Cazenovia College Magazine
summer 2013
From Caz to Family Medicine Dr. Rebecca Orendorff ’95 sees generations of patients as physician in the Duke Health System
Major Germany ’92 Addresses Graduates
Campaign Kicks Off Alumni Phase
Wheler Family’s Impact on Caz
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Cazenovia College – A Sound Investment
Photo: Susan Kahn
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“Individuals with a Bachelor’s degree make 84% more than those with only a high school diploma. Over a lifetime, a Bachelor’s degree is worth $2.8 million on average.” 1 1 The College Payoff: Education, Occupations, Lifetime Earnings. The Georgetown University Center on Education and Workforce. 2011
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Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
tudent success is at the center of everything we do at Cazenovia College. This “one student at a time” approach to the educational experience is what distinguishes Cazenovia College from other colleges and universities and sets the stage for our students to build successful futures for themselves. A recent survey of our alumni shows that over the past three years, even in this challenging economy, nearly nine out of every 10 Cazenovia College graduates were employed or enrolled in graduate school within six months of their graduation.
members that a Cazenovia College education is a sound investment and a baccalaureate degree from Cazenovia College is of great value. Our graduates, who quickly become successful alumni, attest to it. One needs to look no further than this very issue of the College Magazine to see that our alumni are excelling as medical doctors (Dr. Rebecca Orendorff ’95), educators (Mouhamadou Diaman ’09), professional designers (Illya CastilloBecktold ’96), military JAG attorneys (Major Dorion Germany ’92), and in many other impressive professions.
Recognized as a national College of Distinction; ranked by U.S. News and World Report as one of “America’s Best Colleges” and recently included in the Ultimate College Guide as one of the best values in American higher education, Cazenovia College provides students the best of everything an undergraduate college has to offer. At Cazenovia, our students have access to every available educational resource and are offered countless learning opportunities, which contribute to their development and ultimate success.
At our recent graduation ceremony–the College’s 188th Commencement–I promised our newest class of alumni that the trustees, faculty, staff and administrators will keep working to make Cazenovia an even greater college, one in which all alumni can continue to feel genuine pride. In return, I asked members of the Class of 2013, and all those alumni who have come before them, to continue working to make their lives successful and to make our society a better place for others as well as themselves. This is the responsibility of all Cazenovia College graduates.
As president of this historic and highly regarded institution, I am happy to tell the stories of our highly talented and thriving alumni when assuring prospective students, their parents and family
Summer 2013
Cazenovia College Magazine
CONTENTS
Vol. XII No. 1
Editor
Wayne A. Westervelt Managing Editor
Danielle Murray
Associate Editor
Sylvia E. Needel ’04 Art Director
John Seiter
Board of Trustees 2013-14 (as of 7/1/13) Chair
Carolyn Charles Deacon ’66 Vice Chair
Margery Pinet Secretary
Thomas R. Tartaglia Treasurer
Paul W. deLima Photo: Anthony Potter
Roberta Lee August ’58 Dacia Banks ’94 Eric M. Brown ’97 Andrew G. Church Victor A. DiSerio William B. Eberhardt Paula Stec Fenger ’75 Michael D. Flannery ’86 Stephen D. Fournier Catherine A. Gale Steven J. Infanti, Sr. William F. Locke Margie Dobin Miller ’69 Judith Rose Nutting ’73 Betty Ogletree Roberts ’70 Betsy Rosenfield Samet Richard S. Scolaro Richard L. Smith Mark Tierno Connie Monteleone Whitton Trustee Emeriti
Nicholas J. Christakos* Winifred E. Coleman Robert S. Constable Charles B. Morgan Jay W. Wason, Sr.* Barbara C. Wheler *Deceased
The Cazenovia College Magazine is published two times a year ( January and July) by Cazenovia College, Cazenovia, NY. It is entered as nonprofit material from the Utica Post Office. Circulation is about 21,000 free copies, and it is produced by the Office of Communications. Send comments to Cazenovia College Magazine, Office of Communications, 22 Sullivan St., Cazenovia, NY 13035. Phone: 315.655.7365 © 2013 Cazenovia College
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Photo: Susan Kahn
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Cover Story
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Campus News
Alumna Rebecca Orendorff ’95 sees generations of patients as a family physician in North Carolina 188th Commencement Ceremony; annual Fashion Show celebrates 40th Anniversary at Turning Stone Resort; students present posters at Eastern Psychological Association Conference
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Faculty & Staff News
New Enrollment Cervices Center; Pie Your Professor event held during Stress-Free Day; faculty highlights; Cazenovia College is reaccredited On the cover: Rebecca Orendorff ’95 Cover photo: Susan Kahn
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Photo: Jason Ruoff
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Student Updates
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Campaign Update
My Caz Experience: Jessica Berman, Equine Business Management major from Rumney, NH; Jason Ruoff completes photography internship in South Africa “Year Three” – the alumni phase of the Comprehensive Capital Campaign – led by a dedicated Alumni Committee
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Trustee News
The Wheler family’s impact on Cazenovia College and the community spans five decades
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Photo: Wayne Westervelt
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Spot the Magazine; Reunion 2013 coverage; Class Notes; Mary “MJ” Kilian Walker ’72 named Alumni Board president; alumni events; upcoming alumni events; and alumni profiles: Mouhamadou Diaman ’09 and Illya Castillo-Becktold ’96
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Wildcats News
Student-athlete spotlight: Megan McDermott ’13; 2013 Hall of Fame inductees announced; In Memoriam: D. Jean Sidaras; Wildcats celebrate record-breaking seasons of Alicia Priest ’13 and Cory Tilton ’13
Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
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FEATURE STORY
“All in the Family” of Medicine
grandparents) and strive to know what is really going on in their lives and assess how certain variables might be impacting their health.”
Alumna sees generations of patients as family physician
Her interest in science, particularly how people overcome challenges in relation to their health, began at an early age. Pursuing a career in the medical field was on Orendorff ’s mind but it was during her first year of college that the idea of becoming a doctor surfaced. “Cazenovia provided a great base of knowledge and skills that I have used to reach my goals over the years,” said Orendorff, who added, “After my first year at Caz, I knew exactly what I wanted to do and began to concentrate on my path to medical school.”
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ebecca Orrendorf, M.D., a 1995 alumna of Cazenovia College and family physician, was recently on the receiving end of the medical field as a patient during her pregnancy. Suffering a pre-term premature rupture of membranes at 23 weeks, Orendorff was on bed rest in the hospital for almost three months, each day fearful of what the outcome would be if her daughter were born that day. Yet with the right medical attention and care, mom gave birth to Piper on April 3, 2013 (at 34 weeks). After a brief stay in the neonatal intensive care unit, the newest addition to the family is doing well and glad to be home getting to know her big brother, Holden. Says Orendorff, “After this experience, I am able to relate to my patients better and care for them in a deeper, more compassionate way. I can fully understand the loss of control, anxiety and difficulty in adjusting to any new diagnosis.”
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Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
Photo: Susan Kahn
A medical doctor in the Duke University Health System, Orendorff sees patients of all ages with acute and chronic conditions, possessing a constant focus on patient education, health maintenance and disease prevention. “Medicine is a lot of work but truly rewarding,” says Orendorff. “As a family physician, I see generations of families (children, parents,
Orendorff recalls how much support, encouragement and individual attention she received from her professors at Cazenovia. “There was always a door open with professors and staff … it’s an extended family at Caz.” One special member of that family was Professor Emerita Harwant Dosanjh – Orendorff ’s advisor and mentor. “There was an element of disappointment in Professor Dosanjh’s voice if I did not do my best on an exam,” recalls Orendorff. “She had a tone of concern but her expectations were always high, much like my parents.”
“Cazenovia provided a great base of knowledge and skills … After my first year, I knew exactly what I wanted to do and began to concentrate on my path to medical school.”
- Rebecca Orendorff ’95
Professor Dosanjh fondly remembers Orendorff as a student in her chemistry and calculus courses. “Rebecca was one of the
As a physician, wife and mother of an active 2-year old toddler and now a newborn, Orendorff looks forward to developing a new routine and time for career, family and self. She says she “would not have it any other way.” She also hopes that she and her family will be able to visit the Caz campus or attend a reunion in the near future. “I look forward to seeing all the changes that have taken place on campus since
Honored to be the first recipient of the Donald Roy Memorial Scholarship at Cazenovia College, Orendorff recalls how getting involved at college really taught her how to take advantage of every opportunity, which made her a stronger, more well-rounded individual. “Study hard but enjoy yourself. Get involved in campus activities. Seek out and take advantage of learning and development opportunities,” advises Orendorff, who belonged to a number of organizations, which she says enhanced her classroom learning. A budding family physician, Orendorff also has advice for those who aspire to join the field of medicine. “Many medical students are going into specialties for a variety of reasons but I encourage everyone interested in pursuing a career in this field to do what you love and follow your dreams.” Following her dreams is exactly what Dr. Orendorff has been doing since her college days on the Cazenovia College campus, earning a degree in a family-type educational setting,
Rebecca (right) with her advisor and mentor, Professor Harwant Dosanjh, in 1994
Photo: Shari Whitaker
Following medical school, she pursued and received a master of public health degree from Johns Hopkins in Baltimore, Maryland, before her threeyear residency (2003-2006) in family medicine at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center at Saint Margaret. In 2006, she moved to North Carolina and has been working for Duke University Medical Center ever since.
my graduation.” Also excited about one of the priority projects of Cazenovia College’s Comprehensive Capital Campaign, Orendorff spoke about the investment her alma mater is making in the biology program and in upgrading the science labs in Eckel Hall. “I am optimistic that these improvements will help to attract an increased number of talented science-minded students who ultimately venture into a health care field.”
Photo courtesy of: Rebecca Orendorff
After receiving her associate’s degree in Liberal Arts from Cazenovia College in 1995, Orendorff enrolled at Smith College in Northampton, Massachusetts, and graduated with a major in psychology and a minor in neuroscience. She worked at a research company called MetaWorks in Boston for a year. In 1998, she headed off to medical school at Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, where she met her husband, Eric, who today is a neonatologist caring for babies born early or ill.
Photo courtesy of: Rebecca Orendorff
brightest students I ever had. I knew she would go places,” said Dosanjh, who recalls how serious Orendorff was about her studies and ultimate plan to go to medical school. “I was so impressed with Rebecca’s constant desire to learn and her willingness to expose herself to new things. She has made all of us at Cazenovia College extremely proud,” added Dosanjh.
(L-R) Carolyn Thau ’95, Amy Sujka ’96 and Rebecca Orendorff ’95 at the Commencement ceremony in 1995. According to Orendorff, “We will be friends for life. They were in my wedding and I was in theirs. Even if we don’t talk for a long time, we are always able to pick up where we left off.”
Dr. Orendorff ’95 (center) at the March 2010 alumni gathering in Raleigh/Durham, NC
then building a career and family of her own, and now practicing as a family physician. “Getting to know each of my patients and their entire family in the practice of family medicine is one of the most fulfilling aspects of my job.”
Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
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CAMPUS NEWS
Commencement Celebrates the Graduating Class of 2013
tional message to the graduates, stressing that “big problems can be solved by small contributions that we all make together. Live beyond your daily responsibility and then just watch your life flourish.” He concluded his address by urging members of the Class of 2013 to “Go forth from Cazenovia and rule your world. But rule it from a strong sense of virtue. Leave it safer, smarter, cleaner, greener and fairer than you found it. Enrich yourself in this beautiful blue marble of ours. But enrich others around you as well.”
May 18th Ceremony also honors a special alumna and welcomes home keynote speaker Dorion Germany ’92
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he 188th Commencement Ceremony at Cazenovia College afforded the opportunity for the entire campus community to once again come together and applaud the accomplishments of its graduating class.
“All in all the class of 2013 will leave behind a legacy of friendship, advocacy, hard work and accomplishment,” said Ward, who added, “I believe our education at Cazenovia College will help us to overcome any struggles set in our path.”
In addition to receiving their diplomas, graduates cheered on their peers who received Academic Excellence awards, Student Life and Alumni awards. They collectively thanked their families, faculty, staff and administration for four years of support, guidance and direction. They also intently listened to their valedictorian, Christine Ward ’13, who spoke on the impact she and her classmates have made on a place they have called home the past four years.
This year’s Commencement was also marked by the return of one of the College’s own – alumnus Dorion Germany ’92 – who was chosen by the senior class to deliver this year’s keynote address. A major in the United States Army Judge Advocate General ( JAG) Corps, Germany is one of a few military attorneys who wear both a Bronze Star and a Combat Action Badge.
Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
Major Germany delivered an inspira-
Photo: Anthony Potter
Photo: John Seiter
The ceremony also included the special presentation of an honorary degree to a Cazenovia College graduate. President Mark Tierno, acting on behalf of the Board of Trustees, conferred upon Jeanne Elizabeth “Betty” Priest Putney ’53 the degree of doctor of humane letters. Putney, who has been a member of the Cazenovia College community since 1951, as a student and an employee of the College, was recognized for more than five decades of association with Cazenovia College.
President Mark Tierno and Jeanne Elizabeth “Betty” Priest Putney ’53
For more information on the 2013 Commencement; to view the online photo gallery; or to order photos from the ceremony, visit www.cazenovia.edu/commencement. See pages 28-29 for additional Commencement coverage and a complete listing of the graduates.
Annual Student Fashion Show Celebrates 40th Anniversary
Photo: Todd Milliman
“Recollection” hosted at Turning Stone Resort Casino
Show Management and Production course once again determined the staging, choreography, music and all other aspects of the event. In addition to these students, photography, graphic design and sport management majors assisted with different aspects of the show to make the event a success. From senior designers to freshman models, everyone involved was inspired by vintage films and styles to enhance the glamorous runway.
“This year’s group of designers and merchandisers were so talented,” said Megan Lawson-Clark, assistant professor of fashion studies and fashion show faculty director. “ I believe being at a separate venue made everyone work even harder.”
Students Present at Eastern Psychological Association Meeting Record number of Caz students show research posters at New York City conference
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oster presentations by seven seniors were accepted at the Eastern Psychological Association’s 84th Annual Meeting in New York City in March. Theirs were among more than 100 posters presented by students from many colleges and universities in the eastern United States. Dr. Rachel Dinero, associate professor of psychology, says “I think the individual attention these students receive in both the Research Methods and Capstone classes facilitates their success with independent research. I am extremely passionate about research and make every effort to encourage students to conduct their own research.”
Wesay Murray, junior, models an outfit from senior Joneshia Jones’s collection.
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s the fashion world evolves, so does the beloved Cazenovia College student-run fashion show. Recollection, sponsored by Dreissig Apparel, was held on Sunday, April 21, at a new, yet familiar locale. When exploring possible venues to celebrate the show’s 40th anniversary milestone— the Conference Center of the Turning Stone Resort was the perfect fit. Its ambiance and charm paired well with this year’s old Hollywood theme and it could comfortably hold the increasing number of attendees. An air of sophistication and class was evident to the over 1,100 guests in attendance. Fashion Merchandising and Fashion Design students enrolled in the Fashion
Headlining the event was keynote speaker and Cazenovia alumna Christine Carey ’10, an off-air associate for QVC. She shared remarks on the fashion industry before 10 seniors dazzled the audience with their capstone creations. To view additional photos, Recollection footage and video clips from WSYR-TV9 and YNN please visit: www.cazenovia.edu/fashionshow.
Photo: Tasha Johnson
(Standing, L-R) Anna Cariello ’13, Elise Russell ’13, Revanna Hogan ’13, Nicole L. Rizzo ’13 (Seated, L-R) Melissa A. Bartolomeo ’13, Dr. Rachel Dinero, Megan Kresge ’13 Not pictured: Faith Toomey ’13
More about the students may be found on the Web: www.cazenovia.edu/magazineExtra.
Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
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FACULTY AND STAFF NEWS
New Enrollment Services Center to Provide Integrated Support One-stop shop streamlines processes for students and administrators
the various cyclic “peak-period” workloads. According to Mandel, the major impact of the changes underway will be the streamlining of services, and cross training of every member of the Enrollment Services team so key positions will always have support. She says, “Each person in the office will soon be able to step into the role of any other employee, so work will continue even if someone is out of the office or currently assisting another student.”
Photo: Tasha Johnson
Moving forward with this integrated approach to enrollment services will require effective coordination with colleagues across campus, including those in Academic Affairs, Admissions, the Business Office, Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and others.
The Enrollment Services team (L-R): Nina Carver, enrollment services administrative specialist; Kayle Light, enrollment services administrative specialist; Danette Tallman, enrollment services specialist; Kathy Bird, enrollment services manager and associate registrar; Erin Dyer, enrollment services specialist; Chris Mandel ’82, associate dean for financial aid and registrar.
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s the Enrollment Services Center takes shape in Williams Hall, students will find a streamlined process when they need help with issues like understanding financial aid and billing, and registering for classes. Chris McMorris Mandel ’82, associate dean for financial aid and registrar, says, “This has been our goal since the financial aid, bursar’s and registrar’s offices co-located in one physical space about eight years ago.” The new one-stop Enrollment Services
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Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
Center will provide students with fully integrated financial aid-registrationstudent accounts services that will better contribute to their success. The new Center will improve service to students while also enabling all Enrollment Services staff members to share
The new onestop Enrollment Services Center will provide students with fully integrated … services that will better contribute to their success.
One thing that will not change is the registration process. “We think it’s important to handle registration one-on-one with each student, and advisors like to meet with students face-to-face,” says Mandel. “It’s all about forming personal relationships with each student who comes into Enrollment Services.” “Our goal,” Mandel says, “is to provide the best experience possible for each and every student. Change takes time and this reorganization is a work in progress, but we are all very excited about the possibilities and positive outcomes before us.”
Cazenovia College is Reaccredited Campus meets all 14 standards set forth by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education
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Faculty Highlights
azenovia College recently received word of its reaccreditation by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE), thereby successfully completing a more than two-year self-study/peer evaluation review.
Faculty earn doctoral degrees and receive promotions
Chris Geyer
Rebecca Page Johnson
Barbara Hager
Rachel Dinero
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ongratulations are in order for two members of the College faculty who recently received their doctoral degrees. • Chris Geyer, assistant professor of English and director of Academic Writing, received a Ph.D., in Composition and Cultural Rhetoric from Syracuse University. • Rebecca Page Johnson, assistant professor of Education and program director of the Inclusive Adolescence Education Program, received a Ph.D., in Education from Syracuse University. At the May 2013 meeting of the Cazenovia College Board of Trustees, the Board approved the following faculty promotions: • Barbara Hager was promoted from associate professor to professor of Environmental Biology. Dr. Hager joined Cazenovia College in 2000, bringing with her years of experience in field research and instruction. Her biological specialties are behavioral ecology and entomology with a special interest in dragonflies and solitary wasps and bees. • Rachel Dinero was promoted from assistant professor to associate professor of Psychology. Dr. Dinero started teaching at Cazenovia College in 2007. Before coming to Caz, she held a one-year lecturer position at the University of California, Davis; and taught for four years at Sacramento City College. Dr. Dinero’s research focuses on the development of social relationships, primarily romantic relationships.
Beginning in spring 2011, the College community engaged in a process of self-study in anticipation of the MSCHE decennial accreditation visit. As part of that process, the Self Study Steering Committee, together with Workgroups and their constituents, contributed valuable time and effort to compiling a comprehensive Self Study Report. A peer Evaluation Team visited campus March 24-27, 2013, to assess “how well the institution’s educational goals and objectives are realized in actual practice” (MSCHE, 2009). The Team’s review confirmed Cazenovia College’s own findings and included a number of commendations, all of which will be used by the College in the creation of its strategic plan for fall 2013. President Mark Tierno shared, “This process of review is increasingly important in the current time of economic recovery and national dialogue about the quality and value of higher education.”
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azenovia College students in the Psychology Club, Campus Activities Board, Student Government Association and Art Club hosted a “Pie Your Professor” event on May 1, 2013. The campus community had the chance to donate funds to see their favorite professor participate in a fun opportunity during Stress-Free Day. Out of the 14 lucky nominated professors, four hit the $50 minimum to support Hospice. Many came close, but John Livermore, assistant professor of mathematics (pictured with Anna VanDerKrake ’13); Matt Clark, associate lecturer of communications studies, and director of corporate, foundations and government relations; Michael Holdren, associate professor and program director of psychology; and Scott Jensen, assistant professor of visualCazenovia communications, had the College Magazine: Summer 2013 honor of being “pied” for a great cause.
Photos: Tasha Johnson
Pie Your Professor!
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STUDENT UPDATES
performance will afford her the opportunity to become a master student in Bump’s course during her sophomore year. Berman will aid in class discussions, provide guidance for group projects, develop and implement field experiences and serve as a mentor to new students.
My Caz Experience: Jessica Berman
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three-year-old girl attended a church picnic and went on her very first pony ride. She took one magical lap around the yard, established a special connection with “Diamond” and galloped right into a love of all-things equestrian. Meet freshman Jessica Berman—that wide-eyed young horse fan who is now fulfilling her equine dreams at Cazenovia College as an equine business management major. “I remember taking information from the Cazenovia booth at an Equine Fair when I was younger and hearing about the equestrian team from a fellow barn boarder and Caz grad, and always remained curious about the school,” said Berman. “Throughout the college search process, the programs at Caz stood out from the rest because they’d allow me to blend my hunt seat background with a focus on business, therefore diversifying my knowledge of the industry.” Visiting the Equine Education Center also increased her interest in becoming a Wildcat. “As we drove up the hill and peered down onto ‘The Farm,’ I took
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Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
Photo: Tasha Johnson
Freshman New Hampshire native pursues equestrian dreams at Cazenovia
one look at the idyllic setting and just admired its magnificent beauty for a moment,” notes Berman. “The facilities were stunning, the horses had varied, impressive backgrounds, and the laboratories and classrooms were quite appealing.” Berman credits the smaller class sizes and close campus community with her easy transition to college life. The thought of being six hours away from her hometown of Rumney, New Hampshire, concerned Berman at first, but the warm welcome she received from College personnel, classmates and village residents instantly made those worries dissipate. She dove right into the college experience and took a passionate interest in her classes. “My First Year Seminar course – Horses, Humans, Politics and Pressure with Dr. Karin Bump – was my favorite,” said Berman, whose positive attitude and superb classroom
Bump, an equine studies professor, says, “Jessie epitomizes the kinds of characteristics that are crucial to college achievement, while at the same time she possesses a combination of kindness and determination that is critical to social success, as well. The students who work with Jessie next year will no doubt catch her enthusiastic ‘cando’ Cazenovia spirit!”
While Berman excels in academics, she has also immersed herself in extracurricular activities. She made the equestrian team during her first semester. As a result, the majority of her days are filled with early morning practices, comprehensive training, team building and general stable maintenance – all things that contribute to her development into a smarter and more knowledgeable rider. She’s also a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society and the Equine Ambassadors Club. “I encourage others to push themselves to new limits, explore unique opportunities and continuously embrace new challenges,” says Berman. “I look at all of the things I’ve done in such a short time on campus, and I can only imagine what wonderful and varied possibilities my future holds – the future I’m building each day at Caz.”
“The programs at Caz stood out … allowing me to blend my hunt seat background with a focus on business.”
- Jessica Berman
For more My Caz Experience stories, visit experience.cazenovia.edu.
Studio Art Major Dives in to South African Internship Jason Ruoff contributes to Oceans Research field expeditions ties provided to me by Caz, I’ve been inspired to expand my portfolio and further explore the intricacies of photography,” says Ruoff. “I’ve already established a solid path toward my future and I can’t wait to see what’s in store for me.”
Ruoff took this photo titled, “Jaguar,” inside Jukani.
Imagine waking up with plans to
observe cheetah cubs in their natural habitat, document great white shark movement, free-dive with dolphins or bungee jump off a 451-meter cliff. Those dreams became a reality in summer 2012 for junior studio art major Jason Ruoff, when he was granted the exciting opportunity to intern in Mossel Bay, a harbor town on the Southern Cape of South Africa. Ruoff ’s love of nature and keen interest in photography was sparked at the young age of 12, and he longed to someday work in this genre. When researching required internship options, Ruoff sought an international experience – one that would allow him to contribute the knowledge and skills he built while at Cazenovia to a world-renowned organization. After working closely with Christine Richardson, director of career services, he discovered Oceans Research (now African Media) – an organization focused on marine research and dedicated to conserving South Africa’s marine life. The company’s overall
mission paralleled Ruoff ’s vision for the perfect global internship. Ruoff was the first Cazenovia student to partner with the company and he enthusiastically accepted the opportunity. Along with 15 other photography interns from schools throughout the United States, Ruoff found himself living for two months in Boland Park Lodge and immersed in an environment very different from his native Lansing, New York. “Each day was unique and rewarding,” Ruoff notes. Assignments such as watching the biggest Sardine Run in 50 years, directing a shoot for the diving brand Boney Fish UK, and photographing wildlife for game park publicity, allowed him a chance to hone his craft alongside veterans in the field. His nine-hour days were filled with counsel from five main mentors – a mix of photographers and field specialists. Tips on underwater angles, business-client interactions and industry standards were abundant during daily projects.
Photo: Christine Landau
Ruoff, far right, joined fellow interns on the 2012 South African Sardine Run.
Photo: Whitney Frary
Jason Ruoff, junior studio arts major, stands with fellow interns at Boland Park Lodge.
“Thanks to the diverse opportuni-
Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
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Building Futures One at a Time Campaign Update
With alumni volunteer leadership, the College builds on success
Trustees Eric Brown ’97 and Betsy Rosenfield Samet lead the Campaign Alumni Committee
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y now, the College’s ongoing comprehensive fundraising initiative, Building Futures One at a Time: The Campaign for Cazenovia College, may have a familiar ring to you. The third year of this five-year effort closes with over $7 million in gifts and pledges raised toward the overall goal of $10 million. “Year Three” marked the alumni phase of the campaign, when we initiated outreach to all members of our College family with the intent of sharing how 12
Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
important this fundraising effort is to current and future students and members of the College community. Since the campaign’s public-phase kickoff in September 2012, President Mark Tierno and a group of highly committed
Our successes thus far can be attributed not only to the generous contributions of many people, but also to a dedicated Alumni Committee...
Photo: Tasha Johnson
alumni have been on the road, organizing and attending events, as well as meeting with fellow alumni one-on-one to ask for financial support of the College. We have shared news about the College and the campaign with enthusiastic audiences in Southern California, Florida, New York City, Charlotte, Virginia, Boston, Syracuse, Albany and Rochester, with more locations planned for the upcoming academic year. Almost $2 million of the $7 million raised so far has come from College alumni, and the attainment of the overall goal will depend on this group’s continued generosity. Our successes thus far can be attributed not only to the generous contributions of many people, but also to a dedicated Alumni Committee led by Eric Brown ’97 and Betsy Rosenfield Samet, who also serve as members of the College’s Board of Trustees. Adding this responsibility to Eric and Betsy’s volunteer portfolios has required a substantial commitment of time and energy from them; however, their leadership in this area provides significant impetus to the campaign’s alumni outreach. “Each one, reach one is what we are asking alumni to do in requesting the participation of their fellow classmates in this fundraising effort,” said Brown. Several alumni volunteers work with Brown and Samet, including Roberta Lee August ’58, Kristin Burger ’07, Nancy LeValley Farley ’69, Paula Stec Fenger ’75, Margie Dobin Miller ’69, Judy Rose Nutting ’73, Alex Simon ’07, and Mary “MJ” Kilian Walker ’72. “For the Alumni Committee, our Cazenovia College experiences have stayed with us since we first stepped on campus. Now,
You can make a difference.
our reaching out to fellow alumni – for their financial and volunteer support – will help current and future students benefit from a similar journey of educational and personal growth,” said Samet. In addition, outreach efforts have been enhanced through the initiative of class agents and the Alumni Association Board. When President Tierno visits your area or a fellow graduate contacts you for a get-together to discuss the campaign, please take some time to learn about the College’s commitment to raising $10 million for six funding priorities. These key areas include a refurbished and expanded facility for the studio arts on Jephson Campus (formerly South Campus), the modernization of science labs on the third floor of Eckel Hall, the new Christakos Field, endowment for student financial aid, endowment for academic excellence, and ongoing programmatic and operating support through donations to the Cazenovia Fund.
Your participation - regardless of the level of commitment - is essential to the campaign’s success. For more information about the campaign, please visit www.cazenovia.edu/campaign or contact the Division of Institutional Advancement at 315.655.7369.
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Emma Grossman, Class of 2014 - scholarship recipient
There are many ways to contribute to financial aid. With your help, a Cazenovia College education is within reach of all qualified students. Term Scholarships
Have an immediate influence on a student’s access to the Caz Experience. Minimum pledge: $1,000 per year for 3 to 5 years
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Minimum pledge: $25,000 paid within 5 years
To learn how YOU can invest in a Cazenovia College student’s success, please visit: www.cazenovia.edu/support-cazenovia or call Joan Brooks, director of development, at 315.655.7108
One Click. One Minute. One Future. In less than a minute you can join us in the building of a student’s future. Cazenovia Fund To learn more about giving to Cazenovia College, please call Pete Way, director of the Cazenovia Fund, at 315.655.7220 or email pmway@cazenovia.edu
Visit www.cazenovia.edu/give-to-caz
Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
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TRUSTEE NEWS
Special Thanks to the Wheler Family Whelers impact on Cazenovia College and the community spans five decades
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t an institution where history is embraced and a sense of family is encouraged, few families rival the impact that the Wheler family has had on Cazenovia College. Their association with the College dates back to 1973 when Barbara Wheler joined an ad hoc committee of concerned citizens who worked diligently to save the College from closing. In 1974, Barbara was appointed to the Board of Trustees and served the first of two multi-year stints as a College trustee. She chaired the search committee that ultimately hired Stephen Schneeweiss as president in 1975, and chaired the Board in the latter part of the 1970s, before returning to the Board in 1995 and serving through 2004. In the 1980s, A. Gordon Wheler, founding partner of Stearns & Wheler, served on the Board of Trustees. Barbara recalls President Schneeweiss asking Gordon to serve, stressing that the College needed his building and grounds experience. Serving as trustees in four separate decades, Gordon and Barbara passed down their desire to serve and support the College to their children Bradford Wheler
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Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
and Georgeann (“Gigi”) Redmond. In 2001, upon his return to the Cazenovia community, Brad established The Barbara C. Wheler Endowed Scholarship at Cazenovia College, which is awarded to a female student in her junior year who shows a commitment to community and public service. A few years later, Brad – just like mom and dad – accepted the invitation to serve on the College Board of Trustees. He completed a nine-year term this June, during which he was chair from 2010-2013. As for Gigi, she never served in a formal role with Cazenovia College but has consistently embraced its students in her multitude of community initiatives, including her work with Caz Cares, Project Café, and the Cazenovia Public Library. When asked about their fondest memories, Barbara – who was designated a Trustee Emerita in 2004 – was eager to respond. She said, “I remain proud of the fact that many of us cared so deeply for the College in the 1970s that we would not let it close … and to see how highly regarded the College is today is truly rewarding.” Barbara also spoke of how much the family has enjoyed its close relationships with students, quick to tell
the story of how the Whelers were actively engaged in supporting the educational path of recent graduate Yao Foli ’13. “We’ll be sure to keep in touch with him for years to come.” Gigi, who frequently hosts interns at Caz Cares, commented on the genuine interest the Whelers have always had in the College students’ success. She said, “I think that is why it was so important to mom and dad to establish the Wheler Family Conference. After 9/11, they were committed to doing something at the College to help broaden the understanding of complex issues in our world.” Brad marvels at the growth of Cazenovia College over the past 40 years. “It was at the dedication of Christakos Field that I began to realize just how much positive momentum has been building up over the years,” he recalls. “It has been transformational and I am proud that the Whelers have been a part of this historic growth.” The Wheler family’s financial support of the College and list of community service activities is far too vast to list in this article. Perhaps the College’s Distinguished Service Award, presented to the Whelers in 2008, sums it up best in that it recognizes the Whelers for helping make the educational experience, Cazenovia College and our community as a whole, better. Indeed, the Whelers have done that and much more, and Cazenovia College will be forever grateful.
Share Your News for Class Notes! ALUMNI NEWS
SPOT THE MAGAZINE Going on vacation? Heading to a
major sporting event? Climbing a mountain? In whatever interesting location you find yourself, why not take along an issue of the Cazenovia College Magazine? Pose with your alma mater’s magazine and you could someday find yourself among the pages.
Please send photo, caption and photo credit to: communications@cazenovia.edu or Office of Communications, 22 Sullivan St., Cazenovia, NY 13035
Let’s see where you’ve been!
Close friends and college roommates Patricia Williamson St. Clair ’66, left, and Allyson Fellows Cellius ’66 met in Alexandria, VA, for lunch in April 2013.
Please help keep our office and friends up-to-date by sharing recent information. Have you moved? Changed jobs? Been promoted? Received an award? Said, “I do”? Welcomed a new baby? If so, please send us the details and include your name, address, the year you graduated, telephone number and email address. Please identify individuals in photographs. Photographs will not be returned. Electronic photos must be in high resolution jpg, PDF or tif format, no smaller than 300 dpi and 3 x 3 inches or larger in size. Class Notes will be edited for length and style. Notes are recommended to be 80 words or less in order to accommodate the growing number of alumni submissions. Class Notes does not publish information relative to promoting your business.
Send the information to: Marcia Neumiller, Alumni Relations, 22 Sullivan Street, Cazenovia, NY 13035. Or, email mmneumiller@cazenovia.edu Thank you!
CLASS NOTES 1950
Beverly Schumann Kessler ’50 writes, “Hi, my husband, Hank, and I have had a busy year. Last June, we moved to Vermont from Connecticut to be near our daughter and her family. We have four children, two boys and two girls. Our first great-granddaughter, Hailey, was born April 17, 2012, and her father is our oldest and only married grandchild. In December, I had my second hip replacement. It was successful, but I am still limited by a bad back. Hank refers to me as his bionic wife; two hips, one knee, two cataracts, two implanted teeth, etc. We’ll be married 60 years in December so I guess he’s entitled to his opinion. With over 80 inches of snow this season, including some in April, I’m reminded of the winters in Caz so long ago. We’ve enjoyed reunions at Caz and at the high school in past years, but my health will prevent me from attending this year. Still hope to improve enough to go one more time. I’m impressed with the progress Cazenovia has made over the years. Imagine, four years and co-ed, hardly recognizable from the school I attended. My best to my classmates and all the grads and students.”
1953 Joann Solomon ’69, left, and Gioia Caiola Forman ’69, right, read the Cazenovia College Magazine to Joann’s fourth grandchild, Finley, at Finley’s first birthday party.
Betty Priest Putney ’53 would like her classmates to know that she was the recipient of an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree at Commencement on May 18 this year. “I am so honored and humbled by this distinction. Who would have known back in 1953?”
1960
Susan Heller Somerville ’60 writes, “The time flew since I left Caz. I still remember the huge old tree by the tennis court. It was a picturesque town, ideally set on the lake, but I think that the wintertime was way too lengthy. I lived for most of the time in Berkeley, California, moving in 1989 to Oakland. I taught in public schools in Oakland and Kensington; and after retiring, I had a small tutorial business and subbed in Jewish schools. Having been very involved in synagogue life, Jewish organizations, and city politics, I also took on much pro-Israel activism. I have written quite a bit of poetry, kept journals for more than 40 years, have painted and done ceramics, sung with the California Bach Society and then Kol Truah choruses at one time; and because of my inclination towards the music world, I have been an avid concert, opera, and ballet attendee. I am a mother and grandmother, and as of December 2011, an Israeli citizen.”
1961
Anita Bond Carter ’61 shares, “My grandson made me a great-grandmother—twice!!!! Two precious boys; the oldest turned two years old in January, and his brother turned one in May. My grandson is in the Air Force and will be living in England for the next four years. His sister, 12, is in chorus and may become a young teen model. My husband is disabled and is diabetic, too. It means no more dog shows for now. My oldest (now only) show dog, a Siberian Husky, is 15. She is boss of her ‘great nephew’ and our German Shepherd who is 10 years old. I would like to hear from those I knew. My email is: abosibe@rochester.rr.com.”
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ALUMNI NEWS
REUNION 2013
3.
“It doesn’t matter how you get here, as long as you make it back to Caz!”
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t didn’t matter how alumni returned to campus for Reunion Weekend as long as they came…and come they did! Despite a rainy weekend, over 180 alumni spanning eight decades (1946 – 2012) came from all over the country to reconnect with their alma mater and reminisce with classmates.
4.
Photos: Joan Brooks, John Seiter, Wayne Westervelt, Shari Whitaker
5.
1. 1. Alumni Association Award Winners (L-R) The Distinguished Alumni Award – Dacia Banks ’94, trustee; The Ellie Wilson Award – Roberta Lee August ’58, trustee; The Young Alumni Award – Lisa Folsom ’07; The Volunteer of the Year Award – Veronica Pisarz Goubeaud ’73 2. (L-R) Charlotte Fink Distel ’53 and Peter Way ’03, director of the Cazenovia Fund 3. Class of 1958 (Seated, L-R) Roberta Lee August, Carol Krause Arman, Sheila Ehlinger (Standing, L-R) Nancy Michaelsen Maiss, Linda Holler Huber, Sandra McKenna Skrobul 4. (Seated, L-R) Annette Russo Kinne ’73, Bonnie Cooke ’63, Carol Cooke Galusha ’63 (Standing, L-R) Debbie Purdy Muser ’68, Deborah Smith ’68, Pegi Lynch Boyne ’68 5. (L-R) Clinton Basalik ’03, Josef Ritter, professor, interior design; Diana Rusnica O’Connor ’88 6. Class of 1978 (Seated, L-R) Christine Rand Gottfried and Patricia Rzeszutek Lapetina (Standing, L-R) Louise Abernathy Clark, Jeanne-Marie Lucey Apgar, Kate Masterton, Cynthia Marquis Yolman
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2.
6.
CLASS NOTES - continued
1962
7.
8.
9. 10.
Martha Dyer Hooper ’62 writes, “My husband and I celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary on December 22, 2012! On our way to Boca Grande, FL, this year, we stopped and spent the night with Deb Litchfield Reineke ’62 and her husband in Ponte Vedra, FL. I am also in touch with Mary Lee Williams Garrett ’62. Last summer, I met Robin Appel Holmberg ’63 at our Yacht Club here in Annisquam, MA, who also graduated from Caz and is a member of our club. My husband recently played golf with her husband, John. In May we celebrated our 50th on a river cruise through France!” Janet Cook Isaac ’62 writes, “I graduated from Caz in 1962, eventually earning a BSW and then a Master of Social Work degree from Florida State. Al and I moved to South Carolina in 1998. I retired from hospice social work in 2009, and I am now doing clinical supervision for some social workers who are working to get their clinical license. I have seven grandchildren and one great granddaughter! I volunteer with Meals on Wheels and the Greenville Literacy Association, both of which give me great satisfaction.”
11.
7. Class of 1988 (L-R) Donna Rusnica O’Connor, Fredric Ensworth, Karen Webb, Melissa Oliver Hudson, Lisa Keating, Crystal Wright Farrell, Robyn Crumb, Ellen Schmidt Padulo 8. (L-R) Ilene Richter Sidoran ’55, Joan Kirch Spicer ’55, Debra Verni ’98, Shelley Bullock ’85 9. (L-R) Kate Lincoln ’08, assistant director of admissions; Ashlea Osborne ’12, assistant director of the Cazenovia Fund 10. (First row, L-R) Terianne Gough ’03 and Nia Mozee ’02 (Back row, L-R) Bridget Lawson ’03,
12.
Dacia Banks ’94, trustee; Stacie Mills ’02, Sheryl Bates ’00, Joshua King ’10 11. (L-R) Ashlea Osborne ’12, assistant director of the Cazenovia Fund; Shari Whitaker, director of alumni relations; and Terri Evans, assistant to the vice president for institutional advancement/ research associate 12. Class of 1948 (L-R) Ozzie Moodie Hansen, Bette Brown Carpenter, Eileen Lynch Atwood
Janet C o her yo ok Isaac ’62 ungest a grandc nd hild
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ALUMNI NEWS
Designing Her Own Career Path
dealership in Manhattan,” said CastilloBecktold, who was the perfect match for what Waldner’s needed in a designer.
Alumna is perfect match for Waldner’s Business Environments
“My portfolio aligned with Walder’s business needs and they were highly impressed with my AutoCAD experience and abilities,” added Castillo-Becktold, who was promoted to director of design in 2000, and corporate managing director of design in 2005. Today, she serves as director of account services, where she oversees the sales, operations and design needs for specific Waldner’s clients on projects from New York to California and even Hawaii.
I
n her search for colleges, Illya Castillo-Becktold ’95 wanted to carve out a successful career by starting at a place where no one knew who she was. “I wanted to grow and succeed on my own,” she said, clearly understanding the importance of selfworth at a young age.
to venture outside of New York City. It didn’t take her long to discover that Cazenovia College was the ideal place and would best allow her to begin building a future in the interior design field. Castillo-Becktold attended Cazenovia College at a time when its Interior Design Program was transitioning from offering two-year degrees to four-year bachelor of fine arts degrees. She became so comfortable at Caz and recalls in her second year how stressful it was to have to think about leaving campus for another college. “No one wanted to go after just two short years,” she said. “We were so excited when Caz announced that it would be expanding the program by offering four-year degrees.” As it turned out, most of Castillo-Becktold’s classmates in the Interior Design Program chose to stay at Cazenovia and earn both their associate’s degrees in 1993 and bachelor’s degrees in 1995.
Born in the Bronx, New York, and a graduate of Forest Hills High School in Queens, Castillo-Becktold wanted
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Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
Photo: Wayne Westervelt
After departing Cazenovia College, Castillo-Becktold applied to many interior design firms in the New York City area. She quickly landed an interior design sales position with Beck Office Furniture in Long Island and spent about a year “learning the ropes” and meeting with clients. CastilloBecktold recalls discussing with her colleagues how Cazenovia College trained its interior design students to excel in AutoCAD – a computer aided (2-D and 3-D) design program that is commonly used for design and drafting. “One year into the job at Beck, I was being courted by Waldner’s Business Environments, Inc. – a full service office furniture
She continues to praise Cazenovia College for her professional development, especially Professors Josef Ritter, Betsy Moore, and Professor Emerita Scotty Ottaviano. “The faculty at Caz are hands-on; they are practicing professionals in their fields and exposed me to everything I needed to succeed in the workplace.” Castillo-Becktold remains connected to her alma mater. In 2009, she was back on campus for Reunion and received the Young Alumni Award, in recognition of her success and accomplishment in a career. Living in Forest Hills, New York, with her husband, Jeff, of 14 years, and two daughters: Emma, 2, and Lola, 7, CastilloBecktold recently attended an alumni event in New York City. While reminiscing with fellow alumni and catching up on the latest College news, she found herself promoting Cazenovia College to a prospective student and her dad who were in attendance.
“My portfolio aligned with Walder’s business needs and they were highly impressed with my AutoCAD experience and abilities.” - Illya Castillo-Becktold ’95
“Promoting the College and the Interior Design Program is my way of giving back,” shared Castillo-Becktold, who added that her Caz experience allowed her to grow as a person and served as the blueprint to her career success.
Cazenovia College has received:
CLASS NOTES - continued
1963
Cynthia Kritz-Consic ’63 writes, “Hello everyone in the graduating class of 1963. I can’t believe it has been 50 years since we graduated. I am living in Stuart, FL, with my husband, and we are both enjoying our retirement. I would love to hear from you. My email is: kritzconsicc@ bellsouth.net. Any old friends in the class of ’62 or ’64, I would love to hear from you, too. My best to you all.” Susan Baron Lippitt ’63 writes, “My years at Caz were wonderful, and I enjoyed every minute. I cannot believe all these years have gone by so quickly. I hope all of my classmates are well and enjoying the ‘Golden Years.’ I have been married for 47 years, and my husband, Artie, and I have had a good life. We have three children; Andrew is getting married to Holly this summer at the New Jersey shore; Matthew is married to Samantha and they have two children, Max and Jaime; Lauren is married to Greg Zissu, and they have two children, Jordyn and Tyler. They are expecting a baby girl any minute. All of the children live within 10-15 minutes from us. We get to watch them grow and enjoy attending all their activities. So, LIFE IS GOOD! I would love to hear from any of my classmates. I live in Watchung, NJ. Best wishes to all the new graduates. I hope your experiences at Caz will enhance your life forever. A special ‘hello’ to Cynthia Kritz-Consic ’63.
1964
Linda Heineman Keil ’64, Stephanie Kravec ’64, Betty Vitti Spillane ’64, and Dee Lewis ’65 had a great lunch together in
March in White Plains, NY. Linda writes, “Still looking pretty snappy!!” Tekla Dennison Miller ’64 writes, “In 2014, we will be celebrating our 50th Reunion. It is hard to believe all that time has passed. I plan to attend the Reunion, and I hope to see many of my classmates. I have kept busy camping with my husband and two rescued dogs, as well as hiking, aerobics, snowshoeing and writing. On April 19, 2013, Plan B Magazine featured my short fiction titled Hostage. Hostage will also appear in Plan B’s first anthology.”
1966
Jacqueline Wagoner Schrafft ’66 writes, “My husband and I are enjoying retirement and our new home on Cape Cod. I hope to attend the Class of 1966 reunion when we celebrate our ‘50th’ in 2016!”
1968
Carol Titzel ’68 is still living in Wayne, PA. “I worked for John Wanamaker Dept. for 15 years and went on to work for a family business, Delchester Oil Co., for another 15 years. I then worked at a day care and then watched a little girl for seven years. I have never married nor had children. I am now retired and doing a lot of volunteering.”
1972
Mary “MJ” Kilian Walker ’72 writes, “Reunion ’13 was a lot of fun and even though it wasn’t our honored year like last year, we did have four alumni and two guests attend. We expect Susan, Wendy and Sue E. at Reunion ’14 so please make plans to attend! A special thanks to Wendy Dibble Carter Smith ’72, who made a beautiful table runner and scarves (in Caz colors!) and donated them to the Alumni Board raffle basket which raised over $200 this year. Our class also received an anonymous donation of a Roman Santiago lithograph.
man da Heine c ’64, Lin illane ’64 e v a r K phanie itti Sp (L-R) Ste ’65 and Betty V is w e L Dee
Keil ’64,
Gifts In Honor of: Colleen Ahern ’13 Michelle E. Bennice ’13 Anna Cariello ’13 Gage Crumb ’13 Norman E. Dibble Harwant K. Dosanjh Courtney Drake ’13 Isabel Fermin ’13 Kaley Green ’13 Jennifer Krist ’13 Erich Lange ’13 Ashley Mettlen ’13 Emily O’Brien ’13 William & Deborah O’Reilly Jenna Petrone ’13 Dean Phisterer Mary Pierret ’13 Cynthia Pratt Alicia Priest ’13 Julia N. Raysman ’13 Francesca E. Romano ’13 Noelle Sippel ’13 Megan Sitarek ’13 Tai Siver ’13 Joshua Skibbee ’13 Mary Tilebein ’72 Christine Ward ’13
Gifts In Memory of : Larie H. Bauer ’58 Deborah A. Belden ’69 Joanne G. Blumin ’63 Virginnia Cobb Constance & Henry Cramer Elizabeth C. Dibble Joanna Bronold Conway ’55 Rhea Eckel Mrs. Kathleen Egly Brian W. Galusha Eleanore L. Howard Betty Collins Kirschbaum ’49 Pamela Rosenfield Levin ’65 Carl T. Loader Melba Coates Meyer ’56 Malcolm D. Norton ’48 Martha Papworth O’Neill ’00 Ellen Ormsbee John Peckinpaugh & Ellen Bub Lynn Reynolds ’04 Jane Stern Rosenau ’51 Professor Donald Roy Jack & Bettie Shawcross Ellen Stevens, MD Dolores & James Tierno Walsh Lisa A. Watson Ethel Richman Young For information on making gifts in honor or in memory of a classmate, professor or a loved one, please contact JoanCollege Brooks, directorSummer of development, Cazenovia Magazine: 2013 2012 at 315.655.7108 or jbrooks@cazenovia.edu.
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ALUMNI NEWS
CLASS NOTES - continued
Alumni Association Names New President Mary “MJ” Kilian Walker ’72 to lead the Alumni Board of Directors
1973
C
ongratulations to Mary “MJ” Kilian Walker ’72 who was recently elected president of the Alumni Association. A longtime member of the Alumni Board of Directors, Walker brings a wealth of experience to her new position, having previously served as vice president of the board. Walker says, “It’s an honor to be elected president of the Alumni Association. I look forward to serving my alma mater and working with the Alumni Board of Directors as we advance the mission and goals of the College.” Mary “MJ” Kilian Walker ’72
Other officers elected include Vice President Margot Cheney Jacoby ’70, and Treasurer William Heitz ’85. On behalf of the Alumni Association, the College recognizes outgoing president, Dacia Banks ’94, and thanks her for her guidance and leadership.
Dacia Banks ’94 and MJ Walker ’72
MARK YOUR CALENDAR! 20
Reunion 2014:
JUNE 13 -15
Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
We raffled it off and raised over $140 for the class of 1972 Scholarship Fund. As your class agent, I’d love to hear from you with any news. Contact me at mwalke3@ rochester.rr.com. In Caz Spirit – MJ Kilian Walker, Shove 2nd Floor.”
Marina Guidetti ’73 is presently working for United Airlines as an international flight attendant. “This is my third merger in 31 years. I live in Boston, but work in Newark, NJ. I also manage and own some Cape Cod cottages in West Yarmouth, MA. My son graduated from UMass Dartmouth in 2012, and is a computer science engineer in Boston.”
1976
Jennifer Holt Morsch ’76 writes, “I have a granddaughter, and the highlight of my day is when I get to see her. I started a new business last September in Geneseo, NY, right by the college, called Brows, Brazilians, & Bikinis, Inc. (Holistic Skin Care & Alternative Wellness). It has been an eye opener - but I love the people I meet and treat!”
1985
Rosemary Ciaschi Cullivan ’85 has changed jobs and now works for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals as a primary healthcare representative. Rosemary and her husband opened a new off-course golf shop in Hyannis called Cape & Islands Golf. They have three children; two boys attending Boston College High School and Arrupe Middle School, and a daughter in 4th grade. Rosemary has been in the Boston area since 1988 and travels back to New York to see family annually.
1994
Melissa Horine Rizvi ’94 writes, “I have been living in Florida since 2002 with my husband, Aref. We have two boys; Ahmed, 15 and Sami, 5. After many years in the transportation industry, I opened my company, Charter About, in 2012. We are a transportation brokerage that specializes in ground transportation needs in both Orlando and Tampa, FL, with a focus on large groups, conventions and team travel.”
2003
Nathaniel Bull ’03 and his wife, Erica, recently welcomed a son, Ethan Anderson. Ethan was born on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013. They also have a daughter, Lauren. The Bull family moved back to the Syracuse area last year after spending seven years in Minneapolis and St. Louis. Nathaniel is currently the senior art director at Mindshare LLC in Syracuse. He works with his former Caz College roommate, Tommy Lincoln ’03 and Cazenovia resident, Kevin Mann.
Jon and Alexandra Shimkin Homola ’11 and their wedding party
also was my first solo exhibition. My work was most recently shown in a group exhibition, ‘Snow Show,’ along with fellow alumna Caroline Locatelli ’11.
ara Kari O’M
2010
’10
Kari O’Mara ’10 writes, “Graduated from Syracuse University with a Master of Arts degree in Museum Studies in December of 2011. That August, I joined the Education Department of the Herbert F. Johnson Museum of Art at Cornell University as the Andrew W. Mellon assistant coordinator of university programs. In this position, I encourage active dialog and engagement with the collection with visiting classes from various disciplines, with a strong focus on freshmen writing seminars making connections between coursework and art. Additionally, I work with a student organization to provide three-to-four large-scale collaborative events a semester, such as ‘For the Love of Art of Food’ where students from the Hotel School create dishes based on works in the collection, an event that saw over 600 students in attendance. In January 2012, I was the youngest artist to have a solo exhibition at the Earlville Opera House, ‘Repulsing Attraction,’ which
Jennifer Reid ’10 shares, “On March 4, 2013, I married my fiancé and best friend, Timothy Etter, of Erieville, NY, on the beach at sunset in Boynton Beach, FL. I met Tim while attending Cazenovia College from 2008-10. We honeymooned in Ireland, which was absolutely amazing, and immediately following our return home, I secured a position at Palm Tree Recovery Center as a residential therapist. I also won
the title of Florida’s Glamorous Woman at the 2013 America’s Glamorous Miss Florida Pageant. I plan to compete at the America’s Tropical Beauties Pageant in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Quite the exciting year and looking forward to our future together!”
2011
Leah Buracchi ’11 and Timothy Wells of New Woodstock, NY, were married January 5 in Branford, CT. Tim and Leah met during Leah’s freshman year at Cazenovia. They currently live in Meriden, CT. Alexandra Shimkin Homola ’11 and Jon Homola were married on September 22, 2012, in Ayer, MA. Alumni Julie Forbes ’11 and Joe Nichols ’11 were part of the bridal party. Shanea Weiss Myers ’11 and Marlo Colletto ’11 were also in attendance.
2012
Jessica Converse ’12 announces her engagement to Chuck Matt.
Leah Buracchi ’11 and Timothy Wells
Jessica
Conve
rse ’12 and C huck M att
Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
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ALUMNI NEWS
Living the American Dream
Cognizant of the significant role he plays, Diaman says, “I have students who are five years old and have never met their fathers, so they look up to me as an adult male in the classroom, seeking encouragement and support. It is a wonderful feeling to do my job, while making my students feel confident about who they are.”
Mouhamadou Diaman ’09 instills a sense of family and community in his students
Photo: Wayne Westervelt
Diaman makes a difference in the lives of the children in his classroom, but it does not stop there. He runs a program at the school called “Fathers and Brothers,” a basketball program that brings fathers of all walks of life together and gives them the opportunity to play basketball with their sons and brothers. He feels that it gives his students and their family members another opportunity to spend time together and “empowers single fathers to be part of a worthwhile program.”
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oming to America marked a new beginning for alumnus Mouhamadou Diaman ’09. At the age of 12, he crossed the Atlantic Ocean, traveling thousands of miles away from his family and friends in Senegal, in search of the American dream. Today, Diaman is living his dream, using the education he received at Cazenovia College to impact the lives of children every single day. Currently an apprentice at the Teaching Firms of America Professional Preparatory Charter School in Brooklyn, Diaman has been teaching science, engineering, technology and mathematics to his kindergarten students since June 2012. In addition to the standard course work, he spends each morning with his students focusing on leadership attributes. 22
Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
“Our school believes in the idea that we must create scholars, but also teach our students about honesty, integrity, empathy, and the love for wisdom.” Diaman feels he is growing every day as a teacher; yet he has the most praise for his students. Each quarter, he gets to see the progression in their academic performance. He says that one of his greatest accomplishments as a teacher is getting his students to help each other to succeed. “I am amazed at how intelligent they are; that is why I am so driven to encourage them to strive for excellence.”
Diaman credits Cazenovia College for who he has become. “Because of the wonderful faculty members, students and coaches, I truly feel that I am capable of doing anything. The College gave me the opportunity to express myself and grow as a person.” He also cites the impact of the HEOP and CSTEP programs, which allowed him to become an active participant of the College community. “Caz taught me to stay true to myself and to keep pushing for something greater in life.” He stresses that the sense of community and family he experienced at Cazenovia has helped him to better connect with his students. “At Cazenovia, I was part of a community that appreciated my talents. So, as a teacher, I try to create this sense of family with my students. I reach out to my students, always seeking to understand who they are, and to create opportunities to get to know them and their family members
“Caz taught me to stay true to myself and to keep pushing for something greater in life.”
- Mouhamadou Diaman ’09
better.” He believes it is fitting that at Teaching Firms of America, students and teachers call each other “brothers and sisters” to create that sense of family and community, further emphasizing that he and his students are there to learn from each other and grow together.
him knowledge and skills that are easily transferrable to other professions. “I have met many wonderful professionals who instilled in me the idea that my degree does not define who I am.”
Diaman graduated from Cazenovia College in 2009, and started his career as a case manager at the Red Hook Community Justice Center (in Brooklyn, New York), one of the nation’s first multi-jurisdictional courts. Working with troubled youth and helping them to become participants of their community, Diaman approached every offense with an open, caring mind. He tried to figure out why a youth committed a certain offense, and suggested services to help each person turn his or her life around.
Diaman remains connected to his alma mater. He says, “I keep in contact with my fellow graduates. Whenever we get together, we always talk about the sense of community at Cazenovia. It is this everlasting bond we have with Cazenovia College – the experience has impacted all of our lives for the better.”
Through this work, Diaman came in contact with dedicated teachers who suggested he go into teaching – a profession that would allow him to have an even greater influence on the development of youth in our society. He was contacted by one of the partners at Teaching Firms of America, was offered an interview, and the rest is history. Although the degrees he earned were based in criminal justice, he believes his education gave
He often speaks of the many memorable moments during his time at Cazenovia, which included performing in the Battle of the Air Bands and being a part of the Wildcats soccer team. “We may not have won any championships, but the experience taught me about discipline, commitment and brotherhood.” Diaman also recalls the many people at Caz who were instrumental in helping him navigate the path to success. He says, “Sheila Marsh and Barb Dahn (from the Academic Learning Center) are two amazing people who supported me as if I was their own child. I learned from these two wonderful ladies that a setback is merely a setup for a comeback. I am thankful for them every day of my life.” Diaman also acknowleged the encouragement and mentoring he received from Stewart Weisman, associate professor of criminal justice and homeland security; and the special friendship he formed with classmate Raju Chowdhury ’10, who according to Diaman, “has been like a brother to me. We attended the same high school, enrolled at Caz, and both studied criminal justice. Raju is a great friend; he has always motivated me to be a better person.”
Photo: John Seiter
Photo: Anthony Potter
Working full-time, attending John Jay College of Criminal Justice to earn his Master’s Degree in Public Administration, Diaman still made time to join a friend in creating a program called Dreamline. The program consisted of three components: homework help, soccer and leadership training. Diaman and his colleague worked with students who were at risk of failing their classes or who had behavioral issues. Through this leadership program, they focused on helping students set and meet goals, while promoting the idea that one’s actions must match one’s dreams. They also used the sport of soccer as a tool to motivate students to do their work and to improve their teamwork and communication skills on the soccer field.
(L-R) Justin Bluto ’08, Sheila Smith Marsh ’71, associate director of HEOP; Mouhamadou Diaman ’09, Raju Chowdhury ’10 at the NYC Alumni Event in 2012
Diaman addressing fellow graduates at Commencement 2009
As the student speaker at Cazenovia College’s 2009 Commencement, Diaman proudly exclaimed, “Four years ago, we started our new beginning, a beginning of the fulfillment of each our dreams … If today you are feeling it is finished, change that thinking. This finish line of our graduation is simply another beginning for the rest of our SPECTACULAR lives.” Diaman is not finished by any means. He continues to be passionate about the impact he can have on society as a person and a teacher. “I want to keep inspiring children to succeed so that they will become productive participants and difference-makers in our world.”
Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
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ALUMNI NEWS
During the winter and spring of 2013, Cazenovia College Alumni Events were held across the country. Alumni, faculty, trustees, students, current parents and friends of the College gathered to reconnect and hear about all the exciting things happening on campus.
Lake Worth, Florida FEBRUARY 2013
Photo: Joan Brooks
Alumni Events (L-R) Sharon Gillick Sands ’71, Wendi Joludow ’70, Nancy Nation Paton ’70
Lake Worth, Florida
Photo: Joan Brooks
FEBRUARY 2013
Photos: Joan Brooks
Useppa Island, Florida
MARCH 2013
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(L-R) David Nutting, Judith Rose Nutting ’73, trustee; Julia Bergan, Bill Eberhardt, trustee; Jim Sullivan, Joanne Larson, Donald McJunkin, Al Budney, trustee; Jackie McJunkin, Karen Budney, Dan Sanford, Harriet Christakos, Doreen Caccamise Conners ’66, Donald Conners, Cyndi Pratt-Tierno, Cazenovia College Magazine: 2013 Services; President Mark Tierno director, Office ofSummer Special
Photo: Carol Satchwell
(L-R) Sara Valashinas Doty ’88, Robyn Berger Perry ’72, Cathy Smith Lagala ’69, Marjorie Dobin Miller ’69, trustee
Charlotte, North Carolina FEBRUARY 2013
Photo: Shari Whitaker
Dallas, Texas FEBRUARY 2013
(Seated, L-R) Jack Boling ’88, Barbara Baker Nadig ’63, Roxanna Gage ’60 (Standing, L-R) Rachel Kibby, Laura Crolick Kibby ’84, Denise Barbera Ramsay ’85, Dr. Bob Greene, Paul J. Schupf professor of history and humanities
(L-R) Ashley Willumitis ’10, Carolyn Charles Deacon ’66, trustee; President Mark Tierno, Jennifer Parsnick Cammeyer ’95, Mary Alice Boudreau Katon ’75
Charlotte, North Carolina
f memory
FEBRUARY 2013
In ond
Photo: Shari Whitaker
Cazenovia College notes the deaths of the following alumni and friends:
(L-R) Stephanie Macero, senior development associate; Sandra Stricklin Donaghy ’62, Henry Donaghy, Judith Ely Hatcher ’64, Susan Canders Carter ’64
Mary Maxwell Blodgett ’39 James Crone ’41 Marian Randall Knickerbocker ’42 Mary Boshart Kendrick ’46 Connie Sherman Kuhne ’46 Marjorie Kramer Burch ’48 Betty Collins Kirschbaum ’49 Jean Schermerhorn Dunnington ’51 Betty Kissam MacQueen ’51 Sandra Lake Harris ’56 Larie Bauer ’58 Marilyn Levin ’60 Patricia Moran Griffin ’67 Nancy Rihm Evans ’70 Jane Fosdick Surdell ’74 Brenda Hogan ’77
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
MARCH 2013
Photo: Shari Whitaker
(L-R) Constance Harper Bundens ’73, Carol White Deem ’60, Mary “MJ” Kilian Walker ’72, alumni board president
Michele Reddick Bailey ’99 Ryan Stack ’02 Ryan Novak ’04 Andrea Vizzini ’09 A. Gordon Wheler, former trustee Please continue to keep us informed by forwarding information to Shari Whitaker, director of alumni relations, at 315.655.7332 or sswhitaker@cazenovia.edu. Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
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ALUMNI NEWS
Trustee Paula Stec Fenger ’75, far right, and husband, Chris Fenger, hosted the Women’s Lacrosse team and coaches for dinner at their home this past spring.
Yardley, Pennsylvania
APRIL 2013
Alexandria, Virginia
(L-R) Jesse Randall ’02, Marcia Drake Hickey ’73, Vincenta Scarlett Hancock ’72, President Mark Tierno
(Seated, L-R) Carol Cooke Galusha ’63, Gioia Caiolo Forman ’69, Barbara King Smoot ’71 (Standing, L-R) Nancy Bittles Walcott ’70, Leslie Sorg Ramsay ’69, Barbara Lent Scheeler ’85, Carolyn Cobb Wallace ’63, Ellen Spero Schoetzau ’67, President Mark Tierno, Nancy Muhlitner Bracy ’63, Jeanne Schusler TenBroeck ’67, Margaret Messenger ’69, Bob Wallace
Richmond, Virginia APRIL 2013
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Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
Photo: Joan Brooks
Photo: Paul Brooks
APRIL 2013
Upcoming Alumni Events – Summer/Fall 2013
Weston, Connecticut
APRIL 2013
Photo: Carol Satchwell
Alumni gatherings offer
(L-R) Dr. Bob Greene, Paul J. Schupf professor of history and humanities; Kiley Evans, President Mark Tierno, Laurie Davis ’72, Ursula Pappalardo Lombardi ’55, Andy Mezzi, Sarah Lehmann Skubas ’66, Veronica Pisarz Goubeaud ’73, Joe Goubeaud
great opportunities to stay connected with the College and your classmates! Watch your mailboxes for more information on Summer/Fall 2013 outreach events in your area.
Simsbury, Connecticut APRIL 2013
Photo: Carol Satchwell
Possible locations for events include:
(L-R) Dr. Bob Greene, Paul J. Schupf professor of history and humanities; Cindy Gleason, Eric Weichmann, Sarah Davison ’07, Merrill Metzger Weichmann ’68, Hugh Meinweiser, Sally Rollins Meinweiser ’49, Beverly Len Stark ’84, Roberta Lee August ’58
• Arizona • Georgia • New Hampshire • New York • Ohio • Rhode Island • Texas • Vermont For further information please contact Director of Alumni Relations Shari Whitaker at 315.655.7332 or sswhitaker@cazenovia.edu.
Boston, Massachusetts
Photo: Lisa Sasser
MAY 2013
(L-R) Kristin Wivagg ’69, Claudia Clark ’76, Robin Barber Jackson ’58, Cyndi Pratt-Tierno, director, Office of Special Services; Judi King, current parent Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
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Celebrating our Graduates On behalf of the Office of Alumni Relations and the thousands of Cazenovia College alumni, congratulations to the graduating class of 2013 – the newest members of our alumni family!
Timothy David Ackerman Colleen Claire Ahern Dilara Eda Altay Marybeth Aponte Nicole L. Arcuri M. Sawyer Ballance Aboubacar Ballo Ashley R. Bancroft Lauren Paige Barkalow Kiley Ann Barr Melissa Ann Bartolomeo Nicholas Edward Bartolotta Riley Paul Battaglini Autumn M. Baxter Chaz Alexander Bedford Whitney Faye Belcer Marquis Damon Bennett 28
Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
Michelle Elizabeth Bennice Andrew J. Berlucchi Kory M. Besaw Kara Christine Bielik David M. Bill Rebecca Tyana Bossin Nalia Martino Bouley Ashley Nicole Bowery Jamel Daniel Brantley Amanda Nicole Brezicky Maureen Elizabeth Brosnan Kristina M. Brousseau Megan Susanne Buckner Michael P. Busby Anna Rose Cariello Brandi N. Carpenter Allison B. Carroll
Carley Mariah Carson Matthew Francis Carson James D. Chase Colleen E. Chudik Joyce Clark Love Alysia Ann Coffey Patti Jo Collins-Fredette Elizabeth R. Cook Naaman A. Copeland Jamie Lee Corsette Andrea Leigh Courtwright Gage G. Crumb Samantha M. Davern Kathryn Nellie Davis Sarah Decker Deborah E. McAvoy Demers James Michael Denio Christine Elizabeth DeVita-Zwack Sabrina Dier Lindsey Erin Dinkel Courtney Alyssa Drake GrĂŠgoire Ducasse Jesse Duell Ashley M. Dyer Koryn Emery Brian Thomas Engelmann Emily Ann Erath Amy Lou Evans Janelle Lynn Farruggia Isabel M. Fermin Nicole Danielle Ficano Calyn Janelle Fisher Yao A. Foli Katherine Elizabeth Fountain Haley L. Freethy-Swimm Hannah Sean Friedman Deanna M. Frink Janet Furbeck Brian T. Gaskell Courtney Leigh Gaston Katherine Lynn Gilbert Sharron Cascarella Glass Sasha Elizabeth Goldberg Dustin Gonzalez Harold F. Gonzalez Andrew Gorinshek Sarah K. Gray Kaley Rebecca Green Kimberley Lynn Grethel Erica Lynn Group Taylor Larose Haesaert Adam Joseph Halay Timothy W. Hartill
Brittany Nicole Nelson Allison J. O’Brien Emily Ann O’Brien Mary Rachel O’Cain Samantha Lianne Oldfield Amy Elizabeth Olin Chelsea J. O’Reilly Caitlin Oswald Chelsea Owen Sonni Leigh Pank Ashley Paquin Una M. Parciasepe Katelyn N. Parker Krystal Marie Parrino-Pepe Nicole Penta Matthew Anthony Perry Christine Noelle Petrone Jenna R. Petrone Matthew D. Phillips Angelina Marie Picciallo Chelsea Lynn Pickel Danielle E. Pidgeon Mary Margaret Pierret Kayla Marie Pisciotta David J. Podeswik Kate L. Popoloski Maxwell Cotter Poupart Alicia Nicole Priest Amanda L. Quaile Julia N. Raysman Kaitlin C. Reiss Nicole Marie Rienzo Nicole L. Rizzo Katherine M. Robbins Kyle M. Robison Joseph B. Rogers Tramaine D. Rogers Robert Rohrig Francesca Elizabeth Romano Jessica L. Ross Elise McKenna Russell Maria N. Sakran Csiko E. Sawyer, Jr. Melissa Ann Schleifer Van Augustus Scholten Jenna Ann Serth Kelsey A. Shanley Kasey Nicole Sikorsky Wilma Olivia Simmons Noelle Brooke Sippel Megan Elizabeth Sitarek Tai Siver
Joshua James Skibbee Madeleine B. Slack Malique S. Payne Suzanne Snyder Jennifer L. St. Amant Breanna Staffon Mollie Claire Staretorp Taras R. Stashkiv Stefanie Rhiannon Sterling Andrew Symonds Teyanna M. Tanner Elisa Therrien Emily Victoria Thomas D. J. Thomas Cory Tilton Jessica Elizabeth Tobin Amanda Lee Toombs Faith E. Toomey Megan Anne Tucker Taylor L. Ungleich Anna J. VanDerKrake Sanjiv K. Varghese Megan Vetere Jolene Renée Voght Brock Adam Wackerle Courtney Emily Wallach Christine Marie Ward Sean Leon Ward Elizabeth T. Wardley Brandy Lyn Watkins Aaron David Weaver Princess Marjorie Cooke-Weekes Michele Welsh Christopher David Wilcock Kathryn A. Wilhelm Rebecca Christine Williams Maureen E. Wilson Marlaina Wing Shakilla Wright Katherine Elizabeth Wyckoff Lamin J. Zulu
Photos: Tasha Johnson & John Seiter
Taylor J. Hastrich Claire E. Hayes Jenna Ann Heffernan Rachel Elizabeth Herman Hilary Sue Hext Courtney Halen Hibbard Adam Nicholas Hill Brittany Lynn Hill Francisco Luis Hinestroza-Araya Lisa G. Hoff Revanna Storm Hogan Stefanie C. Holmes Willie P. Hordge, Jr. Abby Lee Howard Fred C. Huante Erin M. Hubiak Kaitlyn Elizabeth Hughes Debra Jane Hurley Tia Elizabeth Huse Amanda Leigh Jarvis Jayvone Jamel Johnson Amanda Kristine Jones Jordan Michael Jones Stephanie A. Joyce Linda Kanen Emily Rebecca Kinney Brittnee Lyn Klaczko Katherine Elizabeth Kowalski Megan Justina Kresge Jennifer Ann Krist Taylor Nicole Kubber Jessica Rose LaCelle Erich Taylor Lange Cory James Leggiero April Leonard Christy L. Leos Ariel Marie Little Jessica Irene Lorence Kerry MacHugh Gina Frances Magnone Kimberly Ann Markowski Christina A. Marra Stanley Maurice McDaniel, Jr. Megan E. McDermott David Michael McDonald Timothy Andrew Mellon Ashley Marie Mettlen Matthew A. Mills Johnna Leigh Mitola AnnMarie Mondelli David Murk Sierra Louise Neil
Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
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WILDCATS NEWS
Star of the Classroom, Court and Field
Photo: John Seiter
Megan McDermott ’13 was the quintessential student-athlete
named her a captain. She helped the new players grow and led the team every game with her heart and hustle.” Lauren Pacelli, who coaches the Wildcats women’s soccer and lacrosse teams, says “Megan encompasses all of the qualities I look for in a player – she is driven, passionate, humble, dedicated and respectful. She is the epitome of the term ‘student-athlete.’ Her unbridled passion and commitment to the team was never questioned and will certainly be missed.” At the urging of her friends, particularly Francesca Romano ’13, captain of the 2013 tennis team, McDermott decided to spend her last semester playing tennis. Tennis Coach Jason Jeffers says, “I can’t say enough about this young lady. She joined us without experience or technique in tennis - just athletic ability and an excellent attitude. It was a pleasant surprise to find someone like Megan, who performed under pressure and found a love for the sport of tennis in the process.”
W
hen it came to choosing a college, Megan McDermott ’13, of Greene, New York, says, “I thought I’d be most comfortable on a small campus and I wanted to play multiple sports.” The quintessential student-athlete, McDermott has played and excelled in basketball, soccer and tennis during her career at Cazenovia College, in addition to participating in numerous academic and co-curricular activities. McDermott, who majored in human services, specializing in social services for children and youth, says, “Life as a student-athlete requires careful balancing of sports and academics. I had three part-
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Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
One of the highlights of McDermott’s career was being time jobs in addition to classes, sports invited to speak at the dedication of Chrisand other activities. I know it sounds takos Field this past fall. She commented overwhelming, but I am very good with that, in addition to providing a better playtime management.” ing environment, the new turf field “has given Caz athletes a home field advantage Christopher Comino ’05, head coach and a sense of pride that both our studentof the women’s basketball team, says that athletes and fans feel.” in his eight years as a coach at Cazenovia, “I have never seen a basketball player Mary Handley, professor of human serwho worked as hard as Megan. She is the vices – McDermott’s advisor and professor player every coach wants. Her hard work – says, “Megan is one of those exceptional is what made her successful on the court.” students who balanced academics, athlet ics and work and did it well. She worked Comino notes that McDermott was also hard to achieve her high level of success.” a great leader. “When I began coaching the women’s team, Megan was only a What’s next for McDermott, the co-salusophomore, but she was a great leader so I tatorian of the class of 2013, now that she
To stay current with Wildcat athletics news, go to www.cazenoviawildcats.com
has graduated? She has been accepted into the Master’s degree program in social work at the State University of New York at Binghamton, where she has been granted a graduate assistantship. She won’t give up sports, though. “I had some offers to try out and play basketball overseas,” she says, “but I decided to go to graduate school instead.” We have little doubt that McDermott – who has left her mark on campus and in the Caz record books –will continue to succeed in the classroom, on the field of play, and in life as a proud, successful alumna of Cazenovia College.
Megan McDermott Highlights
• Student Athlete Advisory Committee • Vice President, Human Rights Club • All-College Honors Program • Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society • ABC (Alternative Breaks) Club • Perennial Dean’s List student • 2012 Student Leader Award • 2013 Genung Award (Student Life) • 2013 Co-Salutatorian Soccer - midfield and forward • Captain 2012-13 • NEAC 3rd Team All-Conference: 2009, 2010 Basketball - forward • Captain: 2010 -13 • NEAC 2nd Team All-Conference: 2010 -2011 • NEAC 3rd Team All-Conference: 2011-12, 2012-13 • NEAC Scholar Athlete Award: 2009-10, 2012-13 • Hustle Award: 2011-12 • MVP: 2012-13 Caz College Records: • Most Rebounds in a Career (2009-13) - 839 • Most Games Started (2009-13) - 97 • Most Rebounds in a Season (2012-13) - 266 • Most Rebounds in a Game (1/19/13) - 22 • Most Defensive Rebounds in a Season (2012-13) - 186 • 1,000 point Club (3rd most points in school history) • 2nd player in school history to average a Double Double in a season (2012-13) • Most Double Doubles in a Season (2012-13) - 10 • Most Double Doubles in a Career (2009-13) -29
Alumni to be Inducted into Hall of Fame College to celebrate 2013 inductees at Blue & Gold Dinner this fall
T
he Cazenovia College Athletics Department will proudly induct its newest members into the Wildcats Hall of Fame during the College’s annual Blue & Gold Dinner on Saturday, September 28, 2013. The dinner and ceremony will take place in conjunction with Homecoming/Family Weekend festivities. • Kristin Lajeunesse ’05, a member of the equestrian team was the first riding team individual to qualify for the National Reining Horse Association (NRHA) during her time at Cazenovia College. She was also named the MVP of the western riding team in 2005. • Pete Liddell was employed at Cazenovia College for over eighteen years as an assistant athletics director. During 12 of those years, he served as head baseball coach and was instrumental in reviving the program at Cazenovia College after more than 50 years without baseball. • Members of the 2001-02 men’s basketball team will also be inducted. The team finished the 2001-02 season with a 16-10 record, earning a spot in the NCAA Division III Championship –the first team in Cazenovia College history to make it to a post-season NCAA tournament. Mark your calendars for September 28, 2013, and consider attending this year’s Homecoming/Family Weekend. Reconnect with fellow alumni and help us honor the past … and believe in the future.
9.28.13
Make your reservations for the...
Blue & Gold Dinner Visit www.cazenoviawildcats.com/alumni/Hall_of_Fame.
Hall of
Cazenovia College Athletics
Fame
Honor the past... Believe in the future.
Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
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WILDCATS NEWS
To stay current with Wildcat athletics news, go to www.cazenoviawildcats.com
Wildcats Celebrate Record-Breaking Seasons Senior Season is a Dream Come True for Alicia Priest Alicia Priest ’13, of Camillus, New York, had a season that most student-athletes could only dream of amassing. The senior captain of the Wildcats women’s lacrosse team scored 95 goals on the year, eclipsing the Cazenovia College record of 78, set just one year ago in 2012. Her total points (106) are also a new record surpassing the previous benchmark of 91 points. With her offensive explosion this season, Priest ranked fourth in the nation in goals per game and second in total goals. She was named the Northeast Athletic Conference (NEAC) Women’s Lacrosse Offensive Student-Athlete of the Week four times, and twice earned recognition as the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division 3 Mid-Atlantic Women’s Lacrosse Offensive Player of the Week. In setting a new standard for excellence in the women’s lacrosse program, Priest says, “I never believed in a million years that I could ever come close to breaking a college record. The overall student-athlete experience is what makes this culminating season a dream come true for Priest. “Cazenovia College is a second home to me. Since the day I walked onto campus a scared and nervous freshman, Coach (Lauren) Pacelli, the entire staff and my teammates have been great,” says Priest. “Although, I am going to miss Caz and playing collegiate sports, I will regret nothing and will always be thankful for the Caz experience I had.” 32
Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
Cory Tilton Sets New Standard for Men’s Lacrosse Team Cory Tilton ’13, of Central Square, New York, made his way to the top of the Cazenovia men’s lacrosse record book this past season. During the Wildcats southern Spring Break trip, Tilton scored two goals while dishing out two assists in a game against Wesley College. With this performance, Tilton became the all-time leader in career points (171) for Cazenovia College. En route to the all-time points record, he also became the all-time leader in assists (90) in the history of the program. Coach Kevin Johnson had high praise for his senior captain, stating, “Cory Tilton has set the gold standard for what it means to play lacrosse at Cazenovia College. He is a model of true leadership and of how to carry yourself on the field, but more importantly how to represent yourself, your team, and your college off the field.” Although Tilton has closed the book on an impressive collegiate career, he sees a bright future on the horizon for Cazenovia lacrosse. “I like where the program is heading for Cazenovia College. We have already begun the process of building a great program and have the promise and opportunities to continue as a top tier team in the NEAC.”
In Memoriam: D. Jean Sidaras Cazenovia College bids farewell to a beloved colleague and friend
Members of the Cazenovia
College family, near and far, fondly remember Jean Sidaras – athletics administrator, coach and faculty member – who passed away on October 22, 2012. Sidaras played an integral part in shaping the Cazenovia College Athletics Department into what it is today. She proudly served the College for more than 47 years, ultimately retiring in 1994 as director of physical education. In 2007, she was part of the inaugural class to be inducted into the Cazenovia College Athletics Hall of Fame. Throughout her time at Caz, Sidaras was involved in all aspects of athletics, including the Women’s Athletics Association, coaching volleyball and basketball, and serving as a faculty member for classes ranging from archery to billiards. Marge Pinet, College trustee and professor emerita, says, “She taught the importance of strength in body and spirit, of hard work leading to personal accomplishment, of teamwork and competition.” Ellie Wilson ’52, manager of the Cazenovia College Bookstore when Sidaras first came to Cazenovia, called her “the ultimate professional, a woman who will never be replaced in the minds of her students, colleagues and friends.”
T
he 1824 Society was created by the Cazenovia College Board of Trustees to encourage leadership giving that helps to advance curriculum offerings, diversify campus life and create partnerships between the College and the community. Cazenovia College is proud to acknowledge the support and commitment of caring alumni and friends whose generosity enhances our students’ educational experience.
Thank you to members of The 1824 Society for their leadership commitment to Cazenovia College. Anonymous Marilyn & Richard Alberding AmeriCU Janet Ammentorp Amos Family Fund Roberta Lee August ’58 Baker Charitable Foundation Dacia L. Banks ’94 Beacon Federal Joe & Emily Behan Benefit Link, LLC/Robin Ryan Flaherty ’86 Laura & Joe Benoit Susan & Ronald Berger Kathleen E. Bice Deborah Blount-Smith ’73 Marlene F. Blumin Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC Virginia Peterson Bourke ’55 Michael & Lisa Harden Brickey Joan & Paul Brooks Jonna M. & Eric M. Brown ’97 Brown & Brown Empire State Carol Zimmerman Buckhout Albert J. & Rev. Karen V. Budney Jo Buffalo Karin Bump & Tim Williams Cazenovia College Alumni Association Cazenovia Lake Association Central New York Community Foundation, Inc. Grace N. Chiang Harriet Christakos: The Christakos Family Trust John Christakos Sparky & Patti Rickett Christakos ’77 Andrew G. Church H. Thomas & The Honorable Bernadette T. Clark CNA Foundation Winifred E. Coleman Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region The Community Foundation of Herkimer & Oneida Counties Community Foundation of Western Nevada Mr. & Mrs. Robert S. Constable Mary L. Cotter Penni & Bob Croot Mr. & Mrs. Charles Davis II Art & Carolyn Charles Deacon ’66 Carol White Deem ’60 Paul W. deLima Patricia A. & John Dellas Victor & Kathleen DiSerio William B. Eberhardt Mark H. & Colleen Edwards Sheila Ehlinger ’58 ExxonMobil Foundation
Ronald M. & Nancy LeValley Farley ’69 J. Christian & Paula Stec Fenger ’75 Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund Mr. & Mrs. Stephen D. Fournier Catherine A. Gale Dorion S. Germany ’92 Gorman Foundation Veronica Pisarz Goubeaud ’73 Green Family Foundation, Inc. Catherine McFarland Hamberger ’68 Trust The Hanover Insurance Group Margaret Walker Harris ’67 Haylor, Freyer & Coon Mr. & Mrs. Richard M. Healey The Hearst Foundation Hershey Family Fund Jean & Bob Hood Elaine Small Horstmyer ’55 Steven J. & Kathleen W. Infanti Thomas & Robin Barber Jackson ’58 Margot Cheney Jacoby ’70 Jephson Educational Trusts Bill & Jen Davis ’78 Kenneally KeyBank Foundation Frances C. Knight Charitable Foundation Mr. & Mrs. John H. Koerner Stephanie J. Kravec ’64 Lanni Family Charitable Foundation Marvin & Annette Lee Foundation, Inc. Marilyn Adams Lewis ’47 Barbara E. Lindberg William F. Locke M&T Bank Marc & Mary Beth MacClaren Wayne & Chris McMorris Mandel ’82 The McCrimmon Family J.M. McDonald Foundation Dr. Tim McLaughlin & Ms. Diane Cass Richard S. & Marion Lewis Merrill ’48 James Z. Metalios Bridget M. Miller Marjorie Dobin Miller ’69 Steve Miller – Queensboro Farm Products, Inc. Mr. & Mrs. Charles B. Morgan Darcy Nolan Judith Rose Nutting ’73 A. Lindsay & Olive B. O’Connor Foundation, Inc. Mary Pat Oliker Scottie O’Toole ’71 David & Janice Schmidt Panasci ’76 Margery A. Pinet The Pittsburgh Conference
Joyce Robert Pratt ’52 David W. C. Putnam The Raysman Family The Dorothy & Marshall M. Reisman Foundation Betty Ogletree Roberts ’70 The Rodman Foundation John & Jackie Romano Frances E. Rosenfield Jack & Stephanie Cotton Rudnick ’93 Margie Russell ’72 James H. St. Clair in memory of Jill Hebl St. Clair ’62 St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center Norman H. & Betsy Rosenfield Samet Carol & Mike Satchwell SDMD Enterprises, LLC M. Gerald & Barbara Sayford Sedam ’64 Conkie & Jim Sessler Phillip F. Sheehan ’11 Anne T. Smith Richard L. Smith, Esq. Dr. & Mrs. Todd H. Spangler Michael & Susan Grozek Spina ’85 Ralph & JoAnn Stevens SYSCO Food Services Thomas R. Tartaglia/Dermody, Burke & Brown, CPAs, LLC The Tianaderrah Foundation Dr. & Mrs. Mark Tierno Time Warner Cable Maureen Sullivan Tonetti ’75 Trewlawny Farm LLC/The Raether 1985 Charitable Trust Turning Stone Resort Casino, LLC Van Heusen Music Corporation Vedder Foundation c/o Bucknell University John & J. Susan Voss Dr. Christopher C. Warren Doris Eversfield Webster ’46 Jim & Karlene Webster Sara & Stu Weisman Dolly Weiss Arthur W. & Margaret Wentlandt Wayne & Julie Westervelt A. Gordon & Barbara C. Wheler Bradford & Julie Wheler Shari S. Whitaker Connie M. Whitton Brian D. & Mary A. O’Connor Wiser ’82 Frederic M. & Jean F. Williams Linda A. Witherill Estate of Ruth E. Wurster ’49 Dr. Howard D. & Susan Glaser Zipper ’58
For more information about The 1824 Society, please contact the Cazenovia College Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013 Development Office at 315.655.7369 or visit www.cazenovia.edu/1824society.
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SPOTLIGHT
Finding Something Good in Every Day Cazenovia College alumnae conquer 365 Days of Kindness
O
ne year of kindness began for a group of Cazenovia College alumnae on New Year’s Eve 2012, when Ashley Agresta ’06, of Concord, New Hampshire, changed her thinking about making New Year’s resolutions. After participating in NBC News National and International Correspondent Ann Curry’s 26 acts of kindness (one for each victim at Sandy Hook Elementary School), Agresta knew she could do more. She seldom makes resolutions, saying, “I don’t like to commit to something and then not follow through, so in the past I simply resolved to make each year better than the last.” This year, she challenged herself to do something good every day for 365 days. She posted her resolution on Facebook, and several Cazenovia College friends joined the ranks. Agresta; Kristin Burger ’06, from Long Island, New York; Chelsea Kennedy ’07, from Schenectady, New York; Jessica Hanley Johnson ’06, of Syracuse, New York; and Trista Porn Bradt ’07, of Cobleskill, New York, have dubbed themselves the Kindness Crew. The Facebook page they created to share their Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) with the world has spread their deeds far and wide. “The mission was to spread kindness in small (or large)
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Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
ways and to do it randomly,” Agresta says. “Within 24 hours we had 200 ‘likes’ and within 48 hours we had over 300, including participants in Austria and England. On the second day, the random acts started to come full circle. People who received a RAK started to post on our page and said that they would begin to ‘pay it forward’ – the kindest gift of all.” Kennedy says, “Getting involved in this was the perfect way to kick off the New Year. I have never felt better about myself. Someone once said to me, ‘Every day may not be good, but there is something good in every day.’” They add good things to other people’s days by leaving notes with scratch-off lottery tickets, gift cards and dollar bills in public places or paying for the next customer in line. Bradt says, “We include our Facebook URL with every RAK, and often people find our page and tell us about receiving a RAK. It’s such a
cool feeling to watch someone smile after opening the RAK I put on a gas pump.” They have performed several “greater acts of kindness,” raising money to help people in difficult situations. They sent $500 to a family to ease the financial burden of their son’s cancer treatments, and raised money for the child of two fellow alumni who was diagnosed with a rare and very aggressive childhood cancer. Agresta says, “We’ve realized just how lucky we are and that kindness is contagious.” Burger says, “People are seeing that there is still good in the world. It sounds somewhat cliché, but it’s proven each time someone receives a Random Act of Kindness.” Bradt adds, “What you do every single day matters and has an impact on other people.” Johnson joins the others in hoping the effort will continue beyond the 365 days of 2013. “A lot of our success has to do with others; if we can get each person who has seen our Facebook page to do just one RAK, then it will continue to grow, and that in itself is a success to us.”
For more information, please visit: www.facebook.com/ CazGirlsConquer365RandomActsof Kindness
What types of planned gifts are available?
Planned Giving The Heritage Society recognizes individuals who have included the College in their estate or gift plans. Planned gifts provide a benefit to you and resources for the College’s future.
Outright Gift
A donation of cash, securities or personal property Bequest in Will
A gift you make by naming Cazenovia College in your will Living Trust
A trust you establish to take effect during your lifetime Life Insurance Gift
A gift of an old or new policy with Cazenovia College named as beneficiary and owner Retirement Plan Gift
Photo courtesy of: Gloria Grosso Alibrandi
“We are happy that we can contribute to the continuing excellence that the College is known for and that I knew as a student.”
- Ben & Gloria Grosso Alibrandi, class of 1961
A gift made by naming Cazenovia College as remainder beneficiary after your death Real Estate Gift
A donation of real property, either in full or with a retained life estate Charitable Reminder Trust
Planned giving through Cazenovia College’s Heritage Society will perpetuate your support of the College beyond your lifetime. When you make your planned gift to Cazenovia College, you become a partner in helping to develop the College’s future. Your rewards will be personal, emotional and meaningful.”
The Development Office is available to work with you and your financial advisors by: • • • •
Providing gift plans that benefit you and your family. Identifying immediate and deferred tax advantages to you and/or your heirs. Helping you create a meaningful impact on Cazenovia College, its students and faculty. Creating your own Cazenovia College legacy.
We would be happy to arrange for a discussion with the College’s advisors about your planned giving interests. Please visit our website to learn more about planned giving options: www.cazenovia.edu/giftplanning
A trust that pays variable income to you or those you name before Cazenovia College receives remainder Charitable Gift Annuity
A contract in which Cazenovia College pays you back a percentage of your gift annually for your lifetime Charitable Lead Trust
A trust that pays an income to Cazenovia College for a period of years before you or heirs receive remainder
The Heritage Society Institutional Advancement, Cazenovia College • 22 Sullivan Street • Cazenovia, New York 13035 315.655.7369 Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
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22 SULLIVAN ST. CAZENOVIA, NY 13035
3 Great Reasons to Come Back to Caz!
1. 2. 3. Cazenovia College Golf Open
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Aug 12
Cazenovia College Magazine: Summer 2013
Jazz-N-Caz
Sept 19-21 For more information, visit www.cazenovia.edu
Homecoming/ Family Weekend
Sept 27-29