Once upon a time (Friday, May 16, to be precise) close to 500 faculty and staff from the Kingdom of Northampton and their guests gathered in the Spartan Center, as was their custom, to celebrate the conclusion of a successful academic year.

The group was full of scholars and jesters (often one and the same), but none so merry as the quintessential Fairy Godmother (Susan Schultheis), the charming Prince Charming (Damian Righi), the dashing Sir Knight and Sir Day (Jaye Beetem and Christine Armstrong), the Three Not-So-Little Pigs who morphed into three not-so-gruff Billy Goats Gruff (Paul Acampora, Matt Bartholomew and Mark Henry), the very gruff and very tall Big Bad Wolf (Bill Connor), the breathtakingly beautiful Princess (Belinda Austin), and the Page (you guessed it ... Earl Page).

Together under the direction of the theatrical Thea Lind, with technical support from Jaye Beetem and Pete Mackey, and stage management by Rebecca Reddin (straight from Hollywood, almost), the Fractured Fairy Tale Players embarked on The Quest for The Holy E-Mail (the one King Art Scott, seen at right, deleted). The journey took Prince Charming and the Knights of the Technology Roundtable far and wide, from the Castle Monroe, to the site of the nearby campus-to-be, to the Land of Shohola, to the Castle of Fowler, across the Hill-to-Hill Bridge (guarded by the not-so-gruff Billy Goats Gruff), across Green Pond Road, to the Castle Northampton, where the moral of the tale was revealed: there are more important things in life than e-mail. Like love. The cast lived happily ever after, except for the Big Bad Wolf, who fell victim to a poison apple.

Faculty, staff and guests were much better fed than Big Bad Wolf. The feast prepared by Sodexho included such delicacies as Jack & The Magic Bean Salad, Rapunzel Angel Hair Pasta, Princess (and Onion) Peas, Hansel and Gretel Barbecued Pork Loin, and Big Bad Wolf Roast Beef (sliced right before your eyes!)

To see more photos of the fairy tale and honorees, visit the photo gallery.

The real meat of the evening was recognition of faculty, staff and trustees who have made Northampton the magical kingdom that it is through talent, team work, and dedication.

Professor of Business Law/Paralegal Studies John G. Thomas received the Christensen Award for excellence in teaching and outstanding service to students. Assistant Professor of Counseling Ross Bandics was presented with the Professional Staff Excellence Award. The Support Staff Excellence Award went to Jeanne Caliguri of the Records Office. Linda Bonawitz of East Stroudsburg who has taught mathematics at NCC’s Monroe Campus since 2004 received the Adjunct Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award.

The award for Excellence in Non-Credit Instruction went to Karen Layton who teaches adult basic education and GED classes.

Three retirees, each of whom has taught at NCC for more than 30 years and made a lasting impact on the College, were named faculty emeriti: William Bearse (Physical Education), Craig Kilpatrick (Psychology), and Norman Roberts (Communication/Theatre There was also a video salute for three other retirees: Carol Frace (Community Education), Sharon Karonias (Business/Office Administration), and Richard Trexler (Funeral Service Education).

One hundred faculty and staff members and trustees were hailed for ten or more years of service:

35+: Virginia Gonzalez, Alan Ravert, Norman Roberts, Elizabeth Smith

30: Karen Brady, Karen Klein, Flora Nehilla, James Trach, Zoland Zile

25: Eleanor Foma Fatta

20: Joan Bender, Dennis Berkowitz, Sheri Bollinger, Donald Bray, Rosa DeBias, Patrick Deegan, Warren Farnell, James Hontz, John Kratz, Sherri Meyers, John Mitchell, Robert Turnbach, Jr.

15: Mali Bartges, Kristine Bergan, Nancy Brunner, Linda Cooper, Robin Cunconan-Lahr, Thomas Dadalski, Alicia Gruenewald, William Guth, Jr., Constance Hawk, Nancy Hutt, Scott Kalamar, Harumi Kusek, Joyce Kutzler, Patricia Nesfeder, Malinda Rodger, Lou-Ann Rogers, Maria Salvadge, Debra Weisbach, Lauren Wightman

10: Jacqueline Bare, Victor Bast, Debra Bohr, Kenneth Bonser, Carolyn Brady, Robert Bruneio, Barbara Canfield, Samuel Carrodo, Joseph Chapuk, CorinaLynn Coles, Edgar Collazo, Mary Lou Collis, Olga Conneen, Edward Csongradi, Mark Culp, Sandra Del Cueto, Juan Delgado, Anita Dickson, Gregory Drake, Margaret Naomi Era, Mary Catherine Farrand, Mary Fuehrer, Denise Green, Karen Green, Krista Harrison, Maryann Haytmanek, Mark Henry, Carol Ann Hilborn, Eugene Hoffman, Robin Johnson, Jeffrey Kapcsos, Linda Kettenburg, Charlene Koch, Amy Linsell, John Lunsford, Rocio Marquez, Monica McAghon, Celia McEnroe, Carmen McSweeney, Carolyn Moyer, Dolores Notari, Suzanne Opitz, Bruce Palmer, Willard Reinhard, Sandra Shay, Sandra Stahl, Melissa Starace, Charles Takacs, Anne Taylor, John J. Thomas, David Veleber, Robert Ward, Robert Weigand, Barbara Wilkes, Ruth Willis, Robin Lyn Woolf, Helen Yanulus, Lealan Zaccone, Sharon Zagorski, Bohdan Zelechiwsky

The fanfare for all was heartfelt as it was for the authors of "The Search for the Holy E-Mail" – Cindy Adams, Jaye Beetem, Jim Benner, Barbara Canfield, Jim Johnson, Thea Lind, Rebecca Reddin, and Susan Schultheis.