GCC

Press release:

BATAVIA, NY -- Genesee Community College is proud to announce that 19 classes have integrated A Tale for Three Counties reading initiative program into their classrooms. The 2009 program features the novel, Separate from the World: An Ohio Amish Mystery by P.L. Gaus and has been read by over 300 Genesee students. A 'Meet the Author' presentation and book signing is scheduled for Thursday, March 12 at 1:00 PM in Room T102 at Genesee's Batavia campus.

A Tale for Three Counties community reading initiative was organized in 2003 by librarians in Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties, as well as with other interested partners, including Genesee Valley BOCES School Library System and the Daily News. The goal of A Tale for Three Counties is to encourage reading among area adults and teenagers and to develop interest and discussion groups for works of fiction that focus on rural family themes, local history, or other related topics and issues.

A wide range of subjects have incorporated the book into their lesson plans at the College. Six subject areas are represented, including: Reading, English, Sociology, Human Relations, Biology and The First Year Experience (FYE). Students at the Batavia Campus, many Campus Centers, and high school students in Genesee's ACE program are taking part in this collaborative reading initiative. Students participating in the reading program were given the book free of charge with funding from a grant through Genesee's Foundation and Student Activities.

Separate from the World is a story of a rift between two Amish factions, one that favors the use of medicine and that participates in a college study of genetic traits particular to the Amish community, and the other that rejects any outside influence. P. L. Gaus takes the reader inside a separate culture and, in a manner both gentle and grim, highlights the complex relationship of the Amish and the "English" as they live inside or outside each other's orbits.

Students, faculty and community members are invited to participate in various book discussions preceding the 'Meet the Author' presentation, on Monday, March 9 at 7:00 PM in the Library at Genesee and Tuesday, March 10 at 12:30 PM in room S103 in the Student Union. The book discussions and author presentation are part of 18 different discussions held at 15 community libraries through A Tale for Three Counties area-wide reading program. Amish inspired refreshments will be available at discussions, and at the author's presentation and book signing.

"This really is a record- setting year for this reading initiative at Genesee," Sue Chiddy, co-chair of the Genesee committee said. "This novel is an excellent piece for discussion in an academic setting because it touches on so many compelling topics. From bio-genetic issues to sociological dialogue on communal living, the students here are engaging in interesting and thought-provoking discussion."

For more information on A Tale for Three Counties community reading program, visit www.taleforthreecounties.org or contact committee chair person Leslie Delooze at 585-343-9550 Ext.8.

The 'Meet the Author' presentation, book sale and signing event at Genesee are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Genesee Community College's A Tale for Three Counties co-chairpersons Michele Asmus or Sue Chiddy at 585-343-0055 Ext. 6256.

Press release:

BATAVIA, NY -- Alumni of Genesee Community College should mark their calendars for Cougar Week, March 23-28, 2009. Whether they graduated in 1977 or 2007, alumni will be celebrated at Genesee's Batavia campus with a variety of exciting activities.

Kicking off Cougar Week on Monday, March 23 is an art exhibit in the Lobby Art Gallery of the Stuart Steiner theatre of works of art by Genesee's Fine Arts students. On Tuesday March 24, the Lobby Art Gallery will feature Firmament: An Exhibit by Virginia Taylor. This exhibit will run all through Cougar Week and ends its run on April 24.

Wednesday, March 25 will feature the Alumni Hall of Fame 2009 Induction and Reception. The induction and reception will take place in the Conable Technology Building at 4:30 PM. This year's inductees are: Wanda Frank '97, Ellen Ryan '76, George Schaefer '76, and Paula (Miller) Schaefer '79. Thursday, March 26 starts off with the Genesee's men's lacrosse team facing Broome County Community College at 4:00 PM on the lacrosse field. The focal point of the evening is the second annual Experience Genesee, an all-ages open house filled with mini workshops and entertainment throughout the night. Events will run 5:00 PM - 8:30 PM all over the Batavia Campus. Alumni are encouraged to visit their alma mater and see the growth and opportunities available at Genesee. This event is FREE and open to the general public.

On Friday, March 27 a theatre performance entitled, The Incredible Jungle Journey of Fenda Maria will begin at 7:30 PM in the Stuart Steiner Theatre. This performance is a modern children's fable with audience participation. Advance tickets are encouraged, and can be purchased at the Box Office at (585) 343-0055 x6814 or by email boxoffice@genesee.edu.

Rounding out Cougar Week is The Cougar Convention, an alumni all-class reunion on Saturday, March 28 from 6:00-8:00 PM in the William W. Stuart Forum. Alumni from any graduating year are welcomed to celebrate with a cash bar, refreshments, music and memories. Reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling (585) 343-0055 x6265, or by email papacino@genesee.edu. After the Cougar Convention, alumni are encouraged to attend the Stone Row concert in the Stuart Steiner Theatre at 8:00 PM. Weaving a rich tapestry of Celtic and World music, Stone Row presents a unique style of old classics and captivating originals, by blending traditional and contemporary genres. Advance tickets are encouraged and can be reserved by calling the Box Office at (585) 343-0055 x6814 or by email at boxoffice@genesee.edu.

For further information on any alumni activities during Cougar Week, please contact Patti Pacino, Alumni Coordinator at (585) 343-0055 x6265, or at papacino@genesee.edu.

Editor's Note: Photo caption: Pictured from left: (seated) Patti Waite Nicosia and Natalie Blackshear Russo. (standing) Elizabeth Wimbush, GDub the Cougar, Michael Moore, Peggy Waite Weissend, Laura Ranalli, LeeAnn Dimick Brewster, Mary Innes, Rhiannon Mason Eurin, Richard Tiede, Annette DeFedercis Blanchard, and Erik Anderson.

Press Release:

BATAVIA, NY -- Genesee Community College is pleased to announce I.C. Shah, founder and CEO of ICS Telecom, Inc., a provider of voice and data network services in Western New York, will be speaking on Wednesday, March 25 in room T-102 at the Batavia Campus at 6:00 PM. Mr. Shah's speech is entitled, A Passage to America. The event is co-sponsored by the Global Education Committee and Genesee's Student Government Association.

Mr. Shah was born in Mumbai (Bombay), India, and earned an undergraduate degree at the University of Mumbai. He came to the United States when he was 21 to attend graduate school at Michigan State. However, there were some trials and tribulations that arose in Mr. Shah's life that led his parents to shut off his Masters Degree financial support. From there, Mr. Shah faced many mountains in his life, but he learned how to overcome obstacles and found his "voice" to convey his messages effectively to arrive at positive situations via communication.

Mr. Shah's generous commitment of his time to Genesee Community College was procured through a lesson project within an Interpersonal Communication's class taught by Genesee instructor, Jackie DiBella. Mrs. DiBella invited him to speak to her class about cultural values shaping acceptance of and preference for a specific communication style.

Todd Plouffe, adjunct instructor of Food and Beverage Management at Genesee, and General Manager of the Delmonte Lodge, in Pittsford, nominated Mr. Shah in 2005 for the Distinguished Alumni Award that was awarded to Mr. Shah from the Alumni Association. Plouffe and Karin Kovach-Allen, Dean of Human Communications and Behavior, have positive strong sentiments about global education and suggested to DiBella to invite faculty and the Genesee student body to hear Mr. Shah's educational and commanding speech.

Mr. Shah is a graduate of Michigan State University and currently serves on the Board of Rochester Broadway Theatre League, and is Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Rochester. He recently founded DIAL (Development of Indo-American Leaders) in cooperation with the United Way of Rochester to identify, train and place Asian American Indians in leadership positions in community organizations.

He is eager about setting an exemplary model to inspire young adults to persevere despite obstacles. In addition to his professional work, Shah is very involved in various non-profit organizations throughout the Rochester area. Mr. Shah is passionate about his community and the causes involving children, young adults and the disadvantaged. He has used his creativity, entrepreneurship and philanthropy to help many organizations.

Faculty, students and the general public are invited to this event on Wednesday, March 25 at 6:00 PM in the Conable Technology Building room T-102 to learn about the life, accomplishments, knowledge, beliefs, values, and customs of I.C. Shah.

For further information, please contact Nina Mortellaro in the Human Communications and Behavior department at Genesee at 585-343-0055 x6228, or at nimortellaro@genesee.edu.

From Genesee Community College:

Students will have a chance to take what they learn in the technology classroom and compete in an exciting hands-on event at the second annual Tech Wars competition, scheduled for March 19, 2009 at Genesee Community College in Batavia, NY. Registration for the College Tech Prep event begins at 9:00 AM and the competition starts at 9:30 AM. From catapults to robots, manual drafting to web page design, the imagination and creativity of some of the brightest students in the GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming Counties) region will be showcased during this day-long event.

The competition is open to middle and high school students, who will participate in multiple project-based events of skill, chance, and ability. Students will compete in bridge building, drafting, sumo robots, T-shirt design, and carbon dioxide dragster racing, among other events. The highlight of this year's event will be the Sumo Robot Sled Pull.

"Hopefully, the interest in this competition will help to boost enrollments of technology classes because what is learned there can be transferred to initiatives at home, work and a wide range of careers on almost a daily basis," said Debbie Dunlevy, College Tech Prep Program Director and Coordinator Co-Chair of the Tech Wars competition. "We are very excited to host such a fun and educational event."

The Tech Wars competition, which may become open to school districts outside the GLOW region in the future, was inspired from a similar competition currently held through Niagara County Community College. That event is now in its twelfth year and attracts as many as 600 students from Western New York to compete.

"Ultimately, the interest of some students may go beyond the classroom where they develop such a deep interest in technology that they make a career of it. Someday those students may come back as a teacher or mentor of the technology students of the future," Dunlevy said.

College Tech Prep helps students explore various career options and make a smooth transition from high school to college and ultimately to professional careers. The Tech Wars is among several dynamic programs giving students the opportunity to work in hands-on learning encounters, often within business settings and with various professionals. College Tech Prep offers several distinctive career academies to high school students including: Heath, Legal, Information Technology, and the newest Theatre Arts Academy starting in September 2009. In addition, there is also a Virtual Enterprise Business program available to high school students.

For more information, please contact Debbie Dunlevy, College Tech Prep Program Director at Genesee Community College, at 585-343-0055 x6316 or dkdunlevy@genesee.edu. More information can also be found at the Tech Wars website, http://www.techwars.org.

From Genesee Community College:

Genesee Community College is pleased to announce that second year student Moses Nhial has become a United States citizen. A celebration for this significant occasion took place on February 19 with students, faculty, friends and local legislators in attendance to congratulate Moses on his remarkable achievement.

The celebration took place in the library at the Batavia campus and many library staff members, as well as friends and College Village roommates of Moses, were present. Local legislators on hand were Genesee County legislature chair, Mary Pat Hancock, Genesee Community College's Board of Trustees chair, Laurie Miller, and Genesee County legislator, Jerome (Jay) Grasso on behalf of New York State Senator Michael Ranzenhofer.

Moses was presented with a Certificate of Recognition from Senator Ranzenhofer, as well as gifts from Genesee's library staff. Moses took a few moments to express his gratitude and speak on his past and future plans. "When I came to the United States, they called us the Lost Boys," Moses said. "But now I feel as if I have been found."

Moses Nhial, a refugee from Sudan and a full-time student at Genesee Community College, has experienced trials and suffering that most Americans can hardly imagine, much less endure. Moses overcame incredible adversity to become an ambitious young man, flourishing in an environment very unlike what he experienced growing up. Born in 1987 in Sudan, Moses' childhood was filled with attacks on his village and constant fleeing to new refugee camps and other countries to avoid violence and brutality. With help from the United Nations and Catholic Charities, Moses came to the United States in 2001 and ever since has been thriving as an extraordinary young adult. For more information on Moses' past and future plans, please visit http://web.genesee.edu/news/dspArticle/2554/.

Photo caption: Standing left to right are at Moses Nhial's U.S. Citizenship celebration: Mary Pat Hancock, chair of Genesee County Legislature; Jerome J. Grasso, Genesee County Legislator standing in for Michael Ranzenhofer of the New York State Senate; Moses Nhial, Genesee Community College student and recent US citizen; Laurie J. Miller, chair of Genesee's Board of Trustees; and Genesee's President, Stuart Steiner.

From Genesee Community College:

Genesee Community College is proud to announce the addition of the Theatre Arts Academy beginning in the Fall 2009 semester. As the fifth Accelerated College Enrollment (ACE) Academy Program, the Theatre Arts Academy is a six-college credit program of study that gives high school students the opportunity to hone their theatre arts skills while earning transferrable college credit, and also help ease the transition into the college atmosphere.

With trained seasoned professionals, the Theatre Arts Academy combines classroom theory with extensive hands-on experiences to refine individual talents and develop creativity both on stage and behind stage. High school students will attend integrated classes with current Genesee students and earn high school elective credits, as well as college credits. Students in the ACE programs are offered a discount from the regular Genesee Community College tuition rate.

"We are very excited about giving high school students interested in Theatre Arts the opportunity to enrich their knowledge base of theater, as well as their comfort zone in acting or performing in front of others," said Maryanne Arena, director of Genesee's Fine and Performing Arts program. "Even someone who doesn't plan to make a lifetime career on stage will find this program valuable."

The ACE Program is a partnership between Genesee Community College and Western New York high schools to provide college courses to secondary students during the school day. These programs offer high school students the opportunity to enroll in college level courses and to earn college credits from Genesee Community College while still in high school. The goal is to enhance the high school learning experience and prepare students for the transition to college and career. ACE includes Advanced Studies, College Today, and the other Academy Programs including Health Careers Academy, Legal Careers Academy, Business Career Focus and Information Technology Career Focus.

Course work for the Theatre Arts Academy includes Fundamentals of Acting (THE103) and Stagecraft (THE106). Fundamentals of Acting will teach basic acting techniques and will help students become more comfortable with monologues and auditioning. Stagecraft will teach basic theories and techniques of design, construction and painting of theatre sets, as well as appreciation of the organization and operation of production crews.

Students will have the opportunity to learn and perform in the Genesee Center for the Arts, a state-of-the-art performing arts space located on Genesee's Batavia campus. At the culmination of the Academy program, students will produce a live performance in the spectacular Stuart Steiner Theatre, the heart of the Arts Center. The 328-seat facility is accessible for special needs audiences and hosts a wide array of performances throughout the year. Among the many amenities are contemporary lighting and sound systems, state-of-the-art acoustics, complete scene and costume shops and an art gallery in the lobby of the Stuart Steiner Theatre.

Acceptance into the Theatre Arts Academy is limited and requires a recommendation by the student's high school guidance counselor. Students must also possess a desire to explore career opportunities in the performing and theatre arts.

For more information on the ACE Theatre Arts Academy, visit www.genesee.edu/ace or call the ACE Programs department at 585-345-6801.

From Genesee Community College:

Genesee Community College and the American Red Cross have partnered together to provide Family Care Giving Classes at the Lakeville campus center located at 5999 Big Tree Road. The classes will provide instruction to families caring for loved ones of any age. Four classes will be offered on various Saturday mornings, starting Saturday March 14, from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. The cost for all four classes is $25.

The first class, scheduled for March 14, will focus on Home Safety and Healthy Eating. The second class, on March 28, will focus on General Care. The April 4 class will concentrate on Personal Care, and the last class in the series will take place on April 25 and will discuss Caring for the Caregiver, Legal and Financial Issues and Alzheimer's.

"These classes are an excellent way to serve our community members who may be caring for a loved one and have many questions," Serena Cooke, Campus Associate at the Lakeville campus center said. "With the growing number of elderly parents being cared for by their children, due to personal choice or economic reasons, training and support needs to be available for these families."

The Lakeville campus center is located at 5999 Big Tree Road (Route 20A) in Lakeville. Class sizes are limited, and registration is required. Please call the Lakeville Campus Center for further information or to register at 585-346-5070.

From Genesee Community College:

Genesee Community College and the Xerox Foundation have successfully combined their efforts to fund and support the President's Innovation Award (PIA) program. The President's Innovation Award provides funding for innovative activities and projects that promote community involvement in the life of the College, stimulate student and community pride in the College, and help establish pilot programs or initiatives with the potential for positive, long-term impact on the College. The Xerox Foundation was supportive of the PIA concept and gave $5,000 in support of the award program this year.

One of the recipients of the award was the Collegiate Entrepreneurial Organization (CEO Club) in the development of their SCHOLARS brand project. The project began two years ago to produce and market a gourmet food product that would provide practical, hands-on business and entrepreneurial learning opportunities for the students. The club developed and now markets SCHOLARS brand Apple Cider Syrup; an apple pie flavored syrup used over pancakes, waffles, French toast, pork recipes and even ice cream. Profits from the syrup sales will be put back into the program, as well as used to fund student scholarships. SCHOLARS Apple Cider Syrup is available in Genesee Community College's book store or contact the CEO Club at scholars@genesee.edu.

Other PIA projects in progress this year are: Student Story Corps Project, Shushing 21st Century Style, Genesee Community College's Formal Exploration of the Educational Uses of Second Life, and Cougar Pride Day.

For information on PIA projects, or for financial support of Genesee Community College Foundation programs, please contact foundation@genesee.edu.

From Genesee Community College:

Genesee Community College's Albion campus center is pleased to introduce its first exhibit as a GO ART! satellite gallery, "Abundance" by Patricia Greene, from January 16 - February 26. Artist Patricia Greene is currently displaying oil paintings of local farms, markets and produce of Orleans County. A free "Meet the Artist" reception is scheduled for February 12 at 5:00 pm at the Albion campus center.

"Abundance" displays agricultural images Greene created during her year-long grant funded project through the Ripple Grant program administered by the Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council. Artists residing in Genesee or Orleans Counties are eligible to apply for a grant for community-based artistic projects. The goal of the grant is to support the creative work of artists in all disciplines, while encouraging interaction between artists and community members to highlight the role of the artist as a community resource.

The oil painting exhibit features area farms' structures, as well as crops with special attention to scenes such as maple farms in the winter, historic farms and regional fruits and vegetables that are grown by these local growers. From cattle grazing to a farmer's market to picking berries, the exhibit accurately depicts the abundance and variety of foods produced in Orleans county.

A Medina native, Greene traveled to farms, roadside produce stands, and farmer's markets to translate the abundance of the local landscape onto canvas. "I was able to interview local farmers about themselves and their customers," Greene said. "The project acknowledges the abundance of our region and presents it in a way that the entire community can share."

The "Meet the Artist" event is free and open to the public. The "Abundance" exhibit is also available for viewing Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm and Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm, until February 26. The Albion campus center is located at 456 West Avenue, Albion. For more information about the exhibit, please contact the Albion Campus Center 585-589-4936 or Genesee-Orleans Regional Arts Council at 1-800-774-7372, or visit www.goart.org.

From Genesee Community College:

Wind energy continues to be the talk of the town, but who knew that small towns in New York State hold the key to wind energy development? Community wind energy is an alternative model of wind energy development that puts the control of the process in the hands of the local community, rather than a corporate wind developer. Community wind is defined as a wind project that is developed and owned wholly, or partially, by an entity representing the local community. Community wind projects are specifically designed to provide benefits to the local community, including income and jobs. Community wind offers a solution to the wind project location and permit issues that have divided many communities all over New York State.

Genesee Community College is pleased to host a free Community Wind Forum on February 18 from 12:00 until 2:00 p.m. at the Batavia campus in room T102. The forum will be presented by Pace Energy and Climate Center, a program of Pace University. The forum will include a basic introduction to wind energy; a discussion of the Community wind model, including community organizing and project financing and ownership models; and a question and discussion period. The Community Wind Forum is free and community members, especially planners, municipal officials, and students are encouraged to attend.

Featured speakers include Loren Pruskowski, founder and current vice president of finance and director of community wind operations at Sustainable Energy Developments, Inc. (SED), and a principal organizer of the community wind effort in Knox, Albany County; and Todd Olinsky-Paul, energy policy analyst with Pace Energy & Climate Center, who has studied wind energy location issues and the role of communities and municipalities in wind energy development.

Community wind projects are needed in New York State. New York has implemented a Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) that requires 25% of electricity sold in the state to come from renewable sources by 2013. In addition, New York is a "home rule" state which means each town is empowered by the state to write its own zoning laws. These laws determine how land within the town can be used. Each town decides whether to allow windmills, and how to regulate them. These factors make community wind a promising model for New York.

Participants in the forum will learn what goes into the various phases of community wind development, including resource assessment, project feasibility studies, community organizing, project finance, design and construction, and operations and maintenance. Speakers will also discuss community wind development work that has been performed in other parts of the state, and the economics of community wind, including different financing and ownership models. Anyone interested in developing a wind project in their own community is encouraged to attend and ask questions.

"We are pleased to be able to discuss an alternative model for wind energy development, and a new, local development opportunity for the Genesee Valley region," Todd Olinsky-Paul of Pace Energy & Climate Center said. "As New York State pursues renewable energy solutions, the benefits and opportunities offered by Community Wind Energy are essential. We look forward to the conversation with Genesee Valley residents."

For further information, please contact Donna Rae Sutherland, associate director of Marketing Communications and co-chairman of Genesee Community College Environmental Task Force at 585-343-0055 x 6616.

From Genesee Community College:

David DeLaVergne, senior vice president at The Bank of Castile, leads the Wyoming County Division of Genesee Community College Foundation's annual campaign, Our Best Investment.

"In the past year, I have become more and more acquainted with the College and its Campus Centers in Warsaw and Arcade and they are truly assets within our county borders," DeLaVergne said. "Last year, 1,000 talented and motivated Wyoming County residents enrolled at Genesee Community College. In the community and at The Bank of Castile, where I work, I encounter students struggling with career choices and academic expectations."

The driving force of the campaign is to attract and retain academically talented and deserving students and thereby strengthening the local economic vitality by providing training in high-need workforce skills. This past year 464 scholarships were awarded, totaling $265,488.

"It truly is our best investment in our community and our citizens, and we ask that community members please respond favorably when one of our dedicated volunteers asks for support," DeLaVergne said. "The gratitude of the students is immeasurable!"

Community volunteers and campaign leaders in the Wyoming Division include:

• Andrea Aldinger, executive director, Office for Aging and Youth Bureau, Warsaw
• Jonah Broughton, commercial lender, The Bank of Castile, Warsaw
• Bruce Camp, president, Attica Auto Supply, Inc.
• Jen Clark, office manager, Ed Hulme, Inc., Warsaw
• Paula Edwards, branch manager, The Bank of Castile, Arcade
• Richard Fish, president, Complete Payroll Processing, Perry and Genesee Community College Foundation Board Member
• Norb Fuest, Human Resources manager, Morton Salt, Inc., Silver Springs and Genesee Community College Foundation Board Member
• Mike Hardie, broker, Tompkins Insurance Agency, Attica
• John McClurg, president, McClurg Automotive, Inc., Perry
• Sandy Pirdy, owner, Creekside Fabrics & Quilts, Arcade
• Brianna Stone, branch manager, The Bank of Castile, Castile
• Charlene Strain, branch manager, The Bank of Castile, Warsaw
• John Wheeler, branch manager, The Bank of Castile, Perry

The Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing service and support to Genesee Community College. A thirty member board of directors comprised of business and civic leaders leads it. The Foundation was formed in the mid- eighties to provide philanthropic support to the College. Gifts to the campaign may be sent to the Genesee Community College Foundation, One College Road, Batavia, NY 14020. For further information, please call (585) 345-6809 or foundation@genesee.edu.

From Genesee Community College:

Genesee Community College is pleased to announce that Patty Hume has been named January's Employee of the Month. Patty has worked at Genesee since January 2006 and is currently the executive secretary to the Office of Development and External Affairs where she manages a wide variety of details, records, reports and schedules. Patty wears many hats and has many responsibilities in her position; she consistently remains calm and maintains a positive attitude, even during the most stressful of times. She always has a smile for everyone she meets and keeps her sense of humor.

Patty also serves as the executive secretary for Genesee's Foundation Board of Directors and Genesee's Foundation Housing Services Board of Directors. Her work involves providing communication, minutes and general support to both organizations and their respective committees, as well as the reporting and regulatory paperwork for both corporations.

In addition, Patty oversees many special events, including Encore - the Foundation's annual fundraiser; the Wolcott J., Humphrey Symposium - a leadership conference held annually at Genesee; and Cruise at the College - a car/truck show held in July at the Batavia campus. She is also a volunteer member of Genesee's United Way Committee. With the wide range of responsibilities, Patty has shown exceptional organizational skills and a keen attention to detail. She always displays the highest level of professionalism in her interactions, representing the College with the utmost integrity.

Patty received A.A.S. degree from Genesee in 1988 in Office Technology and prior to working at Genesee, Patty worked as the Office Manager at VanDerHorst Geotechnical Engineering in Rochester, was the Donor Relations Manager at The Nature Conservancy in Rochester and was the Executive Secretary at Young Audiences of Rochester.

A resident of LeRoy, NY, Patty enjoys spending time with her husband Ted, son Aiden and stepson Adam. She also enjoys reading, hiking and gardening.

"I really enjoy what I do here at Genesee," said Patty. "The friendly, helpful staff and faculty are my favorite aspect of working here."

Photo Caption: Patty Hume (middle) with President Steiner (left) and Richard Ensman, Director of Development and External Affairs (right)

From Genesee Community College:

The Spring 2009 semester has already started at most colleges, however, it's not too late for 'Late Start Classes' at Genesee Community College's Arcade Campus Center. Late Start classes begin February 17 for prospective students who may have missed the January 20th Spring 2009 semester start, or who may have unexpected career changes in just the last few weeks. There are currently four classes available for Late Start leading students toward new career paths.

With the impact of the economy on local businesses, many industrial and manufacturing plants have been forced to down-size or close their doors all together. Many of those employees have few options for alternative employment. Numerous workers are now turning to new careers, sometimes with the help of training funds offered in their lay-off packages or by a local unemployment office.

"Retraining funds are an excellent way to explore or start a new career path, but the funds often have limited use periods," Deborah DiNoto, associate dean of the Arcade Campus Center said. "We hope every person who is looking at a lay-off will consider the opportunities that await them by getting a degree or immersing themselves in higher education."

Four Arcade Campus Center classes that begin on February 17 and continue for 12 weeks until May 16 are:

• Public Speaking (SPE108) - Tuesdays and Thursday, 10:50 AM - 12:45 PM
• General Psychology (PSY101) - Fridays, 8:30 - 11:45 AM
• 3D Design (ART127) - Fridays, 12:05 - 4:15 PM
• Human Nutrition (BIO108) - Tuesdays and Thursday, 1:40 - 4:00 PM

Many of these courses are the foundation or building blocks to a new degree that can be earned completely at the Arcade Campus Center such as: Human Services, Office Technician, Teacher Education Transfer or a degree in Criminal Justice.

For example, PSY101: General Psychology is a requirement for the Human Services curriculum and still has many seats available. A Human Services degree can lead to many exciting job opportunities in the local communities. Numerous careers are available with a Human Services degree, such as:

• Early Childhood Education Aide and Teacher Aide
• Nursing Home Activity Aide
• Social Work Aide
• Special Education/Developmentally Disabled Child Care Aide
• Social Services Youth Worker or Parent Aide
• Alcohol/Substance Abuse Program Aide: Rehabilitation and Prevention Program
• Recreation Youth Worker
• Mental Health Therapy Aide

There may be a limited window of opportunity for employees to take advantage of training funds from previous jobs and College officials advise individuals to check with the employer or the local Job Corp or Unemployment Office to investigate all available training funds and expiration dates for using these funds.

To apply online for classes at any Genesee Community College campus location, new students should go to http://www.genesee.edu/index.cfm/general/dspArticle/admissions.apply/default.cfm or stop by the Arcade Center at 25 Edward Street in Arcade, NY or call 585-492-5265.

From Genesee Community College:

The BEST Center at Genesee Community College is pleased to welcome Salvatore (Sam) Campanella as a new Small Business Development Center (SBDC) advisor. Funded, in part, by the Small Business Administration, the SBDC delivers counseling, training, and industry-specific research to small business entrepreneurs. The BEST Center has hired Campanella to advise potentially new and current small business owners in Genesee, Livingston, Orleans, and Wyoming counties.

"Mr. Campanella brings over 20 years experience in all phases of management in manufacturing, industrial and retail organizations," Jerry Kozlowski, dean of The BEST Center said. "He has a proven ability to research and implement new methods and procedures to achieve cost savings and improve cash flow. He also previously advised small businesses through his work with the Henrietta Chamber of Commerce."

Campanella is currently the owner of Notary On Demand in Rochester, NY, a company that specializes in providing loan closing services for banks and title companies, individual notary services, identification verifications and field service audits and inspections. He previously had been a co-owner and the vice president of Genesee Financial Corporation, a financial organization that provided alternative funding to small and medium sized companies to improve their cash flow through accounts receivable funding. In addition, he has owned several retail businesses in the Rochester area.

Campanella brings a unique blend of skills that span from industrial and retail management to real estate sales. He is a New York State licensed real estate salesperson and is presently a real estate investor. He is affiliated with the NAR (National Association of Realtors), the NYSAR (New York State Association of Realtors) and the GRAR (Greater Rochester Association of Realtors).

"The current economic climate is really an ideal time for people who are struggling with layoffs and plant closings to develop creative ideas for new business ventures," said Campanella. "I'm excited to start advising those people who have dreams and want to put them into action."

In addition to his professional work, Campanella is the Treasurer of The Caltanissetta Society of Rochester, an organization that provides charitable contributions to families in need of medical funding assistance for an ill child. He is also a member of the Italian-American Sports Club of Rochester, the Italian-American Business Network, and the Greece Chamber of Commerce.

Currently residing in Gates, NY, Campanella holds a bachelor of business administration degree in finance and marketing from Saint John Fisher College. He is married to his wife Stella and they have six children. In his spare time, he enjoys golf, bowling and spending time with his family.

He is looking forward to his new role as a BEST Center advisor and hopes to help individuals understand what is required to start and own a small business.

For more information about the BEST Center, to register for one of the upcoming workshops, or to make an appointment with a counselor, call (585) 345-6868.

From Genesee Community College:

Robert Boyce of LeRoy, Broker/Consultant, Tompkins Insurance, and an active member of the Genesee Community College Foundation, volunteers as general chair of the Genesee Community College Foundation's 2008-2009 annual campaign, Our Best Investment.

At the opening meeting, Boyce remarked that his College involvement is a natural extension of his interest in helping the region reach its potential. He said, "As a community, we need to recognize that we can help the region prosper by attracting and retaining our residents and by training them in jobs that support the local economy. Today, more than ever, we can truly make a difference in the lives of students as well as invest in a stronger future for our region."

At the meeting, he introduced the chairs assisting him in reaching the campaign's $364,750 goal.

Community divisions are chaired by:

Wyoming: David DeLavergne, Senior Vice President, The Bank of Castile, Perry Office
Livingston: Les Cole, President, Commodity Resource Corporation, Caledonia
Genesee: Michael Grammatico of Batavia, Financial Advisor, Merrill Lynch, Inc.
Orleans: Wendy Kelly, Branch Manager, HSBC Bank USA, Albion Office
Five other divisions complete the team:

Faculty and Staff: Ray and Patty Chaya of Batavia and co-chair Marirose Ethington of Pavilion
Leadership: Roger Christiano of Batavia, Foundation Board member, Christiano Cellular
Alumni: Lori Stupp of Batavia, Regional Representative, Genesee Country United Way
Associates: Joe Teresi of Batavia, Account Executive/Vice President, Tompkins Insurance Agency
Heritage: Patrick Forsyth, CPA of Batavia
The Faculty and Staff Division is already underway. Ms. Chaya, Associate Dean of the Warsaw Campus Center, stated, "As our opportunities for providing scholarships to worthy and deserving students have increased, many of our faculty and staff see a positive influence on student achievement and are so generous to the Foundation drive giving nearly 10% of the goal. Students view scholarships as an investment in them and they want to do well. It is truly our best investment."

Ms. Stupp, a 1989 alumnus of the College stated there are nearly 20,000 alumni of Genesee. She said that she and her team of enthusiastic volunteers will contact in person, by telephone, or through the mail as many as possible.

Boyce summarized the meeting saying that the campaign theme, Our Best Investment, reflects the desire to support academic excellence in the classroom through scholarship incentives to students who have demonstrated high academic achievement, as well as to make a college education available to all capable area residents, regardless of their ability to pay. He said, "The College is an asset. As we invest, we are rewarded with better informed citizens and a well-trained labor force."

The Genesee Community College Foundation is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing service and support to Genesee Community College. A thirty-member board of directors is comprised of local business and civic leaders. The Foundation, formed in the mid-eighties to provide philanthropic support to the College, provided 389 scholarships to Genesee students last year totaling $301,513.

Gifts to the campaign may be sent to the Genesee Community College Foundation, One College Road, Batavia, NY 14020. Pledges may be made online at our web site www.genesee.edu. For further information, call (585) 345-6809 or write to foundation@genesee.edu.