Three graduates of Genesee Community College who went on to successful careers and have been active in their communities were selected as 2011 inductees into the GCC Hall of Fame.
The new inductees are Jacquelyn Dwyer, class of '76, Benjamin Bonarigo, Class of '77, and Matt Locker, class of '88.
Dwyer went on to become a nurse in Batavia City Schools and then an instructor of Human Services and Health Careers at Genesee Valley BOCES.
Bonarigo (pictured) is a local attorney who enjoys serving the community.
Locker started his broadcast career at GCC and has appeared in television and motion pictures. He has been active with the GCC Alumni Association. He currently resides in Wanaque, NJ.
The induction is scheduled for 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 30, in the Conable Technology Building, North Lobby.
Full press release after the jump:
BATAVIA, NY (03/16/2011)(readMedia)-- Genesee Community College will induct three new members to its Alumni Hall of Fame on Wednesday, March 30, 2011 at 4:30 pm in the Conable Technology Building, North Lobby at the Batavia Campus.
"This year's recipients have a wide variety of degrees and career backgrounds," Jackie Christenson, alumni affairs coordinator, said. "These outstanding alumni serve as inspirations to our current and future students at Genesee. They not only have created successful lives after attending Genesee, but have found the time to serve their local communities and give back to the college."
The 2011 Genesee Community College Alumni Hall of Fame inductees are:
Jacquelyn Dwyer, Class of 1976 – Jacquelyn "Jacquie" Dwyer received her associate's degree from Genesee in Nursing in 1976. Prior to that, she earned a bachelor's degree in Education from St. Xavier University and later went on to obtain a master's degree in Education at SUNY Brockport.
She began her career in education and became a registered nurse in 1976 after attending classes at Genesee as a non-traditional-aged student. She began her nursing career at Batavia City Schools as a school nurse and then became an instructor of Human Services and Health Careers at Genesee Valley BOCES. She has dedicated her life to not only the education and health-care fields, but has also dedicated much of her time to volunteer in dozens of local community groups.
From Go Art to the American Red Cross, to Community Mental Health Services to the Richmond Library, Jacquelyn has made volunteering an important commitment in her life. She currently remains active in the UMMC League, Friends of the Library, YWCA My Sister's Closet, and Resurrection Parish.
Jacquelyn and her husband John have supported Genesee for several years and have participated in Encore, various capital projects and the GCC Foundation's Annual Fund. Jacquelyn and John had nine children together and currently reside in Batavia, NY.
Benjamin J. Bonarigo Esq., Class of 1977 - Benjamin Bonarigo, a first-generation college graduate, began his education at Genesee with a degree in Business Administration and later went on to the University of Buffalo where he earned a bachelor's degree and a Juris Doctorate degree.
Mr. Bonarigo has been a practicing lawyer in the local community for over 25 years. He has been appointed a member of the NYS Bar Association House of Delegates, NYS Appellate Division Grievance Committee for the Fourth Department, Secretary of the Genesee County Bar Association and a former Independent Judicial Qualification Commission Member.
He has served the local community including the Batavia Youth Football League where he has been a board member for over 20 years and was recently honored with the Notre Dame Service and Volunteer Award for having served in various positions on the Notre Dame High School Board of Trustees for 10 years.
Mr. Bonarigo has also supported many vital organizations such as UMMC, Go Art, United Way, GCASA, CASA and the Holland Land Office. Mr. Bonarigo currently lives in Batavia with his wife Diane and they have three children, Benjamin, Justine and Elizabeth.
Matthew B. Locker, Class of 1988 - Matt Locker came to Genesee by way of the U.S. Virgin Islands, and focused his talents on WGCC, the college's brand-new radio station in 1985. He dedicated his years at GCC to developing the station and even having a highly successful radio program. He coined the phrase "This is the Music FM, WGCC in Batavia, New York" and created the first logo WGCC ever had. His work on the radio has led Matt to be successful over the airwaves as well as in front of and behind the camera.
Matt has worked as the managing editor/anchor of "The Staten Island NewsCenter" in Staten Island, NY, as well as an anchor and program director on news stations in New Jersey. He has appeared in motion pictures, television programs, commercials and live stage theater performances.
Matt's commitment to the college has been remarkable and his efforts were the driving force behind the great alumni turnout for the first Homecoming celebration back in October 2010. He continues to help out with the student radio station and currently updates the WGCC Alumni Facebook page to continue to connect with Communications and Media Arts alumni.
Matt currently works as a freelance voice-over artist, and is president of Winbeam Light Labs, the company he founded upon developing the world's first high definition fluorescent lamp. Matthew resides in Wanaque, NJ.
The GCC Alumni Hall of Fame recognizes those alumni who have achieved outstanding success and made a lasting impact on the community. Nominations to the Hall of Fame are received from alumni, community members, faculty and staff.
The criteria for nominating an individual to the College Alumni Hall of Fame are based on the individual's contributions to his or her profession, distinguished service to the community and/or service to Genesee Community College. Inductees into the Hall of Fame are selected from a committee of distinguished alumni, including past Hall of Fame honorees.
For more information regarding the Alumni Hall of Fame, please contact Jackie Christenson, Alumni Affairs Coordinator, at 585-343-0055, ext 6265.
