Stories from

The annual United Way Day of Caring will kick off at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, May 18, at Dwyer Stadium. The day will be filled with chores to benefit more than 15 nonprofit groups in the community.

More than 300 volunteers are expected to pitch in for painting, yard work, construction and many more practical tasks for the Day of Caring.

For information or to volunteer, please call the United Way office at 343-8141.

Kaplan University celebrated the graduation of its winter 2011 class during a live graduation ceremony on Feb. 5 in Miami. Bill Richardson, former two-term governor of New Mexico, ambassador to the United Nations, Energy secretary and multiple Nobel Peace Prize nominee, served as the commencement speaker.

Two Genesee County students earned degrees:

Janette Pickard, of Alexander, NY was awarded a bachelor's degree in Legal Studies.

Laura Pitcher, of Oakfield, was awarded an associate degree for Applied Science in Business Administration.

The Kaplan University winter 2011 class, which included more than 5,600 graduates, earned associate's, bachelor's and master's degrees – as well as professional certificates – completely online.

The university strives to help adult students unlock their talent by providing a practical, student-centered education that prepares them for careers in some of the fastest-growing industries. For more information about Kaplan University, visit www.kaplanuniversity.edu.

Zumba -- the fun fusion of Latin and international music and dynamic, effective fitness dance moves -- is the focus of a Party of Hope to benefit Genesee Cancer Assistance, Inc., on Saturday, Feb. 26.

Participants will do some booty shaking for a good cause, with sponsorships of $20 for one hour or $50 for all day. Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. (Even watching this is a hoot!)

Registration begins at 10 a.m. inside the Genesee Country Mall on Main Street in Downtown Batavia.

Pre-registration is available from Genesee Cancer Assistance, located at 214 E. Main St., or at The Insurance Center, 50 Main St., both in Batavia.

Genesee Community College will host a Job Fair dedicated to careers in the health career industry from 12:30 to 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 10 at the William Stuart Forum.

The event is designed to introduce potential new employees to employers, and also provides health care businesses an opportunity to present their trade and services to the local community.

More than 30 local and regional health care companies and four-year schools will be available to answer questions, accept resumes and distribute material relating to their company or school. Nursing, Physical Therapy Assistants and Respiratory Care businesses will all be represented.

To date, the following employer representatives will be available to distribute career information and other printed materials, answer questions, and receive resumes (This list is subject to change.):

• Batavia Nursing Home
• Catholic Health System
• Chautauqua Physical & Occupational Therapy
• Eastern Niagara Health System
• Erie County Medical Center Corp
• Finger Lakes DDSO
• Freedom Therapy Services
• Hamot Medical Center
• HCR Home Care
• Heritage Centers HomeCare & Hospice - Warsaw
• Jones Memorial Hospital
• Med-Scribe, Inc.
• Monroe Community Hospital
• Niagara University
• NYS Veterans Home at Batavia
• PSA Healthcare
• Roberts Wesleyan College: RN to BS Program
• SUNY Empire State College
• Supplemental Health Care
• The ARC of Monroe County The College at Brockport (SUNY)
• Army ROTC
• Trocaire College
• United Memorial Medical Center
• Unity Health System
• University of Rochester School of Nursing
• VA WNY Healthcare System
• Wyoming County Community Health System

"With the increasing need for qualified health care professionals, this Health Careers Job Fair gives students and employers a great opportunity to connect," said John McGowan, Career Services Center coordinator. "Careers in health care are one of the few areas of continuing growth in these tough economic times."

The Job Fair is FREE and open to the general public. For a current listing of registered employers/schools, please visit the Career Services Web page at <http://www.genesee.edu/career/events>.

Administrators at Genesee Community College and Houghton College in Houghton re-signed an articulation agreement earlier this month, expanding the opportunity of effectively transferring associate's degree credits earned at Genesee toward a bachelor's degree from Houghton College.

With this updated agreement, courses and program requirements are defined so that students can make a smooth transition to their desired baccalaureate program at Houghton.

The articulation agreement enables students to take advantage of unique opportunities and benefits such as knowing the recommended course selections that secure acceptance into a four-year program at Houghton.

Upon successful completion of the outlined requirements in the agreement, students will be guaranteed admission to Houghton in their desired major.

Genesee Community College offers several programs that align well with many of Houghton's degree programs. In particular, Houghton's PACE (Program for Accelerating College Education) allows a smooth transition from Genesee to Houghton for adult students over the age of 23. Other popular transfer programs include Business, Human Services and Teacher Education Transfer.

"Updating this agreement with Houghton allows us to have the most up-to-date course information for our students," said Patrick Walter, transfer coordinator at Genesee. "Knowing what is expected at a student's desired transfer institution helps students save time and money when selecting courses to take."

Through an articulation agreement, students typically save thousands of dollars on their first two years of tuition, which at Genesee costs $140 per credit for New York state residents. In addition, if they choose to live at home, they can also save on room and board. This savings allows students to concentrate more on a transfer school that fits their education needs and career goals, rather than how much that school will cost them.

Genesee Community College has transfer agreements with more than 45 different institutions. For further information, please contact Patrick Walter at 343-0055, ext. 6430 or go to: http://www.genesee.edu/Transfer.

The Genesee County Baseball Club will hold its annual Batavia Muckdogs Hot Stove Dinner and auction from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Friday, March 4 at the Batavia Party House at 5762 East Main Street Road in Stafford.

Tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under. The evening will begin with a cocktail hour followed immediately by dinner.

The Hot Stove Dinner is a time for good food, friendship, baseball talk, and silent and live auctions of baseball-related memorabilia (including signed bats and balls), work by local artists, and gift certificates from a variety of local businesses.

Tickets may be purchased in Batavia at Dwyer Stadium, Gerace’s Hair Care, the Williams Law Firm, and the offices of Dr. Ross Fanara and Dr. Alan Barcomb.

Shirley Lawson, of South Main Street, Batavia, turned 50 on Sunday and took the Polar Plunge to raise money for the Special Olympics.

This was a must-do on her so-called "bucket list" -- diving into freezing water in the dead of winter on her 50th birthday. She took the plunge at Ontario Beach Park in Charlotte at noon.

Lawson is an avid supporter of Special Olympics and is employed by ARC of
Batavia. Shirley and her friend Tammy Fisher, of Corfu, raised money by sponsorship in order to support a great cause.