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What are Gulls Grateful for this Season?

 Endicott College
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, we asked students, faculty, and staff what they’re most grateful for this holiday season.
11/17/2022
By: Madison Schulman

Before gathering around the Thanksgiving table to eat some delicious turkey and mashed potatoes, we asked the Endicott community what they’re most thankful for this holiday season. From being a Gull to the comfort of family and friends, students, faculty, and staff noted their gratitude. 

Marianne Barker, MSN, RN, CHSE, CNE, Assistant Professor of Nursing 

I am most grateful for my husband of 32 years. A hardworking, wonderful father, and just an all-around great guy!

Amrita Kumar ’26, digital media major 

This upcoming holiday season, I am most grateful for my two roommates. They're incredibly supportive, genuine, and authentic people who are always there for me in a time of need and can always make me smile no matter what. I love coming home to them every single day and being around them, as they truly make my life 10x better.

Samuel Alexander, Associate Professor of English and Department Lead for the Humanities

As the pandemic recedes from view and we are able to gather together again, there is so much to be grateful for: seeing my students' faces, eating in the Callahan, and live theater! But lately, I have been thinking about the things that sustained me as a teacher through the darkest days of the last two years and I find myself increasingly grateful for my colleagues. Endicott has a way of recruiting people who are brilliant and capable but also deeply committed to their students—and fun! Not many people get to work every day with friends whom they like and respect. I do, and I am immensely grateful for that opportunity. 

Sam Alexander

Joseph Mepham ’24, biology/biotechnology major

I am definitely most grateful for my family. I am extremely lucky to have such a supportive and loving household and I cannot wait to see my parents and all my siblings this holiday season. 

Lauri Rawls, Director of Community Service

I’m thankful for my husband, family, and lifelong friends who support me on the daily. I’m thankful especially for my son and daughter who bring me more joy than they could ever imagine and whom I am so proud of each day. I’m thankful for a job that has become a second home for me and the many students whom I have had the pleasure of getting to know over my nearly 24 years in this amazing community and that I had the honor of being a part of their college experiences.

Timothy Byram, Head Coach, Women’s Volleyball/Coordinator of Transportation and Compliance

I’m thankful for the staff at the dining hall and all the work they put into making sure the teams traveling have solid options. I’m thankful for the gameday management crew and all the work they do to ensure our home matches run smoothly! I’m thankful for Sports Info and all the student workers who do a phenomenal job covering our games and sharing the reels and pics on social media! I’m thankful for Endicott College women’s volleyball! They truly love and enjoy each other and work to be great teammates EVERY SINGLE DAY!

Women's volleyball at Endicott - 2022 CCC Champions

Anna Mei Gubbins, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Program Coordinator

I'm grateful for my family, friends, colleagues, this job opportunity, and that I have a place to live and a dog to share it with!

Kerry Ramsdell, Chief of Police and Director of Public Safety

I am grateful for my supportive and loving family, and the two cutest sons ever! And I’m grateful to work on a beautiful campus where I am genuinely excited to go to work each day and do a job that I love where I can help people daily.    

Bennett St. Marie ’22 M’23, business administration 

I’m always thankful for my friends and family. 

Brian Courtemanche, Director of Halle Library

I’m thankful for my family, particularly because I have a wonderful family, my kids, my wife, and my mom and my dad. I’m also grateful for everything else I do, including a great job as I enjoy what I do here at Endicott. Big picture, I think about my family, and how I’m lucky to have them and everything sort of flows from that connection. 

Paul McGonagle, Football Head Coach

I am grateful for this team, the players and staff. All their hard work on and off the field doesn’t go unnoticed and I appreciate it very much.

Paul McGonagle

Christina Manners ’24, psychology major 

Definitely my family. They are my rock, my support through tests, quizzes, exams, everything that happens in school.

Michael Melia, Director of Marketing

I’m thankful for all my friends, family, and to work at such a wonderful school like Endicott. 

Allison Schweidel ’26, education major 

I am thankful for my family and for being here.