Former Bowdoin Orient Co-Editor-in-Chief Steve Kolowich ’08 shares his perspective, via a play-by-play of imperfection, on the New England Patriots’ journey to Super Bowl XLVI.

“Heaven is a place where nothing happens,” writes Kolowich in a piece for Slate. “The deepest joy of being a fan is living in those moments when your team grasps something that seemed to be out of reach, seizing opportunity with its fingertips—and if need be, a helmet.”

For instance, last fall, Miller introduced an audience at the New York Academy of Science to “Sinfonia Antartica” — a presentation of classical, electronic and go-go musical interpretations of physicist Brian Greene’s research. His 2011 book, The Book of Ice, presents charts, graphs, and alarming images of the effects of human-caused climate change that Miller noted on his 2008 expedition to Antarctica.

It’s happened to all of us, a lyric, a tune, stuck in our head, good or bad, looping over and over until something else knocks it loose. Turns out, researchers have discovered a scientific reason for these so-called “earworms.”

Men’s Ice Hockey — The Amherst College men’s ice hockey team scored twice in the third period and goaltender Jonathan La Rose stopped 37 shots to lead the Jeffs in a 3-1 win over Bowdoin on Friday.

Women’s Basketball — Bowdoin outscored Middlebury 49-27 in the second half on its way to a 68-58 come-from-behind victory over the Panthers (6-14, 0-7) in Pepin Gym on Friday evening.

Men’s Basketball — Top-ranked Middlebury held off a late charge by Bowdoin (14-6, 3-4), as the Panthers picked up a 79-76 win over the Polar Bears in Pepin Gym.

Women’s Squash —The Bowdoin women’s squash team blanked Connecticut College 9-0 in action at the Lubin Family Squash Center on Friday.

Ackerman says she and Armstrong organized Generous Enthusiasts after listening to a common complaint among seniors of “things they wished they had known” earlier in their time at Bowdoin, such as how to pick a major, how to get involved in student government or how to get a summer internship. “It’s rare to have freshman conversations like that with other freshmen,” Ackerman said.

At the end of the last semester, the 50 seniors – who were recruited for their mentoring qualities – attended a training “to help them think about where mid-semester first-years are and brainstorm ways to help them stretch a bit this spring,” said Mary Pat McMahon, associate dean of student affairs and director of residential life. Participating first-years signed up for the program. Ackerman says eventually the program could be expanded to include more students.

Last night in Moulton Union, the seniors and first-years were instructed to find one another after a word was pinned to their back that represented one half of a common pair, such as chips and salsa or salt and pepper. They had to figure out what was on their backs by asking other attendees yes and no questions, and from that point find their match. Following the successful pairing, the duos participated in other activities, such as a rotating circle in which people in an inner circle asked people in the outer circle about their favorite campus spot, favorite professors or dream job.

Geoffrey Canada '74

Geoffrey Canada ’74 has been selected to receive the second Harvard Graduate School of Education Medal for Education Impact. The medal is the highest honor given by the Ed School, and is awarded to practitioners, policymakers and researchers who have had an outstanding transformative impact on the education sector.

“To be chosen for this medal by the Harvard Graduate School of Education, which has had such a profound impact on my life and on education reform across the nation, is a deeply felt honor,” Canada said.

Canada is the president and CEO of the Harlem Children’s Zone, a full-service community organization geared toward improving the lives of low-income children and families in New York City through education.

John Holt and his book, "Spirits of the Place: Buddhism and Lao Religious Culture," featured in The Washington Post.

John Holt, Bowdoin’s William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of the Humanities in Religion & Asian Studies, shares insight about how the Lao New Year (likened to a hybrid of a Hindu festival of colors and a college football tailgate party) has changed over the centuries.

In the Washington Post article, Holt says that in previous centuries the New Year was celebrated with “high sacrality and sobriety,” but today it has a “carnival atmosphere of lighthearted and licensed anarchy.”

The article also references Holt’s book Spirits of the Place: Buddhism and Lao Religious Culture (2009).

Students in the course Bird Song, Human Song.

Bowdoin courses are on students’ minds this week, during the final days of the add-drop period.With more than 680 courses offered each year, it’s a lot to choose from.

Bowdoin senior Peter Newman ’12 has this sage advice: “If you keep on top of the reading and pay attention in class, you’ll get through it.”

He adds: “I was just talking with my friends and we were saying we wish we had more time to take classes in disciplines that we haven’t tried before.”

Look at a Bowdoin Course Sampler.

Cole was the featured speaker at Tuesday’s Bowdoin Breakfast, delivering the talk ”Muppet Diplomacy:  How Sesame Street is Working to Change Our World” in which she talked about the mission and the reach of the Sesame Workshop, whose name, Cole said, originated from “the concept of ‘open sesame’ and the idea that you can open the world of learning through opening Sesame.”

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Cole received her doctorate in human development and psychology from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education, previously worked as a Senior Researcher at the Joslin Diabetes Center and a college course instructor, and is a member of the editorial board of theJournal of Children and Media and served as the publication’s first Review and Commentary Editor.

John "Jack" Grinold '57. Photo: Northeastern University.

John “Jack” Grinold ’57 has been inducted into the Beanpot Tournament Hall of Fame as its 53rd member.

The Beanpot Tournament is Boston’s 60-year-old ice hockey tournament, which pits Boston College, Harvard University, Boston University and Northeastern University against each other in the quest for the Beanpot trophy (a replica of a pot for cooking beans).

Grinold has been the associate athletic director for communications at Northeastern University for more than 50 years and is the secretary of the annual Beanpot tournament.

“Jack has the biggest picture of our Beanpot,” TD Garden Vice President of Events Steve Nazro said. “He sees the event in the context of Boston sports, and what it means to the complete fabric of college athletics … He is the soul of the Beanpot.”

Grinold has garnered numerous accolades over his career, including being honored by Northeastern as one of the 100 people responsible for the university’s growth and success. In 2003, Grinold was inducted to the New England Basketball Hall of Fame and in 2009 to the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2008, Grinold and his wife, Cathy, established a $1 million endowment at Northeastern for men’s rowing. Grinold’s comments are included in the tribute video, “Sid Watson: The Legacy of a Coach.”

Watch the latest video at video.foxbusiness.com

O’Halloran’s daughter Charlotte is a member of the Class of 2013.

Michael Bartini. Photo courtesy: College Board.

Michael Bartini, of Wellesley, Mass., has been named Bowdoin’s Director of Student Aid, effective July 1, 2012. Bartini will succeed Steve Joyce, who has announced his intention to move to part-time status at the end of the current academic year.

Bartini brings more than 30 years of financial aid experience to Bowdoin, including eight years as director of financial aid at Brown University. For the past five years, Bartini has held a variety of leadership roles at The College Board. He previously served as director of financial aid at Washington and Lee University, where he also oversaw all federal programs for the School of Law. Bartini is a graduate of Westfield State College in Westfield, Mass., where he earned a degree in economics.

“We have enjoyed tremendous continuity of leadership in our student aid office and operations over the years, as the program has expanded to meet the needs of our students and their families,” says Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Scott Meiklejohn, who points out that when Joyce joined the Student Aid office in 1991, the College distributed $6.7 million in need-based financial aid. Today, Bowdoin provides more than $28 million to approximately 44% of the student body, with an average annual grant of $35,000.

“This aid plays a critical role in our ability to attract a diverse student body and advances Bowdoin’s long-standing tradition of providing opportunity to accomplished students, regardless of their ability to pay our fees,” says Meiklejohn. “Steve has been instrumental in building this outstanding program and serving as a trusted counselor to students and parents, and I am grateful that he will remain with us as Michael transitions to the director’s role.”

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Women’s Basketball — Jill Henrikson ’12 scored 25 points with nine rebounds and nine steals to lead the Polar Bear women’s basketball team in a 65-45 win over Eastern Connecticut State University Tuesday evening at Morrell Gymnasium.

Men’s Basketball — Five Polar Bears scored in double digits, led by 22 from Will Hanley, in a 94-83 victory by the men’s basketball team over Thomas Tuesday evening.