Cultivating Excellence
Tweedie Scholarship Supported Beef producers had the opportunity to honor the memory of alumnus Matt Tweedie `05 through sales at the SUNY Cobleskill American Animal Producers Club’s annual Coby Classic beef sale, which was held on October 13th and 14th. Matt Tweedie, who was a member of the college’s AAPC chapter and served as a chair of the Coby Classic, died in an auto accident on August 17. He was strongly dedicated to the beef industry, particularly Herefords. The Tweedie Family is working with the SUNY Cobleskill Foundation to establish an endowed scholarship in Matt’s memory. A fund has been created with the goal to reach the endowment level of $10,000, at which the scholarship can be awarded annually to a deserving student. The college chapter of AAPC, in an effort to help the scholarship fund reach the endowed level, is seeking additional consignments for the Coby Classic beef sale. Producers may support the Matt Tweedie Scholarship through donation of a percentage of a consignment, or through a cash donation. The club members have donated a consignment to the sale, and 100% of that donation will go directly to the scholarship. Others who wish to donate may contact Lois E. Goblet `79 at the SUNY Cobleskill Foundation: 518-255-5524.
Putting a Face with a Name Shohanna Smith `08 is an Early Childhood major from New Rochelle, NY. She has worked at the Call Center for two years now, and she may have called you. Regarding Phonathon, Shohanna says, “I love talking with alumni and hearing their stories about their experiences when they were students here.” Students call alumni during October and November in the fall and during February, March, and April in the spring. If your Caller ID says ‘State University’ please answer the phone and speak with a current student. Students want to hear your stories, discuss what is happening on campus with you, confirm or update your address, and talk with you about supporting the College with a gift to this year’s Alumni Annual Fund. To find out more information about what is happening on campus, to register for an alumni event, or to see the results of the Annual Fund so far, please visit www.CobyConnection.org.
Tom Bowes, A Mentor Maureen A. Viel `70 Yesterday, after a long meeting with a student in crisis, she said to me, “Ms. Viel why would you ever want to be a principal!?” It was a good question, one that stayed with me all day and monopolized my thoughts on the drive home. I found myself thinking about SUNY Cobleskill and of the person I met there who changed my life. That was in 1968, and the man is Tom Bowes (`06 Honorary Alumnus). To this day Tom Bowes continues to be a mentor, a kind and caring sounding board, the person who laughs at all my jokes and one of the best friends I have made in my life.
defines them but is kept in a secret place. Tom Bowes can sense those secret places. I personally think this is a gift from God or maybe from the mother he loved so much. I do know this: he is a very special man. I know because he has touched so many lives, and to try and list them all would take more time than I have. I know because I have met people whose lives have been changed because Tom Bowes took time to listen, to offer advice, to simply share a moment or two for no reason other than to make someone feel special, feel wanted.
Today I found that student who asked me why I became a principal, and I told her about Tom Bowes. I told her about a man who has the ability to know the person behind their defenses, their fears, their jokes, the successes, the failures, the joys and the sorrows. He can meet someone once and the next thing you know, he is talking to them about something they think is well-hidden, something that
Tom Bowes continues to reach out to young people who need encouragement or support. He gives “scholarships” to teens he meets in his travels throughout New York State. He gives them money for tuition and asks only that they do their best and make a difference.
Fall / Winter 2008
He visited my school and offered a “scholarship” to a deserving senior. His
generosity helped a single mother pay for textbooks. This is only one example of the many donations he has made to a person in need. I think it’s time SUNY Cobleskill had a scholarship in the name of Tom Bowes. I am asking all those people who have been the recipient of Tom Bowes’ wisdom, generosity, humor and constant unwavering belief in the good in all of us to donate to the Tom Bowes Foundation Scholarship Endowment Fund. I have donated $500.00 towards the goal of establishing a $10,000 endowment. If you’d like to donate, please have your check made payable to the SUNY Cobleskill Foundation and mail it to: SUNY Cobleskill Foundation, Knapp Hall 201, 121 Suffolk Circle, Cobleskill, New York 12043. Please specify in the memo line, “Tom Bowes Foundation Scholarship.” I look forward to hearing from you and hearing your stories about Tom and the influence he has had in your life.
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