Welcome to My Blog

My name is Kate O'Neill and I began working as an Academic Advisor for the Connecticut River Valley Region of Granite State College in August of 2009.  I am enjoying the challenge of mastering the mechanics of higher education in order to help students achieve their goals.  I find that GSC students are an amazing group of talented individuals, who bring a rich variety of life experiences to the classroom and to our college.  I have been inspired by the stories of our students and their determination to improve thier lives, or attain a personal goal they have dreamed about. 

For most of my life, I have worked in experiential education for kids and young adults.   For many years I was the Education Director for the Farms for City Kids Foundation in Reading Vermont - a residential dairy farm education experience, serving children from the New York and Boston public schools.  In 2005, I came on board as the Program Director for the Farm and Wilderness Foundation, which provided extensive outdoor education opportunities to children through summer camp programs, outdoor education, and organic farming. 

I grew up in Southern New Jersey, surrounded by apple orchards, blueberry fields and peach orchards, but never actually worked on a farm.  But since moving to Vermont in 1996  farming and education have been a constant theme in my life.  I decided to go back to school in 2003 and earned my master's degree in Program Administration and Supervision from Antioch New England Graduate School.  I love to learn, and so it is hard for me to stay away from school. 

As a person who also went back to school as an adult with children, I am very familiar with intense juggle of family, work, school and life's logistics. I geniunely enjoy helping students navigate the journey to a degree, and figuring out solutions to obstacles they encounter.  
It is hard, but in the end it is so very worth it!  It may not seem like it now, but you will tangibly see results in your life. 

Two of my own kids are heading off to college, and one teenager still at home.  I am savoring the moments when we still head to the mountain together for a day of snowboarding, or find the time to enjoy a wonderful meal together.  
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Help and Inspiration

Friday, February 12, 2010 by Kate O'Neill

 My advising work with students who are seeking affordable bachelor degrees and continuing education in the Lebanon NH and CLaremont NH regions, would never be possible without the hard work and talent of our GSC support staff.  One such staff member, Anne Park, our office manager in the Claremont center has been working for Granite State College since 2005.   Anne possesses a wealth of information about many aspects of the college, and endures constant questions with patience and a lively sense of humor.  She has wonderful way in which she helps students.  They stop by the center stressed about a situation with financial aid, or registration, and before you know it she has sorted it all out and they leave breathing a sigh of relief.   

Well, I was stressing about this blog ...and my stressed out mutterings drifted over to Anne's desk.  Ever helpful,  Anne shared with me the story of our own GSC self published author and illustrator, Roseanne Veillette, and I asked Anne to help me tell her story...stress levels went way down.  See how she has this effect?

"Roseanne Veillette, a GSC student from the Claremont Region, has written, illustrated and published a children’s book. The book is titled Buck & Ben Explore the Rainforest and is geared for children ages 7-11. Buck and Ben are squirrels who travel in a hot air balloon to the Amazon rainforest where they meet a variety of South American animals.

 Self Published book by Roseanne Veillette, GSC student
www.buckandben.com

Roseanne is working on her BA in Liberal Arts with an Individualized Studies major of Art. Her passion is pen and ink drawing and her work is amazing when you realize how many minute pen strokes she uses to create a drawing! Her book incorporates color and some collage technique but each page is covered in art. Roseanne is working on a second book as part of an Independent Learning Contract.

Roseanne investigated the whole publication process and ultimately decided to publish her books herself. To do this she has created and registered her own publisher name, Little Paws Press, learned how to copyright her work and purchased a printer and other equipment that she uses to painstakingly produce each copy. An incredible amount of work but so inspiring!"

I continue to learn more about Granite State College everyday both from the staff and the students.  It is place where you can count on help....and inspiration...to happen. 
 


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