Alumni and Hall of Fame Awards Dinner

On Friday, September 14th, Nichols College's tight-knit community of alumni celebrated with a dinner in Daniels Auditorium followed by an awards ceremony. President Debra M. Townsley presented plaques and gave congratulations to alumni award and athletic hall of fame winners. The dinner was hosted by Director of Alumni Relations Kristy Cullivan and Director of Athletics Charlyn Robert.

 We acknowledge and thank the following recipients:

Outstanding Alumnus Award - Thomas B. McIlvain, Jr.'67

McIlvain is chairman of TBM Hardwoods Inc., one of the largest hardwood lumber distributors in the United States. It was founded in 1955 by McIlvain's father who built a mill in King of Prussia along the Pennsylvania Turnpike. The family has been in the lumber business for seven generations and he joined in the late 1960s following his Nichols graduation. McIlvain bought out his brother, Walter '72, in the late 1990s and is grooming his two sons to take over. Today, the company employs nearly 80 people and operates out of offices in both King of Prussia and Hanover, Pennsylvania, serving a wide variety of successful companies from Ohio to the Eastern Seabord, North Carolina to Maine, and beyond.

McIlvain has been active at Nichols, serving on the corporate committee for the College's first campaign and pledging $100,000 to the last campaign to name the new track along Vendetti Field. He and Walter received Alumni Achievement Awards in 1993. A graduate of the Holderness School, McIlvain and his wife co-chaired a campaign there while their children were enrolled.

McIlvain currently resides in New Hampshire and is building a home in Georgia near Sea Island. He plans to divide his year between Georgia and New Hampshire. He and his wife, Claudia, have four children and six grandchildren.

Alumni Achievement Award - David G. Hale '75

Hale is currently the senior vice president, Americas, for Polaroid Corporation, the global leader of instant photography, headquartered in Waltham, Mass. Today, Polaroid is transitioning to a digital imaging and consumer electronics brand. Since 1979, Hale has represented Polaroid in a variety of capacities. He started as a sales representative, moving to district manager, regional manager, then director of new business channels, director of national accounts, to divisional vice president-U.S., and vice president-North America. As senior vice president, Americas, he directs the instant, consumer electronics, hospitality and commercial sales business segments as well as channel marketing and operations for the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Latin and South Americas. Hale's region of the world represents 67 percent of the revenue and 74 percent of the operating profit for Polaroid Corporation.

While attending Nichols, Hale was an accomplished athlete as well as a leader, serving as captain of the hockey team for three years and co-captain of the lacrosse team for one. In 1975, he was named to the Lacrosse All-Colonial League and received the College's Unsung Hero Award in Lacrosse. He was an honor student who participated in many student activities - vice president of the senior class, Justinian Council, the "N" club, the yearbook staff - and was selected for Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities. In 1989, he was inducted into Nichols Athletic Hall of Fame. Hale is a long-standing member of the President's Society. Since his relocation to the Northeast in 2000, David and his wife, Martine, reside in Wayland, Mass.

Kurt R. Harrington '74

Harrington is the CFO of Friedman, Billings, Ramsey, a top ten investment bank with a national franchise, one of the strongest equities distribution capabilities in the security industry, and a market capitalization of $2 billion at the end of 2005. FBR is the only major investment bank formed in the past thirty years, and ranked as the ninth fastest growing business in the U.S.

While attending Nichols, Harrington was a member of the Dean's List, Accounting Club, the Ledger, and played intramural sports. More a team player than a self-promoter, he has done well by doing good. A member of the Board of Trustees, he serves as chair of the Committee on Trustees, taking an active role in attracting talented new volunteer leadership to the College. A highly engaged, supportive and generous alumnus, Kurt is living his motto: "Onward and upward."

Ken Thompson Service Award - Francis J. Lovell '71

After 33 years of employment at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., Lovell  retired as the vice president in operations. He has been highly active in the community as well as at Nichols College. In addition, Lovell has volunteered for the United Way for 25 years including his role as company chairman, involvement with the Loan Executive Program, where he spent three months helping to raise money from over 35 large companies, and his role as committee chairman for Allocations Volunteers, in which he evaluated and recommended expenditures of funds.

Additionally, Lovell is a member of the Union Club of Boston and the House Committee, and formerly served on the Introductions Committee and Elections Committee. He is a supporter of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. He also served as vice president on the alumni board for St. Columbkille High School in Brighton, Mass.

While at Nichols, Lovell was active in intramural sports, basketball and volleyball, and a member of the Society of Advancement in Management. He received his BSBA in finance from Nichols and has been a star supporter ever since. Lovell was a class agent for over 20 years, Annual Fund chairman for four years and phonathon chairman for five years, having participated in 20 years of phonathons. He most recently served as the president of the Alumni Board of Directors after twelve years of membership on the board.

Lovell has hosted a reception in Boston for Nichols alumni for four years. He has been a close advisor to the vice president for advancement and has volunteered for the advancement and alumni relations offices in several capacities. We are happy to report that Lovell has accepted a membership role on the newly formed Board of Overseers. He resides in West Roxbury, Mass.

Honorary Alumnus & Honorary Hall of Fame Inductee - Leonard J. Hast

Hast has been a dedicated employee at Nichols College for three decades. Best known for his creativity and painting talents, he has been involved in nearly every aspect of the building and grounds effort at Nichols, from carpentry to general maintenance to plumbing to electrical work. The pride and skill he brings to his work is evident for there's a part of Lenny in each of the campus' renovations and improvements.

Hast is a friendly, familiar, and integral member of the Nichols community who has enjoyed getting to know students, faculty, staff and alumni. Despite his many responsibilities, Hast is never too busy to greet and catch up with a co-worker. One of his favorite tasks has been working with the Student Government Association to repair the Bison's Den. In an educational environment where learning isn't just confined to the classroom, Hast sets an example for Nichols students with his affable manner, accommodating nature and strong work ethic. Without realizing it, he has passed on his life lessons to countless students over the past 30 years.

In his spare time, Hast loves to play softball and hockey. He has also been known to show many up with his natural talent on the golf course. Hast is an avid cyclist and has ridden the Boston to New York AIDS rides four times. He resides in Webster with his wife, Patricia and has one son and one grandson.

For the ways he contributes to the campus, the life of the College, and the learning experience, Nichols is proud to call Lenny Hast an honorary alumnus.

Honorary Alumnus & Honorary Hall of Fame Inductee - Bruce Baker

Bruce Baker wore many hats during his time at Nichols College. He served as Nichols' public relations director and sports information director for 12 years from 1971-83, head baseball coach from 1976-78, director of the Nichols Golf Course, director of Career Placement, and editor of the alumni magazine and newsletters. Baker was also a member of the Nichols Athletics Hall of Fame Committee.

After leaving Nichols in 1983, Baker went on to become sports information director at Worcester State College for 19 years. During his time at Nichols and Worcester State, he was also SID for the New England Football Conference for 19 years.

Baker served as head softball coach at Worcester State for three years, guiding the Lancers to the ECAC Tournament twice. After stepping down as head coach, he worked as an assistant coach for many years. At his retirement, he held the record for working the greatest number of consecutive football games for Division III with 267, according to CoSIDA.

Upon retirement, Baker returned to his original line of work at the Worcester Telegram & Gazette, where he spent eight years as a full-time reporter prior to entering the sports information field. He now works as a correspondent for the paper.

The recipient of the Joseph R. Mewhiney Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Media Award for contribution to college football in 2003, Bruce Baker was also inducted into the Worcester State Hall of Fame in 2004.

Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees - Amy M. (Lachenal) Bartlett '97

A four-year standout on the softball team, Bartlett held nine different pitching records at Nichols by the time she graduated in 1997, including career wins and strikeouts. Over her four years, the Bison went 75-42, setting a school record for wins in 1995 with 28. Amy Bartlett earned First Team All-CCC accolades as a junior in 1996 and Second Team honors as a senior in 1997. She was named team MVP her junior year as well.

Bartlett hurled two no-hitters during her storied career as a Bison and set several new school records, most of which now rank second all-time. She started 68 total games throughout her career, which now ranks third all-time, while starting 63 of them, second on Nichols career records list. Her 52 complete games also rank second as do her 394.1 innings pitched and 40 wins. Bartlett struck out a total of 220 batters in four years, a record that still stands a decade later.

Her 25 total games pitched and 23 starts in 1996 broke her own records while her 90 strikeouts also set a school record that year that also still stands. Her 144.2 innings pitched now rank third all-time while her 21 complete games and 15 wins rank second.

Bartlett teaches business courses at Keene High School in New Hampshire. She and her husband reside in Keene with their two young daughters. In her spare time, she plays in the Keene women's softball league. The team record for 2007 season was 22-4 and they won the state tournament in July.

Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees - J. Clifford Dietrich '69 (posthumous)

A four-year starter and captain his senior year, Cliff Dietrich helped lead the Nichols football team to 15 wins over his four-year career. Playing both offensive and defensive tackle, he was a part of the 1965 team which allowed the fewest yards and points in a season in school history. That year, the Bison allowed its opponents just 954 yards of offense and limited them to just 26 points all season. Nichols went 6-1 that year, its best record to that date since becoming a four-year institution in 1959.

Dietrich received the Football Award for Dedication, Enthusiasm, and Loyalty after his senior year in 1968. Throughout his four years at Nichols, he was involved in several activities and clubs around campus. Dietrich was a member of the Management Club for three years while serving as a business manager for two. He was also a member of the N. Club, SAM, and the Nicholodeons. After football season, Dietrich also took part in intramural basketball and volleyball.

After graduating from Nichols, Cliff Dietrich went on to an honorable career in the Secret Service. On May 26, 1973, he was killed in a helicopter accident in the Bahamas while on a presidential protective assignment for President Richard Nixon. Dietrich left behind a wife and two daughters.

Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees - Myles M. Fayle '01

One of Nichols finest defensive lineman in history, Myles Fayle graduated from Nichols in 2001 after earning numerous awards and honors. A two-year captain, he lettered in football for four years and was a four-time All-Worcester Area selection as well as a three-time pre-season and post-season All-American. He was voted Nichols Defensive Lineman of the Year for three straight years. As a senior he earned First Team All-NEFC honors and as a junior he received Second Team All-NEFC accolades.

Fayle helped lead Nichols to an appearance in the ECAC Northeast Championship game as a senior. That year the Bison ranked nationally in several defensive categories, including total defense in which they ranked 21st. He tied for second on the team with 73 tackles (37 solo), with 10 tackles for losses, a pass breakup, one fumble recovery and 2.5 sacks.

As a junior, Fayle finished tied for second on the team in tackles with 62, including 20 tackles for a loss totaling 84 yards and 6.5 sacks for 58 yards. That year, Nichols ranked 14th in the nation in total defense and as a team was ranked as high as 10th in the ECAC New England Poll. In his sophomore campaign he finished second on the team in tackles with 70, including a team-high 36 solo tackles. He also led the team with 10 tackles for a loss to go with 3.5 sacks. As a rookie in 1997, Fayle finished second in tackles among defensive lineman with 34.

Myles recently landed a new position at AA Zarnardi Construction as estimator project manager and has several years of experience in this industry having previously been a project manager at B & L Construction, Inc. In his spare time he coaches youth football for the Tri-Town Youth Football Association in Deep River, Conn.

Athletic Hall of Fame Inductees - William T. Valintas '78

A four-year letter winner in hockey, William Valintas closed out his career with 111 points, which ranks fifth all-time at Nichols. In his senior year in 1977-78 he helped lead the Bison to an 11-6 mark, its best record in nearly ten years. Nichols held the third place spot in the ECAC Weekly standings throughout most of that season and came close to being the first Nichols athletics team to compete in a post-season ECAC Tournament.

Valintas scored 11 goals and assisted on 12 others for 23 points during his senior campaign in which he served as co-captain of the team. After the season he was named the team's MVP. As a junior, he tallied a career-best 33 points off 11 goals and 22 assists, including a four goal and three assist performance in one game. During his sophomore year, Valintas racked up 26 points while as only a freshman he ranked third on the team in scoring with 29 points.