Accardi Wins Local, Regional Supervisor of the Year Award
Jonathan Accardi, director of campus recreation and aquatics at Keuka College, received a double dose of good news Thursday (April 18).
After winning the College’s Work-Study Supervisor of the Year Award, Accardi learned he had also captured the Northeast Association of Student Employment Administrators (NEASEA) Supervisor of the Year Award.
The NEASEA’s Supervisor of the Year program begins at an institutional level and progresses to the regional level. The award was established to recognize the integral part that the supervisor plays in the education of a student employee. Supervisors act as mentors and provide education to their students not gained through the classroom. Students at colleges and universities across the region were asked to nominate supervisors they felt were especially worthy of recognition.
In all, 91 supervisors were nominated, including seven from Keuka, and 11 schools submitted their winner for consideration for the NEASEA award. Accardi bested winners from colleges in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Massachusetts, Maine, Pennsylvania, and West Virgina.
According to senior Samantha Stevenson, who nominated Accardi, he communicates continuously with student workers, is always open to comments or concerns, and freely shares his vision for future campus recreation programming. Stevenson called Accardi one of her greatest mentors. (more…)
Esther Yoder ’60 to Deliver Commencement Address
Esther Yoder, a 1960 Keuka College graduate and former chair of the Board of Trustees, will return to her alma mater May 26 to deliver the commencement address.
The Gainesville, Fla., resident will also receive an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.
Yoder, owner of Subway EAY Stores Inc. in Gainesville, was a member of the Board of Trustees for the better part of the last 20 years, serving as chair in 2006-07 and vice chair from 2001 to 2006. She is now an emeritus member of Keuka’s governing board.
Yoder chaired the Saving the Future: One Graduate at a Time campaign, the most prolific fund-raising drive in Keuka history.
She is one of only six people in Keuka history to receive the Norton Blyley Presidential Medallion, which recognizes service to the College “above and beyond an extraordinary high standard,” and is a recipient of the Alumni Association’s Eleanor Judd Wilkes Service to Keuka College Award.
Yoder is an active member of the Gainesville community, donating her time and talents to Trinity United Methodist Church, NEFL State Mental Health Hospital Advisory Board, Gainesville Sports Commission Executive Committee; Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and other organizations.
JCC President to Speak at Mid-Year Commencement
Dr. Carole A. McCoy
Dr. Carole A. McCoy, president of Jefferson Community College (JCC), will deliver the address at Keuka College’s mid-year conferral of degrees Sunday, Dec. 9.
The ceremony begins at 1 p.m. in the Weed Physical Arts Center gymnasium.
McCoy was appointed the fifth CEO of JCC Feb. 1, 2007. Since then, she has led the campus through the development of a new strategic plan, the facilities master plan, and feasibility study for the implementation of student residence halls while maintaining an emphasis on enrollment growth.
In addition, she played a key role in bringing bachelor’s degree completion programs to the North Country through Keuka’s Accelerated Studies for Adults Program.
McCoy donates her time and talents to several community organizations, including the Fort Drum Regional Liaison Organization, Greater Watertown-North Country Chamber of Commerce, WPBS, Victim’s Assistance Center, and Watertown Rotary Club. She is also a member and secretary of the New York Community College Presidents Association.
Prior to assuming the presidency of JCC, McCoy held three posts at Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Md.: vice president for learner support services, vice president for learning systems and technology, and chief of learning systems and technology.
She was also director of research computing at The Children’s Hospital of Boston, Mass., and manager of technical services and manager of applications for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
McCoy earned her Doctorate of Public Administration degree from the University of Baltimore, Master of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts, and Bachelor of Arts in economics from Framingham (Mass.) State College.
Palmyra resident Randy Kuhn, who will receive a Master of Science degree in criminal justice administration, will also speak at the ceremony. He is an officer with the Newark Police Department and a 2010 Keuka graduate (B.S., criminal justice systems). Another highlight will be the presentation of the Adjunct Professor of the Year Award.
Military Friendly 4 Years in a Row
For the fourth year in a row, Keuka College has received national recognition for its commitment to educating veterans and military members.
Keuka was designated a Military Friendly School by Victory Media, the premier entity for military personnel transitioning into civilian life. The 2013 Military Friendly Schools list honors the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that “are doing the most to embrace America’s military service members, veterans, and spouses as students and ensure their success on campus.”
The Military Friendly Schools media and website (www.militaryfriendlyschools.com) feature the list, interactive tools, and search capability to help military students find the best school to suit their needs and preferences.
The list was compiled through extensive research and a date-driven survey of more than 12,000 VA-approved schools nationwide.
A story and detailed list of 2013 Military Friendly Schools will be highlighted in the annual G.I. Jobs Guide to Military Friendly Schools, distributed in print and digital form in October to hundreds of thousands of active and former military personnel.
Victory Media is a service-disabled, veteran-owned small business. In addition to G.I. Jobs, it also publishes Military Spouse and Vetrepreneur magazines.
Stork Award to Harry Swarthout
Harry Swarthout, a resident of Branchport and longtime member of the Branchport/Keuka Park Fire Department, will receive the 2012 Donald and Corinne Stork Award for Community Service Tuesday, Oct. 9.
The award will be given at a noon luncheon in the Geiser Refectory at Keuka College.
The Stork Award was established by Keuka College to recognize outstanding individuals who exemplify the College’s commitment of valuing individual initiative for the common good. The award was named after the first recipients of the award, Penn Yan resident Corinne Stork and the late Donald Stork, in 1991.
Despite Stiffer Competition, College Earns High Marks
After earning a place in the larger and more competitive master’s universities category, Keuka College has again received high marks for its commitment to community service by Washington Monthly.
A year ago, Keuka was ranked No. 8 out of 309 baccalaureate colleges in the Washington Monthly College Guide and Rankings. In the service metric, Keuka was ranked No. 1 in the country in terms of “community service participation and hours served.”
This year, competing in an advanced category that includes 682 master’s universities, Keuka was No. 6 in that same metric. That was the primary reason the College earned a No. 73 overall ranking.
“A No. 6 ranking in the service metric and top 11 percent overall ranking are impressive, especially when you consider that we competed in an advanced category against more than twice as many schools, most with larger enrollments and a longer history of offering master’s degree programs,” said College President Dr. Jorge L. Díaz-Herrera.
The president also stated that Keuka “is at the top” of its peer schools that were ranked this year.
Díaz-Herrera said Keuka “advanced to a new category by choice in order to promote excellence at a new level that highlights the growth and expansion in its academic and social mission.”
In addition to service—“The students in our best colleges,” say editors of the magazine, “are taught by example and design to look beyond themselves and give back” – Washington Monthly ranks colleges on:
- social mobility, and
- research production and success at sending undergraduates on to Ph.D.s.
For more on the Washington Monthly College Guide and Rankings, go to http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/college_guide/rankings_2012/masters_universities_rank.php
Rotaract Club Earns Changemaker Award
Keuka College’s Rotaract Club recently received the inaugural Changemaker Award from Rotary International.
Rotaract Club President Janelle Davidson holds the Changemaker Award.
The Keuka club was the only one in District 7120 to earn the award for completing an array of activities in each of Rotary’s five Avenues of Service. District 7120 includes clubs in Monroe, Wayne, Wyoming, Livingston, Ontario, Yates, Seneca, Allegany, Steuben, Chemung and Schuyler counties.
Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30. Rotaract clubs are either community or university based, and they’re sponsored by a local Rotary club. As one of Rotary’s most significant and fastest-growing service programs, Rotaract boasts more than 8,400 clubs in about 170 countries and geographical areas. (more…)
Alicia Pakusch a “Tremendous Asset” to Two Divisions
By Amanda Harrison ’12
Editor’s Note: This is the sixth of six profiles of nominees for the 2012 Student Employee of the Year award that will be presented at the Annual Student Employment Awards Luncheon April 16.
Alicia Pakusch, a senior adolescent education major, has received numerous awards and recognitions during her four years at Keuka.
Now, she’s being nominated for another: Student Employee of the Year.
Pakusch, who works for the education and social work divisions, was nominated for the award by her supervisor, Paulette Willemsen, secretary in the education division.
According to Willemsen, Pakusch is “a tremendous asset to the education and social work divisons,” and said she is “dependable, reliable, hard-working, and [comes] to work on time and with a positive attitude. She has excellent communication skills, is extremely organized, reliable, and computer literate.” (more…)
The Great Communicator
By Amanda Harrison ’12
Editor’s Note: This is the fifth of six profiles of nominees for the 2012 Student Employee of the Year award that will be presented at the Annual Student Employment Awards Luncheon April 16.
Ashley Larimore ’13 is a superb communicator, which is one reason she was nominated for the Student Employee of the Year Award by her supervisor, Kristen Harter, admissions counselor.
Larimore has worked in the Office of Admissions for three years, and according to Harter, has grown during this time into an excellent and dependable worker.
“Ashley is able to learn what admissions material we have and introduce it to new students in a very effective way,” said Harter. “She is able to communicate via phone, email, and in person with all prospective students.”
Larimore also uses these communication skills to help prospective students and their parents feel at home at Keuka College.
“Her personal communication stands out to our students and even more to our students’ parents,” said Harter. “Ashley has the ability to connect with all types of families and make them feel at home at Keuka College.”
Around the admissions office, Larimore is seen as a leader and a hard, dedicated worker.
“She is always willing to help any of our staff members to complete a project and cover when a staff member may be out of the office,” said Harter. “She volunteers many extra hours to the admissions office to help any of our staff members meet deadlines or complete important projects.”
As an admissions counselor, Harter is out of her office recruiting students approximately five months of the year. During this time, Larimore’s job becomes even more important, and she has met that expectation with exemplary work.
“She has the ability to start new projects, answer emails and phone calls professionally, and represent Keuka College,” said Harter, who added that her nominee also trains student employees in the admissions office.
According to Harter, Larimore completed a Field Period with the admissions office in 2010 to “learn more about our office and the admissions process for prospective students.”
“I believe that Ashley will not only continue to succeed, but will also continue to make our institution an even better place,” says Harter. “She understands the importance of self-motivation, and has the confidence and ability to learn and adapt to new things in the work environment. She believes in herself and has full support of those in the campus community who know her.”
College Well Represented at Graduate Student Research Conference
OT grad students Megan McGowan (left) and Melissa Schlegel.
Three alumni of Keuka College’s Master of Science degree program in criminal justice administration and two students pursuing master’s degrees in occupational therapy (OT) were selected to present papers at the SUNY Brockport Graduate Student Research Conference Saturday, April 14.
Class of 2011 members Danielle T. Harrington and Sherry L. Hunter will present their Action Research Projects (ARP) at the conference, which will showcase the work of master’s level students from colleges and universities in Upstate New York and southern Ontario, Canada. Another member of the Class of 2011, Stephanie Caloren, was selected to present but is unable to attend. Also scheduled to present papers are fifth-year OT students Melissa Schlegel and Megan McGowan.
Today at Keuka
- ASAP Orientation
- May 18 at 7:30 a.m.
- ASAP Orientation
- May 18 at 7:30 a.m.
- ASAP Orientation
- May 18 at 7:30 a.m.
- ASAP Orientation
- May 18 at 7:30 a.m.
- ASAP Orientation
- May 18 at 7:30 a.m.
- ASAP Orientation
- May 18 at 7:30 a.m.
- ASAP Orientation
- May 18 at 7:30 a.m.
- ASAP Orientation
- May 18 at 7:30 a.m.
- American Sign Language -...
- May 18 at 1 p.m.
- Point Neamo Open for Boating
- May 18 at 1 p.m.
- Davis Days
- May 18 at 2 p.m.
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