The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation has honored Bill Cotter for his achievement and his seniority among college presidents with a $200,000 grant that may be used for discretionary purposes. Bill says he will use the grant to work with the faculty in bolstering the Colby precepts and to help in minority recruiting and campus support. Getting On Line Nobody appreciates the increasing on-line class registration services more than students who are abroad. Michael Farrell '00 wrote registrar George Coleman from University College Cork in Ireland to say, "I never realized just how much I take the Colby Registrar's Office for granted. You guys are amazing! Thank you, thank you, thank you for the great Web site--course selection will be a snap." High-Tech Admissions David Jones in admissions teamed up with the communications office this fall to launch a new e-mail newsletter to prospective applicants. The first edition was sent to the 2,300 high school seniors in the inquiry pool and all but a dozen asked to be left on the mailing list. Hands On, Hands Down It is difficult to imagine a course of study at any college that more effectively combines quality instruction, hands-on learning and valuable public service than Colby's Problems in Environmental Science (Bio 493). This class made its final presentation to an audience of students, faculty, public officials and interested residents in December, reporting on a semester-long study of the water quality of Great Pond, the sixth and final study of the Belgrade Lakes conducted over the past several years. Students of Russ Cole and Dave Firmage (biology) concluded that while rapid residential development threatens the quality of this, the largest of the Belgrades, present water conditions are within acceptable limits. As with earlier studies of area lakes, the report will provide important data and recommendations for the preservation and improvement of water quality for town and state officials as well as for the various lake associations. Say Goodbye To Kevin Cool, managing editor of Colby magazine for the past five years. Kevin's outstanding work on the magazine (regional and national awards) did not go unnoticed; Stanford University in particular took notice and stole him. He began in March as senior editor at Stanford Law School in Palo Alto. A search for his replacement is underway. Not Good News Alan Lewis, director of the Physical Plant Department since 1984, has elected to retire this summer. He'll be missed for lots of reasons, not the least of which is his leadership in maintaining one of the nation's most handsome campuses and the 12 (count 'em, 12) new buildings added on his watch. Peace Corps Leader The Peace Corps has announced its list of the top 25 volunteer-producing universities and colleges, and Colby ranks 17th among smaller schools (fewer than 5,000 undergraduates). With 13 volunteers currently serving in the corps, Colby is tied with Reed, Dartmouth, Macalester and Williams colleges. Colby is the only Maine college on the list. Remembering Thelma Students of the last 20 years, especially those who had an occasion to visit the Dean of Students Office, will want to know that Thelma Plusquellic, administrative secretary in that office, died in early December. She was 80 and worked at Colby until a year ago, long after the normal age of retirement. Many students found this grandmother figure a comfort, especially when they had worrisome business with the dean. Patriotic Corner It is fairly well known in these parts that Samuel K. Smith, who wrote the words of America, taught at the College and preached at the small church that still stands at the intersection of the Ten Lots and Gagnon roads. It is less well known that Katharine Lee Bates, who wrote America the Beautiful, was born in a Ten Lots farmhouse less than a mile from Smith's church. To Name A Few When Fox Television proposed The Boyz Channel and The Girlz Channel it named Lyn Mikel Brown (education and human development) to its advisory committee. . . . Jill Maccaferri, a 1996 grad and economics major, has been awarded one of three scholarships provided by the American Friends of the London School of Economics. Moosecellaneous The second annual Custodian Appreciation Day was held in late fall, providing students a chance to thank the folks who keep their dorms looking great. Surprises included posters and cards that residents signed, gift certificates, baked goods and plants. . . . Our own David Leavy '92 is a frequent spokesman for President Bill Clinton. . . . Ken Gagnon (D-Waterville, AdServ) has been named chair of the Maine House of Representatives' powerful taxation committee. . . . Colby magazine has won a bronze medal in regional competition of the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE). This after winning the silver in national competition. The regional judging included both universities and colleges. Congratulate Kevin Cool and colleagues. . . . Nobody was more thrilled with the announcement of Will Polkinghorn '99's Rhodes Scholarship than Jim McIntyre (German), director of scholarships and fellowships, who volunteers to search out the best students for special recognition. In this case, it was wife Jean in the Chemistry Department who first found Will, who has never earned anything less than an A in any course. Pleased as well was Jan Hogendorn (economics), one of the Rhodes' Maine interviewers and one of the first to learn of the selection. Bill and Linda Cotter heard the announcement at The Last Unicorn restaurant, where Will and Rhodes finalist Jennie Oberzan dropped in after learning the outcome. The Cotters bought them dinner. . . . The November issue of The Scientist, a national journal for life scientists, touts Bets Brown's January course titled Biology of Women. Bets's course is aimed at empowering students to find information about their own health in the future and to become comfortable with science.