Milestones

Commencement was recently held at Alma College (Alva, Mich.) for 334 candidates for degrees. Marshall Argenta, of Stafford, was a participant.

WILLIAMSPORT, PA (05/17/2016)-- Erin Hale, a senior with a major in biology from Oakfield received the Bishop D. Frederick Wertz Award during Lycoming College's annual Honors Convocation awards ceremony in April.

The award recognizes students for outstanding dedication and selfless service to others during their college career.

Lycoming College is a four-year, residential liberal arts and sciences school dedicated to the undergraduate education of 1,400 students. Its rigorous academic program, vibrant residential community and supportive faculty foster successful student outcomes. Lycoming offers 36 academic majors and is recognized as a Tier 1 institution by U.S. News & World Report. Founded in 1812 and located near the banks of the Susquehanna River in Williamsport, Pa., Lycoming is one of the 50 oldest colleges in the nation. For more information, visit www.lycoming.edu.

The State University of New York at Potsdam will recognize more than 1,000 candidates for graduation during the College's Bicentennial Commencement Ceremony on Saturday, May 21. The graduating Class of 2016 will be honored at a special ceremony befitting SUNY Potsdam's 200th anniversary.

Sarah Hill, of Corfu, will graduate summa cum laude from SUNY Potsdam with a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education.

At Commencement, SUNY Potsdam honors students who have either earned their degree or are eligible to graduate during that calendar year. To learn more about Commencement at SUNY Potsdam, visit http://www.potsdam.edu/commencement.

About SUNY Potsdam:

Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,100 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts. To learn more, visit http://www.potsdam.edu.

Jonathan Korzelius, of Oakfield, qualified for the Spring 2016 Dean's List at Belmont University. Eligibility is based on a minimum course load of 12 hours and a quality grade-point average of 3.5 with no grade below a C.

Approximately 38 percent of Belmont's 5,600 undergraduate students qualified for the spring 2016 Dean's List.

Belmont Provost Thomas Burns said, "This achievement for the fall semester indicates that these students have placed a high priority on their work at Belmont and have invested time and energy in their studies. It is our strong belief that consistent application in this manner will reap great benefits, which will equip them for a lifetime of learning and growing."

About Belmont University:

Belmont University is celebrating its 125th anniversary in academic year 2015-16. Founded in 1890, the University consists of more than 7,400 students who come from every state and more than 25 countries. Committed to being a leader among teaching universities, Belmont brings together the best of liberal arts and professional education in a Christian community of learning and service. For more information, visit www.belmont.edu.

Erin Hale, a senior with a major in Biology from Oakfield, was recently recognized as a Lycoming Scholar at the college's annual Honors Convocation in April.

In order to become a Lycoming Scholar, students must participate in five semesters of scholar seminars, be held to more exacting distribution requirements, and conduct independent work that culminates in a scholar seminar presentation during their senior year. Those who partake in scholars have more challenging and stimulating programs of study, participate in independent and interdisciplinary learning, and develop connections with scholars at other colleges and universities.

Lycoming College is a four-year, residential liberal arts and sciences school dedicated to the undergraduate education of 1,400 students. Its rigorous academic program, vibrant residential community and supportive faculty foster successful student outcomes. Founded in 1812 and located near the banks of the Susquehanna River in Williamsport, Pa., Lycoming is one of the 50 oldest colleges in the nation. For more information, visit www.lycoming.edu.

Breanna Rene Johnson, of Corfu, a junior at Clarkson University majoring in Biology, received the following award(s) at the during the spring semester:

The Biology Department Sophomore Award: Given to the sophomore Biology major who has attained the highest overall GPA in his/her first three semesters at Clarkson.

Clarkson University is a nationally recognized research university with signature areas of academic excellence and research directed toward the world's pressing issues. Through more than 50 rigorous programs of study in engineering, business, arts, education, sciences and the health professions, the entire learning-living community spans boundaries across disciplines, nations and cultures to build powers of observation, challenge the status quo and connect discovery and innovation with enterprise.

Major General Anthony P. German, the Adjutant General, announces the recent reenlistment of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their continuing commitment to serve community, state and nation as part of the Army National Guard.

Specialist Douglas Vagg, from Pavilion, has reenlisted to continue service with the 152nd Engineer Support Company.

"New Yorkers count on our Citizen Soldiers to be ready and be there when disaster strikes," German said. "And our nation counts on our soldiers when duty calls for overseas service. I congratulate our members for choosing to stay in service and striking that balance between military duties, education or employment commitments and family obligations."

"Every one of the men and women serving in our 16,000 strong Army and Air National Guard plays an important role and these Soldiers who continue to reenlist provide experience and continuity for whatevery challenges lay ahead for our New York National Guard family."

Avery Mallaber, of Le Roy, is a member of the Criminal Justice Club at Ashland University.

Mallaber is majoring in Criminal Justice.

Mallaber is a 2015 graduate of Le Roy Central High School.

The purpose of the Ashland University Criminal Justice Club is to conduct activities which will add to the intellectual, cultural, and social development of students majoring in criminal justice. The members of the criminal justice club have visited sites such as correctional facilities and crime labs in order to increase their knowledge of the criminal justice field. The club also has heard lectures from guest speakers including criminal investigators, federal law enforcement agents, federal probation officers and local police officers.

Ashland University (www.ashland.edu) values the individual student and offers a unique educational experience that combines the challenge of strong, applied academic programs with a faculty and staff who build nurturing relationships with their students.

Rochester Institute of Technologys College of Liberal Arts honored student achievement in writing with the presentation of the 2016 Henry and Mary Kearse Distinguished Lecture and Student Writing Award Ceremony.

Award winners included Matthew Anauo, of Elba, a first-year Electrical Engineering major representing the Department of Public Policy, with "Rethinking Third-Party Doctrine for the Digital Era."

"This is our big event of the year where we honor students in each of our programs who have done some outstanding writing in classes in the College of Liberal Arts," said Dean James Winebrake. "It really allows us to recognize and celebrate the good work of our students."

Winebrake also said the awards are also a good reflection of the faculty.

"There's not a prouder moment in a faculty member's career than to see one of their students win an award like this," he said.

It was the 36th year the awards have been presented. Faculty committees in each department within the College of Liberal Arts select student awardees from a variety of disciplines whose work embodies the ideals and standards of excellence, creative endeavor and scholarship.

Rochester Institute of Technology is home to leading creators, entrepreneurs, innovators and researchers. Founded in 1829, RIT enrolls 18,600 students in more than 200 career-oriented and professional programs, making it among the largest private universities in the United States.

Press release:

The New York State Mathematics Association of Two-Year Colleges (NYSMATYC) held its 49th Annual Conference earlier this month in Kingston, hosting professionals from throughout New York State for a three-day event themed, "Three Days of Peace and Math."

Among the order of business was the presentation of the organization's scholarship awards, which honor high achieving students at two-year colleges across the state. Genesee Community College is pleased to congratulate student Rebecca "Becca" Sheets, of Batavia, who was awarded the coveted Helen Siner Scholarship Award, reserved as the NYSMATYC's highest honor.

"I recommended Becca for the award because she has been one of the strongest students in Calculus III, Discrete Math and Differential Equations this year," said Phillip Pickering, GCC professor of Mathematics. "They are the three hardest mathematics courses currently offered at GCC. She has no shortage of supporters among the math and science faculty, and all of us who have had the pleasure of having her in class are equally impressed with her work ethic, attitude, personality and intelligence."

Helen Siner taught mathematics at Staten Island Community College, which later became the College of Staten Island, a four-year City University of New York (CUNY) unit. In 1975, Siner was honored by NYSMATYC for Outstanding Contributions to Mathematics Education. During the 1970s and 1980s, Siner chaired the Scholarship Committee almost continuously. After her death in the early 1990s, the top NYSMATYC Scholarship was named in her honor, which includes a $1,000 incentive.

A 2010 graduate of Batavia High School, Sheets is a double major at GCC, studying Mathematics and Chemistry. She served in the Air Force from 2011 until 2014 as an air traffic controller and spent time in Texas, Mississippi and Oklahoma. Becca was awarded the Waste Management Scholarship in the spring of 2015 and the Veterans Scholarship in the fall of 2015.

After her time at GCC, Sheets plans to move on to the University of Rochester or the State University of New York at Buffalo to continue her studies in hopes of becoming a professor or research scientist. She has already been accepted into the SUNY Geneseo Summer Engineering Research program (SURGE) and was named to the GCC President's List in the fall of 2014 and 2015 and the spring of 2014.

She is married to Jacob Sheets and has two daughters, Lillyan and Isabella. She is the daughter of Evangeline and Edward Canty and has one sister, Danielle.

Alma College, in Alma, Mich., celebrated the annual Kapp Honors Day earlier this month with student presentations of the visual and performing arts, and results of scholarly research. Marshall Argenta, of Stafford, was one of the participants.

Go here for the full story: http://www.alma.edu/live/news/968-honors-day-is-culmination-of-student-research

Brandon Smart, 2016 graduate of Batavia High School, current undergraduate at the University of Rochester, has advanced to the finals in the Tibetan Innovation Challenge.

This is an intercollegiate social entrepreneurship business plan contest. Top universities from around the world compete in this challenge.

The ideals submitted from this contest are  meant to improve the lives of Tibetans living in refugee camps in India.

Brandon and his team, along with the other four finalists, will present their business plan to the Tibetan partners June 3 for the final round of the competition. The winner will get to meet the Dalai Lama and hopefully improve the lives of many Tibetans with their plan.

You can view the team's submission at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AubLB5zlfc  What a great honor to have made it this far.

Upon completion of the Basic Civil School, Deputy Patrick Reeves (center) from Genesee County receives his certificate from Albany County Undersheriff William Cox (left) and Sheriffs’ Institute Executive Director Chris O’Brien (right).

Submitted photo and press release:

The New York State Sheriffs' Association Institute held a week‐long Basic School for deputy sheriffs and civilian staff of Sheriffs' civil divisions last week at the Albany County Courthouse in Albany. Deputies and other staff from Sheriffs' offices around the State attended the program, including Deputy Patrick Reeves from Genesee County.

Sponsored and organized by the Sheriffs’ Institute, the five‐day program provides participants with training in the latest advances in civil law enforcement and a forum to discuss current civil law enforcement issues and share best practices. All sheriffs have civil law enforcement functions, which include the service of process and enforcement of judgments and other court orders and mandates.

The school is required for counties seeking to earn accreditation of its civil office from the New York State Sheriffs’ Association. The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office Civil Bureau is accredited.

The New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute, Inc., established in 1979, provides the only statewide training program for civil deputies. The training is provided without charge to any civil personnel nominated for the school by a sheriff. Visit www.nysheriffsinstitute.org.

Nicholas Muehlbauer, of Stafford, represented SUNY Oneonta at the second annual SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference, held at SUNY Cobleskill on Friday, April 15. The conference featured more than 200 oral, poster and performing arts presentations on a wide range of topics across academic disciplines.

"The conference highlights exceptional academic work by students across the disciplines and across our great SUNY system," said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. "Their great accomplishments in laboratories, and communities on and off campuses are testaments of their educational ambition and excellence."

Muehlbauer, who is majoring in Environmental Science and Biology at SUNY Oneonta, gave a poster presentation titled "Pollen Tube Growth on a Windy Day."

The SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference (SURC) is a multidisciplinary event hosted each spring semester by a different SUNY institution. This year's event brought together undergraduate student researchers and faculty mentors from across the SUNY system for a full day of activities, including student presentations, a keynote address by renowned cancer researcher Jill Bargonetti, a SUNY Graduate School and career fair, and professional development workshops.

A liberal arts institution with a strong focus on undergraduate research and service learning, SUNY Oneonta consistently gains recognition for delivering excellence and value.

Michael Slack, of Bergen, was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines. Slack was initiated at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Slack is among approximately 30,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors, having at least 72 semester hours, are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Founded in 1897 at the University of Maine and headquartered in Baton Rouge, La., Phi Kappa Phi is the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline honor society. The Society has chapters on more than 300 college and university campuses in North America and the Philippines. Its mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

More About Phi Kappa Phi

Since its founding, more than 1.25 million members have been initiated. Some of the organization's more notable members include former President Jimmy Carter, NASA astronaut Wendy Lawrence, novelist David Baldacci and YouTube cofounder Chad Hurley. The Society has awarded approximately $15 million since the inception of its awards program in 1932. Today, more than $1 million is awarded each biennium to qualifying students and members through graduate fellowships, undergraduate study abroad grants, member and chapter awards, and grants for local and national literacy initiatives. For more information, visit www.phikappaphi.org.