Milestones

Submitted photo and press release:

The New York State American Legion Boys State program will be held June 27^th to July 2nd at Morrisville State College, Morrisville.

The American Legion Boys State is a unique summertime educational program for boys entering their senior year of high school.

The program focuses on participation and personal experience in a model state, complete with governmental bodies and elected public officials. It is designed to mirror the structure and operation of state government while providing training in practical citizenship, leadership and character through a non-partisan lens. 

The American Legion Boys State program consists of classroom work, lectures and hands-on activities that promote learning by doing. Each participant is known as a “citizen” and becomes an integral part of the process assuming specific responsibilities as an elected or appointed official.

The American Legion Posts, local businesses, or other civic organizations pay the delegates' enrollment fees. 

The Genesee County American Legion Committee is proud to be sponsoring the following 2019 Boys State delegates:

• Zachary Anderson -- Batavia High School
• Zeshan Armstrong -- Batavia High School
• Aiden Cornelius -- Oakfield-Alabama High School
• Grantham Gilligan -- Le Roy High School
• Zachary Hannon -- Byron Bergen High School
• Jake Hill -- Le Roy High School
• Ryan Manges -- Oakfield-Alabama High School
• Alexander Pratz -- Oakfield-Alabama High School
• Dylan Rykert -- Oakfield-Alabama High School
• Gavin Schmidt -- Batavia High School
• Cameron Smith -- Le Roy High School
• Keith Szczepanski -- Notre Dame High School
• Charles Urbanczyk -- Pavilion High School

About The American Legion 

The American Legion is the largest wartime veterans service organization with nearly 2 million members in 12,875 posts in communities across America. Chartered by Congress in 1919, The American Legion is committed to mentoring youth and sponsoring wholesome programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow service members and veterans.

Katie Kesler accepting the award with BU Sargent College Dean Chris Moore. Photo by Katherine Taylor for Boston University Photography.

Katie Kesler, of Batavia, received the Twiness Award from Boston University (BU) College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College at the annual Senior Awards Reception on May 17.

The Twiness Award is presented to graduating seniors who exemplify the ideals of service, loyalty, thoughtfulness, and excellence of scholarship.

An alumna of Batavia High School, Kesler graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in behavior and health on May 19.

“Student leadership taught me how to utilize my passion for disability advocacy to start meaningful dialogues surrounding perception of disability,” Kesler said. “I am a proud sibling of an individual with Down syndrome, and I am a vocal advocate for inclusion and the destigmatization of intellectual disability.”

While at BU, Kesler served as vice president of BU Student Volunteers for Special Needs, a Camp PALS counselor, and a peer mentor for Partners for Youth with Disabilities.

She was a member of the Navigators Christian Fellowship leadership team at BU, a member of the BU Student Occupational Therapy Association, a Sargent College peer mentor, and an assistant teacher at the BU Children’s Center.

Kesler was a Dean Elsbeth Melville Scholarship recipient, awarded for academic and extracurricular excellence as well as demonstrated promise in future fields. She was also inducted into the Sargent College Honor Society and received the Pamela Posen Endowed Memorial Scholarship.

“Katie is empathic and insightful and looks out for fellow students -- she is bright, dedicated, and hardworking,” said Clinical Assistant Professor Anne Sullivan-Soydan.

“Most importantly, Katie is, quite simply, a good person, with high moral character and personal integrity. I believe she has excellent potential to make significant contributions in her chosen field; indeed, I believe she will be a leader.”

After graduation, Kesler will pursue her doctor of occupational therapy degree at the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions.

About Boston University College of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences Sargent College:

It is an institution of higher education which fosters critical and innovative thinking to best serve the health care needs of society through academics, research, and clinical practice. As reported by U.S. News and World Report, its graduate programs in Speech-Language Pathology and Physical Therapy rank in the top 6% of programs while Occupational Therapy is #1 in the nation.

The College has more than 25 on-campus research facilities and clinical centers and offers degree programs in occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech, language and hearing sciences, health science, athletic training, human physiology, behavior and health, and nutrition. For more information, visit bu.edu/sargent.

Founded in 1839, Boston University is an internationally recognized institution of higher education and research. With more than 33,000 students, it is the fourth-largest independent university in the United States. BU consists of 17 schools and colleges, along with a number of multidisciplinary centers and institutes integral to the University’s research and teaching mission. In 2012, BU joined the Association of American Universities (AAU), a consortium of 62 leading research universities in the United States and Canada.

Submitted photos and press release:

The Batavia Business & Professional Womens Club Inc. 2019 Scholarship Committee, has awarded scholarships to seven Genesee County high school students, two Genesee Valley Educational Partnership (GVEP) students, and one Genesee Community College student is pending.

The clubs Committee Co-chairpersons Peggy Johnson and Bobbi Norton presented the awards for the evening.

The High School Student recipients are as follows: Brianna Bromley (Batavia), Lindsey Coniber (Le Roy), Joshua Kelsey (Alexander), Mary Kochmanski (Alexander), Garrett Sinemus (Elba), Jadan Torcello (Batavia), Taya Townley (Alexander).

Each received a $1,000 check to support their educational and career goals.

These scholarships are open to Genesee County high schools seniors (male or female).

Each student maintained an 85 percent average or higher, completed a one-page application with a letter of recommendation from a school staff member and submitted a personal essay discussing their achievements and future goals as well as an essay from a parent.

The finalists were interviewed by the BBPWC Inc. Scholarship Committee in May and notified.

The Genesee Valley Educational Partnership (GVEP) recipients are as follows: Emily Boldt (Pavilion) and Anna O’Geen (Warsaw). Each received a $500 scholarship award. These students were selected through the GVEP, Student Services Committee.

The Genesee Community College (GCC) adult student will receive a $500 scholarship award. The selection process for the GCC award is completed by the Genesee Community College Foundation and is pending selection of a candidate.

All of the award winners were invited to the Batavia Business & Professional Womens Inc. June Banquet, which was held June 6 at Dibble Family Center, Batavia.

Additionally, the BBPWC Inc. members voted at their May Meeting on the Service Awards to be distributed and this year. Six $500 checks were awarded.

To be considered for the service award a letter written on appropriate letterhead was sent to the BBPW requesting consideration.

The following service organizations received monetary awards at the banquet: All Babies Cherished, Bethany Fire Department, Care-A-Van Ministries, Crossroads House, The Warrior House and Habitat for Humanity.

To find out more about BBPW scholarships and service awards visit our webpage: https://bataviabpw.wordpress.com/.

The BBPWC Inc. also voted at their May meeting for Women of the Year. This year's recipient is Michelle Gillard, the club's treasurer who joined the organization in 2015. She was looking for a way to give back to her community and the group was a great fit for her. Gillard credits her ability to do what she does to all the wonderful members within the organization.

Please support our next fundraising event by joining us for our Meat Raffle on Saturday, Oct. 19, at Notre Dame High School. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and first spin will be at 6:45 p.m. All proceeds from this event benefit Genesee County scholarships and the service organizations.

Tickets will be available to purchase from any member beginning in August. Please contact Michelle at 585-297-0779 or send an email to bataviabpw@gmail.com.

Top photo -- scholarship recipients -- from left: Joshua Kelsey (Alexander), Brianna Bromley (Batavia), Mary Kochmanski (Alexander), Garrett Sinemus (Elba), Jadan Torcello (Batavia), Lindsey Coniber (Le Roy), Anna O’Geen (Warsaw), Taya Townley (Alexander).

Bottom photo -- service award winners -- from left: Sue Sherman -- All Babies Cherished; Nancy Ewert -- The Warrior House; Bridget Ohlson -- Care-A-Van Ministries; Mel Davis – Bethany Volunteer Fire Department; Marie Scofield -- Habitat for Humanity; Peg Patterson-Case – Crossroads House.

Submitted photos and press release:

The Genesee County Office of Emergency Management Services is pleased to announce the appointment of Gary Patnode (inset photo, left) as Training Technician for Genesee County effective July 8, filling the position vacated by James Bouton after seven years of service.

Patnode brings with him more 20 years of experiences as a volunteer firefighter with the Town of Alabama, including 10 years as Alabama fire chief.

Additionally, he serves as a New York State fire instructor, a Certified New York State fire investigator and EMT-basic.

He is HazMat Team leader for the Genesee County Emergency Support Unit (ESU) and the deputy fire coordinator of the West Battalion (GM4) assisting Alabama, Corfu, Darien, East Pembroke, and Pembroke fire departments.

The Office of Emergency Management Services is also pleased to announce the appointment of Daniel Coffey (inset photo, right) as the deputy fire coordinator for the Center Battalion (GM3) as this position was also left open upon Bouton’s departure after almost 15 years as serving the Center Battalion.

Coffey brings 18 years of fire service experience to the position. He is currently serving as the fire chief of the Town of Batavia Fire Department, a New York State fire instructor and a member of the Genesee County Emergency Support Unit (ESU) as well as a member of the Genesee County Fire Investigation Team.

He is also a career sergeant for the City of Batavia Police Department.

As deputy fire coordinator of the Center Battalion, Coffey will provide assistant to Alexander, City and Town of Batavia, Bethany, Elba and Oakfield fire departments.

The county Office of Emergency Management Services looks forward to the knowledge, experience and positive impact these two men will bring to their respective positions.

On behalf of the fire and EMS service of Genesee County, we extend our appreciation to Jim Bouton for his years of service and dedication to the citizens of the county, and our best wishes to him in his future endeavors.

GCC's 2019 SUNY Chancellor's Award winners -- Front row, from left: Derek Maxfield, Kristen Mruk, John Molyneaux, Maureen Goodsell. Back row, from left: JoNelle Toriseva, Lori Kubik, Kathleen Kimber.

Submitted photo and press release:

As Genesee Community College celebrated an all-encompassing and momentous commencement weekend for its students last month, the College administration, staff and faculty took a few hours to acknowledge and celebrate each other's accomplishments and dedication that go "beyond expectations."

"In the spirit of commencement & the hard work of our students, GCC recognizes the dedication of our faculty and staff who go beyond expectations in helping our students succeed," said GCC President James Sunser. "And so, for a few hours, we close non-essential offices and celebrate our successes as a team."

Perhaps the most prestigious honors recognized at this ceremony were the 2019 State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor's Awards for Excellence bestowed upon seven of GCC's finest.

• Receiving the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Faculty Service, which recognizes consistently superior service contributions of teaching faculty over multiple years, was Professor of Spanish, Kathleen A. Kimber. Kimber became a member of GCC's faculty in 1997 and immediately got directly involved with the campus and community. Regularly using her Spanish fluency, Kimber goes above and beyond her duties as a professor to assist in translations, donating countless hours over the years. On multiple occasions, she has served as a medical translator in Honduras -- an experience Kimber shares in the classroom providing real-life learning opportunities to her students. Kimber has chaired and co-chaired many initiatives on campus, collaborated and contributed to grant writing opportunities and campus governance topics, student and faculty mentoring relationships, consistently and clearly demonstrating her commitment to service. Kimber was also the recipient of a SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities in 2011 and for Excellence in Teaching in 2004. Kimber earned her Graduate Certificate in Educational Technology Integration from Pennsylvania State University Online, her M.A. from Indiana University, and her B.A. in Spanish from SUNY Potsdam. Kimber resides in Naples.
• Recognizing consistently superior professional achievement, the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service was awarded to Student Activities Specialist, Kristen E. Mruk. Mruk, of Lancaster, joined the GCC professional services team in 2013 and since then has completely transformed GCC's Leadership Certificate Program into an online program making it more accessible and relevant to today's students. Additionally, Mruk revised the Student Orientation process to improve new student experiences, and has supported students transition to college through supplemental online programs and working closely with GCC's six campus centers. All of these efforts and Mruk's countless hours analyzing data, collaborating with colleagues and implementing new tools have allowed her to execute ideas to improve student participation and satisfaction. She is also actively involved with the Association of College Unions International (ACUI), the College Student Personnel Association of New York State (CSPA-NYS) currently serving as its President Elect, and has been serving as a volunteer with SABAH (Spirited Athletes Bold at Heart) in Buffalo for 20 years. Mruk earned her M.S. in College Student Personnel Administration from Canisius College and her B.A. in Communication from SUNY Buffalo.
• For Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities, Director of Humanities JoNelle R. Toriseva received a SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence. Toriseva's passion for scholarship and creativity have been evident through all she has accomplished since joining GCC in 2011. The highlight of Toriseva's career so far was her work in spearheading the development of GCC's Scholarship Symposium. Now an annual signature event for the College, it not only presents the accomplishments of our students and employees by demonstrating and celebrating their creative achievements, but it supports and encourages a culture of research, academic excellence, and innovation as well. Toriseva has presented at various national, state, and local conferences and published award-winning writing. She brings to the classroom a lifetime of interesting accomplishments and experiences and continues to research and develop collaborative efforts within the college and local community to enhance scholarship and creativity opportunities for all. Toriseva received her M.F.A. in English, Creative Writing from Mills College, her M.A. in English and her B.S. in Spanish Education from Bemidji State University, and her B.A. in Spanish & Speech Communication from Concordia College. Toriseva resides in Rochester.
• Receiving the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, which recognizes consistently superior teaching at the graduate, undergraduate, or professional level of the highest quality was Associate Professor of History Derek D. Maxfield. Since his hire in 2009, Maxfield has been actively involved in GCC's campus community and dedicated to providing students with an exceptional learning experience. Described by many as a gifted storyteller, Maxfield has a way of reaching students in the classroom that is memorable. He incorporates applied learning, which gets his students beyond the classroom and experiencing the preservation of history on the ground, has created unique and engaging assignments, created new courses, and coordinates the GCC History Club's Historical Horizons Lecture Series. Maxfield's first book, "Hellmira: The Union's Most Infamous POW Camp of the Civil War" is being published this fall. Maxfield holds an M.A. in History from Villanova University and a B.A. in History from SUNY Cortland. He currently resides in Churchville.
• The SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching recognizes consistently superior teaching at the graduate, undergraduate or professional level of the highest quality. Receiving this award were adjunct instructors Lori E. Kubik and John R. Molyneux.

Kubik, who lives in Attica, has been a member of GCC's adjunct faculty since 2012 teaching several Grammar and English courses. In addition, she has been teaching in GCC's Advanced Learning Program since its inception in 2015. Kubik creates and uses various educational techniques to ensure she reaches all students' learning styles. Kubik is not only known for her unique ways to engage students, but also for her dedication to go above and beyond her duties as an adjunct teacher. Her breadth of knowledge, commitment to intellectual rigor dazzles students and faculty alike. It is very evident by all she does that she is truly invested in our college, community, and most importantly, our students. Kubik earned her M.S. and B.A. in Secondary English Education from the State University College at Buffalo.

Molyneux has been a member of GCC's adjunct faculty since 2002 and has taught a variety of courses in English, Literature and Speech. He is a veteran teacher with almost 50 years of teaching experience and is well known for his ability to connect with students. Molyneux is creative, innovative and passionate about educating. His dedication and motivation is an inspiration for all who cross his path. Molyneux is an exceptional instructor who is dedicated to bringing literacy instruction from the library to the classroom and beyond. As a result, his class offerings are in high demand. Molyneux holds a B.A. in English from St. Francis University. He currently resides in Henrietta.

• The final SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence was presented to Maureen P. Goodsell, Admissions Data Entry Operator for Excellence in Classified Service. This award is a system-level award established to give recognition for superior performance and extraordinary achievement by employees in the Classified Service. These awards demonstrate SUNY's commitment to individuals who provide superior service to its students and the community at large. Maureen came to GCC in 1999 and has been dedicated to mastering her role and has accomplished a great deal of work beyond the outline of her position description. Goodsell is a wealth of knowledge, a valuable resource for students and staff, and possess extraordinary customer service skills. She is a creative thinker, always flexible with the ever-changing times, and enthusiastic about all she does. Goodsell continually strives to fulfill and exceed all the expectations of her position in an effort to better herself and GCC. She is a role model when it comes to work ethic and a great leader. Goodsell earned her A.A.S in Business Administration from Genesee Community College. She currently resides in Batavia.

The entire employee celebration also included longevity service awards for employees having served GCC for up to 30 years as well as the College's own unique award category, the Cougar Awards, for which recipients are nominated by fellow employees.

"This was our second annual celebration and I'm already hearing reports of some of the amazing work we will be celebrating next year!" President Sunser said, "There is a lot to celebrate here at GCC."

Brennan Briggs, above right, received the BCSD Foundation Apple Award for May. The award was presented to him by Foundation Board Member David Chua, above left.

Submitted photo and press release:

The Batavia City School District Foundation lnc.'s Board of Directors is pleased to announce the latest recipient of the BCSD Foundation Apple Award -- Brennan Briggs. He was nominated anonymously and with great admiration to receive a foundation apple during the month of May. 

Determined and persistent are two words used to describe Briggs. Throughout his coaching and teaching tenure, Briggs has motivated his students and athletes to strive to do their best on and off the field.

He models positive character traits, which include respect and responsibility. He encourages to students to shine in their school and neighborhood communities. The foundation thanks him for being relentless in his drive for excellence and for his dedication to taking care of BCSD. 

The BCSD Foundation Apple award is given by a member of the school and/or local community to a Batavia City School District employee or volunteer. In the opinion of those giving the honor of this distinction, the awardee has gone above and beyond in their role and is being recognized by one or more people for these accomplishments.

Local artist, Mark Jensen, will be making each individual resin apple -- none will be exactly the same.

If you are interested in giving a Foundation Apple award, please submit your nomination form and $75 (payable to the BCSD Foundation Inc., 260 State St., Batavia NY 14020 att: Allison Chua). Nomination forms may be found on the district's Web page (at www.bataviacsd.org under Quick Links).

Community members with questions are asked to email us at foundation@bataviacsd.org