Campus News
In the Media
SUNY Canton was mentioned in The New York Times in the “Business of Green” special section as one of the few colleges offering a degree in Alternative and Renewable Energy Systems. The program was also recognized in several publications around the state, including the Central New York Business Journal and News 10 Now, for a grass pellet grant in conjunction with Cornell Cooperative Extension. The College’s Automotive Technology program was featured in a state-wide News 10 Now broadcast on a community program to prepare vehicles and drivers for New York winters. The web-based Inside Higher Ed noted that SUNY Canton announced plans to adopt a four-day academic schedule for the spring semester, aiming to save operating costs at the College and commuting costs for students. Many colleges experimented with four-day schedules last summer, but SUNY Canton is one of a few to implement the idea. Watertown Daily Times higher education reporter Alex Jacobs wrote about a number of events during the past year at SUNY Canton. Among the highlights were her feature articles on Alysia Smith ’08 rescuing discarded textbooks and former Instructional Support Associate Colleen Stone shaving her head to raise money for cancer research. The College’s oldest first-year nursing student, Donald Lamitie, 76, was featured in an article by Susan Mende of the St. Lawrence Plaindealer. Lamitie is nearly 60 years older than his youngest classmate. Senior EOP Counselor Sister Barbara Mary St. Andrews was highlighted in North Country Catholic as she celebrated her 50th year as a sister in the Community of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. Alumna Barbara “Bobbi” Butler Burnham ’46 was highlighted for her $100,000 donation on the Newswatch 50 website. Burnham made her donation at the time of massive SUNY-wide budget cuts and in the face of troubled economic times. The College’s Alternative and Renewable Energy Systems program was featured in the Central New York Business Journal and was the subject of a feature television spot on News10 Now for its grant-funded research on using grass pellets as a heating source. SUNY Canton Assistant Professor Robert Strong, Ph.D., won a competitive William Randolph Hearst Foundation Research Fellowship. His success was highlighted in a Watertown Robert Strong Daily Times article previewing his book, “Bright Advent.” The College’s highly popular Grasse River Community pet wing was referenced in an article that appeared on NBC’s petside.com. CNN also mentioned the pet-friendly atmosphere in an article about helping students transition to college life. Mohawk residence is among the select few places in the nation where students have the option of living with their pets during college. WWNYTV 7 News featured Dr. Kennedy’s energy and costsaving measures. Many strategic and sustainable solutions were implemented over the course of the Fall semester to address statewide budget cuts. “Dr. Kennedy and his staff are to be congratulated for taking the lemon of budget cuts and trying to turn it into lemonade to give SUNY Canton a competitive advantage. Dr. Kennedy deserves credit for his willingness to take on the challenge.”
—Chuck Kelly from Kelly’s Comments in the Advance News.
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2009 SUNY Canton Magazine
Polaris Partnership Progresses The College expanded its relationship with Polaris industries to offer industry-specific training for dealers and technicians. The expansion resulted in approximately $100,000 worth of additional products and tooling for use in the Motorsports Performance and Repair program, which received a slew of new Polaris motorcycles, ATVs, and training materials. The partnership also helps generate approximately $15,000 annually toward operating costs in the Motorsports program.
Honors and Awards A number of students, faculty, staff, and alumni were awarded for their service and performance at the College. Among those honored in the past year were: n The Honors Convocation
was named for Varick A. Chittenden, Professor Emeritus and former executive director of Traditional Arts in Upstate New York (TAUNY). More than 100 students were recognized for their outstanding academics at the ceremony bearing his name.
n The American Society of
Civil Engineers (ASCE) Steel Bridge Team took fifth place in the nation after winning the conference title at the Upstate New York Regional ASCE competition. n Former College Council
Chairman Wesley L. Stitt was named Distinguished Citizen by the College Council for the College’s 100th Commencement ceremony.
n Heidi L. Zuhlsdorf ’08
of Oswegatchie won Outstanding Graduate at the Baccalaureate Level. Zuhlsdorf was a Health Care Management major planning to obtain her doctorate in Physical Ther-
apy with the eventual goal of opening a practice in St. Lawrence County. n Alysia M. Smith ’08 of Glens Falls won Outstanding Graduate at the Associate Level. Smith was a Veterinary Science Technology major and cofounder of the Student Environmental Awareness Society. n Dale D. Major ’70 of Rome was selected as the 2008 Distinguished Alumnus by the College’s Alumni Association. n Traci Webb ’08 of Hart-
wick won the David R. Maynard Student Activities Award. n Robert E. Jennings, Asso-
ciate Professor of Electrical Engineering Technology, won the Northstar Award. Jennings was nominated for supporting students and their work. n Karen M. Spellacy, Profes-
sor of Economics, won the prestigious Excellence in College Service Award at the College’s Recognition Day ceremony. n The entire HVAC Depart-
ment (Martin D. Avery, Derek J. Bateman, Gerald E. Burkum, Brett M. Furnia, Roy D. St. Andrews, Charles H. Wagstaff, Mark D. Watson, and Gary L.
Ellis) won the College’s Employee Recognition Award. n Susan D. Law, Food Ser-
vice Director, won Dr. Kennedy’s Meritorious Service Award. n Lawretta C. Ononye,
Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Physics, won one of the very first awards given by the Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations for her work entitled, “The Effect of Implantation Temperature and Ionizing Radiation on the Microstructure of Ion Implanted Sapphire.”
n The Dental Hygiene pro-
gram has been selected as a recipient of the American Dental Hygienists Association’s prestigious Student Member Community Service Award for its community outreach initiative with the Upstate Cerebral Palsy Center in Rome, N.Y.
n Victoria Berg ’08, a Crimi-
nal Investigation major from Lewiston, and Michael Warren ’08, a Facilities Operation major from Brier Hill, were both awarded the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.
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