The Saint Rose Chronicle

Issue date: 5/8/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Courtesy Photo: Kim Clune Graduate Kim Clune is looking foward to the future, and soon will be heading of to volunteer in Ghana.

To some, college is a natural choice following the completion of high school. For others, following their own paths is not only the best choice, but allows them to experience life in ways that those who go straight to college cannot. Senior Kim Clune is one those who chose her own path, and her life has been anything but ordinary.

Clune, who currently lives in East Nassau, grew up in Angola, New York, a small town south of Buffalo and graduated from Lake Shore Central High School, class of 1988. Aside from Angola, Clune has lived in Buffalo, Manhattan, Albany, Rensselaerville, and two small towns in New Jersey.

"I'm pretty sure my husband and I are settled in East Nassau for good," Clune said.

Following high school her parents gave her the choice of college or "starving." Clune decided to try her hand at school. She began working towards an English degree at SUNY Fredonia, but ended up switching to graphic design and an associate's degree. Following the completion of her degree, she began a four-year career with Buffalo's Waterfront Printing.

This type of job was not meant to be, however, and in 1997, Clune turned to the skies as a Continental Airlines international flight attendant. Her flights took her all around the world, and she was able to see "Japanese temples, Peruvian markets, Shakespeare tickets in Stratford, Ecuador Carnival, Quito's political street riots, Italian Espresso and DaVinci sightings."

In 2000, Clune's one-woman company AtticFox Design was born as she educated herself in web design and public relations in the entertainment industry. She worked on this at the same time she flew around the world. On September 11, 2001, everyone's lives changed with the terrorist attacks. Clune experienced these attacks first hand.

"I witnessed the WTC attacks in person from the window of our FAA hijacking class. The last trip I flew was on September 18th, 2001, returning those English families stranded in Halifax, Nova Scotia back to Birmingham, UK. Upon my return to US soil, I accepted an unpaid, company offered leave," Clune said.

Following her leave from the airlines, Clune dallied in many different temporary jobs until 2004 when she decided once and for all to leave the skies behind and head back to the classroom. This time she chose The College of Saint Rose and was determined to get that English degree that had escaped her before.

Continued...

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