Mentor of the Year
years, Branagan and his wife Lynn, a special education teacher, have been involved in Sean Branagan the local foster care system. Through this, Branagan has learned how to level with Sean Branagan, the director of the students from different backgrounds in Center of Digital Media Entrepreneurship different circumstances. “Sometimes it’s just at Syracuse University, has amassed a like okay, you got a tough break. I feel bad, quiet kind of success. Though his humble, but you gotta go, ” he says. self-deprecating attitude may deceive you, Branagan is kind of a big deal; he has had a profound affect on the lives of countless SU students. In 2011, Branagan founded the Center of Digital Media Entrepreneurship, which focuses on fostering student-run startups. Since then he has coached hundreds of students through their entrepreneurial ventures with a tough-love kind of attitude. His coaching philosophy focuses on honesty and being real: The students he coaches know that they’re not unicorns. Though his approach may not be typical, it’s certainly effective. For the past 30
Crispin of the Year Ralph Rotella Five years ago, Ralph Rotella of Discount Shoe Repair saw a homeless man outside of
his shop. Without question, he motioned for him to sit inside the shop. Honing in on his skill of correctly identifying someone’s shoe size just by looking at his feet, Rotella went to the back of his shop and returned with a pair of black, sturdy, size 10 boots for the man. They fit, and the man went on his way with his new shoes. Although the man didn’t say thank you, Rotella still felt satisfaction in helping him, so he decided to give back to the Syracuse community the only way he knew how: by donating shoes. Along with Rescue Mission, he began providing shoes for anyone who is in need during the holidays. During the first year of the shoe drive, Rotella gave away 65 pairs; the most recent effort gifted a whopping 7,015. His goal for 2015 is 10,000 pairs. Most of the shoes have been donated by customers and community members; some are repaired or cleaned before being given away.
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