Maxx & Cameron Steinmetz '09 Complementary Personalities There are few corners of GMC life that have been left unexplored by Maxx and Cameron Steinmetz, two brothers who remind us they are not twins, even though they graduate together on May 16. “Actually we’re so different, no one would ever place us in the same family,” explains the outgoing Cam, who is 18 months younger than Maxx but finished up his senior year of high school by taking classes at GMC. “Maxx is a like a well-guarded secret,” says Cam. “He’s always been an exceptional artist. We grew up with sketchpads in our hands and when we got older we began dabbling in Photoshop. Maxx got really into it.” So into it that Maxx ended up pursuing a fine arts major with a concentration in web and publication design. He took several graphic design classes, showing particular talent in web design–during his semester of study he ended up tutoring other students in the fine art of HTML coding. He also worked in the College’s communications office and took his growing portfolio to LMW Design in Rutland last summer where he was hired as an intern. He plans on working for the company after graduation. Maxx’s artistic inclinations are not confined to commercial art. The title of his senior show “Caption Quirk,” on display in Surdam last month, describes his wide ranging interests in two- and three-dimensional forms including paintings, monoprints, photography and sculpture. It could also refer to his eclectic extracurricular activities at GMC including rugby, theater, and music. Soft-spoken by nature, Maxx cites his rugby experience as a key to acclimating socially at GMC. “When I started playing on the club I wouldn’t say anything. Rugby really did a lot for me—it helped me grow as a person.” A self-designed dual major in music and theater, Cam’s passions took a distinctly more acoustic bent. He began learning to play the piano at age seven, and took up the trumpet in junior high school. “My grandmother played ragtime, and she influenced my father, who influenced me,” he says. The two brothers grew up deeply involved in community theater, participating in Potter’s Players’ productions in their hometown of Whitehall, N.Y. and in Poultney’s Summer Shakespeare Theatre. Cam has taken on a number of lead roles in GMC theater productions including Jamie in the The Last Five Years (a two-person song-cycle performed with classmate Emily Piper). A few weeks ago he starred as Seymour in the classic Little Shop of Horrors. As a vocalist, Cameron has been a long-time member of the select GMC Cantorion, performing at Ackley Hall and on the road throughout the northeastern United States and in Wales. Last November, his talents were on display at Rutland’s Really Big Show, an annual benefit concert for the United Way held at Rutland’s Paramount Theater. He was declared best adult soloist and named overall winner for his performance of Scott Joplin’s "Maple Leaf Rag"; he was also awarded the College’s Theatre Achievement Award and the Music Senior Achievement Award presented at Honors Tea on April 26. “Cam gets a lot of attention for doing whatever he likes to do,” jokes Maxx. “But he’s a really talented person in an ‘out there’ kind of way. Our personalities complement each other pretty well.” Front Page		WEEK AT A GLANCE MONDAY, MAY 11 Final Exams TUESDAY, MAY 12 Final Exams WEDNESDAY, MAY 13 President's Bike Tour 9:30 a.m., Meet in Ames Circle Senior BBQ 5 p.m., Cree Lawn THURSDAY, MAY 14 Evening Social 8 p.m. - 1 a.m., The Forum in Granville FRIDAY, MAY 15 Trustee Meeting 9 a.m., Booth Lounge Masters Capstone Presentations 10 a.m. - 12:30- p.m., The Gorge President's Brunch 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., Withey Dining Hall Senior Exit Survey 1 p.m., Withey Dining Hall Senior Marching Rehearsal 1:15 p.m., Waldron Athletic Center Masters Capstone Presentations 1:30 - 4 p.m., The Gorge Masters Graduate Hooding Ceremony 5 p.m., East Room Commencement Choir Concert 8 p.m., Clara Hitchcock Fitzpatrick Jones Concert Hall SATURDAY, MAY 16 Complimentary Continental Breakfast 8 - 9:30 a.m., Withey Hall Entrance Commencement 10 a.m., Griswold Library lawn If you have news, announcements, or events to publicize in the GMC Journal, please e-mail materials to gmcjournal@greenmtn.edu or send through campus mail to the Communications Office, Richardson House. All materials subject to editorial approval by the College Communications Office.