Milestones

Two local students graduated from Clarkson University on May 12:

Cameron P. Sitarek, of Darien Center, earned a bachelor of science in Civil Engineering

Joshua M. Risewick, of Le Roy, earned a bachelor of science in Chemical Engineering

Clarkson University launches leaders into the global economy. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, VP or equivalent senior executive of a company. Located just outside the Adirondack Park in Potsdam. Clarkson graduates have the 17th highest starting salaries.

Press release:

The following students received degrees during Alfred University Commencemen on May 12:

Brittany Best, of Corfu, received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the Inamori School of Engineering. Best, is the daughter of John and Genia Best and a graduate of Pembroke Central School.

Alicia Schuler, of Elba, received a Bachelor of Arts in Early Childhood/Childhood Educationation from the College Liberal Arts/Sciences. Schuler, is the daughter of Kelly and Susan Schuler and a graduate of Elba Central School.

Vincent Gravanda III, of Stafford, received a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Biology from the College Liberal Arts/Sciences. Gravanda, is the son of Vincent Gravanda and Judi Anderson-Tooze and a graduate of Le Roy J.r-Sr. High School.

James Bonacquisti Jr., of Le Roy, received a Bachelor of Arts Cum Laude in Biology from the College Liberal Arts/Sciences. Bonacquisti is the son of James and Michele Bonacquisti and a graduate of Le Roy Jr.-Sr. High School.

The graduates were among 13 doctoral, 104 masters, and 423 bachelor's degree recipients who heard David J. Miller, AU Class of '66, tell them that Alfred University prepares its graduates to take risks in pursuing their passions.

Miller, a member of the AU Board of Trustees, said he owes his success as a noted lawyer and jazz musician, "in no small part to the experiences I had at Alfred University. It's the same for you," he said, noting it was on campus he learned "the importance of listening, reflecting, and respecting others' points of view.

"You need to take risks to perform on the stage of life," Miller told the Class of 2012. Then "you too can reap a life of fulfillment."

Alfred University, founded in 1836, became the first coeducational institution in New York State and the second in the nation. The university encourages students to undertake community service projects as an important part of their education. U.S. News & World Report consistently ranks AU among the top 20 regional universities in the North.

Press release:

Major General Patrick A. Murphy, The Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

Timothy Laporte, of Stafford, who is serving with the Company C, 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, is promoted to the rank of Private.

Army National Guard promotions are based on overall performance, attitude, leadership ability, and development potential.

These promotions additionally recognize the best qualified soldiers and attract and retain the highest caliber citizen soldiers for a career in the New York Army National Guard.

For more information about the New York Army National Guard, visit www.dmna.ny.gov or www.1800goguard.com

Press release:

The Genesee Community College Board of Trustees promoted 16 members of the faculty on May 14 in recognition of their teaching and scholarly accomplishments.

Promoted to the rank of Professor from Associate Professor effective with the new academic year were Jeannie L. Burdick, of Corfu, counselor; and Rebecca L. Dziekan, of Pavilion, Health and Physical Education.

Promoted to the rank of associate professor from assistant professor were Elise C. Banfield, of Rochester, Psychology; Maureen E. Dugan, of Penfield, Fine Arts and Ceramics; Ruth A. Gliss, of Akron, Nursing; and Lauren K. Paisley of Middleport, Business.

Promoted to the rank of assistant professor from instructor were Shawn P. Adamson, of Batavia, English; Valerie C. Bello, of Lancaster, Communications and Media Arts; Christopher D. Caputi, of Tonawanda, Physical Therapist Assistant; Kathleen T. Gurak, of Groveland, Health and Physical Education; Heather S. Jones, of Conesus, Fine Arts; Josephine B. Kearney, of Lockport, Sociology and Human Services; Amy J. Schnettler-Zak, of Alden, Nursing; Charles L. Scruggs, of Geneseo, History; Catherine C. Wall, of Hilton, Nursing; and Karen K. Wicka, of Hamburg, Criminal Justice.

Matthew R. Riggi, of Stafford, is a candidate for the AAS in Travel and Tourism: Hospitality & Events Management (with honors) from Herkimer County Community College.

Riggi is one of 727 candidates eligible to participate in the college's 44th annual commencement ceremony on Friday, May 18.

Herkimer County Community College is a unit of the State University of New York, located in Herkimer, about 20 miles east of Utica. With an enrollment of approximately 3,600 students, Herkimer offers more than 40 associate degree and certificate programs, on-campus housing, an active co-curricular activities schedule and a national championship athletic program.

For more information visit www.herkimer.edu.

The following students were recognized for outstanding academic achievement at Buffalo State's 55th annual Honors Convocation:

• Abigail Copenhaver, a dietetics major from Corfu

• Jillian Hunt, a career and technical education major from Corfu

• Cara Robinson, a early childhood and childhood education major from Elba

• Jessica Stabell, a anthropology major from Darien Center

To qualify, students must earn a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 or higher and have accumulated a minimum of 45 credit hours. Buffalo State's Honors Convocation is held each spring to celebrate students who have achieved this level of academic excellence.

Founded in 1871, Buffalo State offers 166 undergraduate programs with 11 honors options and 65 graduate programs, including 19 postbaccalaureate teacher certification programs.

Braden Mosgeller, of East Bethany, and Michelle Jackson, of Stafford, are now engaged. The couple have spent the past 3 years dating and plan to wed next March.

Brady and Michelle met in 8th grade at Pavilion Central School and started dating the summer of their junior year in high school.

He currently works for Precision Lawn Care, out of Stafford, and Michelle works at Stafford Country Club.

She is attending GCC and will graduate in December with a degree in medical administrative assistance.

Ten local students representing Genesee Valley Educational Partnership were honored at the New York State Health Occupations Students of America Leadership Conference held last month in East Syracuse.

These exceptional students earned six medals, three achievement awards, two service project awards, one Barbara James Gold Community Service Award, one Presidential Gold Community Service Award, one “Outstanding New York State HOSA Officer Award" and one HOSA Chapter Poster Award.

Ten members of the HOSA chapters from the Batavia campus participated in competitive events and leadership activities.

Members from Charter #17115: Heather Hicks (Batavia High School); Feyza Osmancikli (Oakfield-Alabama Central School); and Courtney Zufall (Attica).

Charter # 17125: Mechelle Bradley (Caledonia- Mumford); Kelly Cook (Elba); Jeffery Elleman (Alexander Central School); Jessica Fuller (Byron-Bergen High School); Brianna Hofert (Elba); Jenna Pangrazio (Elba); and Keri Ramsey (Alexander Central School).

Charter #17115 earned the HOSA Chapter Poster Award, and Feyza Osmancikli earned First Place in Job Seeking Skills.

Charter # 17125: Mechelle Bradley earned Third Place in Medical Photography; Kelly Cook earned First Place in Interviewing Skills and Third Place in Personal Care; Jeffery Elleman earned First Place in Medical Photography; Jessica Fuller earned Second Place in Interviewing Skills.

Brianna Hofert earned a Barbara James Gold Community Service Award; a Presidential Gold Community Service Award -- and the most prestigious award -- New York State Outstanding HOSA Officer for 2012. Brianna is required to attend the National HOSA Leadership Conference in Orlando, Fla., where she will be honored for all three of these awards. (Brianna participated in the National HOSA Leadership Academy in Washington, D.C., September 2011.)

Kelly Cook was elected to serve as a New York State HOSA State Officer for the 2012-2013 School year. Kelly will serve in the role of NYS secretary and Region E vice-president. Kelly is required to attend Officer Training Camp June 25-28 in Albany.

Heather Hicks, Feyza Osmancikli; Courtney Zufall; Jenna Pangrazio, Mechelle Bradley, Kelly Cook, Jeffery Elleman, Jessica Fuller and Keri Ramsey participated as volunteers in the New York State HOSA Courtesy Corp. Keri Ramsey also volunteered her time as a patient in two competitive events, “EMT” and “First Aid and Rescue Breathing."

Susan Mills (NY State HOSA chaperone, and Attendance Officer for GVEP), Jenna Pangrazio, Kelly Cook and Jessica Fuller earned the NY State HOSA Achievement Award.

All students who have received a first-, second- or third-place honor, per the HOSA National Charter, have earned the right to attend the National HOSA Leadership Conference in Orlando.

Karen Emerson attended the event as a chaperone. Richard Queal provided transportation for the group. Don Shucknect was the male chaperone, Mary Beswick was a bus chaperone, and Sue Mills was the extraordinary overnight chaperone and HOSA supporter. Bonny Shelby is the HOSA advisor and Health Dimensions instructor for the students named above. Shelby is also a registered nurse at the Genesee Valley Educational Partnership -- Batavia campus.

Help us reach our fund-raising goal to send these students to Nationals by joining us for a pancake breakfast at Applebee's Restaurant in Batavia from 8 to 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 12. Tickets are $5.

Poets representing a wide range of student interests and backgrounds submitted their best work in the 11th Annual Student Poetry Contest sponsored by the Alfred C. O'Connell Library at Genesee Community College. Among them, three Genesee County residents were rewarded this week for their inspiring works.

A total of 52 poems were submitted by 22 students, whose hometowns range from the local region, to as far as the Bronx, and who attend classes at GCC's Batavia, Arcade, Albion, Dansville and Warsaw campus centers.

First Place was earned by Accelerated College Enrollment (ACE) student Autumn Piletz, of Bergen, for "Thomas Bixton, 1888-1921 A Man Who." Among authors she credits with inspiring her are J.R.R. Tolkien and F. Scott Fitzgerald, and she hopes to pursue a career as a writer and author.

Teacher Transfer major Melissa Fuchs, of Oakfield, garnered Second Place for "Runaway Train" and Corfu's Paul Lane was named Third Place winner for "If I Was a Flower."

Each poet received a certificate, a journal to continue their writing, a copy of "Poetry" and a prize donated by a local business or campus organization, including The Red Osier Landmark Restaurant, Genesee Country Village and Museum, Darien Lake Theme Park, GCC College Bookstore and AVI Foodsystems.

Christopher Green, of Elba, is among the members of New York Army National Guard who have been promoted in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

The announcement was made by Major General Patrick A. Murphy, the Adjutant General for the State of New York.

Green is serving with the Company E, 3-126th Aviation and is promoted to the rank of Private First Class.

Army National Guard promotions are based on overall performance, attitude, leadership ability, and development potential.

These promotions additionally recognize the best qualified soldiers and attract and retain the highest caliber citizen soldiers for a career in the New York Army National Guard.

For more information about the New York Army National Guard, visit www.dmna.ny.gov or www.1800goguard.com.

On the web: http://readabout.me/achievements/Christopher-Green-Receives-New-Rank-New....

Kevin L. Lawson, a student at SUNY Empire State College, has earned the Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence. He is a resident of East Bethany.

Lawson is one of only five Empire State College students to earn this prestgious honor.

Shelby F. O'Neill, a member of the Class of 2015 at Colby College in Waterville, Maine, was named to the Deans' List for his outstanding academic achievement during the fall semester of the 2011-12 academic year.

He is the son of Philip O'Neill and MaryAnn Wiater, of Corfu, and attended Pembroke Central School.

Students whose grade point averages were 3.61 or higher were named to the Deans' List.

Founded in 1813, Colby College is the 12th-oldest independent liberal arts college in the nation. It provides a rigorous academic program that fosters transformational relationships between students and faculty. Graduates emerge as committed leaders ready to make an impact on their world. Colby is committed to making the full experience accessible to all qualified students, regardless of their ability to pay. The college enrolls 1,825 students.

Jerome P. George, of Oakfield, received academic honors from the Harpur College of Arts and Sciences at Binghamton University by making the Deans' List for the Fall 2011 semester.

Binghamton University is one of the four university centers of the State University of New York. Known for the excellence of its students, faculty, staff and programs, Binghamton enrolls close to 15,000 students in programs leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. Its flourishing NCAA Division I athletics program is a vital part of the campus community, strengthening school spirit and inspiring loyalty and pride.

Elmira College has released its Deans' List for academic acievement for the Fall 2011 term. The list recognizes students that have a grade-point average of 3.6 or highter.

Matthew Gale, (Class of 2012) of Le Roy; he is majoring in Childhood Education and Sociology and Anthropology.

Alicia Hough, (Class of 2013), of Elba; she is majoring in Business Administration.

Megan Lowe, (Class of 2013), of Le Roy; she is majoring in Adolescence Education -- Mathematics.

Jessica Pcionek, (Class of 2015), of Oakfield; she is majoring in Childhood Education and Foreign Languages -- French.

Elmira College, located in the Finger Lakes Region of beautiful, historic Upstate New York, is one of the great small colleges of the nation.

The following students were named to the School of Natural and Social Sciences Fall 2011 Deans' List at Buffalo State College.

• Ashley Kingsley, of Pavilion. Kingsley is the daughter of Karen and Larry Kingsley, and a graduate of Pavilion Central School.

• Joe Miano, of Pembroke. Miano is the son of Joe and Joanne Miano, and a graduate of Pembroke High School.

• Elizabeth Miller, of East Bethany. Miller is the daughter of Louis and Mary Miller, and a graduate of Pavilion Central School.

To qualify, students must earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher and complete a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Founded in 1871, Buffalo State is the largest comprehensive college in the SUNY system. Buffalo State offers more than 165 undergraduate and 62 graduate programs in the arts, sciences, professions, and education. Each year nearly 12,000 students choose Buffalo State for its superb academic programs, applied learning opportunities, affordable tuition, and metropolitan location.

Dan Coward, of Stafford, has been named to the School of Arts and Humanities Fall 2011 Deans' list at Buffalo State College. Coward, a graduate of Le Roy High School, is the son of Bob Harris and the late Gwen Harris.

To qualify, students must earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher and complete a minimum of 12 credit hours.

Founded in 1871, Buffalo State is the largest comprehensive college in the SUNY system. Buffalo State offers more than 165 undergraduate and 62 graduate programs in the arts, sciences, professions, and education. Each year nearly 12,000 students choose Buffalo State for its superb academic programs, applied learning opportunities, affordable tuition, and metropolitan location.

Casey L. LaFleur, of Darien Center, received the Richard and Gina Weniger Memorial Endowed Scholarship during the 2011-2012 academic year.

He is a senior majoring in Mechanical Engineering at Clarkson University.

Clarkson University is grateful to its many donors of endowed, sponsored, and Share Clarkson scholarships. Scholarship support is essential to providing students with the financial resources necessary to achieve their goal of a Clarkson education.

Clarkson University launches leaders into the global economy. One in five alumni already leads as a CEO, VP or equivalent senior executive of a company. Located just outside the Adirondack Park in Potsdam, Clarkson is a nationally recognized research university for undergraduates with select graduate programs in signature areas of academic excellence directed toward the world's pressing issues.

Through 50 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, sciences and health sciences, the entire learning-living community spans boundaries across disciplines, nations and cultures to build powers of observation, challenge the status quo, and connect discovery and engineering innovation with enterprise.

A corfu man who is a member of the New York Army National Guard returned home this past Saturday, March 3, after successfully completing a one-year mobilization tour of duty, including combat service in Afghanistan.

Staff Sgt. Daniel Krebs was deployed in support of Detachment One, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation, and served as a member of a CH-47 Chinook aircrew.

The New York National Guard was tasked with providing the aircrew in April 2011 to support an Army rotation to Afghanistan. With 30 days of training preparation available, New York selected five soldiers, including Krebs, based on their extensive flight experience, said Capt. Eric Fritz, the detachment commander and operations officer at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Rochester.

The troops were located between three Forward Operating Bases in Afghanistan with the primary mission of ferrying troops and landing soldiers during air assaults. Most flight missions were conducted during the night with the use of night vision goggles, Fritz explained.

"All these soldiers had a successful tour," Fritz said, "representing the New York Army National Guard and their unit with pride."