Interconnectedness – Page 2

Alumni Spotlight: The answers within us

Doyle Pruitt ’98 built a career helping people in traumatic circumstances find a way forward.

Woman smiling at her large brown dog — Doyle Pruitt ’98 works in private practice as a clinical social worker in Canandaigua. Her dog, Porter, sometimes helps out by putting clients at ease. Photo by Jan Regan

Right before her senior year in high school, Doyle Pruitt’s family moved to Canandaigua, a tight-knit community where many of the other teens had grown up together.

She felt like an outsider but only until she started classes at FLCC in fall 1996.

“I felt like here I did fit in,” she said. “The professors saw beyond what clique you belonged to. It allowed me to explore who I was and what I wanted without having to explain myself.”

At FLCC, Doyle began her deliberate pursuit of a career in clinical social work, starting with her associate degree in human services in 1998, followed by a bachelor’s in social work and psychology from Nazareth, then a master’s in social work at Syracuse University. She earned a Ph.D. from the University at Buffalo in 2013.

Now a licensed clinical social worker with a private practice in Canandaigua, she specializes in the assessment and treatment of trauma and sexually harmful behaviors in children. Her decision to devote her life to such weighty matters began in her teens.

“My whole career has focused on trauma, and it came from in high school, having friends disclose to me they had been sexually abused,” Doyle explained, noting two of those three friends were young men. “I couldn’t do much to help my friends. I didn’t want other kids to go through what they went through.” Continue reading “Alumni Spotlight: The answers within us”

College seeks partner for rural training pilot

Finger Lakes Community College is seeking local organizations to collaborate on a project to provide live online training at sites throughout the College’s service area of Ontario, Seneca, Wayne and Yates counties.

FLCC is one of five community colleges from across the nation selected to share in a $1.9 million grant to design pilot programs to support rural students and promote economic growth through education and training.

By January 2022, FLCC hopes to begin a pilot program in which students can attend classes a short drive or walking distance from home and learn specific skills sought by an employer in that same community.

“Transportation and broadband come up over and over again in discussions about the factors that prevent people from taking advantage of training opportunities,” said Todd Sloane, FLCC’s director of workforce development. “This project is meant to help people get started on a path to upward mobility.”

Continue reading “College seeks partner for rural training pilot”

FLCC marks Black History Month with Underground Railroad talk

Paul and Mary Liz Stewart, co-founders of the Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc., will give a free, virtual talk on Thursday, Feb. 25, in celebration of Black History Month.

Finger Lakes Community College will celebrate Black History Month on Thursday, Feb. 25, with a virtual talk on the Underground Railroad by two of its leading researchers.

The free public event, titled, “People of Courage, People of Hope, Seekers of Justice: The Underground Railroad Revisited,” runs from 1 to 2:15 p.m. and can be accessed at this link.

Links for college events are also posted at events.flcc.edu.

Husband-and-wife presenters Paul and Mary Liz Stewart are co-founders of Underground Railroad History Project of the Capital Region, Inc. They said they will share a “new interpretation of a very old story” and explain the various initiatives in which Underground Railroad Education Center is engaged as it works to connect the public with this local history and its relevance to modern times.

The Stewarts were named scholars in residence at Russell Sage College in 2009. They’ve received numerous citations and awards, including the Sense of Place Award from Historic Albany Foundation, the Black History Month Service and Leadership Award from the New York State Department of Health Affirmative Action Advisory Committee, the National Park Service’s Network to Freedom Award and the Community Service Award from the African American Cultural Center of the Capital Region. Continue reading “FLCC marks Black History Month with Underground Railroad talk”

FLCC OK’d to partner on state apprenticeship programs

Woman operating computerized machinery — Leslie Harris is a graduate of the advanced manufacturing machinist job training program run jointly by Finger Lakes Community College and ITT Goulds Pumps in Seneca Falls. FLCC has state approval to expand its educational programming through New York apprenticeship programs.

The state has approved Finger Lakes Community College to teach classes associated with apprenticeship programs for 11 occupations with advanced manufacturing, including industrial manufacturing technician, quality assurance auditor and electro-mechanical technician.

The designation means local employers that apply to participate in the state’s apprenticeship program can select FLCC to provide the instructional component of the program.

New York has more than 800 registered apprenticeship programs and more than 18,000 apprentices, who are paid full-time employees. Apprentices receive on-the-job training as well as classroom instruction relevant to their job with their pay rising at intervals as their skill-level increases.

“FLCC is ready to meet with employers interested in establishing apprenticeship programs to build a pipeline of new employees for expansions and replacement of retirees,” said Todd Sloane, FLCC’s director of workforce development.

FLCC focused on advanced manufacturing given its experience offering a mechatronic course and a machinist training program with G.W. Lisk Co. and ITT Goulds Pumps. Advanced manufacturing is a growing industry that uses computer-controlled equipment to make precision components.

Apprentices would take the college’s Foundations in Advanced Manufacturing course, developed in cooperation with local companies that identified a set of basic skills all successful employees should have. The course provides the nationally recognized Certified Production Technician (CPT) credential. The CPT credential was developed by the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council, which selected nine rapidly emerging, data-intensive technologies that will profoundly influence manufacturing production processes and quality control, including artificial intelligence and nanomanufacturing.

FLCC also offers Foundations in Advanced Manufacturing as a stand-alone course to those who are interested in improving their qualifications for employment. The course is currently offered in a hybrid format, meaning it is part online and part in-person.

FLCC holds informational sessions about manufacturing programs through its Workforce and Career Solutions Office every second Wednesday of the month. To register for an informational session, visit flcc.edu/workforce and click on “Manufacturing Programs” or the “Orientations” button.

Employers seeking more information on apprenticeship programs can contact Andrea Badger, custom training specialist, at Andrea.Badger@flcc.edu.

Culinary students offer ‘Julia’ cookbook

Man cooking in a restaurant kitchen — Francisco Olivera Hernandez of Newark prepares Cajun crab and quinoa cakes, featured on page 25 of the cookbook, “Julia Presents: Dinner for Four.”

Unable to offer the Dinner at Julia restaurant nights that have become a hallmark of the fall semester, Finger Lakes Community College culinary arts faculty and students found a way to share their most popular recipes with the public.

They’ve compiled a 98-page cookbook titled “Julia Presents: Dinner for Four” that includes instructions for dozens of entrees, appetizers and desserts interspersed with quotes from famous chefs and students in the class.

Copies are now available for $20 and can be ordered online at give.flcc.edu/juliacookbook or by calling (585) 785-1205. Proceeds will benefit the FLCC Food Cupboard.

“The book contains many of the recipes that we have done over the years in our student restaurant class, scaled to work at home,” said Jamie Rotter, assistant professor and coordinator of the culinary arts program.

Rotter and faculty colleague Patrick Rae came up with the idea to provide experiential learning following the decision to cancel Dinner and Julia, a series of Friday night gourmet dinners normally open to the public.

Instead, culinary students came together in small groups for cooking instruction at the nearby New York Kitchen. Rotter, Rae and hospitality instructor Paula Knight had them prepare Julia dishes while scaling them down to family-size servings for inclusion in the cookbook. The cookbook became part of the curriculum. Continue reading “Culinary students offer ‘Julia’ cookbook”

FLCC’s latest wine, Persevere, honors students

Wine label with a grape vine and the name Persevere — Viticulture and wine technology students chose this label, “Persevere,” in an annual contest meant to give their counterparts in the graphic design program real-life experience pitching their work to a potential client.

The name chosen for the wine that Finger Lakes Community College students will bottle next spring reflects the fortitude shown in a semester transformed by the pandemic.

Fine arts and graphic design major Aimée Hawkins of Canandaigua came up with the name “Persevere” and designed the label featuring a pen-and-ink drawing of an abundant grape vine.

The back of the label is adorned with a small quote written by Hawkins: “Savor the drive, the determination and the perseverance that led us down the path to creating this wine.”

Hawkins said the quote seemed fitting for FLCC students this semester, as they’ve pursued their studies with mostly virtual instruction while juggling other demands and challenges caused by COVID-19. Perseverance also happens to be one of FLCC’s four values, shown on a large banner display in the main entrance.

Hawkins and her classmates designed labels for a graphic design course taught by Liz Brownell of Victor, professor of graphic design. In what has become an annual tradition, the labels were revealed during an event – held virtually this year rather than at the college’s Viticulture and Wine Center in Geneva.

Student designers took turns sharing their concepts, touching on themes, color palettes, font choices, as well as the computer programs they used to create the labels.

“I felt it was really important to maintain a clean crisp feel while conveying the unique nature that this vintage represents,” Hawkins said during her presentation.

Students of Paul Brock, associate professor of viticulture and wine technology, took part in the event and voted on the labels. Students Leah Herring of Rush, Leanne Camuto of Dansville and Faith Webster of Palmyra were also finalists in the contest. Continue reading “FLCC’s latest wine, Persevere, honors students”

From FLCC to ESPN: Nikole DeBell ’11

Woman holding a trophy in front of an ESPN banner — Nikole DeBell ’11 participated in “Jimmy V Day” at ESPN. By supporting the V Foundation for Cancer Research, she was given the opportunity to take a photo with an ESPY trophy.

On the job one day, Nikole DeBell ’11 accompanied ESPN “SportsCenter” anchor Lauren “Elle” Duncan with a camera and a mini basketball hoop. Elle dunked hoops over the heads of unsuspecting people and Nikole captured it on camera for a segment on the Saturday show.

“It was a really fun day and I got paid for that,” said Nikole. “Then to see what I produced on TV was really cool.”

That was a few years ago, when Nikole worked as an associate producer at ESPN. In May 2019, she transitioned into her current role as ESPN Next training and development coordinator. The position has her charged with training new production assistants, planning out yearly curriculum, running a peer mentor program and planning networking activities.

Like most everything else, her job has been affected by the pandemic.

Cover of Laker magazine showing five people plue the text "Stories of resolve and resilience" — This story is one of several in the Fall 2020 edition of The Laker magazine. Click this image to read the electronic version.

“My role has changed pretty drastically due to COVID,” she said. “One of my main responsibilities is training new people, and we aren’t currently hiring new people.

So, the development side of my job has really come in to play. I’ve had to come up with creative ways to virtually develop and advance the people we have in our program now, which has been challenging and fun.”

Nikole has been with ESPN for four years. It’s a dream job – and fitting, considering her background.

The daughter of an NFL official and gym teacher, she was a three-sport athlete at Dansville High School: soccer, basketball, and softball.

Continue reading “From FLCC to ESPN: Nikole DeBell ’11”

From the cover: SUMMONED TO THE STORM

Woman in full PPE — Jennifer Emmons ’11 spent 12 weeks treating COVID-19 patients. She has found much support from family,friends and community members and has focused on reopening Hospeace House, the Naples comfort care home she oversees.

Before leaving for a 12-week post to help at a New Jersey hospital hit hard by COVID-19, nurse Jennifer Emmons ’11 finalized her own funeral arrangements.

“I had to have a talk with my children to let them know what was in place, where the life insurance is,” she said. “My kids weren’t going to have to wonder about anything. Working in death and dying, I know how important that is.”

Jennifer has been the executive director of the Naples end-of-life comfort home, Hospeace House, since 2017. When the pandemic took hold, the Finger Lakes Community College nursing alumna felt summoned to the storm.

She watched the early reports from the New York City epicenter, where hospitals approached capacity and supplies and staff were sorely needed.

“Being a hospice nurse I think what bothered me the most was that we kept hearing that people were dying alone,” said Jennifer. “I knew that I had skills that were needed.”

With the support of the Hospeace board of directors, Jennifer took an unpaid leave of absence to serve at the Bergen New Bridge Medical Center in Paramus, New Jersey, about 20 miles from Manhattan.

Her assignment was at times administrative but always in the trenches. Many hospital staff had fallen ill in the early weeks, and the crush of patients was so great, a 100-bed medical tent went up in a parking lot.

“You had to remain calm when you were the furthest thing from calm,” she said. “There wasn’t enough of anything — staff, equipment, beds. Some of those basic human needs were being overlooked because we just didn’t have enough hands on deck.”

Every long, chaotic shift was followed by a methodical routine of carefully removing her armor — gloves, gown, shield, and mask — before returning to the hotel she called home during her stay.

On the worst nights, when doubt and hopelessness crept in, Jennifer remembered something one of her FLCC instructors told her in a class years ago: “Never forget why you became a nurse.”

Those words, from the now retired Emily Kuryla, became a mantra.

Continue reading “From the cover: SUMMONED TO THE STORM”

Geneva honors FLCC retiree Hank Roenke ’73

Two men standing in a cemetary holding a plaque — Hank Roenke ’73 was celebrated by the city of Geneva for his work restoring a section of the Glenwood Cemetery.

Alumnus and retiree Henry “Hank” Roenke III ’73 was celebrated by the city of Geneva recently for his work to locate and repair marble markers and catalog monuments in a local cemetery.

City Council adopted a resolution declaring Thursday, Nov. 5 as “Hank Roenke Day.” Mayor Steve Valentino said Hank logged “a staggering 615 trips and 2,140 hours of volunteer service” in a section of the Glenwood Cemetery that was relocated from a burial site on Pulteney Street in 1920 to construct the former Geneva High School (now the site of the FLCC Geneva Campus Center). In the years since the relocation, the headstones have become worn, and in some cases, have sunk into the ground.

“He has completed a tremendous amount of research on the people buried there and routinely logs dates for the historical society’s archives,” the resolution said of Hank’s work. “If that wasn’t enough, he even mows the grass in that section on a regular basis.”

Man in a suit holding a framed award — Hank Roenke ’73 has received numerous awards through the years, including the CCFL/FLCC Exceptional Service Award in 2017.

Hank received the CCFL/FLCC Exceptional Service Award in 2017. After earning his associate degree in natural resources conservation from Community College of the Finger Lakes, as the College was called before 1992, he attended Empire State College and then worked as a conservation specialist at FLCC from 1974 to 2001, when he was granted emeritus status.

For over 30 years, Hank developed and managed Geneva’s Loomis Woods Nature Trail, often enlisting the help of FLCC conservation students and local Cub and Boy Scouts. For 13 years, he served as a member of the Alumni Association Council, including two years as its president. He also served on the FLCC Association Board of Directors for 10 years, with two terms as president.

Click here to read the city of Geneva resolution. Click here to read a November 2018 article about Hank in the Finger Lakes Times.

FLCC’s ‘Voices in Isolation’ a ‘tapestry’ of perspectives

Cameraman filming FLCC student behind desk in TV studio — Daniel Jackson records a selection written by Jim Rose of Canandaigua as video technician Jeff Kidd ’05 operates the camera in the FLCC TV studio at the main campus.

Early in the pandemic, Beth Johnson knew her theatre students at Finger Lakes Community College might not be able to present their annual production before a live audience.

But she saw an opportunity to try something different while also telling the story of our time.

The result is a recorded show titled “Voices in Isolation: Pandemic and Protest” that will debut online at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 19. Offered free to all on the FLCC Visual and Performing Arts Department You Tube channel, it will be followed by a live talk-back session with the creative team of writers and performers. The You Tube link can be found here and at events.flcc.edu.

“We felt it was important to provide the students a way to engage and interact with each other, especially one that allowed them the opportunity to voice their experiences and grapple with the issues our country is facing in an artistic and collaborative way,” said Johnson, professor of speech and theatre and director of the production. “While it would have been much easier to avoid offering a theatrical production this year, it would have been a huge disservice to the students for them to have missed out on a fall show.”

“Voices in Isolation” is written and performed by members of the community, students, alumni, and current and retired faculty and staff. The show contains original music, monologues, and stories exploring the impact of quarantine and issues of racial justice. Some are real life experiences, while others are fictionalized.

Each piece was recorded separately, some by the contributors themselves, others by FLCC Video Technician Jeff Kidd ’05. Kidd and Production Manager Jim Perri have spent the past few weeks editing and weaving together the recordings.

Continue reading “FLCC’s ‘Voices in Isolation’ a ‘tapestry’ of perspectives”