Announcements

Press Release:

Crystal Glover of Batavia has been named to Southern New Hampshire University's (SNHU) Winter 2024 President's List. The winter terms run from January to May.

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President's List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.

Press Release:

The State University of New York at Potsdam will recognize the Class of 2024 during the College's 204th Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 18.

During Commencement, SUNY Potsdam honors students who have either earned their degree or are eligible to graduate during that calendar year. To learn more about Commencement at SUNY Potsdam, visit www.potsdam.edu/commencement.

Local graduates include:

• Lydia Geiger of Batavia, who is set to graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and Music Performance
• Erin Parnapy of Byron, who is set to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre
• Megan Privatera of Le Roy, who is set to graduate summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education
   

Press Release:

Connor Kresock, of Elba, was named among the students who qualified for Belmont University's spring 2024 Dean's List. Approximately 44% of the University's 7,338 undergraduate students qualified for the spring 2024 Dean's List.

"Earning a place on the Dean's List is a testament to the unwavering diligence, tenacity and commitment to scholarly distinction exhibited by Belmont's promising students," said Belmont University Provost Dr. David Gregory. "The ability to excel both inside and outside the classroom emphasizes these students' exceptional character and drive, and it is an honor for me to extend my heartfelt congratulations to each one. Whether they are contributing to the arts, pioneering groundbreaking research or championing important causes, they have consistently demonstrated the same level of passion and excellence that has brought them to this momentous academic achievement."

Dean's List eligibility is based on a minimum course load of 12 hours and a quality grade point average of 3.5 with no grade below a C.

Press Release:

Congratulations to Charles Urbanczyk of East Bethany on being named to Pennsylvania Western University Dean's List for the 2024 spring semester.

Over 3,100 Pennsylvania Western University students earned placement on the Dean's List. Degree-seeking undergraduate students who achieve high academic standards are identified in accordance with the following criteria:

• The student must earn a minimum semester GPA of 3.40.
• The student must earn a minimum of 12 graded credits during the semester, not including credits by proficiency examinations, incomplete grades, temporary grades (e.g., Not Reported), or satisfactory/unsatisfactory grades.

Urbanczyk studies at PennWest's Edinboro Campus.

Press Release:

Megan Fuchs of Le Roy had artwork selected for the Term III Senior Art and Selected Student Works Show. The full exhibit was on display in the George Waters Art Gallery between May 2-9 and the senior art pieces will remain through May 19.

The exhibit includes a section for senior Art students to share their work as well as exceptional paintings, drawings, prints, ceramics, and sculptures from students in all class years.

"The George Waters Gallery is an extension of our art studios and classrooms, helping us show the depth, skill, and range of our students and our art department," said Chris Longwell, Associate Professor of Art. "Much hard work occurs in our studio spaces. This exhibition formally celebrates our students' journeys in art."

Press Release:

Having spent more than 35 years working in higher education, Dr. Edward J. Leach is stepping down as the executive director of the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) when he retires in August 2024. 

Leach joined NISOD in September 2013. Leach came to NISOD after the 2012 retirement of Dr. John E. Roueche, the head of The University of Texas at Austin’s Community College Leadership Program, to which NISOD was closely linked for 41 years. Not only was Roueche stepping away, but the renowned doctoral program he built was being discontinued. 

Leach stabilized the situation, returning the focus to NISOD’s original mission — empowering and celebrating community and technical college educators. 

“My time leading NISOD has been the best professional experience of my life, and I’m very proud of what our outstanding staff has accomplished, including being recognized by the American Association of Community Colleges as ‘the country’s leading provider of professional development for community college faculty, staff, and administrators.’” said Leach. 

“My reason for making the announcement now is straightforward. I want to give the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin plenty of time to search for and select a new Executive Director.”

During his tenure, Leach led NISOD’s implementation of the Most Promising Places to Work in Community Colleges Award, which, in partnership with Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, recognizes community and technical colleges for their exceptional commitments to diversity; launched NISOD’s Student Essay Contest and Student Graphic Design Contest; the Suanne Davis Roueche Faculty Scholarship, in honor of the late Suanne Davis Roueche, who served as NISOD’s director from 1985 to 2000; and the offering of CEUs as evidence of professional development accomplishments. 

As NISOD’s executive director during the pandemic, Leach successfully led NISOD through its transition to remote operations and virtual learning experiences, including a fall virtual conference that continues to be offered.

Leach began his own college education as a first-generation college student and Pell Grant recipient at Genesee Community College (GCC), earning an associate degree in Liberal Arts/General Studies, before adding a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree, and, finally, a doctorate in Educational Administration from The University of Texas at Austin. Leach has dedicated his last 25 years to providing community and technical college educators access to high-quality professional development.

“I want to extend my sincere congratulations to Dr. Leach on his retirement as NISOD’s Executive Director” said Dr. Pedro Reyes, Chair of the Education Leadership and Policy Department at The University of Texas at Austin. 

“Dr. Leach’s visionary leadership and tireless dedication have been instrumental in advancing NISOD’s mission of empowering community and technical college educators. Under his guidance, NISOD has provided high-quality professional development opportunities and celebrated student and staff excellence in the field. We are grateful for Dr. Leach’s invaluable contributions and wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.”

Dr. Leach’s resignation will be effective August 15. The Department of Educational Leadership and Policy and the College of Education at The University of Texas at Austin will have more information to share about transition planning in the weeks to come.

Press Release:

Tania Cortes Gutierrez of Pavilion has received the University at Albany's Spellman Award for Highest Academic Achievement.

The Spellman Awards program at the University at Albany was established in 1986 as a way to recognize and acknowledge the academic achievements of UAlbany students of African, Asian, Latino, and Native American heritage.

The Spellman Award for Academic Achievement is presented annually to scholars who are full-time undergraduates with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above and have been matriculated at the University for a minimum of two consecutive semesters. Top Academic Achievement Award honorees are the highest-ranking male and female recipients of African, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino and Native American heritage in their class.

The program and the awards are named in honor and memory of Seth Spellman, Jr., past dean of the University's School of Social Welfare, serving until 1980. He was also a professor and past chair of the Department of Africana Studies, which he helped establish in 1969. In 1984, Spellman was awarded the rank of Distinguished Service Professor by the SUNY Board of Trustees for personifying excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership, and community service.

Press Release: 

Megan Fuchs of Le Roy was named to the Elmira College Dean's List for the Winter 2024 Term. 

Full-time undergraduate students registered for at least 12 computable credit hours and earning a term grade point average of 3.6 or higher at the end of Term I or Term II are placed on the Dean's List at the College.

Press Release:

Johanna Knickerbocker of Linwood was recently inducted into the Elmira College Iota Pi Chapter of the Alpha Alpha Alpha (Tri-Alpha) National Honor Society. This was the inaugural induction ceremony for the chapter established on April 7.

Tri-Alpha was founded on March 24, 2018, at Moravian College (now Moravian University) in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to recognize academic achievements, promote leadership, and provide support networks for first-generation college students.

Press Release:

SUNY Oswego recently recognized several Genesee County residents as high academic achievers on its President’s List and Deans’ List for the fall 2023 semester.

President's List students are those attaining semester grade-point averages of 3.8 or higher while carrying required academic credits. Students on the President’s List include:

• Cassidy C. Ball, Bergen, undeclared

Deans' List students are those attaining semester grade-point averages between 3.3 and 3.79 while carrying required academic credits. Students on the Dean's List include:

• Cooper J. Fix, Batavia, wellness management
• Ty C. Kornow, Basom, psychology
• Mackenzie E. Lavrey, Batavia, cinema and screen studies

Press Release:

Madeira Keister of Le Roy, Psychology major, has been named to the Dean's List at Youngstown State University for Fall Semester 2023.

Dean's List recognition is awarded to full-time undergraduate students who have earned at least a 3.4 grade point average for not less than 12 semester hours of credit in the Fall semester.

Press Release:

Madeira Keister, of Le Roy, a Psychology major, has been named to Youngstown State University's President's List for achieving a perfect 4.0 grade point average in the Fall Semester of 2023.

To be eligible for the President's List, honorees must be full-time undergraduate students with a 4.0 GPA for at least 12 semester hours of classes.

 Press Release:

Johanna Knickerbocker, of Linwood, was one of 25 students inducted into the Elmira College circle, or chapter, of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), the National Leadership Honor Society.

The Society recognizes achievement in scholarship; athletics; campus or community service, social and religious activities, campus government; journalism, speech, and the mass media; and the creative and performing arts. Emphasis is placed on the development of the whole person, both as a member of the college community and as a contribution to a better society.

Alumna Michele Johnson MSEd '11 gave the keynote address during the induction ceremony.

"I know you're a diverse group that has knocked it out of the park academically while at the same time exemplifying the leadership values of ODK across campus," said Johnson to the inductees. "The ODK leadership values of Collaboration, Inclusivity, Integrity, Scholarship, and Service will be the foundation from which you grow and build when you start your careers."

Press Release:

216 students from Genesee Community College were named to the Provost's List. Students honored on the Provost's List have maintained part-time enrollment and earned a quality point index of 3.75 (roughly equivalent to an A) or better.

• Ian Edmonds of Alexander 
• Ryan Macdonald of Batavia
• Olivia Tobias of Batavia
• Jessie Leone of Batavia
• Daniel DiMartino of Batavia 
• Jennifer Kula of Batavia
• Alexis Balduf of Batavia
• Chantal Hickman of Batavia
• Shamiqua Hickman of Batavia
• Jill Yasses of Batavia 
• Scott Little of Batavia
• Nathan McMaster of Batavia 
• Amanda Kent of Batavia
• Catherine Richardson of Batavia
• Alexander Frank of Batavia
• Jessica Wilcox of Batavia
• Don Buckel of Batavia 
• Leah Buckel of Batavia 
• Brenden Bujnowski of Batavia 
• Katie Abaire of Batavia 
• Corrie Paine of Batavia
• Maria Linares of Batavia 
• Maia Hoffman-Miller of Batavia 
• Sara Smith of Batavia 
• Samantha Conibear of Batavia 
• Edward Storrs of Corfu
• Raymond Vanelli of Corfu 
• Jennifer Miller of Corfu 
• Amanda Miller of Darien Center
• Trenton Woods of East Bethany 
• Francine Stringham of East Bethany
• Sonja Linder of East Pembroke 
• Daniel Nickerson of Elba 
• John Jones of Elba
• Lilliana Thompson of Elba
• Henry Stratton of Elba 
• Genevieve Roman of Oakfield
• Rebecca Sheets of Oakfield
• Gina Giuliani of Oakfield 
• Brittany Kessler of Oakfield 
• Jacob Cone of Stafford 
• Michael Malecki of Bergen 
• Tammy Bushman of Bergen
• Jennifer Hoehn of Bergen
• Kaitlyn Windhauser of Bergen 
• Tiffany Snyder of Bergen 
• Dawn Donnelly of Byron 
• Marshall Schultz of Le Roy

Press Release:

The Dean's List at the University at Albany recognizes the outstanding academic achievements of full-time undergraduate students.

To qualify for the Dean's List, students must earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or higher in their first semester of study and a GPA of 3.50 or higher in subsequent semesters.

The following students have been named to the Fall 2023 Dean's List:

• Tania Cortes Gutierrez of Pavilion
• Carlos Melgarejo of Oakfield 
• Danica Porter of Basom 
• Lauren Reimer of Batavia
• Ashley Schiefer of Batavia
• Alexandra Zanghi of East Pembroke