

When he confessed to his mother he asked for help and she complied. He was “happy, healthy

and looking great” in the spring of 2013. But one night in June he didn’t wake up. There were

traces of heroin in his system. The drug he called the “demon” had finally won. His mother’s

“Nick stories” started soon after his death and continued. Sunny, 71, believes that Nick is

contacting her and other family members in strange ways to let them know he is OK. She started

a journal—the first of many—and put them into a book called “I Have a Nick Story.” Some of

the stories capture small moments: looking at Nick’s framed picture and seeing him winking.

Seeing a vapor-like object move through the house. A warm spot on the bed, despite the fact no

one was sitting there. Doors opening; objects misplaced; a picture in her wallet moving from one

side to the other. Each time one of these unexplainable events occurred, Sunny would write

about it in her journal. Strange things happened with other family members, too. When they

would tell Sunny she would write them down. More “Nick stories.” “My grief felt like blood red

tears bleeding from my heart,” Sunny said, “but when Nick comes to me these are wonderful,

happy stories.” When she has visions of Nick, like the time he was in the room while her

grandsons were playing, she feels comforted, not afraid. Her faith in God, and her belief in the

afterlife, are reaffirmed by Nick’s “visits.” And Sunny, a counselor and community college

teacher, knows that not everyone thinks these things have happened, or that Nick is really

visiting from beyond. “At first I thought I was crazy,” she said. But as time went on, she came to
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believe that all the strange things that were happening were just Nick, showing up. “I think God

is telling us He is real. He is telling us to be good to each other. Be kind.” It’s OK there are

doubters, Sunny says. “There will always be doubters, but my job is to get this information out.”

Sunny thinks she may be a “conduit” of sorts, because she has had this experience before. When

she was 9, her father died suddenly at age 38. Later, he came to her in a dream and said he was

sorry for frightening her when he raised his voice. They shook hands and he promised not to

scare her anymore. Sunny says the journal of Nick Stories has been a comfort to write and reflect

on. “I knew when Nick died I had two choices: 1. Go to bed and cry forever, or 2. Try to find

some way to handle the grief.” Her journal fulfilled the second option. Time has passed and it

has been nearly three years since Nick died. But he is still sending signs to his mother, and she is

still writing them down. Another book of Nick Stories just may be in the works.”

Press Release:

Former Counselor Shares God’s Goodness in New Book About Grief

Author Sunny Armstrong shares how she handled the sudden death of her son Nick and the

unexplainable incidents her family experienced in ‘I Have a Nick Story Book 3’

INDIO, Calif. – Losing a loved one is life-shattering. Sunny Armstrong dealt with this grief
firsthand when her son Nick suddenly passed away at the age of twenty-six. In her newly
released book, “I Have a Nick Story Book 3: Amazing, Happy Stories…Friends,” she shares
how she used her counseling experience to handle this life-altering loss by writing in a journal.

Throughout the book, readers will experience the numerous incidents that occurred immediately
after Nick’s death, not only to the author but also to family members and friends. Whenever
Armstrong would experience an incident/sign of her son’s presence she would always share with
loved ones saying, ‘I Have a Nick Story,’ which became a mantra among her family. With the
help of her faith, God has allowed Armstrong’s son to visit earth often and through numerous
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signs, letting her, her family and his friends know he is healthy, happy and loves living in
heaven.

“As soon as Nick died, unusual, amazing experiences started happening to me, my daughter, my
grandsons and Nick’s friends,” said Armstrong. “I chose to keep a journal of all the amazing
signs God was allowing Nick to give us to ease our pain and make us laugh. I realized all these
signs were not just for me but needed to be shared with all. God does not cause our pain; He
helps us through it.”

Armstrong beautifully shows that even though she lost her child, he is still with her every day.
Ultimately, “I Have a Nick Story Book 3” will show readers the wonderful signs Nick gave his
family, and Armstrong shares the experience of these visions throughout each page.
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By: Maggie Guillette

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Lori Nelson – “O Spring” Poem

O Spring stirring of my heart & soul

in restless wonder

Birds overhead flying

way out yonder.

The wind, the wind cries out

for more or less

green sprouts up from

barren ground saying ‘yes’.

The trees are budding

so reaches my spirit into

the air for more or less

I am blessed

singing, I am blessed.
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By: Maggie Guillette

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Stephen DeVincent, Class of ’78 – Very Proud

“I am very proud of my two graduate degrees from Anna Maria College. The studies and the

faculty and the fellow students were terrific. As some of you know I created an endowment to

assist current and future students and I challenge fellow alumni to add to this endowment. I

enjoy so much visiting the pastoral campus and, hopefully soon, will once again be able to attend

mass at AMC.”
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By: Maggie Guilette

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Maria Gurriere, Class of 2018 – Library Magic

On that warm summer’s day,

I had lost my way.
in the middle of the thunderstorm,
I couldn’t find the freshman dorm.

I found the Mondor-Eagan Library instead.

As I wandered about the books,
waiting for the storm to ride itself out,
a quiet voice said, “You look lost, how can I help?”

I told Janice I had lost my way, looking for the dorm,

but heard the Library was hiring help,
and knowing I couldn’t do much with a cane,
but that knowledge of books and libraries I was willing to
gain,
Janice said yes, and hired I was- as a Library Page.

To shelve books and look up facts,

to help students succeed.
Taking research requests and reserved books,
all the simple things,
that help books fly off shelves.

Four years later, I’m still in libraries,

helping in a Public Library archive,
shelf reading and photo scanning,
preserving history for all to see.
I’m gaining my Masters in Library Science now.

And if it’s one thing I’ve learned through all this,

it’s that libraries are my passion,
helping people find the magic,
that helped me find my way out of the thunderstorm.
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Tiffany N. Thibodeau, Class of 2016 – The Impact of Professors and Staff During My

Undergraduate Experience at AMC

My experience as an Undergraduate at Anna Maria taught me the foundations of my professional

field and allowed me to develop the educational foundation and basic skills that I have applied

since graduating in 2016. I am currently a legal professional employed full time with the State of

Connecticut Judicial Branch working alongside judges, attorneys and law enforcement with child

protection and delinquency matters. I will be graduating this May with my master’s degree from

West Virginia University and I would like to thank the Professors and Staff from Anna Maria

that have been with me throughout both my undergraduate and graduate school journey- even

when I choose a different University to obtain my master’s degree from.

• Dennis Vanasse, Director of the Learning Center: As a first-generation college

student, I was unsure what to expect when I began my journey at AMC. Due to the

Student Success Center on campus, and the pre-college summer Ester’s Dream Program,

I was able to obtain valuable skills that would provide me with the foundation to excel at

AMC and beyond. Thank you, Dennis for believing in me from the moment the Ester’s

Dream Program began in the Summer of 2012 to my current day professional life.

• Professor Richard Talbot: During my time at AMC, he provided a safe place to ask for

assistance when/if I struggled, he provided many laughs and encouraging stories, and he

was always just an email away after I graduated encouraging me to pursue my next

degree and to continue on chasing my dreams. Thank you, Professor Talbot, for all you

did to encourage, guide and support me throughout my time in undergrad and graduate

school. You are missed but will never be forgotten.

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• Professor Dianne White: Professor White was the professor who took me under her

wing and was the reason I became a double major in my undergraduate studies with

criminal justice and law, politics & society. She consistently challenged me as a student

and encouraged me that I could become the legal professional that I was aiming to be.

She even convinced me to reach further academic goals through planting the seed that I

would be a great lawyer one day. Due to the seed’s, she planted, I am on my way to

applying and beginning law school to become that child protection lawyer she knew back

in undergrad classes that I could become. Thank you, Professor White, for being an

amazing advisor, professor, and for sewing the seed which has grown into my passion for

law.

• Professor AnneMarie Myers: I knew Professor Myers many years prior to entering

college, in her former role with the medical examiner’s office. Her work with the Molly

Bish Center and Foundation is appreciated more than words can express and her passion

for forensic and victimology that she shares with students is contagious. She never failed

to challenge me in classes and make sure that I was the best student I could be. She

taught me about perseverance and overcoming obstacles and changing lanes when

necessary and doing so well. Professor Myers, I cannot thank you enough for being there

for me over the many years opening your heart, your office and for your continuous

support and encouragement throughout my undergrad and graduate studies at AMC and

WVU and beyond.

• Professor Michael McCartney: Professor McCartney was the advisor who encouraged

me in my last semester of my undergraduate year at AMC to participate in the

Washington Center Program in Washington, D.C. Thank you, Professor McCartney, for
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encouraging me and supporting me throughout my time in Washington D.C. and for

always staying in contact after graduation. Without my Washington Center experience, I

would never be the legal professional that I am today.

Lastly, I would like to say thank you to my Angel Grandmother, Concetta, my parents, Corinne

& Daniel, my great Aunt Josie, my Grandmother Barbara, my dog Paisley Grace, my extended

family residing in the DMV area, my boyfriend, Magi, John, John Jr, and Heather Bish and my

friends for all the love and support throughout the years. Happy 75th Anniversary AMC! Go

AMCATS!

Below: A photograph of my family from my Undergraduate Graduation May 2016.

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Nic Luce, Class of 2014 – Scroll of the Unconquerable

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Sloane M. Perron, Class of 2015 - Beautifully Haunted

She is haunted. It is a peaceful curse with comforting spirits. Apparitions that shift into familiar

faces before disintegrating like sand in an hourglass. These ghosts guide her, grabbing her hand

they push and prod her onward into a dizzying vortex.

All it takes is a smell, a sound, a change in the weather for the bright souls to appear. Empty

classrooms are instantly transformed into golden light replaying tableaus of classes gone by. Old

friends laughing and crowding around desks, kids leaning back in chairs, troublemakers

whispering inside jokes behind professors’ backs, and college sweethearts shooting ‘come and

get me’ glances.

She remembers the first day; feeling small, excited, and nervous against a wave of the unknown,

being tossed and jostled by a swam of students scurrying to their classes. Suddenly, all alone, an

instant vacuum of silent space.

She recalls being mortified when she entered the classroom not only late, but in the wrong room.

Heat and embarrassment painting her face as she slunk out of the class and tumbled into the

hallway, spilling her books onto the floor. A kind senior with a knowing smile picked up her

books and melted her heart as he soothed her freshman fears, walking her to the right class.

She smiles thinking about the moment that changed her story forever. Walking into that one

special class and feeling like she belonged. A small cohort with seemingly nothing in common

but a shared love of learning and a passion for the goals they were striving to achieve. Fire,

youth, and purpose drove each of them in different directions. Ice breakers and nervous

introductions turned into intense class debates, punctuated by jokes and playful teasing. Laughter

often filling the deep recesses of the old farmhouse. Moments in time that remain forever in her

heart and seared in her mind.

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Sometimes those smiles and laughs in class burst their way into the real world, pouring out

molten bright, untamed, and burning. Kisses behind classroom doors, hungry and grasping

hands, whispers in corners away from prying eyes. Rooms whose walls are forever scarred with

hopeful love, shattered hearts, and bitter tears. Only the ghosts truly know the secrets veiled in

these once lively spaces. The memories of love and loss that shaped young learners; twisted their

realities, toughened their skin, and softened their hearts.

Loyalties were tested and friendships walked through fire down these hallways. Their steps

blazing footprints that bled into the fabric of the school.

Seasons came and seasons went, and that timid girl turned into a confident student with all the

world before her. Standing tall, she the first one to raise her hand to answer a question, and the

last one to leave the library. Oftentimes she was burdened with more than just the books she

carried. But opportunities and dreams lay before her ripe and willing just waiting to be hers, all

she needed to do was to work harder, stay up later, do more. Phantasmic protectors saw her

struggle but kept themselves concealed in the shadows as they followed her, keeping her safe.

Academics she understood, those made sense. Analyze, research, and write. That was familiar,

that was comforting. However, humanity did not have a thesis, people did not make sense. They

were messy and confusing in the most beautiful and torturous of ways.

Everything was a blur of movement, time, and emotion when one day she unexpectedly found

herself in the center of a massive stage. Her colorful tassels dangling, her cap snug on her head,

as she faced tiers of smiles and cheering faces shouting her name. The spotlights blinded her, but

the light was nothing compared to the fire that burned inside of her just waiting to be unleashed.

As she left the theatre tangled amidst the crowd, something caught the corner of her eye. It was
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then that she caught her first glimpse of a ghost. She wasn’t afraid by the elusive hazy shape;

instead, she paused, smiled softly and continued on her way.

As time passed, she gathered more apparitions. Loving spirits and beautiful memories leading

her forward. There were darker beings too. Jealous little creatures that hid in crevices and tried to

pull her into the darkness, but she paid them no mind, moving steadily onward she continued

toward her purpose.

It had been years since she had walked in these buildings, strode these hallways, and breathed in

the comforting aroma of old books and worn carpet. After such a long absence, the ghosts were

overjoyed by her return, swirling playfully around her, they transformed each classroom she

passed. Scenes from the movie of her own life played before her. She reached out to touch the

images, but they vanished into wisps of smoke. Overwhelmed, she took a shaky breath and

steadied herself before continuing.

Reaching her destination, she put her hand on the aged brass doorknob. She felt them behind her;

she was afraid to lose them. What if they left her? She couldn’t do this without them. Turning

slowly, she saw them, her memories, her loved ones, frozen in time. Forever young, forever

perfect, forever hers. They smiled at her like they had always done.

She opened the door, entered the all too familiar classroom and made her way to the podium.

The spirits did not follow her, they knew she could do it on her own now. Looking out at her

students, she wondered what ghosts they had; would she be part of their curses one day?

She was beautifully haunted and wished with all of her heart that one day her students would be

too.
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Jeffrey P. Frizzell, Class of 2015 – The Role of a Liberal Arts Education in a Modern World

I am not where I expected to be. Many of us utter this phrase, but what does it truly

mean? We are commonly asked the question towards the end of undergraduate, “Where do you

see yourself in five, ten, and twenty years?” The reality is though, is that this question is tongue

in cheek. It is meant for us to question ourselves and to strive for something bigger and

something greater. As the Dali Lama states “We are visitors on this planet. We are here for 90 or

100 years at the very most. During that period, we must try to do something useful with our

lives. If you contribute to other people’s happiness, you will find the true meaning of life.”

Over the past year I found myself thinking often “What is the point of a college

education?”, especially in the height of the pandemic. I was one of the fortunate ones some say, I

was a frontline worker in healthcare, caring for the sickest of the population, those who could not

drive themselves to the hospital. I entered strangers homes, earned their trust, and usually had to

convince them that the hospital was a safe place and they were following COVID guidelines and

taking the pandemic seriously. Colleges and universities had transitioned to online education,

who I think fared the best, and many citizens of the world had started the work from home trend

who I think fared the worst. They had to invent new methods to be productive and to work

outside the office to achieve the same goals. I asked myself if a liberal arts education was truly

worth it, with so much of the workforce reduced.

A collegiate education is an exercise in adaptive reasoning, and critical thinking. To

elaborate we took courses in critical thinking and writing, catholic social teaching, world cultures

and geography. We took courses for major specialty and the common thread throughout is the

question “What if…” Now that the country is recovering and adapting to this change, after

careful observation, I firmly believe those that have a liberal arts background were better
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positioned to succeed than those who pursued employment without a degree. Collegiate

education has long utilized technology more advanced than the workforce, online assignments

and virtual check ins were the norm even in 2014. Student collaboration through shared

documents and email was the mainstay of peer editing. Students do not understand the benefits

of the education until it is needed. Many of these fields could be trained through on job training

as it used to be years and years ago. However what a collegiate education teaches the most, is

outside the major specific courses. The ability for us to survive and thrive in a virtual world is

due to the soft skills that are not taught but experienced. Debating a topic we were given ten

minutes to prepare, identifying flaws in Nihilism, or writing an essay about the ethical dilemmas

revolving around physician assisted suicide.

As we have learned to think, and reason rationally we should be able to analyze situations

better, and adapt to an ever changing environment. The social soft skills of diplomacy,

persuasion and dare I say politics, gained through student run club organization membership and

leadership correlates directly to the workforce. No longer are we mindless Neanderthals who

understand only our job, but can apply outside perspectives to all situations. That is the important

part of the liberal arts education. The world is changing, never will we be able to go back to not

having virtual work methods, and as such I don’t believe colleges will ever leave behind the

virtual classroom. While it was a hard year that will not be soon forgotten we learned much, we

learned how to adapt and overcome whilst maintaining productivity in a world that has all but

shut down in-person relationships. We had problems that reared and we were able to overcome

them through critical thinking and adaptive reasoning.

As I pen this, I am in a country where the culture is vastly different than in the United States,

there is a set of beliefs that I cannot even pretend to understand and the world seems backwards.
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During my time at AMC I never thought I would doing what I am, but I was prepared me for it.

The soft negotiation skills, the visual cues, and maybe the most, world cultures and geography. I

attribute my success to the liberal arts education. As the world changes there will always be a

need for critical thinking, as the political dynamic changes, laws are passed, and rules are

changed we must always be able to perform our jobs. We must always do something meaningful.

Our end state is never landing the job of our dreams, there is always something more, and even

when you reach that moment of being satisfied there is still a constantly evolving and

progressing environment to contend with. The purpose of a liberal arts education oversimplified

is to be ever ready to adapt and change, succeed and thrive and critically think in an ever

changing world.

By: Maggie Guillette

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Ernest W. Brooks

One of the things I love most about Anna Maria is the beautiful and peaceful land that it is. In

fact, I have thought before of how I would have paid all the tuition I did just for the opportunity

to be among the nature here. I especially love the pond on campus. I have often told people that

it is the best place for a date with someone on campus (I know by experience). And from the

pond, I find that I can wander off to the most quiet, peaceful, and beautiful places. I have come

here to make important decisions in my life, or to find peace during challenging times, or just to

enjoy the sights and sounds on a bright, sunny day or a dark, peaceful night. The air at Anna

Maria has its own smell. And the animal, insect, and other life at Anna Maria has its own sounds,

distinct from anywhere else I have been. It is truly my favorite place. It is my home.

Pictured here is the pond and nearby land during the summer:
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By: Maggie Guillette