ENCompass - 8/2/04
Deadline today to register for inaugural Blue Knights golf tournament
Today (August 2) is the deadline to register for the College’s inaugural Blue Knights Classic Golf Tournament, which will be held August 12 at Webster Golf Club. The College’s athletic department and the Geneseo Foundation are sponsoring the event. All proceeds will benefit Geneseo’s athletic program. The cost is $100 per person and includes the entry fee, 18 holes of golf with cart, lunch, a tournament gift package, raffle tickets, prizes and dinner. The event will be a scramble format. Golfers may register as individuals or foursomes. Webster Golf Club is located at 440 Salt Road in the town of Webster, north of Route 104. To register or for more information, contact SUNY Geneseo’s athletic office at (585) 245-5345 or the Geneseo Foundation at (585) 245-5519 or e-mail Mike Mooney, assistant director of athletics, at mooney@geneseo.edu.
Anniversary giving by graduates tops $100,000; New record set for 25th reunion gift
SUNY Geneseo alumni of the classes of 1954 and 1979-80 gave a total of more than $100,000 to their alma mater this summer, in celebration of their (respectively) 50th and 25th anniversary reunions. With their gift of more than $57,000, the Geneseo classes of 1979-80 broke the existing record for 25th reunion giving, held since 2000 by the Classes of 1975-76. This total almost – but not quite – matched the $58,000 donated by the Geneseo class of 1954 at its reunion event in June, marking the second largest reunion gift in the history of the College. Both gifts will benefit the areas of highest priority for SUNY Geneseo and its fund raising arm, the Geneseo Foundation – undergraduate scholarships and research grants, faculty fellowships and professorships, and a variety other awards to benefit students and their teachers at the College. Fifty-one graduates (48 percent) of the Class of 1954 made contributions toward their reunion gift, under the leadership of 50th Anniversary Fund Chair F. Elizabeth "Liz" Moody and Co-Chair Barry Bower. "Our careers, our life experiences, and so many lifelong friendships were influenced by our time at Geneseo that it is incumbent on us to reflect upon that impact and consider how we can give back," Moody said on presenting the gift to College President Christopher C. Dahl. "Our class gift is one way we can show how much Geneseo means to us, while making an impact for future generations of students." The record for the largest reunion gift in the history of the College remains at more than $180,000, donated by the Class of 1953 in celebration of its 50th anniversary last year. Both years’ contributions included outright and planned gifts. More than 240 graduates of the Classes of 1979-80 contributed toward their reunion gift, which will also provide funds to the Geneseo Foundation for student and faculty support. The Anniversary Fund for these classes was chaired by Tim Thomas ’79, who announced the record-breaking (25th reunion) gift total with a "Jeopardy"-style pop quiz that took reunion participants down memory lane. (For example, "this recreational activity is derived from ‘borrowing’ plate and silverware holders from the dining halls to go sledding" was answered by the question, "what is traying?") On a more serious note, "Philanthropy is as critical to Geneseo’s continuing success as it should be to how we conduct our lives, and I hope you will all consider giving something back to a place that has given so much to you." Thomas said. "When we were students, the state provided the majority of the operating budget for Geneseo. Now, a growing proportion of the College’s funding comes from the generosity of alumni like you and me." "These generous gifts from Geneseo’s milestone 50th and 25th Reunion Classes reflect a growing appreciation of the impact of philanthropy in preserving and fostering excellence at the College and we are very grateful for this alumni support," said Art Hatton, vice president for college advancement and president of the Geneseo Foundation
Keybank offers scholarships to Geneseo students
Keybank has pledged a gift of $4,000 toward student scholarships at the State University of New York at Geneseo to reward students whose well-rounded records portray achievements and contributions to their schools and their communities. Student recipients are John Disarro, Stephen Kold, Waleed Mahmood and Jessica Powell, all of Rochester. Each received a $1,000 scholarship.
Two Geneseo students receive 2004 legal studies award
Kara Ann Noto of Rochester and David Michael Knapp of Canandaigua are recipients of the 2004 Alumni Senior Award in Legal Studies from the political science department at SUNY Geneseo. Both students, 2004 graduates of Geneseo, will receive a $1,000 grant toward freshman year law school expenses and a certificate of recognition for academic achievement and participation in the pre-law program, including internships, research and community involvement. Noto, the daughter of Paul and Mary Ann Noto, was encouraged to prepare for a career in law at Geneseo by Dr. Joseph Fornieri, her high school history teacher and a graduate of Geneseo. During her four years at Geneseo, Noto maintained a cumulative 3.87 grade point average, and earned her baccalaureate degree summa cum laude. She also earned Dean’s List recognition every semester, and was admitted to membership in the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. She was admitted to three other honor societies while at Geneseo. Her extracurricular activities on campus included participation in the Legal Affairs Club and the Orchesis Dance Ensemble, and in Rochester she was a volunteer in the Art Walk project. She also participated in an internship at the United States Supreme Court. Knapp, the son of Thomas and Lori Knapp, acquired an interest in a career in the law at Geneseo since it supported his interest in public service. "I feel strongly about the need for social justice in our society," he said. "I believe the law will offer me the best avenue to pursue that goal." During his four years at Geneseo Knapp maintained a cumulative 3.77 grade-point average, earned admittance to three academic honor societies, and Dean’s List recognition every semester. In fall 2003, he attained President’s List honors, which is for students who have a 4.0 GPA for the semester. His extracurricular activities at Geneseo included participation in the Legal Affairs Club, where he was president in 2003-2004, and four years as a goalie on the varsity lacrosse team.
Geneseo student wins Mary Judith Smith Scholarship
Cynthia M. Olin, the daughter of Charles and Nancy Olin of Horseheads, N.Y., is the fourth recipient of the Mary Judith Smith Scholarship for Horseheads High School seniors who enroll at SUNY Geneseo. Olin was presented with the $1,000 scholarship and Certificate of Achievement in recognition of her educational, leadership and volunteer activities, at the high school’s awards dinner in June. Olin ranked in the top 15 percent of her graduating class with a cumulative grade point average of 92.81. She excelled in all curricular areas, including Advanced Placement and college-level courses. Olin attended the National Young Leaders Conference in summer 2002, was an exchange student to Bato-Machi, Japan, for a week in April 2001, and was nominated for the Presidential Classroom and Global Young Leaders Conference. Olin was also a member of the National Honor Society, a scholar-athlete for four years on the girls’ varsity swim team (where she was the team manager in her senior year), and scorekeeper for the boys’ junior varsity and varsity lacrosse teams. Olin also volunteered as a Law Guardian and Judge on Youth Court and as a mentor for the Pupil Assisted Learning Program. Along with her extensive school activities, Olin worked as a swimming instructor and lifeguard throughout high school and performed secretarial work during the summers. She was a member of 4-H for three years and served as president during her freshman year. She received the Citizenship Award from the Chemung County 4-H in the fall of 2000. Olin is in this fall’s incoming freshman class at SUNY Geneseo, and plans to major in sociology. Former State Senator William Nowak and Dorothy Nowak Smith established the annual scholarship four years ago as a memorial to their daughter, Mary Judith Smith Keleman, who was killed in an auto accident by a drunk driver. Mary Judith graduated from Horseheads High School and attended SUNY Geneseo, her mother’s alma mater.
Art shows continue throughout summer
Art lovers can find several exhibits to view during the summer months in Geneseo. Here is a listing of the exhibition schedules:
- The Bridge Gallery in Brodie Hall is hosting "Summer Selections," student artwork in all media, through August 15. The exhibit is open from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. weekdays.
- "Livingston County Potpourri," an exhibition of the Livingston Art Group, will run through August 27 in the Lockhart Gallery. The opening reception will be from 2-5 p.m. Sunday, August 1. The gallery, located at 26 Main St. in Geneseo, is open from 1-4 p.m. weekdays.