Summer 2011 The magazine of the Medaille College Community BUFFALO I AMHERST I ROCHESTER
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Success on the Rise
- Student Success Center construction - Faculty, student and alumni accomplishments
MEDAILLE MAGAZINE
Summer 2011 From the Editor INSIDE
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Top of Mind Featuring student and faculty accomplishments on campus and beyond.
We invite our readers to suggest a new name – something catchy and fun that immediately identifies this publication as being distinctly “Medaille.”
People Profiles of a kickboxing champion, a “veteran” teacher and more.
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“Change” is our watchword at Medaille, and another exciting change is on the horizon: a new name for this magazine.
Events Honoring achievement: Founders’ Day and Commencement.
22 Stories of Success Shining a spotlight on our newest facility in support of student success.
29 Athletics Highlights from our winter and spring seasons.
Medaille College produces its magazine bi-annually as a service to its alumni, faculty and staff, students, parents, friends of the College and community leaders. The publication promotes Medaille’s programs and people in an informative and engaging format while documenting the College’s progress and expressing the College’s aspiration: to be known as a leader in preparing leaders for career success and a lifelong commitment to a civic and sustainable future in Buffalo, the region and the world. Printed in Buffalo, N.Y. by Quantum Color (716) 283-8700 I www.printqcc.com
On the Cover Sarah Barrancotta ’14 Major: Communication Hometown: Lockport Career goal: Public Relations Campus activities: Softball, Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Undergraduate Admissions Ambassador Success means: accomplishing your goals by working your hardest to achieve them!
Send your responses to our unofficial mascot, the Medaille Bug (thebug@medaille.edu), before August 15, along with a few words about why you think we should choose your idea. We will sort through the responses and offer the top candidates for an online vote in the fall. KARA KANE
COVER PHOTO BY MICHAEL THOMAS ’09 VDA
Magazine Editor
KARA KANE
Associate Editor
SUMMER HANDZLIK ’08 MC ’12 MBA
Designer
CARLA F. KESTNER
Contributors
MICHAEL CARBERY I TARA ERWIN I SUMMER HANDZLIK I KARA KANE
Photography
MEDAILLE ATHLETICS I JAMES T. MCCOY & BUFFALO NEWS I CHRISTOPHER RIPLEY ’12 EDU MICHAEL THOMAS ’09 VDA I GREG WLOSINSKI ’07 VDA I UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO ARCHIVES
College Relations Office
PAULA R. VALENTE Vice President for College Relations GWYN BEYER Administrative Assistant ROBERT K. EISMAN Webmaster SARA MOBILIA FLUSKEY Director of Alumni Relations and Development EVELYN HAMILTON Event and Conference Planner SUMMER (GEMMATI) HANDZLIK ’08 MC ’12 MBA Staff Associate for Development and Alumni Relations
Board of Trustees 2010-11
Officers: CHARLES E. MORAN, JR. Chair STUART H. ANGERT Vice Chair JUANITA K. HUNTER, Ed.D. Secretary MICHAEL K. WALSH Treasurer Stephen L. Cicchinelli ‘98 David Elias Peter Freyburger, DVM Horace A. Gioia, Esq.
Robert S. Graber ‘96 Ellen E. Grant, Ph.D., LCSW-R Richard T. Jurasek, Ph.D. Margaret Kafka ‘90
KARA KANE Director of Communications CARLA F. KESTNER Graphic Designer/Publications Specialist LAURA E. MASSE Graduate Assistant VICKI WARD Director of Advancement Services
James R. Kaskie William H. Pearce Jr. Heidi A. Raphael ‘85 Robert L. Stevenson
Robby Takac ‘86 Rocco Termini Don Tomasulo ‘79 Joseph Wolfson
From the President Last fall, Medaille welcomed NPR’s Scott Simon to the Buffalo Campus to explore ideas about success with our new class of students. This was fitting. The freshmen summer reading project had been Malcolm Gladwell’s Outliers: The Story of Success, and Medaille was on the cusp of investing millions in the construction of its new Student Success Center, a center that embodies all of the College’s hopes and aspirations for student achievement. As we close out this academic year, I am happy to report the Student Success Center is nearly complete and will be open to welcome students in the fall. While every college invests in new facilities, to keep pace with changing technologies and evolving needs, what is unique about this building project is how Medaille envisions student success and our understanding of how to best support students in their personal quest for success. During our extensive planning phase, our discussions with faculty, staff and students all pointed to the need to consolidate within one structure key student support services. Medaille’s Student Success Center turns this vision into reality. The Student Success Center integrates the Office of Career Planning, the Academic Support Center and its related services, and the Academic Advisement Center, thus creating dedicated space where students are the sole focal point; where critical resources are easily accessible; and where, from the very beginning of their college experience, students are set on a path to discover their talents and maximize their strengths.
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We are proud of this innovation and of the promise it holds for our students. We are also very grateful to our faculty, staff, students, parents and the growing network of alumni and friends who encourage our progress and support our quest for success.
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Top of Mind Veterans Services Update MEDAILLE INTRODUCED THE Student Veterans Alliance (MSVA) at a reception at the Buffalo Campus on February 16. With Erie County Executive Chris Collins, NYS Senator Mark Grisanti and Erie County Veterans Services Director Marlene Roll in attendance,
PHOTO BY MICHAEL THOMAS ’09 VDA
MSVA President Robert Banas ’13 BBA welcomed guests and families to the event. Banas noted that the MSVA is open to all students who are veterans, as well as their civilian supporters and spouses; he also urged members to develop a network to help one another to obtain jobs and reduce the doubledigit unemployment rate currently plaguing veterans.
Briefs Brianna Broad ’11 MC received a scholarship to the Georgetown University Internship Program in Washington, D.C. The board of trustees granted Faith Burke professor emeritus status at its February 2011 meeting (see p. 6). In partnership with Buffalo Niagara 360, the Business Leadership Series wrapped up its 2010-11 series in April. The four-part series included
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Medaille’s Student Veterans Alliance is part of the national Student Veterans of America, and is the first to be chartered officially in Erie County. The club provides resources, support and advocacy to help veterans succeed in higher education and in their careers. Medaille continues to strengthen its services to student veterans through dedicated staff, financial aid opportunities at each campus, and community outreach. A new initiative involves the Dorothy Kubik/Katherine Galloway VFW Post #12097 in West Seneca, N.Y., which is the first VFW post in the nation to focus on the needs of female veterans. Medaille has sponsored the first year of membership for five female students who are veterans.
Faculty Sabbaticals SEVEN FULL-TIME FACULTY were awarded sabbatical leave during the 201112 academic year. In fall 2011, Craig Centrie, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Education, will pursue a new direction in his established research, exploring immigrant identity formation.
Ted Pelton, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Humanities, will complete a draft of his story cycle book, Woodchuck Stories. In spring 2012, Virginia Batchelor, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Education, will continue her work on the Underground Railroad in Western New York and Southern Ontario. Mary Louise Hill, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Humanities, will continue to explore digital and electronic media and how they can be integrated into education, literature and art. Rich Jacob, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Business, will work on a project to further his expertise in the field of sport management and expand offerings within the sport management program. Elaine Correa, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Education, will review centers of effective pedagogy to facilitate the creation of a Center for Effective Pedagogy at Medaille; and Robert Tian, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Business, will prepare a graduate-level textbook entitled Advanced Business Anthropology, to be published in summer 2012.
presentations by Dale Stephens ’99 BBA ’06 MOL, Nick Pitillo ’06 MOL, Angela Berti ’10 MOL, Kimberly Chiarmonte ’10 MOL, Sara Hanavan ’10 MOL, Lauren Reinig ’10 MOL, Alison Wilcox ’10 MOL, and Bill Weeks, clinical associate professor in the Department of Management and Leadership.
learning communities features interviews with Rebecca Milbrand ’14 BSED (Unearthing Identity), Kayra Clark ’14 MC (The Power and Danger of Difference in Society), and John Zhixiang Zhang ’12 (Locust Street Neighborhood Art Classes). Watch the video online at http://bit.ly/com101video.
First-year students at Medaille presented the results of their Community 101 projects at an exhibition on the Buffalo Campus in December 2010. A video highlighting the work of the
Brittany DeBole ’12 MC won first place in column writing in the New York Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. The New York State Society of Certified Public Accountants
recognized Paige Gullotti ’11 BS and Michael Pollack ’12 BS as “outstanding accounting majors” for 2011. A short story by Emmett Haq ‘12 ENG, titled “The Best Man,” will be published this summer by Many Mountains Moving, a literary magazine based in Philadelphia, Pa. Haq wrote the story as part of Dr. Ted Pelton’s fiction workshop.
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Wolfson Returns to Board of Trustees PHOTO BY GREG WLOSINSKI ‘07 VDA
AT ITS FEBRUARY 2011 meeting, Medaille’s board of trustees installed Joseph E. Wolfson to a three-year term on the board, beginning July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2013. Wolfson is the president and chief executive officer of HealthTransaction Network in Williamsville, N.Y., the first national shared healthcare transaction network in the United States. He returns to the board, after previously serving terms from 1985-1994, and as board chair from 1990-94.
Soccer Standout Finds Success in the Pros DESPITE BEING TOLD repeatedly by Division I schools that he was too small to play collegiate soccer at any level, Gary Boughton ’09 SM exceeded all expectations in his years as Medaille’s midfielder. In March, he signed a professional contract with F.C. New York of the United Soccer League. “It was very emotional signing my first professional contract,” shared Boughton. “When I got the call that I was going to be signed, I cried.” Boughton began his collegiate career at Medaille in 2006. He led the team to four straight undefeated conference championships and three trips to the NCAA tournament, and shattered the NCAA DIII career assist record his senior year. He was named AMCC Conference Player of the Year twice. With Boughton’s determination, it is no surprise that he has achieved such success. “Gary is very driven and determined to make it as a professional player,” said Daniel Krzyzanowicz ’04 MSED, head coach of the men’s soccer team. “He set a goal his freshman year to be a better player every day and he trained that way.” F.C. New York discovered him in November 2010, and Boughton competed in his first scrimmage with the team on March 15, Felecia Hanesworth, visiting instructor in the School of Education, received the Youth Service Award from Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown for her work as president of Jack and Jill of America’s Buffalo Chapter. Camille Jackson ‘09 BBA ‘12 MOL and Michael J. Moley ‘07 MOL led a panel discussion for alumni on the topic, “WNY employers: What are they looking for?” Jackson works as a talent recruiter for Delaware North, and Moley is senior vice president for human resources at Catholic Health.
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Brandon Kilajanski ‘13 MC received a New York Press Association Fellowship. This competitive, merit-based award includes a paid summer position at a daily newspaper. Michael Lillis, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Business, developed the business plan and secured financing to launch Pediatric & Adolescent Urgent Care of WNY in Williamsville, N.Y. Khadija Osman ‘12 PSY/CJ received the Father Médaille Award
where he played 80 minutes, recorded assists on two goals and set up the game-winning goal. “His work ethic, focus, determination and drive are second to none. I am confident he will have a long, successful career as a professional soccer player,” said Krzyzanowicz, a.k.a. “Coach K” to his players and colleagues. Boughton credits his success to his rigorous work ethic and Coach K’s unwavering encouragement. “Coach K has believed in me from the first time we talked on the phone over five years ago, and still does to this day. His support has meant so much to me over the years,” said Boughton. This is the third pro-signing in the Mavericks’ soccer team history. Kendell McFayden ’10 CJ made his debut with the Austin Aztex in 2010, and Andrew Larracuente ’06 SM was drafted by the Milwaukee Wave in 2005.
for Service and Citizenship at the Founders’ Day Celebration in April (see pp. 18-19). Medaille has joined ConnectNY, a network of libraries in New York State. Faculty, staff and current students now have borrowing privileges at 14 other libraries, and access to a current catalog of over nine million volumes. The Medaille Perspective earned a silver medal for overall excellence from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association, and third place for design from the
New York Press Association. Medaille’s Office of Public Safety teamed up with Allied Barton Security Services and the Building Owners and Managers’ Association in March to present a workplace violence seminar. Lou Pozantides ‘86 MC, clinical associate professor in the Department of Communication, earned his sixth award as “Professor of the Year” at the Student Government Association’s End of the Year Banquet in April.
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Sport Management Places Students in Division III Athletics MEDAILLE’S SPORT MANAGEMENT program continues to make invaluable connections for students in the collegiate sports industry, as demonstrated by the success of alumni of the NCAA’s Division III Internship Program. This program offers one-year internships at its national office and provides on-the-job learning for college graduates interested in pursuing careers in intercollegiate administration. Three sport management graduates – Megan Valentine ’04, Mary Helak ’05 and Shannon O’Brien ’08 – have found administrative jobs within DIII athletic programs; each participated in the NCAA DIII internship program. Valentine works as the assistant director of athletics at the State University of New York at Fredonia; O’Brien joined the President’s Athletic Conference as associate director in 2010; and Helak is the assistant director of athletics at Franklin College in Indiana. All gained hands-on experience in Medaille’s athletics office and by working with Laura Edholm ’07 MOL, associate athletic director at Medaille. (L-R) Megan Valentine ’04 SM, Laura Edholm ’07 MOL, and Shannon O’Brien ’08 SM at the 2011 NCAA Convention in San Antonio, TX.
Heidi Raphael ‘85 MC was named to the boards of two media industry organizations: the Alliance for Women in Media and the National Association of Broadcasters.
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the Board of Veterinary Medicine, and was reappointed to another five-year term.
Sergio R. Rodriguez ‘08 BBA, coordinator of veterans’ services, was honored at the fifth annual Hispanics United awards in April.
Tom Scrivani ‘10 SM worked with Doug Anderson, associate professor in the Department of Humanities, to write The Wedding Ring, a comedy produced by the Medaille Music and Drama Club in February 2011.
Joseph Savarese, DVM, chair of the Department of Veterinary Technology, completed a fiveyear appointment by the New York State Board of Regents to
Mary Beth Scumaci, clinical assistant professor in the School of Education, was elected vice president of the Niagara Frontier Reading Council.
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Dr. Burke Receives Professor Emerita Status AT ITS FEBRUARY 2011 meeting, Medaille’s board of trustees voted to give Faith Burke, Ed.D., professor emerita status based on her 34 years of service to the College. When asked about her philosophy on teaching after decades of experience in college classrooms, Dr. Burke said, “It absolutely was critical that the student was an interactive partner. That is the only way significant learning could take place.” Now living in Costa Rica, Dr. Burke works with college students from the United States who are based at the local public library – of which she is one of the founders. She mentors these students as they teach English as a second language; “I tell them...make learning fun, and the greatest gift they can leave their students is a love of learning. That is the greatest gift any teacher could give.”
Michelle Streamer ‘09 AVT and Cheryl Vargo ‘09 AVT received alumni awards at the TRiO Recognition Celebration in April. TRiO sent a team to the Relay for Life event at Canisius College in April 2011. The World Kickboxing League (WKL) named A.J. Verel ’99 BA U.S. Delegate for All Rules and Ring Sports (see pp. 12-13).
Undergraduates at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. This highly-competitive, ten-week fellowship is funded by the National Cancer Institute. In March 2011 the Buffalo News featured Chris Wopperer ’09 BBA ‘10 MOL as part of its regular series profiling veterans.
Rebecca Weller ‘12 BIO was accepted into the Roswell Park Summer Research Program for
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Medaille’s Digital Classroom RECOGNIZING THE DRAMATIC growth and opportunity in online degree programs, Medaille branched into the world of online learning during the past year. In 2010, the College welcomed its first cohort of non-traditional students into the Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Systems program. Medaille is now expanding its online offerings, starting in September 2011, with a Bachelor of Science in Homeland Security (BSHS) and a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Health Information Administration (BPS HIA). With the BSHS, Medaille is responding to the emergent
needs for trained professionals in security and counterterrorism, law enforcement and emergency management. This unique program explores each of these disciplines in depth and blends theoretical knowledge with practical experience, preparing the next generation of security professionals to meet the challenges in this fast-changing field. Similarly, the BPS HIA responds to the need for trained professionals within the health care system to keep pace with the complexities of electronic health record systems. This program focuses on data standards and regulations, health administration, coding in hospitals and alternative facility settings, and financial and revenue cycle management.
Change Your Bookmarks FOLLOWING A YEAR of intensive planning, Medaille launched a new and improved website in May 2011. Staff from the Office of College Relations and Travers Collins rebuilt the existing site using a new template, featuring testimonials from students and alumni, and an expanded campus event calendar. “The way that people use web sites has changed dramatically in the past few years,” said Bob Eisman, webmaster. “We reconstructed the site’s navigation with the needs of our prospective students in mind, and in ways that prepare the College to adapt to new technologies.” Significant updates to the news and sports web sites are planned for later this year.
Weaving a Web of Community Projects AS MEDAILLE’S CIVIC classroom, the city of Buffalo continues to provide opportunities for students to contribute to innovative, beneficial projects. Two that stand out are centered within the northwest quadrant of the city, at the Riverside Institute of Technology and the Northwest Buffalo Community Center (NWBCC). In fall 2010, Medaille began an initiative with Buffalo Public Schools that will follow freshmen at Riverside High School through their senior year. Divided into learning academies, students will choose tracks in health
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care, finance, or entrepreneurship. With instructional support from Medaille, students within the entrepreneurship program will participate in specially designed activities that complement their regular classroom learning. At the NWBCC, a partnership that began in September 2010 grew into a diversified set of activities that Medaille and the Center formally approved in April 2011. RoseMarie Marranca-Neri ’88 BSED is the educational coordinator/ liaison, a position made possible through AmeriCorps. “[In terms of ] literacy in all aspects, Medaille students have shown their enthusiasm, skills and knowledge at every turn,” said Marranca-Neri. “Students have begun many programs
themselves as well as providing essential assistance in the Center’s youth programs.” Projects within the Center’s Lawn Avenue facility involve Medaille students, specifically within areas of financial education and literacy. As a snapshot of what is occurring within the walls of the Lawn Avenue facility: undergraduate education students tutored elementary students after school; the Future Teachers Club held holiday parties and presentations for students at the Center; and, graduate students pursuing a master’s degree in literacy held their class at the Center and offered a book club for middle and high school students each week.
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“Be the Change” Student Leadership Conference THE HALLS OF the Buffalo Campus resounded with over 250 student leaders from local colleges who participated in the “Be the Change” Student Leadership Conference at Medaille in April. “The conference offered students an opportunity to build the skills needed to be successful student leaders and to network with other students from across Western New York,” said Melisa Williams, director of student involvement and multicultural education and diversity. David Coleman, America’s “Dating Doctor,” delivered the keynote address, “Why Be Ordinary When You Can Be Remarkable?” Topics explored in the breakout sessions included athletic leadership, diversity, how to be a “super” supervisor, and living in a digital fishbowl. Lessons Learned
“I learned that part of what makes a great leader is a willingness to explore, a lot of brass and a deep vein of insanity.” Rachael Gormley ‘13 PSY
“The conference inspired me to embrace the leadership qualities within myself that have been yearning to come to the surface, and to take hold of every single opportunity that shows itself.” Jessica Schuster ‘13 VT
“I really enjoyed the conference. I was able to gain a lot of information about becoming a better leader. The most beneficial part of the conference was listening to David Coleman speak.” David Kozar ‘13 ED
“David Coleman’s motivational words and quirky statements were definitely the highlight of the conference. You were able to walk away understanding that no one is born a leader, but you have the ability to choose to be one.” Katrina Thornton ‘13 BIO
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PHOTO BY GREG WLOSINSKI ’07 VDA
The Class of 2011’s “Spectacular Stuff ” STUDENTS OF THE class of 2011 revved up for the ultimate cram session as they attempted to break the Guinness World Record for number of people to fit inside a Volkswagen New Beetle, one of the smallest cars on the road. This one-of-a-kind event for graduating seniors took place April 27 at the Campus Carnival, and the star of the show was the Medaille Bug. In a valiant attempt to break the Guinness World Record of 25 people, 19 students shimmied, scrunched and squeezed their way into the Bug – with no body parts sticking out – in less than ten minutes. Though not a world record, the event set a New York State record. Ryne McCord ’11 BA, who rallied his classmates to get
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excited and participate in the event, was one of the 19 stuffed in the Bug. “I am proud to have had the responsibility of getting my friends, fellow classmates and the Medaille community involved,” he said. “Twenty years from now, I’ll be able to look back at this event...and celebrate the accomplishment that we achieved.” The Guinness World Record remains set by a group in Austria. The class of 2011 is already wondering if its record will hold, or if next year’s graduating class will smash it. We’ll find out next spring. Become a fan of the Bug on Facebook (www.facebook.com/medaillebug), or follow the Bug on Twitter (@medaillebug).
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The Lessons of Love Canal WESTERN NEW YORKERS undoubtedly know about the tragedy of Love Canal—the toxic poisoning of an entire neighborhood; the homes lost; the lives permanently disrupted and scarred. Love Canal, the embodiment of environmental catastrophe, was caused by 20,000 tons of chemicals, the dumping of which fouled the air, water and soil. The blight on the City of Niagara Falls and its citizens remains to this day, 30 years after the neighborhood was abandoned. When faculty within Medaille’s Scholars Program were searching for a spring semester project, Robert Johnson, Ph.D., associate professor of math and science, proposed the idea to use Love Canal as a laboratory for “ethical discernment” and critical analysis of decision-making, and to integrate this exploration with the students’ public speaking and GEN220 courses. Students were challenged to conduct original research, to analyze the process of decision-making that led to these horrific outcomes, to search out the life stories within this event, and ultimately to present their findings as a response to this question: “How did Love Canal happen and was justice served in the end?” Following field trips to the site, students prepared formal presentations for their public speaking course, taught by Lisa Marsherall, clinical associate professor in the Department of Communication. Students discovered that arrogance and ignorance were key factors leading to the disastrous decisions made and actions taken by government and corporate interests, dating back to the inception of Love Canal in 1893. Courtenay Carmack ’14 researched the history of Love Canal, and summarized that a “bank crisis, a war, and the power of human greed” combined to produce the catastrophe. Other research examined Love Canal from the perspectives of environmental damage in Love Canal and the Great Lakes, the role of grassroots action to mobilize relief for victims and to bring national attention to the issue, and the resulting enactment of federal legislation to protect natural resources, wildlife, and human life. Students also found personal connections to Love Canal. Dominick Millitello ’14 noted that his parents made a decision to move their family to a new location after discovering that their home, in North Tonawanda, was just blocks away from a chemical dump. Before the course concluded, students participated in a panel discussion, where two speakers offered additional insight and knowledge about Love Canal. Luella Kenny, a former resident of Love Canal, engaged students in a discussion of Love Canal’s history and effects, and an environmental attorney with the NYS Department of Health provided insights about environmental impacts. There is a poignant postscript to this student project. Lois Gibbs, the Love Canal housewife turned activist who sparked the grassroots uprising over Love Canal and who went on to launch a national movement of environmental awareness, will speak at Medaille’s Undergraduate Commencement (see pp. 20-21).
PHOTO: UNIVERSITY ARCHIVES. STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO
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PEOPLE
People In the following pages, we shift focus away from institutional news to the people of Medaille—faculty, students and alumni whose stories intrigue and inspire us.
“I AM FOREVER a student, constantly absorbing knowledge and applying what I’ve learned.” To say Verel has embodied that mantra is an understatement. His current project to bring a Pro Martial Arts Hall of Fame and Museum to Buffalo is the latest in a long line of accomplishments, most notably winning three world kickboxing titles and being inducted into the World Karate and Kickboxing Hall of Fame. Verel is also a television and film star, appearing on the FX Channel show, Toughman Contest, and in feature films as an actor and stunt coordinator. He holds five black belts and was named a U.S. Delegate for All Rules and Ring Sports with the World Kickboxing League because of his extensive knowledge of the martial arts industry.
We begin with A.J. Verel ’99 BBA, a World Karate and Kickboxing Hall-of-Famer who is working to open an international hall of fame and museum for professional martial arts in Buffalo. We follow with stories of Erin Driscoll ’12 BA, fulfilling her dream of owning a catering business, and Misty Spano ’95 BA, who has created her own success in the hospitality industry with Washington Square Restaurant in downtown Buffalo. We conclude with undergraduate faculty member Daniel Kotzin, Ph.D., assistant professor of social sciences and chair of the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, who provides a look at the power of history in his life; and a sketch of Susan Dunkle, Ed.D., assistant professor in the School of Education, who inspires future teachers.
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This understanding of and respect for the martial arts lifestyle led Verel back to his hometown to open the Hall of Fame and Museum. He is on a mission to make mixed martial arts legal in New York, which is currently one of only four states where the sport is still outlawed. “Mixed martial arts is a term used to describe a full contact sport that utilizes a wide variety of techniques and skill sets that can come from traditional and nontraditional martial arts,” explained Verel. According to Verel, a law passed several years ago deemed certain contact sports illegal due to the set of rules or lack thereof at the time. “The sport known today as mixed martial arts was not as defined as it is now,” he said. The current proposals before the New York State Legislature seek to address this deficiency by imposing tighter restrictions and safety measures and advancing the sport at both the amateur and professional levels. In the meantime, Verel has plenty to keep him busy in planning for the Pro Martial Arts Hall of Fame and Museum. “It’s going to be a destination that’s completely unique, with interactive displays, a sports clinic and a theater to screen action films,” he offered. And just in case he isn’t busy enough, Verel is under consideration for a position on the President’s Council for Fitness, Sports and Nutrition. The chance presented itself when Verel happened to be at Duff’s when President Obama made his lunch stop there as part of his visit to Buffalo last summer. “I had the opportunity to bring up the Hall of Fame and Museum and what we were trying to accomplish in this region since he was here to talk about small business expansion,” said Verel. “Before he left I asked him [about the position].” “I didn’t plan on asking to be on the Council,” he concluded, “but as we talked, I figured, I’m going to ask—what’s the worst that can happen?” “Life is about chances and risks,” said Verel. “Believe in yourself and your abilities and you can achieve your dream.”
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ERIN DRISCOLL’S DREAM is to have her own catering business. Thanks to Medaille and generous scholarship support, this junior business administration major will have the education and experience needed to make that dream a reality. Driscoll, 23, is a Cheektowaga resident originally from Youngstown, Ohio. She attended culinary school in Pittsburgh, Pa., where she met her boyfriend, and decided to come back with him to his hometown of Buffalo. However, in 2009 fate stepped in. Her father was involved in a major car accident, leaving him in a coma to this day. Driscoll moved back home so she could help her mother care for him. Eventually Driscoll felt it was time to complete her education and started looking at schools that would give her the small class size and personal attention she wanted. Medaille fit the bill. “I applied to a lot of smaller schools, but Medaille really appealed to me. I like the fact all the professors know my name and a little bit about my background. They’re also all very friendly, which makes it easy to learn.” Driscoll said the relationships she has forged with her fellow students and her involvement in campus activities have given her valuable exposure to how business and hospitality mix. In fact, Driscoll is a member of Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), a campus organization that promotes entrepreneurship through projects with businesses and nonprofits. Through SIFE, Driscoll is the COO of the Commons Café, a student-run eatery in the Main Building, where her duties include ordering supplies and scheduling employees. Upon graduation, Driscoll hopes to find immediate work in the hotel or restaurant management industry, which will give her the experience to reach her ultimate goal: owning a catering company in New York City or Washington, D.C. A William Randolph Hearst Scholarship recipient, Driscoll said the financial assistance has made all the difference in the world. “If it wasn’t for Medaille, I don’t know if I would have been able to return to school,” she said.
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AS ANY FAN OF wings and weck will tell you, restaurants in Buffalo are among the best in the country. But when Misty Spano ’95 BA argues that point, it comes with a hint of bias. Since 1985, she has owned and operated Washington Square Restaurant, a thriving establishment located just a baseball’s throw away from the Buffalo Bisons Coca-Cola Field. “My family has owned Washington Square Restaurant for 42 years,” Spano said. “My career [there] began in 1976 when I started working in the kitchen for my dad. I took ownership in 1985, when my dad was ready to semi-retire.” Spano graduated from Medaille with a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and has incorporated her education and knowledge into running the restaurant. “While much of my experience has been learned on the job, it doesn’t hurt having a formal business and management education,” she explained. “My education gives me confidence and a good understanding of how to manage a business.” Employees are one of the restaurant’s great assets. “Several of our employees have worked [here] for many years, and
they care a great deal about the restaurant’s success and pleasing customers,” said Spano. The restaurant’s “warm and comfortable atmosphere” draws a regular crowd. Spano noted, “My lunch customers usually eat [here] daily or at least a couple of times a week.” In lieu of formal advertising, Spano commented, “Word of mouth has been our best form of advertisement. We have customers from Erie, Pa. to Toronto who come in and say that our restaurant was recommended by their friends, and we have a great location that draws people in from downtown events or during their lunch break.” Success is not without its challenges. “Food and operation costs continue to rise, and it is challenging to keep our prices low and still make a profit,” explained Spano. She is always seeking new ideas, drawing from visits to other restaurants, customers, and television cooking shows. “We know a new item is a hit when customers ask, ‘When are you going to have that again?’”
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Misty Spano ’95 BA Summer 2011
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FOR DANIEL KOTZIN, Ph.D., assistant professor of social sciences and chair of Medaille’s Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, history isn’t something that can be learned from simply cracking open a textbook or watching a documentary. An avid researcher, he prefers to gain his knowledge from those who were actually there experiencing it—and relaying their observations to others. “Right now, I’m involved in a project having to do with letters written to Rabbi Isaac Klein,” said Dr. Kotzin. “He lived in Buffalo and was a chaplain in the U.S. Army during WWII.” He continued, “It’s fascinating to learn about these servicemen stationed around the world, and how through their relationship with the chaplain – through letter writing – they were able to maintain their Jewish identity at the time of this great conflict.” Dr. Kotzin feels so strongly about the power of written correspondence that he taught a course in which students examined letters written by soldiers in the Civil War. “I was extremely lucky to have wonderful history teachers throughout my early education,” he offered. “They grabbed my attention and made the past come alive through creativity and interaction.” In one notable exercise, said Dr. Kotzin, his teacher had the students play stockbrokers as a way to underscore the importance of the Great Depression. Ironically, he had no plans to teach history, opting to study law instead. All that changed, however, when in sophomore year of college Dr. Kotzin had an extraordinary history professor who inspired him. “I feel very fortunate to have made the decision I did,” said Dr. Kotzin. “For me, once I set my mind to becoming a teacher, there was no looking back. I felt like I was on a straight path and never questioned my decision.” Dr. Kotzin is grateful to have the opportunity to bring his teaching style to Medaille. “I’ve always wanted to teach at a small liberal arts college and jumped at the chance to come here,” said the Los Angeles native. “I went to larger schools and even though I received a great education, I always felt like something was missing.” Dr. Kotzin noted the small classes at Medaille give him the chance to get to know his students and he loves to implement a curriculum that is more discussion-based as opposed to lectures. Dr. Kotzin notes the value of interdisciplinary courses at Medaille, in which students examine issues through different lenses. Analyzing a problem, for example, through the eyes of an historian, archeologist and psychologist, gives students an understanding of the complexity of issues and the frequent difficulty of finding solutions. “Once you realize what you don’t know, you become very wise. If we as teachers are forcing students to question themselves or their world...we’re doing our job.”
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PHOTO BY GREG WLOSINSKI ’07 VDA
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PEOPLE
ASK SOME RESEARCHERS, educators and the media and they will tell you students today are lazy, entitled and unmotivated. Susan Dunkle, Ed.D., visiting assistant professor in the School of Education, uses a combination of science, psychology and hospitality to not only excite her students about learning the curriculum, but to inspire them to become better teachers. Walk into one of Dr. Dunkle’s classes on the first day and she is at the door, greeting her students with a warm handshake and genuine smile. She actively draws them into group discussions and getting-to-know-you exercises in order to build a sense of camaraderie in her classroom and make her students feel comfortable exchanging ideas and insights – “the foundation to open, eager learning,” she said. “I have a wonderful time with my students and love the dynamics of group interaction and cooperative learning,” said the 16-year veteran army officer. She earned her doctorate in educational leadership from D’Youville College, and taught in its Education Department and in Canisius College’s Department of Military Science before coming to Medaille in 2006.
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According to Dunkle, the key to motivating students at any level is based on Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, a theory that once certain physical and psychological criteria are met in a particular order, a person can reach his or her full potential. “I think that you need to honor an individual’s needs for a safe and secure environment in which students feel that their thoughts and contributions are honored and respected,” Dunkle offered. “A safe, supportive and welcoming environment combined with an enthusiastic and knowledgeable teacher motivates students to want to learn.” She continued, “I work with wonderful students who strive to be knowledgeable, supportive and enthusiastic teachers.” Teaching can be frustrating, gratifying, baffling and fulfilling as a teacher struggles to find that “sweet spot” to pique a student’s interest in learning. “Whether I am teaching graduate or undergraduate, adolescent or elementary [education], I have a wonderful time with my students,” she explained. “I find them to be engaged, enthusiastic and willing to both learn and share their own experiences with [myself ], and their colleagues.”
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Founders’ Day Celebrating Service and Citizenship
“Do all you can do for your neighbors, and expect no reward.” 18 I
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Medaille celebrated community service in Western New York at its annual Founders’ Day Celebration, held at the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society on April 13. Medaille honored three individuals and one organization for their contributions to the community; all reflect the spirit of Father Jean Pierre Médaille to “do all you can for your neighbors, and expect no reward.” ANN McCARTHY, CONSUMER affairs manager for Wegmans, was the event’s keynote speaker and the recipient of Medaille’s Lifetime Service Award. McCarthy’s remarks drew from both her decades-long experience as a community volunteer and her professional life, which has been deeply rooted in community initiatives. One of the challenges she posed to the audience was: “How do we inspire others to share what they can spare?” It is clear, however, that the award winners need no such encouragement to share; their good works in the Western New York community speak eloquently of their generosity. Khadija Osman ’12 CJ/PSY arrived with her family from Kenya six years ago and is committed to giving back to the community that embraced her. Today she volunteers at Hope Refugee Services as a translator and with the Buffalo Public School System as an afterschool reading and writing tutor. Christopher Kreiger co-founded WNY Heroes, Inc., a veterans’ assistance center that works to ease the transition from combat to civilian life. In Kreiger’s words, this organization “started with a thought, a dream and lint in our pockets.” As a veteran of the Iraq
War, Kreiger knows first-hand the financial hardships and personal challenges that often await veterans returning from war; he was determined to alleviate those hardships for his fellow veterans. Crisis Services has a 43-year history of promoting the health, safety and well-being of the community through prevention, education, immediate intervention and access to communitywide resources. “You won’t hear the staff talk about themselves; they are the silent heroes who work every day to find justice, safety and peace for their clients,” said Robyn WiktorskiReynolds, advocate program coordinator at Crisis Services. A special thanks to Phillips Lytle LLP, for its second year of support as a presenting sponsor. Thank you to our sponsors and contributors for their commitment to Medaille and the spirit of volunteerism. Silver Sponsor: M&T Bank • Bronze Sponsors: Delaware North, Elbers Landscaping, Merchants Insurance • Table Sponsors: Delaware North, Eastman Machine, M&T Bank, William and Lee Pearce, Heidi Raphael ’85 MC. This support provided complimentary seats for our honorees and the Sisters of St. Joseph • Advertising Sponsors: Catholic Health, Clough Harbour & Associates, Independent Health, Lumsden & McCormick LLP, Scheff Thompson Cress, The Copy Store, Travers Collins & Company
The evening’s honorees stand with Richard T. Jurasek, Ph.D., Medaille College president (far left) and Ken Manning, partner at Phillips Lytle LLP (far right): Ann McCarthy, consumer affairs manager for Wegmans and recipient of Lifetime Service Award; Khadija Osman ’12, Student Award recipient; Christopher Kreiger, founder of WNY Heroes and Crisis Services, Individual Award recipient; Robyn Wiktorski-Reynolds, advocate program coordinator at Crisis Services, accepting the Organization Award.
EVENT PHOTOS BY GREG WLOSINKSI ‘07 VDA
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EVENT PHOTOS BY MICHAEL THOMAS ‘09 VDA
As the class of 2011 filed into the rows at Kleinhans Music Hall, family and friends snapped pictures and let out boisterous cheers, celebrating the achievement of their loved ones, who would soon be awarded a hard-earned degree.
Commencement
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MARK CZARNECKI, PRESIDENT of M&T Bank, delivered the commencement address to graduate students during the afternoon ceremony. Drawing parallels between the economic climate when he graduated from college and that of today, he said, “Sometimes I think we get caught up in the notion that this is the worst time, economically, that this country has ever faced. I don’t believe that’s true.” He continued, “Successful people can’t afford
responsibility as a member of a community to improve it. Eightytwo percent of you said, yes, it is my responsibility…to improve the community in which I live.” Dr. Jurasek’s remarks about the importance of community service formed the segue to the conferral of an honorary degree upon Lois Marie Gibbs, the citizen activist who organized the Love Canal protest (see pp. 10-11) and who is now an internationally-
Nathaniel W. Barnes ’11 BSED speaks to undergraduates about the importance of teachers. The College invited Lois M. Gibbs in conjunction with the spring semester Love Canal project.
to be cynical. It wastes their time, energy and opportunity…only positive people with a positive outlook make a difference.” In the evening, over 300 undergraduate students walked across the Kleinhans stage to proudly accept their degrees from several Medaille College trustees who participated in the ceremony. Richard T. Jurasek, president of Medaille, addressed the graduates and noted, “You expect to get ahead. That’s a reasonable hope. But I know something else about the 300 of you.” He then recalled for them their responses to a survey given when they were freshmen, and specifically the question about the importance of community service. “When you arrived at the College, we asked you the degree to which you think it is your
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acclaimed leader within the environmental justice movement. Gibbs delivered the commencement address, in which she challenged the graduates to follow their passion and make a difference in the world. She connected her remarks to the allegorical tale, The Wizard of Oz. “The great wizard will soon give you a diploma. It means you’re smart enough.” She went on to say “I’m a high school graduate who had to learn about science, about sociology, about all the things you already know…you have an advantage.” Gibbs concluded her speech by calling upon the graduates to follow her example. “Have a brain, follow your heart…and be like a lion. Have the courage to speak up and don’t take no for an answer.”
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STORIES OF SUCCESS
What is success? There may be as many definitions as there are people to dream of it, but all of us long for the personal achievement at the heart of success.
Nate Marton, director of operations, reviews the Student Success Center’s plans with Charles Moran, board of trustees chair, as construction crews begin the interior wall assembly in March. PHOTOS PP. 22-23 BY KARA KANE
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STORIES OF SUCCESS
Stories of Success INSTITUTIONS, LIKE PEOPLE, strive for their own version of success. Institutions of learning, at all levels, define their success by their students’ achievement. The following pages highlight Medaille’s latest effort to give students an edge on success, and profile faculty and students as they strive to achieve their unique version of success. When the College broke ground on the Student Success Center in November 2010, the moment meant more than a
Foundation work continued through April.
Stories of Success JADWIGA (HETTIE) DOMINO, Ph.D., assistant professor, tells her students that they can predict their future. “If they tell themselves that they cannot do the material and that they
Students tour the construction site.
major capital investment in the Buffalo Campus’ academic facilities; equally importantly, the Student Success Center signals a new approach to teaching and learning as well as a synergy of effort among students, faculty and staff. This $3.4 million investment doubles the available space of Huber Hall and brings together in one place the Advisement Center, Office of Disability Services, Academic Support Center and Office of Career Planning, thus integrating the provision of these key support services. “I am so excited about the centralizing of several support service areas,” said Tiffany Hamilton, student success advocate (see p. 26). “What a great way to not only tell, but show, students that we are all here to support them!” “A college campus, by definition, provides space for living, learning, communicating, research, athletics, wellness – the list goes on,” said Dr. Richard T. Jurasek, president of Medaille College. “Medaille is not unique in that sense, but we are pioneering expanded services that we know will make
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a difference in each student’s journey from the first day of classes to graduation weekend. We are very, very proud of that distinction and our commitment to our students.”
Massive concrete walls are placed on site.
will fail, then that is exactly what will happen,” she explained. “On the other hand, if they tell themselves that they can do it, that they will not give up, that they will pass, then that is what will happen.” She credits her parents as a source of inspiration as she worked towards her personal and professional goals. “My parents were born in Poland before WWII and had very little formal schooling … college would not even have been a consideration for them.” She continued, “Yet they encouraged my brother, sister and me to study hard and go to college. By working very hard themselves, they showed us that through hard work and by never giving up on one’s dreams, one can achieve one’s goals.” Dr. Domino defines her own success as a teacher through the stories of her students. “When I see a struggling student pass math or when I hear that a former student went on to achieve his or her dreams, I feel that in a way I was a small part of that success due to the encouragement that I gave.” Continues next page
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STORIES OF SUCCESS
In her years of teaching, Dr. Domino has witnessed students pass a course after failing several times. “To them, that was a sign of success. It gave them the confidence that they can achieve anything and that a failure once does not mean a failure all the time.” She continued, “The determination to succeed and to overcome an obstacle that was with them for many years was already a sign of success.” A faculty member within the Department of Mathematics and Sciences, Dr. Domino notes that many students fear math. “For them, success means eliminating that fear and realizing that math is not all that bad.” She gives the example of a student who had feared math since high school due to several bad experiences with math teachers. “She passed with a B+ and then went on to become an elementary school teacher,” said Dr. Domino. “Today, she claims that her favorite subject to teach is math and that she incorporates it into the other subjects that she teaches. Not only did she succeed at Medaille College, but she continues to succeed in her job.”
One iteration of the Student Success Center’s first floor plan. The second floor is shown on the opposite page.
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STORIES OF SUCCESS
FOR FELECIA HANESWORTH, sharing stories of her own experience with students provides support as they work toward their own success. As a visiting instructor in the School of Education, Hanesworth takes the opportunity to “help [students] think about the world of education beyond their personal experiences so that they can see themselves and others as successful learners and seekers of knowledge.” She points to the ripple effects students in the School of Education cause, as they go on to graduate school and pursue careers as classroom teachers. “I am very proud of them – they have all chosen a field of study that influences the lives of children beyond measure,” she said. “They are the teachers of the future and I am proud to have been a part of the process.” Hanesworth continued, “In the field of education, we teach [students] to be reflective practitioners so that they in turn can teach it to others. We are an institution of opportunity and success defined by what we do with students to help them achieve their goals. Their success is our success!”
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STORIES OF SUCCESS
CHRIS DUERR ’14 BSED doesn’t give up easily. The Lakeview, N.Y. native defines success as “learning from one’s own mistakes,” and he speaks from personal experience. “I have battled injuries from sports, poor grades in school and personal life challenges that almost got me to say to myself, ‘I give up.’” After three semesters at a college in the Midwest that tested his psychological and emotional strength, Duerr found his new home at Medaille College. He described one of his first interactions with the College in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. “Bernadette Clark [director of transfer admissions] listened to me and gave me…a second chance at my future to be a teacher,” he explained. From there, he said, “I have fallen in love with this school and everyone that is a part of it.” Duerr looks to the TRiO staff for the support he needs to pursue his goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. “They are there to help me with my future and to keep me on track with my school work so I don’t fall behind at any point during the semester,” he explained. Crediting his mom for his success, Duerr stated, “She is my hero, and a walking example of the saying ‘never give up.’” His mother was diagnosed with breast cancer during Duerr’s freshman year of high school, and “she never said once that she was going to give up when times got hard.” As of August, his mother will have been cancer-free for seven years. Duerr continued, “I want to say ‘thank you’ to her for not letting me give up and pushing me to get back up on my feet, and showing everyone I have the potential to be successful.”
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TIFFANY HAMILTON SEES her role in the Academic Support Center as one that builds relationships and creates an environment of positive energy and care. Since 2009, Hamilton has seen how students “thrive when they know they have people in their corner that really care about them.” “Students needs to have an optimistic attitude based in reality,” continued Hamilton. “I try very hard to be truthful while continuing to help them remain hopeful about their futures.” When asked for examples of student success, she exclaimed, “I would need to block off a few hours to tell you about our students’ successes!” Mentioning that students participate in internships and research opportunities off campus, she also cites students on campus who have “been able to return to satisfactory academic standing, those who are on the Dean’s List and those who will graduate this May.” Hamilton takes the approach that students should “accept that everyone needs help, and then ask for the help. Remember that you are not alone. On a daily basis, TRiO and the Academic Support Center make sure that all the students we serve are defining success for themselves. We are here to guide and support, and celebrate their achievements.”
PHOTOS BY MICHAEL THOMAS ’09 VDA BACKGROUND PHOTO BY KARA KANE
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STORIES OF SUCCESS
FAITH SHAW ’13 BSED gives credit to her late aunt, Pamela Ann Gayles Johnson ’83 ED, for setting her on a path to become an educator. “She was a graduate of Medaille, and worked as a sixth grade teacher at North Park Middle Academy,” said Shaw. “She was like no other teacher I have ever seen – no student who tried, failed while in her classroom.” “From the first time I set foot on campus, I have been given the opportunity to better myself,” Shaw noted. She cites the influence of the Academic Support Center in going “that extra mile.” “Tiffany Hamilton [student success advocate] has always treated me with respect and kindness,” she explained. “Not enough people know how to show these traits while dealing with students.” Shaw feels that her work as a peer mentor has made her not only “a more responsible student, but also a more responsible person.” As Shaw reflects on her aunt’s legacy, she offered, “When she passed, I told myself that I had to continue her story, but with my own ending.” Looking to the future, she intends to earn a master’s degree, and then a doctorate, in literacy.
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ACHIEVEMENT, PROSPERITY, FULFILLMENT, satisfaction: these are the words Eric Richardson ’11 LS uses to define his thoughts on success. As president of Prelude, Medaille’s student-produced literary magazine, Richardson compiled over three dozen poems, short stories and photographs from 14 undergraduate students into the final collection for Prelude’s 2011 edition. He fondly remembers the lasting relationships he has made with faculty and staff members over four years. “Medaille College...will always have a special place in my heart. The College has given me so many opportunities to learn and grow as a student…the faculty and staff continuously challenge me to reach my goals.” “If I had to choose just one person who has gone the extra mile for me, I would have to say my advisor, Erin Pawlak [academic advisement counselor],” he continued. “She helped me set the goals I wanted to achieve in class and career-wise. She is truly a special person to me and I will forever be grateful to her.” As a writer, Richardson wants “other people to take something away from what I have written. I want to relate to others in my work, and I also want people to relate to me.” Citing poetry as the genre in which he is most comfortable, he offered, “Poetry is such a powerful art form because it can convey so many emotions. Poetry can make you laugh, make you cry, and most of all make you think deeply about love and life in general.”
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STORIES OF SUCCESS
“WORKING AT A company where leadership is among our core values, I was excited to start a master’s program in leadership,” said Jennifer Gorczynski ’05 MBA. As a business control specialist at Bank of America Home Loans, Gorczynski sees leadership as an integral part of success, in business and in life. “I think it is important to empower others as a means to personal and organizational success,” Gorczynski explained. “Instead of providing answers or just doing a task for someone, work with them to get their suggestions. Who knows – they may have a fantastic new solution or idea!” “You need to be open to both new ideas and change and when either come along, pursuing them with enthusiasm,” she offered. “Don’t continue with the status quo because ‘it is what we have always done’; take the extra steps to ask ‘why’ and be willing to make changes to improve a process or a situation.” Gorczynski received a Young Alumni Award from Medaille in 2007 based on her extensive community service. Currently, she is a member of Toastmasters and volunteers through Bank of America with its Community Volunteers and LEAD for Women (Leadership, Education, Advocacy and Development of Women) organization. MEDAILLE STUDENTS HAVE taken undertaken initiatives in local schools to inspire learning, achievement and success. Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) partnered with Junior Achievement of Western New York to create a lesson plan for Buffaloarea schools. The result was “It’s My Business!”, a program designed to teach business essentials for advertising, market research, money management and communication. These students have also developed the CHAMP program – Choosing Healthy Alternatives through Mentoring and Play. They encouraged entrepreneurship among 100 middle school students at St. Gregory the Great in Williamsville, N.Y., and created a smoothie stand within the school named Fruit Fusion, which is available during their lunch periods. According to Danielle Rollins ’12 BA, “The positive presence of the Medaille College SIFE team within several Buffalo area schools on a weekly basis has helped to produce a future generation of entrepreneurs.” SIFE students Daniel Jackson ’11 ACC, Gerard Jackson ’12 BA, Danielle Rollins ’12 BA, Daniel Tomaka ’11 BA, Rebecca Nason ’12 BA and John Ranieri, Jr. ’11 COM. PHOTO BY MICHAEL THOMAS ’09 VDA
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ATHLETICS
Root For the Home Team! Although Medaille has one of the youngest athletic programs among conferences in which it competes, it has established a spectacular record of success in its 15-year history. As of 2011, the Athletics Program has produced: - 4 nationally-ranked teams - 14 AMCC Regular Season championships - 11 AMCC Tournament championships - 12 NCAA Tournament teams and 7 NCAA Tournament wins - 13 ECAC Tournament teams - 76 First Team All-Conference Players - 10 All-Americans and 3 Scholar All-Americans - 14 conference players of the year Professional staff and coaches support our teams and athletes as they train year-round, competing against powerhouse programs throughout the region and at a national level. We’ve had soccer players turn professional; our coaches are routinely chosen by their peers as coaches of the year; and our teams earn spots in national rankings as a matter of course. What is in store for next season? Summer 2011
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Women’s Basketball Since its inception in 1996, the Lady Mavericks basketball team has created a record of astonishing success. The 2010-11 season was no different, with national rankings and an “at-large” berth into the NCAA Tournament, the first in Medaille’s athletic history. THE STAGE FOR the season was set when the team opened their regular season by dominating the University of Rochester. “Starting the season by beating the fourth-ranked team in the country propelled us to a national ranking,” explained Pete Lonergan, head coach of the women’s basketball team and athletic director. “The win was a victory over the highest-ranked team ever accomplished by a Medaille team in any sport.” Throughout the season, the team appeared in the D3hoops.com poll eleven times, climbing to a high of 15. The USA Today/ESPN poll ranked the team as high as 19 on two separate occasions. “We worked hard every day, especially the seniors, because we knew this was our last season and we wanted to make it the best,” shared Jordan Schrimmel ’11 ED. According to Coach Lonergan, what contributed to the season’s achievements was “the ability of the women to put the best interests of the team ahead of their own needs, which allowed them to not care who got the credit for [the team’s] success.” An unprecedented moment came on February 28 when the Lady Mavs earned an “at-large” berth into the NCAA Tournament. “It is very gratifying to receive this bid because of all the adversity the team had to overcome this year. Their commitment earned the respect of everyone – including the NCAA Selection Committee,” said Lonergan. This moment meant that the NCAA recognized Medaille’s program as one of the best, since only 20 “at-large” invitations are extended out of over 400 DIII colleges. “I was shocked because it had never happened to a sports team in Medaille’s history. I was very happy because we worked throughout the season and deserved it,” said Tanisha Travis ’13. The Lady Mavs’ stellar season ended on March 4 when Babson College defeated them, 78-58, in their fifth NCAA tournament appearance.
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Pictured: Mame Yaa Ankoma-Mensa ’11 ED PHOTO COURTESY MEDAILLE ATHLETICS
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“After losing our first two games, we started to figure out our roles and we ended up with a 21-8 record.” Coach MacDonald
ATHLETICS
Season Highlights Men’s Basketball
Pictured: Mame Yaa Ankoma-Mensa ’11 ED PHOTO BY ??????????????
Pictured: Kevin Borden ’11 SM PHOTO COURTESY MEDAILLE ATHLETICS
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Head Coach: Mike MacDonald FOR THE THIRD straight year, the men’s basketball team reached the 20-win mark, finishing 21-8 overall and 15-3 in the AMCC. This winning streak—over 20 games across three seasons—places Medaille in an elite group: one of 18 schools, out of 400 in the division, to accomplish this feat. The Mavs defeated SUNY Brockport in the ECAC Upstate Championship Tournament semifinal, and played Hobart College in the championship game, making them the second team in school history to play for an ECAC title. Fans enjoyed watching a month-long stretch of undefeated basketball, with ten straight wins from January 15 - February 16. “We went into this season not really knowing what to expect, since we had graduated five very key seniors from the previous year’s team. Even though we had a lot of guys back who had played, almost everyone would have a new role,” explained Mike MacDonald, head coach of the men’s basketball team. Three Medaille seniors earned All-Conference recognition, led by pre-season Player of the Year Ron Malicki ’11 CJ who earned First Team honors. Ricky Reed ’11 LS was named to the Second Team and Joe Mogavero ’11 ED was named Third Team All-Conference after having a breakout season. Seniors Reed and Malicki became the seventh and eighth players in program history to surpass the 1,000-point milestone. Reed finished his career as the second all-time leading scorer with 1,313 points, while Malicki finished up in the fifth spot with 1,184 points. The senior class won more games than any group in program history as they went 81-33 over four years, winning two AMCC titles and appearing in two NCAA Tournaments. “We are also proud that 12 of our student-athletes had a first semester GPA over 3.0, and five were over 3.5,” shared MacDonald. The team’s win over SUNY Brockport in the ECAC Tournament marked Coach MacDonald’s 200th career win. He transformed the previously beleaguered Mavericks program into one that has earned national respect and distinction.
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ATHLETICS
Success in New Volleyball Conference Along with nine other teams, the Mavericks joined the United Volleyball Conference (UVC) in its inaugural season. THE NCAA HAS recognized the UVC as an officially sanctioned single-sport conference, and next season, the conference will become a league within the NCAA, holding a national championship competition. Medaille will start the 2011-12 season anticipating a win in the first championship NCAA tournament, and with good reason: regular season play concluded with a perfect 9-0 home record, and 22-6 overall. Ryan Maxwell ’11 MC captured his team’s performance in 2010-11 in one word: memorable. Despite the season-ending loss against Rivier College in the NECVA Tournament, Maxwell reached a significant milestone when he became the second player in program history to reach 2,000 assists. Collaborative effort and support played a colossal part in the success of the season. According to Maxwell, Nick Johnson ’12 earned the Sports Imports/AVCA Division III Player of the Week honor, a top highlight of the season. “Hopefully he will be recognized as an All-American,” said Maxwell. For Johnson, achieving that honor meant that Medaille’s athletic program had garnered national attention. “I was glad to receive the recognition but I’m glad it got people to notice our team’s success, not just mine,” he shared. “Without the team playing well, I wouldn’t have been able to receive the award.” On March 24, Johnson was named UVC player of the year. Dan Jackson ’11 BA became the first Maverick to reach the 1,000-dig plateau, and he was named libero/defensive specialist of the year and ACVA second team All-American. PHOTO COURTESY MEDAILLE ATHLETICS
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ATHLETICS
SPRING SPORTS HIGHLIGHTS Baseball Head Coach: Paul Smaldone I 2011 record: 22-15 THE MAVS FINISHED the season 22-15, setting a program record for wins. The team just missed competing for its first AMCC Tournament title on day two of the championship round against Penn State-Behrend. Despite missing AMCC Tournament play, the season held many team achievements and personal records. Matt Dunford ’11 MC set the record for strikeouts in a season with 72 and in a career with 173. Dunford also leads the AMCC in innings pitched (63.1), strikeouts (72), and wins (6). Upon graduating, Brandon Lumadue ’11 BA will hold 11 career records, including most hits (176), batting average (.414), doubles (36), triples (10), home runs (14), RBIs (131), and games played (128). Lumadue was also named AMCC pre-season Player of the Year. Another highlight of the season came on May 7 when the Mavs faced Mt. Aloysius College. Nick Miano ’11 MC threw a no-hitter, the second in program history. The remarkable day of pitching began when Dunford threw a complete game 1-0 shutout victory. This win vaulted the Mavs into the second weekend of AMCC playoff action, a place they had not been since 2007. The Mavs, the #5 seeded team, earned an ECAC South Tournament Bid on May 16 where they faced #4 Grove City College.
Softball Head Coach: Dave Polechetti I 2011 record: 8-20; 6-12 AMCC THE LADY MAVS ended the regular season with an overall record of 8-20, finishing with a 6-12 record in the AMCC. Kristen Rohe ’12 leads the AMCC with a .556 batting average, a slugging percentage of .833 and with an on-base percentage of .579. Rohe was also selected as both the AMCC Player and Pitcher of the Week on March 7, as well as 2011 Player of the Year, the highest conference honor. Mary Bongiovanni ’13, Mary Gangloff ’14 and Katie Griffin ’12 hit their first career homeruns this season, which ended on May 4 when the team was defeated in a doubleheader against crosstown rival D’Youville College.
Men’s Lacrosse Head Coach: Chaz Bulera I 2011 record: 5-10; 3-3 NEAC MEMBERS OF THE men’s lacrosse team contributed to a single-season program record for goals (226) and assists (135). Despite having the nation’s leading scorer and owning the fourth-most prolific offense in America, the Medaille College men’s lacrosse team saw its way through a tough season. Four players received all-conference honors: Brock Levick ’14, Jim Luthart ’11 LS, Charlie Coogan ’11 BA and Michael Walter ’12. Levick also set a single-season record for goals (56) and points (75), and on the way, he led the nation in goals with an average of 3.85 per game. Joe Glieco ’11 BA became the program’s all-time leading goal scorer, becoming the first player to surpass the 100-goal mark with 106.
Women’s Lacrosse Head Coach: Sarah McCabe I 2011 record: 4-7; 3-4 NEAC WOMEN’S LACROSSE FANS can look to the team’s play against the College of St. Elizabeth as the best example of the team’s strong offensive skill, when eleven players found the back of the net. For the season, five players were named to the All NEAC Team: Marilyn Meyer ’11 LS, Jody Lang ’11 CJ, Taylor Hackford ’13, Heather Boyzuck ’14 and Christina Balestracci ’14. In other individual achievements, Lang became the all-time program leader in assists with 35, and Boyzuck will be competing overseas in Prague, Czech Republic, during the summer break.
Summer 2011
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Jordan Schrimmel ’11 ED, doing a flip at the women’s senior game on February 12, 2011.
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PHOTO BY JIM McCOY, BUFFALO NEWS
Summer 2011
Moments in Time With a 15-year history of intercollegiate play, Medaille’s athletic program has produced thousands of challenging, inspiring, exhilarating and thrilling moments. Share your most memorable moment with us at alumni@medaille.edu or on our Facebook wall. Ryan Amos ’10 ED All of my memories as a Medaille athlete are great ones. I cherish all of the good times we had together as a baseball team and I will never forget the friendships that we formed throughout those years. Jennifer (Ratka) Bandelian ’00 ED ’02 MSED I did not have a good senior year with athletics. I tore my ACL playing volleyball and had to sit the other seasons out. The best thing about my junior year was our first game of the season when we won our first basketball game in the history of the school. We were in Canada and won by a landslide (I think it was 50 points!). We had many fans in attendance because it was a SAB Toronto Trip. We were all so excited to start our year out this way - and look how far athletics has come now. Chris Duncan ’00 LS Being on the first men’s volleyball team to qualify for a national championship tournament. Elizabeth Galanis-Miller ’01 SM Scoring my 1,000th point! Ryan Hasenauer ’03 SM ’06 MBA My favorite athletic moment as a senior was not on the field, but rather in the Mavericks Athletic Office. During a preseason conversation with a new assistant coach, the men’s lacrosse coach at the time, Michael Carbery, informed me that I would be a captain for my upcoming senior season at Medaille. I had injured my ACL during soccer season and had worked very hard to get back in time for my senior lacrosse season. Hearing that I would be a captain from a coach and a person who I respect so greatly meant the world to me.
athletes and alumni to remember one moment in their athletic careers that will stay in their mind well into the future. Summer 2011
Bryan Meagher ’08 LS My favorite moment as a senior at Medaille was when I scored my 1,000th career point [in basketball]. This moment was so great, not because of my own personal accomplishment, but because of the fact that I was able to share it with so many people that I love and respect. In attendance that night were my mother, younger brother, and my uncle. All three of them contributed so much of their time to allow me to play the game of basketball. Coaching that night was a man that I have the utmost respect for, Coach Jacob. Coach Jacob taught me so much about not only the game of basketball, but also about life. I know I would not be where I am today if it were not for Coach Jacob and I am extremely thankful that I was given the opportunity to be coached by him. Finally, I remember being picked up by my teammates that night. It was so rewarding to have played with such great guys and it was an honor to able to experience that moment with them. Shannon O’Brien ’08 SM Winning the regular season AMCC title in softball. Jordan Schrimmel ’11 ED My team went through so much together the last four years, especially the seniors, [with] so many amazing accomplishments. We made the NCAA tournament three times! I would say that meeting all the amazing people and experiencing being on a successful team would be one of my favorite memories.
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18 Agassiz Circle
I Buffalo, NY 14214
Annual Golf Outing Monday, August 15, 2011 Transit Valley Country Club For complete details and registration information, visit www.medaille.edu/downing or call Evelyn Hamilton at (716) 880-3368.