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Grace Under Pressure

All-Time Assist Leader Howrigon Leads Saints to New Heights

By Doug Goodnough

Grace Howrigon almost didn’t stay. She’s sure glad she did.

The senior point guard had a rough start to her Siena Heights women’s basketball career. However, she knew it could get better. And it did.

During her final three years, the Saints recorded consecutive 20-win seasons and back-to-back NAIA tournament berths. This year, Siena Heights finished 26-9 and won its first national postseason game to establish the best stretch in the program’s history.

Howrigon, who finished her career as the program’s all-time assist leader, was a primary reason for that success.

“We’ve had the most success with her,” said head coach Sue Syljebeck, who called Howrigon ones of the best players in the program’s history. “Grace was a key piece for us.”

Howrigon, who led the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference in assists (6.0 per game) and averaged 12.4 points per game to earn all-conference honors, stepped up her game this season.

Read more . . .

Rising Stars

“Rising Stars” is a new feature making its debut in this issue of Reflections. It profiles Siena Heights University alumni who have graduated within the past 10 years and who excel in their careers, occupations or community service accomplishments. To be considered for the “Rising Stars” piece in an upcoming issue of Reflections Magazine, please fill out the online form at www.sienaheights.edu/risingstars. Those who are selected to be included in an upcoming issue of the magazine will be contacted by the Reflections staff.


Chet Hesson

Graduation year: 2009

Current title/position: Assistant Athletic Director & Director of Compliance, Stetson University.

What Chet is doing: He is responsible for the administration and full oversight of a comprehensive NCAA Division I, Atlantic Sun Conference and Pioneer League rules compliance program at Stetson University in DeLand, Fla. His primary duties include investigating and reporting rules infractions, administration of a comprehensive rules education program, preparation of waivers and releases, transfer evaluations, monitoring of playing and practicing seasons, recruiting, potential extra benefits, campus visits, social networking and the Stetson athletics website.

Favorite moment/story while a student at SHU was: My four years at Siena were very challenging between the academic rigor, working part-time, participating on two athletic teams, multiple surgeries and injuries that derailed me not only physically but mentally. But when it’s all said and done, that was the path that was laid out and it made me enjoy the successes, friendships created and resiliency needed to be successful and enjoy the simple things in life.

Favorite person at SHU was: History Professor and Advisor Sr. Jeanne Lefebvre.

Ultimate goal in life: Positively affect the lives of everything and everyone I come in contact with—a lofty goal, but that’s why we set goals, right?

Best advice for SHU students is: Work for a cause, not an applause. Live life to express, not to impress. Don’t strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt. Also, college is a very impressionable time period, take the time to reflect while enrolled at SHU to feel the moment and who you are becoming. If you love yourself and who you are becoming, great; if you don’t like who you are becoming, change.

Read more . . .

Environmental Impact

Jeffrey Morisette ’90 Heads the North Central Climate Science Center

By Doug Goodnough

So, just what can you do with a degree in mathematics?

How about . . .

•  Work for NASA interpreting satellite data,
•  Map habitat from weather patterns and predicted changes in climate,
•  Bring a data-driven approach to earth and environmental sciences,
•  Run a multimillion dollar, multi-state science center for the federal government.

Dr. Jeffrey Morisette ’90 has accomplished all those things since graduating from Siena Heights University. Currently the director of the U.S. Department of the Interior’s North Central Climate Science Center, Morisette works with multiple agencies and organizations to help development long-term strategies and forecasts for what he believes is a rapidly changing climate.

Read more . . .