Lenore Friend – Page 2

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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Laker legacies: Family connections to FLCC

Photo showing 10 members of the Andrew family — All eight children of the Andrew family, shown with their parents, have attended FLCC. Back row, from left: Kathryn Smith, Hannah Smith, Abigail Copenhaver, Sarah Walton, Rebeccah Andrew, and Emma Swarthout. Front row, from left: George Andrew Jr., Colleen Andrew, George Andrew and William Andrew

The spring Laker magazine features families with multiple alumni

Before she started at FLCC, Emma (Andrew) Swarthout ’11 got help building her schedule from former students, including her older sister Rebeccah.

And her older sister Sarah.

And her older sisters Abbey, Hannah, and Kathryn.

Emma was the sixth of the Andrew kids, all homeschooled, to attend FLCC. Her brother George followed, and William, the youngest, is currently studying business administration.

Laker magazine cover showing 3 family photos over backdrop of a large tree — The spring Laker magazine focuses on families with multiple FLCC alumni. Read the digital edition online.

Their mother, Colleen Andrew, enrolled her first two daughters at FLCC, thinking an associate degree would be the best proof they were ready for a four-year college.

“It worked so well with the first couple of us that my mom was kind of like, ‘Why fix what’s not broken?’” said Abbey (Andrew) Copenhaver ’08.

The College keeps no records on the number of families in which parents and children, husbands and wives, or multiple siblings attend, though the connections have become increasingly apparent since the first classes began in 1968.

Some alumni marvel at the changes when the next generation attends. Tim Montondo ’88 came back nearly two decades later with his daughter, Rachel, a 2019 accounting graduate.
“It was amazing!” he said. “There was so much new that had been added. It was so cool to see. I had a hard time finding my way around to show her things.”

Sometimes the family tie is not just the College, but a program.
The late Betty Jean McAnn ’73 made a later-in-life decision to become a registered nurse, inspiring her daughter-in-law, Lisa McAnn ’93.

“I was in banking when we moved here from Oklahoma. Betty Jean was the one that encouraged me. She said I had the qualities to get the nursing degree, and she talked highly of Finger Lakes.”
Lisa is now an associate professor in the FLCC nursing department.
Betty Jean’s granddaughter, Alicia McBride, is a 2014 graduate of the program.

Ted Fafinski, a retired Farmington town supervisor, sent both his children to FLCC, and they married alumni. The College took on another dimension in his life when he taught as an adjunct for five years. His family’s connections to FLCC are among many that have grown along with the College.

“FLCC isn’t just a community college,” Ted said. “It’s part of the community.”

Signups begin for FLCC summer STEAM camps

Click the image above for a downloadable flyer.

Registration is now open for Finger Lakes Community College’s STEAM summer day camps for students who will enter grades 7 through 9 in the fall.

Camps are held at the college’s campus centers in Geneva, Newark and Victor and the FLCC Muller Field Station at the south end of Honeoye Lake.

The cost is $300 per weeks and includes lunch and snacks.

The registration deadline is June 21 at flcc.edu/STEAM. Here are the dates and descriptions for the camps:

July 8-12, STEAM in Motion, Victor Campus Center, 200 Victor Heights Parkway, off Route 251

Students will design mechanical parts, create electrical circuits, and learn about robotics to explore how science and technology can be used to create motion. Students will work on a variety of projects during the camp to implement what they have learned.

July 15-19, STEAM in H20, Geneva Campus Center, 63 Pulteney St.

Campers will explore local aquatic life and habitats and learn about the importance of environmental wellness in the Finger Lakes region. Students may get wet during interactive activities, lab experiments, field trips and water games.

July 22-26, STEAM in Space, Newark Campus Center, 1100 Technology Parkway, off Route 88

Campers will engage with space-related themes across science, technology, engineering, art, and math curriculums. A career component will be included to learn about jobs in space exploration.

Aug. 5-Aug. 9, STEAM in Nature, Muller Field Station, 6455 County Road 36, Canadice

Campers will learn about and observe local wildlife, go on canoe adventures through the swamp, and gain plant, insect, and bird identification skills. They will participate in gardening, nature journaling, and more. Amid hands-on learning, students will also engage in conversations about environmental issues, sustainability, and stewardship.

Email questions about the camps to steam.camp@flcc.edu.

FLCC to receive $1M toward new horticulture facility

The federal appropriations bill signed by President Joe Biden on Saturday, March 9, included $1 million U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer secured for a new horticulture and greenhouse facility at Finger Lakes Community College.

The college’s plan to rebuild the greenhouse at its main campus is part of FLCC’s facilities master plan currently under development. The college and its sponsor, Ontario County, are reviewing a range of options for renovations and new construction to best position the college for the next decade. The plan is scheduled for adoption in May.

“The construction of modern horticulture buildings will be a top priority in the new facilities master plan. This appropriation will leverage a dollar-for-dollar state match, and combined with private donations, put us in an excellent position as our plans become more concrete,” FLCC President Robert Nye said. “We are grateful for Sen. Schumer’s support.”

Hands working with young plants — FLCC offers associate degrees and certificates in horticulture and viticulture and wine technology with a combined enrollment of more than 120 students as of fall 2023.

Draft plans call for the demolition of the existing greenhouse behind the science wing at the main campus and construction of a new facility in a better location to take advantage of sunlight. The greenhouse would have a hydroponic system and modern temperature and humidity controls to allow for different growing environments. The facility would also include labs and classrooms that could be shared with other organizations.

The college has been exploring options and funding sources for several years to rebuild the greenhouse, which opened in 1979. The FLCC Foundation, a nonprofit that seeks private sector support for the college, has received donations totaling $1.8 million. This amount also qualifies for a state match. Over $1.7 million of the Foundation funding is an estate gift from the late Adrienne O’Brien, a longtime friend of the college and supporter of the viticulture program.

FLCC offers associate degrees and certificates in horticulture and viticulture and wine technology with a combined enrollment of more than 120 students as of fall 2023.

Following approval of the FLCC facilities master plan in May, the college and county would hire an architect to develop concept plans. No timeline for construction has been established.

Thompson Health covers tuition for nursing students

Head and shoulders photo Nichelle Camp — Nichelle Camp

UR Medicine Thompson Health has created a new scholarship for second-year nursing students to cover a full year of tuition in exchange for an agreement to work in its hospital.

FLCC full-time tuition is $5,280 per year. The first recipient is Nichelle Camp of Newark, who will graduate in May.

“I have completed two clinical rotations at Thompson and fell in love with the facility as a student,” Nichelle said. “I am honored to be a recipient of the new scholarship. I am grateful for the foundation FLCC has given me, and I am looking forward to the opportunity that is ahead as I start my job in Thompson’s post-anesthesia care unit this summer.”

“Nichelle is an extremely hard working, motivated student. She is engaged in scholarship and strives for excellence in all she does,” added Tina Hamilton, assistant professor of nursing. “She is currently president of the Class of May 2024 and attentive to the needs of her peers. She is a worthy recipient of the Thompson Health scholarship.”

Students must complete a competitive application process and attend an interview with Thompson’s nursing leadership. The application is included with more than 100 other awards that incoming and current students can apply for at flcc.edu/scholarships.

Those who are chosen agree to work for the health system for two years upon graduation and passing the NCLEX, or National Council Licensure Examination. Thompson will grant up to 10 scholarships per year.

“We are thrilled to be able to welcome Nichelle to Thompson and look forward to the many FLCC-trained nurses who will follow in her footsteps,” said Hazel Robertshaw, Thompson Health vice president of patient care services and chief nursing officer. “The best part is that this new initiative builds on a longstanding partnership between our health system and the College, ensuring a strong pipeline of future nurses for many years to come.”

Graduates of the FLCC associate in nursing program had a 95 percent pass rate on the national nursing licensure exam in 2023. This is above the statewide averages of 88 percent for associate degree graduates and 90 percent for bachelor’s degree graduates.

New funds to help nursing students stay on track

Head and shoulders image — Mary Porcari Brady

The Mary Porcari Brady Fund has made a third $20,000 gift to the FLCC Foundation to help nursing students who are facing unexpected expenses that could force them to leave school.

The first gifts in 2022 and 2023 helped a total of 26 nursing students cover costs such as tuition, textbooks, car repairs, and rent.

Denise Ferrell of Canandaigua is enrolled in the accelerated program for license practical nurses looking to advance in her career to registered nursing. Ferrell has to work to support herself while keeping up with her coursework. She took advantage of the Mary Porcari Brady Fund to cover school expenses and some unforeseen financial challenges.

“The impact of the fund on my academic journey cannot be overstated,” she said. “It has not only relieved the anxieties associated with financial constraints but has also played a crucial role in ensuring that I could dedicate myself fully to my educational pursuits during a pivotal time in the semester.”

The FLCC Foundation, a nonprofit that raises private-sector support for College students and programs, holds the funds while the Nursing Department faculty administer the program.

“The Mary Porcari Brady Fund provides nursing students with a safety net so that when unexpected financial challenges arise, they can continue on with their classes,” said Brie Chupalio, FLCC chief advancement officer. “We are beyond grateful to the Porcari family for their continued commitment to the College and the future nurses of our region.”

Mary Porcari Brady obtained her nursing degree after the loss of her youngest child, Mary Elizabeth, to a rare genetic disorder. During her career, she worked as a registered nurse at Park Ridge Hospital for over 20 years, then at Cortland Hospital while she obtained a second degree at SUNY Cortland. She finished her career at Oswego Hospital. After her passing in 2001, her surviving children pooled resources to create the fund in her memory.

FLCC began accepting applications this week for a new licensed practical nursing (LPN) program. The Mary Porcari Brady funds will also be available to this new group of students. Information about the Mary Porcari Brady Fund is available online at mpbfund.com.

FLCC begins taking applications for new LPN program

The state Education Department has approved the new licensed practical nursing program at Finger Lakes Community College, clearing the way for the College to begin accepting student applications.

The 12-month certificate program begins on Sept. 3 and consists of eight courses spread over two semesters and two six-week summer sessions. Students will visit long-term care facilities, regional hospitals, and community clinics.

At the end of the program, students will study independently with a nurse in the type of setting where they hope to work upon passing the national licensure examination. The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the demand for LPNs to grow 5 percent by 2032. LPNs earned a median annual salary of $54,620 in 2022.

FLCC currently has an associate in nursing program to prepare students for the national exam for registered nursing, RN. The new LPN program is an addition made possible by the renovation and expansion of the College’s nursing facilities, completed in 2022. Now known as the Sands Family Center for Allied Health, the wing features simulation labs set up to match hospital rooms with the same equipment that students will encounter in the workplace.

Like the RN program, the LPN program will have a selective admissions process. Details are available on the website at flcc.edu/LPN.

Students accepted into the 36-credit LPN program will be eligible for federal and state student aid programs. FLCC also offers scholarships and emergency funding to help students cover school and living expenses.