PSU’s nursing program has been ranked the No. 1 nursing program in New Hampshire by RegisteredNursing.org based on the pass rates for the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN) over the past five years. It is also ranked top in the country, with a 100 percent pass rate in the 2022 to 2023 school year. PSU nursing students collectively earned a 100 percent pass rate in four out of the last five years. 

“This new program will fill an important gap in our educational offering and will meet a growing demand for nurses looking to take the next step in their careers,” says PSU Director of Nursing Donna Driscoll, DPN, RN, CEN. “We look forward to seeing how our fully integrated classrooms will benefit from the experience of working nurses, and we believe this program will serve to bolster the much-needed nursing workforce in New Hampshire and beyond.” 

Message from the President

The University captured the Little East Conference President’s Cup this year after our student athletes posted the highest cumulative grade point average among the LEC’s championship sports. Keep that in mind as you read about the perseverance and grit that define today’s Panther competitors; they are also bringing just as much energy, tenacity, and commitment to their studies. It’s truly a team effort involving coaches, faculty and staff, alumni, and community members from all walks of life.

Our athletics program provides vital mentoring, support and spirit, and leadership opportunities that are emblematic of our highly active and engaged community. PSU’s wonderful community and its ability to assist students were singled out by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) earlier this year.

Results have come in many forms, including conference championships and NCAA national tournament appearances, but at Plymouth State, the word “athlete” does not exist without “student” coming before it.

“It’s the number one reason why you’re here—to get your degree to better yourself and further your career,” says Associate Athletic Director Courtney O’Clair ’04, ’08G. She values the time that students put in the classroom, which transfers to their dedication to maintaining athletic eligibility. Panthers averaged an overall 3.38 GPA during the 2023–24 academic year.

We’ve moved far beyond the PE Center to a complex that includes the Ice Arena with Hanaway Rink and the Gene ’58 and Joan ’56 Savage Welcome Center, built in 2010; ALLWell North with the Bank of New Hampshire Field House and the George Davis ’63 Track; The Human Performance Center, home of our Human Performance and Enrichment Cluster in the home of the old indoor track in the PE Center; the Morgridge Strength and Performance Center (aka “The Morg,” as the students call it), which is also in the space of the old indoor track; and Panther Field, Plymouth State’s first turf field.

Up next, thanks to Sen. Shaheen and a congressionally designated investment, is a renovation of the PE Center HVAC system and an upgrade of the energy systems to run on renewable sources, including photovoltaic and biomass. ■ Rodney Ekstrom ’09G

“Living in Ghana as long as I did helped me see things from a different perspective,” says Abdallah, a double major in accounting and business administration who will graduate in December. “I wouldn’t have been ready to live in the United States had I come over earlier. In Ghana, you have to learn how to do things on your own.”

Abdallah arrived in Concord in 2018 and his difficulties in adapting to the American lifestyle early on were further complicated by COVID-19 affecting his senior year in high school and inaugural year at PSU. He points to the sense of community on campus as one of the biggest factors that made the transition mostly seamless.

However, Lappie was merely a middle schooler in Connecticut. That is not the normal demographic for an interest in politics.

“I paid a lot of attention to the 2000 election. I was probably the only one in middle school who did,” said Lappie, who has been at Plymouth State since fall 2018.

And like her nearly three-decades-long career, that bow was rich and involved the entire community.

A PhD from New York University, the Stevens-Bristow Distinguished Professor is also a published author and playwright with a book, Bringing the Word Alive; an original musical, Pollyanna; and a short play, Bystander Blues, among other works.

She was recently honored at the 30th Annual New Hampshire Excellence in Education Awards with the Dennise Maslakowski Education Award, recognizing her profound impact on improving educational experiences and paralleling the dedication of Dr. Maslakowski, PSU’s late associate vice president.

“I like that the help I received was one-on-one.”

“I liked that it was laid back.”

“Many students have different levels of comfort in a library,” Wixson explains. “We go for an informal feel when we craft the sessions so it’s low-stakes—a little bit social and a little bit playful. It humanizes the librarians, and students learn we can help them.”

Chris Steffanci ’96, president and CEO of Columbia Distributing, delivered the undergraduate keynote address, and Ryan Chadwick, an entrepreneur, restaurateur, and member of PSU’s Class of 2000, received an honorary doctor of business degree. Peter S. Cofran from the fiftieth reunion class of 1974 shared closing remarks.

Dave Anderson ’85, senior director of education for the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, delivered the graduate ceremony address. Anderson received the Granite State Award for his contributions to the state of New Hampshire and his commitment to educating others on issues affecting New Hampshire agriculture and forestry.

Plymouth State covered the phenomenon from numerous angles, including public presentations, campus events, and the University’s participation in NASA’s Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project, through which faculty and students journeyed to Coös County to launch weather balloons and conduct research.

In keeping with its educational mission PSU provided numerous resources to share the science and spectacle of this stellar event.

1960s

Carolyn Trosky-Absher ’67 had an enriching career as a teacher, with a diverse range of teaching experiences both in the United States and abroad. Her teaching journey took her to several locations in the US, including Plymouth and Hudson, NH, as well as Incline Village, NV, and Kerrydale Elementary in Virginia. Beyond domestic teaching, Carolyn ventured internationally, teaching in significant cities like Warsaw, Frankfurt, Mexico City, Beijing, and Moscow. After a fruitful career, she has now retired and resides in Portsmouth, NH.

Exchanging Vows

Kenneth Williams ’75, ’80G and Cathy Williams ’76 celebrated the marriage of their grandson Brendan to his new wife, Mikenna. In addition, they were overjoyed to meet their granddaughters Georgia and Blayke in Montana.

Lauren Fay ’98 got married October 15, 2023, and a handful of PSU alumni were in attendance.