43 earn GED through FLCC

17 graduates in blue caps and gowns
Several GED recipients attended a graduation ceremony at the main campus in June.

Forty-three students completed a general equivalency diploma (GED) over the last year through the free program at Finger Lakes Community College.

FLCC’s program allows students to work at their own pace with an instructor to prepare for the four exams necessary to earn a high school equivalency diploma. Students take in-person assessments in math and reading to gauge their skill levels.

See our online photo album from the June 13 ceremony

Details about FLCC’s GED and English as a Second Language programs are available at flcc.edu/abe, (585) 785-1431, or ged@flcc.edu. Classes are offered in Ontario, Seneca, Wayne, and Yates counties at FLCC locations, libraries and workforce development offices.

Woman in PhD regalia speaking at podium
Linda Ross, Ph.D., retired psychology professor

Among the speakers was retired professor and current adjunct Linda Ross.  Linda was a high school dropout working as a seamstress when she decided she wanted more out of life. She embarked on an educational journey that ended with a doctorate in clinical psychology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Click here for an audio recording of her personal story.

GED graduates are listed below by county and town.

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‘Generation Earth’ paintings tell stories in natural pigments

Painting of a woman stirring a large clay pot with another small pot and vase nearby.
“La Mujer” by Alexander Fals

“Generation Earth” is a new exhibit by Alexander Fals and Hayley Dayis opening Saturday, July 13, at the Williams-Insalaco Gallery 34 on the first floor of the main FLCC campus.

The artists will be available for informal discussion on Saturday, July 13 from 4 to 6:30 p.m.

A reception will be held on Aug. 29 from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Watch events.flcc.edu for details.

Through the summer, the Williams-Insalaco Gallery 34 is open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday; and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

A painting of a naked women, seen from the back, sitting in a mountainous terrain and holding an orb of light
“Hope” by Hayley Dayis

Alexander and Hayley work with foraged mineral pigments sourced from volcanic soils in the region of Cauca, Colombia. Both Finger Lakes natives, they discovered the art of natural pigment painting at different points along their journeys.

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Two FLCC leaders complete NYS Leadership Academy

Two women and two men posing at an award event
Johanna Duncan-Poitier, the senior vice chancellor for community colleges and the education pipeline for the State University of New York (SUNY), far left, and Robert Nye, president of Finger Lakes Community College, far right, pose with Lindsey Chamberlain, executive director of the FLCC Association, and Ryan McCabe, FLCC associate vice president of academic technology and high impact practices.

Two Finger Lakes Community College leaders were among 34 recognized for completion of the New York State Community College Leadership Academy at an event at FLCC on June 13.

Leadership Academy fellows included Ryan McCabe of Farmington, FLCC associate vice president of academic technology and high impact practices, and Lindsey Chamberlain of Bloomfield, executive director of the FLCC Association. The Association supports the college with auxiliary services, such as food service and a bookstore. They were joined by representatives from 20 other community colleges across New York, including Adirondack Community College and Monroe Community College.

“FLCC is very grateful for this superb learning opportunity provided by SUNY,” said FLCC President Robert Nye. “We are especially proud of our graduates and the great work they will do in the future as a result of this exceptional leadership development.”

Learn more from SUNY at this link. 

The curriculum covers essential roles of leadership in student success, keeping students’ end goals in mind, the student experience, leadership traits that drive change, managing and advancing institutional change, and effective external partnerships and the leadership journey.

New York was selected, along with Michigan and Texas, as part of a national scale-up project to replicate Ohio’s Leadership Academy for Student Success with funding from Ascendium Education Group, the ECMC Foundation and The Kresge Foundation.

Six honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Awards

Three men and women posing in academic regalia
From left, Kimberlie Noyes ’00, Maura Sullivan, Terrance Dominguez-Hover ’24, John Onorato, Drew Bateman ’24 and Beth Johnson

Four Finger Lakes Community College employees and two students were honored with the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence at the commencement ceremony in May. They are as follows:

Drew Bateman of Hilton, a 2024 graduate, the 2023-24 Student Corporation president, and recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

Terrance Dominguez-Hover of Bristol, a 2024 graduate, the 2023-24 Student Veterans Organization president, and recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

Beth Johnson, Ph.D. of Canandaigua, professor of theater, recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service

Kimberlie Noyes, D.N.P., of Pittsford, a 2000 FLCC graduate and associate professor of nursing, recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching

John Onorato of Geneva, building maintenance mechanic, recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service

Maura Sullivan of Naples, associate professor of environmental conservation and horticulture, recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching

Below are excerpts of remarks shared at a luncheon prior to the commencement ceremony.

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553 students named to FLCC spring 2024 dean’s list

A total of 553 full- and part-time students were named to the Finger Lakes Community College dean’s list for spring 2024.

To be named to the dean’s list, students must have a 3.5 grade point average and meet other criteria as follows:

Full-time students are eligible if they are matriculated – meaning enrolled in a degree program – and achieve a 3.5 grade point average for the semester (12 or more hours of earned credit) with no grade below passing and no incompletes.

Part-time students are eligible if they are matriculated, have completed a minimum of 12 credit hours at FLCC, earn a combined total of at least 12 credit hours for a given year and achieve a 3.5 grade point average with no grade below passing and no incompletes. The student must be part-time for both semesters. The dean’s list for part-time students is compiled at the end of the spring term only.

Below are students on the dean’s list by county and town in New York State. Out-of-state and international students are at the end of the list.
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Early College High School begins this fall in Geneva, Waterloo

A new partnership between FLCC and two local school districts, Geneva and Waterloo, will give students the opportunity to earn an associate degree by the time they finish high school.

The Early College High School is a five-year project that begins this fall. Ninth graders who have applied and been accepted to the program will be introduced to the educational pathways that lead to specific careers.

Over their four years of high school, they will take FLCC classes through the existing concurrent enrollment program, called Gemini, which allows students to complete high school and college requirements at the same time.

Starting in 11th grade, these students will be able to attend courses at the FLCC main campus or campus centers. The goal is for students to earn at least 24 credits and up to an associate degree, typically 60 credits.

“The goal is to introduce career exploration to students at a younger age and give more opportunities to motivated students,” said Laura Jamieson, FLCC assistant director of concurrent enrollment. “It is possible for students to earn an associate degree upon high school graduation and transfer directly to a bachelor’s degree program.”

A state Department of Education grant will cover costs for the program, including staff at FLCC and the districts to administer the program, college tuition and transportation. Geneva received a $1.18 million grant and Waterloo, $825,000, both to be spread over five years.

The grant will also cover professional development for faculty at the Geneva and Waterloo high schools and at FLCC to help them adapt more rigorous coursework to a younger population. The Early College High School program will also target underrepresented groups in higher education, including low-income, first-generation and minority students.

The Smart Scholars Early College High School Program began more than a decade ago in more urban areas of the state.

Early College High School is similar to the Pathways in Technology, or PTECH, in which students interested in technology careers take a mix of high school and college credits and transfer seamlessly to FLCC to complete their degree, often in less than two years.

FLCC’s Early College program in cooperation with Waterloo and Geneva will offer students a broader range of career pathways, including health care, computer science, education and humanities.

More information about this statewide initiative is available on the state Education Department website.

161 FLCC students join honor society

Student posing with PTK certificate and two family members
Alexander Whitcomb with his family at the Phi Theta Kappa induction in May

The Finger Lakes Community College chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the honor society for two-year colleges, inducted 161 members over the course of the last year.

Phi Theta Kappa promotes scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship. FLCC’s chapter, Alpha Epsilon Chi, was chartered in 1981 and provides leadership, service and scholarship opportunities for members. Membership requires completion of 15 hours of associate degree coursework and a GPA of 3.0. Phi Theta Kappa members also serve as campus ambassadors.

New members are listed by county and town for New York State. Out-of-state and international students are listed at the bottom.
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FLCC Students Design CMAC Summer Concerts Promotional Materials

FLCC graphic design students showcased their creativity and skill through a renewed design partnership with Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center (CMAC). Students competed to have their designs used in promotional materials for CMAC’s summer concert series, including an events poster, t-shirt, and concert pass.

The 2024 winners of this design competition include Autumn Molisani (poster), Laura Daniela López Sánchez (t-shirt), and Alyson L. LaBarr (concert pass). The project brief called on students to use design elements that represent the CMAC locale, including Canandaigua Lake, the surrounding natural environment, and a music theme. 

2024 CMAC T-shirt Design
2024 CMAC t-shirt design by Laura Daniela López Sánchez

The student design process involved multiple critique sessions and a formal presentation of their final designs on April 9. All contest participants received two concert tickets, with additional copies of the prints and shirts provided to the winners.

This partnership gave students the opportunity to work on a real-world project. Students gained experience refining their designs based on feedback and presenting their work to a client. The winners get to see their work professionally produced and used in promotions.

FLCC Team Places First in UAV Competition for Third Year in a Row

FLCC UAV Team
Olivia Smith, Theodosios Pierce, Winter Lenhard, Dylan Begy, Joshua Bell, and Gabriel DeSouza

The FLCC team won first place for the third consecutive year in the UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) Competition, sponsored by the New York State Two-Year Engineering Science Association (TYESA).

The event took place on April 26 at Monroe Community College, where seven teams from five community colleges, including Finger Lakes CC, Broome CC, Hudson Valley CC, Borough of Manhattan CC, and Monroe CC, participated in the competition.

The objective of the competition was to design, build, and pilot an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) to transport a small Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) through obstacle gates. The UAV must be able to maneuver around and through obstacles, change altitude, carry and deposit the UGV to the proper drop zone, and then navigate back to the starting zone. The UGV must detach from the UAV using an autonomous onboard detachment mechanism and then autonomously drive to a different location after delivery. This project simulates a rescue mission where human navigation is dangerous and aerial navigation is partially difficult.

Student-made UAV and UGV with a first place plaque.
Student-made UAV and UGV with a first-place plaque (2024).

Teams were evaluated based on their poster presentation and mission demonstrations. FLCC’s team, named Sawney and Beane, was part of the Engineering & Technology Club based at Victor Campus Center. Its members were Theodosios Pierce (team captain and pilot), Gabriel de Souza (pilot), Olivia Smith, Winter Lenhard (pilot), and Dylan Begy. Joshua Bell was the team coach.

This year was FLCC’s seventh year participating in this annual competition. The team’s poster presentation was considered one of the best among the participating teams, and their mission demonstration included three perfect runs.

FLCC UAVs from the last three years.
FLCC UAVs and UGVs from the last three years with first-place plaques.

Two FLCC Students Present at SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference

FLCC Students and Faculty at SUNY SURC 2024
Suzanne Oyston, Emily Relyea, and Mark Worrell at SUNY SURC 2024.

FLCC students Suzanne Oyston and Emily Relyea were among 46 students from across the State University of New York (SUNY) system selected to make oral presentations at the 10th annual SUNY Student Undergraduate Research Conference (SUNY SURC) 2024. This year’s event was held at the University of Buffalo on April 15 and Suffolk County Community College on April 26.

SUNY SURC brings student researchers and faculty mentors together for academic activities, including student presentations, poster sessions, a keynote luncheon, and workshops. Most of the student researchers at the conference were from four-year institutions, making Emily and Suzanne’s participation particularly noteworthy.

A panel of FLCC faculty and staff organized by Professor Mark Worrell met with both students to prepare them to present alongside upper-level SUNY peers. Reflecting on the event and the support provided by FLCC, Emily said, “SURC was a fantastic opportunity, and I’m so grateful that my research was chosen to present. Dr. Worrell was a huge help, and I appreciate all he did to help me and Suzanne.”

The panel consisted of Prof. Theresa Gauthier (Mathematics), Prof. Delia Ackerman (ASL Coordinator—Humanities), Prof. Richard Cook (VAPA), Prof. Christine Parker (Science/Technology), Alicia Marrese (FLCC Library), Prof. Daniel Groom (Mathematics), Prof. Charles Hoffman (Mathematics), Prof. Andrea Cornett (VAPA), Barbara Senglaub (Instructional Specialist—VAPA), Christine Dow (Student Success Coach—AACTS), Dustin Stalnaker (Student Success Coach—AACTS) and Mark Worrell (VAPA).

Emily presented research on “Health Care and Insurance Costs and Their Effects on Medicare Recipients with Cancer.” She developed this project from work completed in Dr. Worrell’s ENG 101 class in Fall 2023. In her research, Emily argues that urgent Medicare reform is needed to address the soaring cost of healthcare in the U.S.

Suzanne spoke on “Raising Standards of Language Access for Deaf Children.” She developed her research project from previous work completed in her ENG 103 course with Prof. Meg Gillio in Fall 2023. Suzanne’s research discusses the academic, social, and emotional impact of language deprivation. She advocates for more collaboration with the Deaf community as essential to breaking barriers and supporting language fluency.

Being selected and participating in SUNY SURC was a memorable learning experience for both students. After the event, Suzanne said, “I am so grateful I was able to be a part of SURC 2024 at the University of Buffalo. I was inspired by the many student researchers in varying fields and to see so much learning and passion in the projects.”

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