Inquiry – Page 4 – FLCC Forward

185 FLCC students join Phi Theta Kappa honor society

The Finger Lakes Community College chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the honor society for two-year colleges, inducted 185 members for the 2020-21 academic 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 below by county and town:

ALLEGANY
Wellsville: Morgan Barber

BROOME
Endwell: Joseph Temple

CAYUGA
Cayuta: Samantha Dudgeon

COLUMBIA
Hudson: Walter Hill

DUTCHESS
Beacon: Andrew Singh

ERIE
Cheektowaga: Angela Ballard

GENESEE
Byron: Rose Hubbard

LIVINGSTON
Avon: Jennifer Clark, Grace Clements

Geneseo: John Christie

Hemlock: Danielle Meek

Lima: Mariah McGuire, Ezekiel Sonoga

Livonia: Emily Keefer

Springwater: Samantha Gossage

MONROE
East Rochester: Laura Forero

Fairport: Kaitlyn Hoitt, Joy-Chi Laneri, Lydia McNally

Greece: Timothy Obilisundar-Delaney

Hilton: Ryan Beutel, John Pfeffer

Honeoye Falls: Caroline Chudnick, Chester Doskos, Leah Herring

Mendon: William Allen

Pittsford: Nicole Goodnough

Rochester: Delia Hanley, Tyler Koster, Tanisha Mason, Grant Rodriguez, Julianna Skill, Alejandra Washington

Webster: Leah Shammah, Webster Dalton Talbot

NEW YORK CITY BOROUGHS
Astoria: Matthew Burges

Bayside Hills: Catherine Rivers

Bronx: Olga Grajeda-Giske, Lisa Lawrence

Brooklyn: Zakaria Gassab, Natalie Saint-Cloud, Jessica Sokolovsky

New York: Geoffrey Awinyo, Elyse Robinson

Queens Village: Ahaila Mohabir

South Ozone Park: Rayad Hardial

Staten Island: Otto Cocozello

ONONDAGA
Clay: Leslie Strobeck

Jordan: John Pritchard

Syracuse: Benjamin Lanning, Amber Orr

ONTARIO
Bloomfield: Austin Bonbrake, Riley Gardner, Alycerose Griffiths

Canandaigua: Ashlyn Badger, Shelby Brennessel, Inez Burkard, Jessica Butler, Kelly Callon, Ashley Durkee, Olivia Fiero, Sophia Garlock, Aimee Hawkins, Derek Laflam, Heather Lindquist, Hannah Lochner, Lydia Miller, Carter Moore, Aaron Pierce, Mitchell Steedman, Francesca Tiermini, Jenna Wallace, Jaida White, Emma Whitehead, David Zabliski, Patrick Zufelt

Clifton Springs: Octavio Mateo

Farmington: Chloe Bliss, Gabrielle Constantino, Bianca Laudise, Kasey Lawrence, Linda Mesick

Geneva: Aaliyah Beverly, Ariyanah Beverly, Giavanna Crawford, Melissa Gradwick

Susanna Howard, Lindsey Johnston, Aneesah Lattimore, Thomas Lloyd-Jones, Augustine Long, Rosa Long, Mary Mazzarese, Alejandro Rudas

Hall: Jason Mosher, Kaitlin Smith

Honeoye: Samantha Colf

Manchester: Caitlin Hale, Kenneth Schrom, Stacey Swanger, Caitlin Unger

Naples: Jake Cratsley, Mary Kathyrn Riesenberger

Phelps: Hannah Galloway, Nathan Mahoney

Shortsville: Gavin Davis

Stanley: Allison Harford, Katrina Meyer

Victor: Corey Baiera, Alyssa Baird, Adam Cary, Samantha Catholdi, Gabrielle Landry, Alfonso Montes, Bonnie Pestle, Liam Richards, Katrina VanOrman

ORANGE
Monroe: Esther Taub

Painesville: Matthew Schunk

OSWEGO
Cleveland: Patricia Geldof

PUTNAM
Carmel: Gail Vilchez-Mahi

SENECA
Lodi: Mary Cabot

Ovid: Jamie Bruning, Jamie Vazquez

Seneca Falls: Taylor Brignall, Mariah Dunham, Angel Gonzalez, Kristen Poole, Victor Tumbiolo

Waterloo: Kendall Cornwell, Exzavier Mattei

STEUBEN
Campbell: Nathaniel Carlin

Plattsburgh: Jaclyn Bennett

Savona: Kalyska Payne

SUFFOLK
Brentwood: Maria Arocho

TIOGA
Spencer: Marisa Alton

TOMPKINS
Lansing: Kaitlin Aasen

WAYNE
Lyons: Janaye Austin, Jacob Stearns

Macedon: Nigel Butler, Shannon Kirbis, Elisabeth McKee, Zackary Morrison, Kaitlyn Nichols, Nicklaus Sapienza

Marion: Alycialee Divelbliss, Jessica Mander, Alejandra Vargas

Newark: Cora Barbera, Phoebe Bates, Jacob Boughton, Samantha Compton, Madison Dillon, Kaylee Dunn, Allison Hines, Mercedes Logins, Hoalai Luong, Susanna Maclaren, Cynthea Valcore

Ontario: Sarina Barber, Treavor Barnhart, Jacob Kachmaryk

Palmyra: Carla Charland, Kim Dey, Elizabeth Hannig, McKenzie Heusler, Maureen McClelland, Morgan Pieters, Elizabeth Wagner

Walworth: Leah Terry

Williamson: Cody Beland, Olivia Masker, Jordan Williams

WYOMING
Strykersville: Paige Shoemaker

YATES
Keuka Park: Morgan Kingsley-Hunt, Philip Simmons

Middlesex: Megan Walker

Penn Yan: Jessica Cintron, Natalie Dawley, Alexandra Hudson, Robert Phillips, Brendan Pinckney, Lindsey Vankeuren

Rushville: Gabrielle Doran, Samuel George

Returning student will never look at wine the same way again

This video gives an overview of the FLCC viticulture and wine technology associate degree program, which was recently featured in a video series called “In Depth,” created for and distributed on public television. The series highlights breakthroughs and innovations in education, health, technology, agriculture and other industries.

Kerry Mallon first learned that FLCC taught vineyard management and winemaking in the Wine Spectator, a magazine that explores wine and wine culture.

Kerry Mallon

Mallon has worked in many fields over the years, most recently in delivery with UPS and the U.S. Postal Service as well as passenger transportation. She was fascinated by the Finger Lakes region’s iconic industry, but going back to school would be a big step.

An inquiry led her to Gina Lee, assistant coordinator of the viticulture and wine technology program. They discussed the one-year certificate, perfect for older adults who want to learn the skills but do not need the general education courses required for a full degree.

“As an older, returning student, I was somewhat hesitant about doing it from two perspectives. One, am I out of practice at this level of science? Two, will the industry hire someone like me?” Mallon said. “Now, I would tell anyone to do it, and if you think you’re too old, you’re not. I had to dig deep into the recesses of my brain to pull out some old science and math knowledge to get through, but so far so good.”

While COVID-19 has meant a fair amount of online work, she has learned to prune vines in a vineyard and to measure juice sugar and wine alcohol content in the college’s enology lab.

Required courses are General Chemistry I, Introduction to Wines and Vines, Basic Viticulture Techniques, Summer Vineyard Technology Practicum, Introduction to Enology Lab Techniques, Vineyard Management, Fall Wine Technology Practicum, Enology I, and First Aid and Basic Life Support.

“As to being hired, I’m working on an internship, and I am very hopeful,” she continued. “From what I’ve seen touring the Finger Lakes wineries and visiting tasting rooms, there are folks of all ages involved at all levels. So, I am greatly encouraged in that regard.”

FLCC launched its viticulture and wine technology degree program in fall 2009 in response to interest among local winemakers for a formal training program. FLCC partnered with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Finger Lakes Grape Program and Anthony Road Wine Company in 2012 to plant a 2-acre teaching and demonstration vineyard where students learn hands on vineyard practices and harvest grapes for winemaking. In 2015, the college opened the FLCC Viticulture and Wine Center at the Cornell Agriculture and Technology Park in Geneva. The facility has an enology lab, teaching winery, vineyard and aging rooms to provide students with the same equipment and environment they will experience in the industry.

The classes are always a mix of traditional students right out of high school and older students like Mallon. The older students do not always get the degree, and often take only the relevant classes. The new certificate program ensures they have a credential that represents a cohesive educational program employers recognize.

The college is also developing an online version of the certificate that would compress hands-on elements into a two-week residency, making it more accessible to those who do not have time in their schedule for hands-on classes through the year.

FLCC’s viticulture programming was recently featured in a video series called “In Depth,” created for and distributed on public television. The series highlights breakthroughs and innovations in education, health, technology, agriculture and other industries.

Mallon said her three months in the program have already changed the way she views winemaking.

“You will not look at wine in the same way again. Despite all the precise science, it really is a magical process,” she said. “Even if you were to simply be curious about how it all works, it’s worth looking into taking the certificate program. It isn’t the same commitment as the associate degree, and you could do it part-time or with a fast-track approach, depending on your goals.”

For more information on the FLCC viticulture and wine technology degree or certificate programs, contact the One Stop Center at onestop@flcc.edu or (585) 785-1000.

Saving the hellbender salamander

Aquatic salamander — Hellbenders are aquatic salamanders that live in the Appalachian region.

Finger Lakes Community College will host an online talk on efforts to protect the hellbender salamander on Thursday, March 25, at 6 p.m.

Emilly Nolan, a Buffalo native who recently completed master’s degree research at Tennessee State University, will talk about the loss of hellbender habitat and options for restoring and expanding populations of the species.

To register in advance or tune in, click this link or go to the FLCC events calendar at events.flcc.edu.

“Helping the Hellbender: Efforts to Save These Slimy Salamanders” is part of the Speaking of Nature Series of the FLCC Muller Field Station, an education and research facility at the south end of Honeoye Lake.

Woman at stream holding salamander — Emilly Nolan will give a talk on her research on the hellbender salamander on March 25.

Eastern Hellbenders are large, fully aquatic salamanders that are declining throughout their range in the Appalachian region. Nolan will present general information on the hellbender and describe the threats this species faces and methods to manage and conserve declining populations.

Nolan is a wildlife biologist whose work and research interests include amphibian conservation, disease ecology, and wildlife management.

Salamander conservation has also been a key focus at the Muller Field Station. Every spring, warm rains prompt spotted salamanders to migrate from hillside forests to the southern Honeoye Valley floor in search of breeding pools, ponds, and shallow depressions dotting the silver maple-ash swamp forest. To reduce roadkill as salamanders cross County Road 36, faculty, staff and students volunteer a few nights each spring to carry the salamanders across the road.

Finger Lakes woman was first to link CO2 and global warming

Finger Lakes Community College will celebrate Women’s History Month on Wednesday, March 10, with a virtual talk exploring the life of a local suffragist and scientist whose discoveries laid the foundation for climate research.

Eunice Newton Foote, who grew up in Bloomfield, was also the fifth person to sign the Declaration of Sentiments at the 1848 Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls.

Former East Bloomfield Historical Society Director Leif R. HerrGesell will give the free, public talk via Webex from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Click here to join. The link is also posted on the college’s public website events calendar at events.flcc.edu.

HerrGesell, of Canandaigua, is a self-described “lifelong student of history” who, in addition to his work for the historical society, has written an award-winning documentary about the last Highland Rebellion in Scotland and contributed his talent to films about the Civil War, Native Americans, baseball and a variety of other topics. He additionally served as a public affairs officer for the Navy in Afghanistan.

His interest in Foote is piqued by the local connection. She was born in Connecticut in 1819 but grew up in Bloomfield, where her father was a prominent businessman. While attending the Troy Female Seminary she and other female students were encouraged to attend science lectures at a nearby college.

Foote became an amateur scientist, conducting experiments on the interaction between the sun’s rays and various gases. She offered a conclusion that is considered foundational for what is now known as the greenhouse effect: that higher carbon dioxide levels would lead to a warmer planet. She wrote of her findings in a paper that was presented by a man at a conference, though credit was offered posthumously, as subsequent researchers came upon her work. Her paper, “Circumstances Affecting the Heat of Sun’s Rays,” was also published in its entirety in The American Journal of Science in September 1856. Time magazine wrote about Foote’s contribution in 2019, 200 years after her birth.

“She is unarguably one of the most important women in the 19th century,” said HerrGesell. “She predated Madame Curie by 50 years.”

Also a prominent feminist, Foote’s name is the fifth to appear in the declaration that emerged at the 1848 Seneca Falls Convention. Her husband, Elijah Foote, a judge, also signed the document which called for “the civil, social, political and religious rights of women.”

After marriage, the Footes relocated from Ontario County to Seneca Falls and later, Saratoga. They had two daughters and six grandchildren. Eunice died at age 69 in 1888. A short film about Foote, called “Eunice,” was made in 2018.

The talk is presented as part of FLCC’s History, Culture & Diversity speaker series organized by Robert Brown, professor of history.

“To have someone so exceptional hailing from our very own Bloomfield, New York, is a matter of great pride,” said Brown. “Eunice Newton Foote was a significant figure in America’s nascent women’s rights movement and a pioneer climate scientist. It is with great honor and humility, that we will relate her long-forgotten story on March 10.”

For more information, email Robert.Brown@flcc.edu or call (585) 785-1307.

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 announces Fall 2020 Dean’s List

Finger Lakes Community College announces the dean’s list for the fall 2020 semester. A total of 474 students earned this honor.

To be eligible for the FLCC fall dean’s list, full-time students enrolled in a degree or certificate program must earn a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and have completed 12 or more credit hours. Part-time students are included in the spring dean’s list.

Below are the students listed by county and town:

ALLEGANY

Angelica: Cassidy Mountain

Belmont: David Holmes, Christian Stuck

Cuba: Jackson Mackowski

Friendship: Calum Ruxton

Wellsville: Brianna Basile, Hunter Kear, Lacey Shuttleworth, Ashley Taylor

BRONX

Brentwood: Maria Arocho

Bronx: Matthew Haye Swainson, Lisa Lawrence

BROOME

Endicott: Mary Mazzarese

Endwell: Joseph Temple

CATTARAGUS

Allegany: Samuel Giardini, John Giardini

CAYUGA

Jordan: John Pritchard

CHAUTAUQUA

Forestville: Brycen Shomper

CLINTON

Plattsburgh: Jaclyn Bennett

COLUMBIA

Hudson: Walter Hill

CORTLAND

Cortland: Madisen Tucker

DUTCHESS

Beacon: Andrew Singh

ERIE

Buffalo: Angela Ballard, Garrett Licht

Orchard Park: Rebecca Kondol

Springville: Jaime Foster

FULTON

Gilboa: Gabrielle Groves

GENESEE

Byron: Rose Hubbard, Daniel Jensen

Pavilion: Nathan Coy

KINGS

Brooklyn: Zakaria Gassab, Lori Labossiere, Teressa Lawrence, Jakia Bell

LIVINGSTON

Avon: Jennifer Clark

Caledonia: Tanner Nothnagle

Conesus: Jennifer Blakemore, Kaylee Chandler

Dansville: Leanne Camuto, Jadyn Rittenhouse, Kevin Roelle

Lima: Benjamin Beckley, Ian Dague, Gretchen Heisinger, Adrian Marcellus, Mariah McGuire, Megan Trezise

Livonia: Susanna Howard, Abby Simmons

MADISON

Canastota: Megan Cretaro

MONROE

Churchville: Katherine Harmon

East Rochester: Timothy Obilisundar-Delaney

Fairport: Madeline Anderson, Emmie Aufderheide, Kathryn Crawford, Paul Gusmerotti, Timothy Janick, Meaghan Knee, Joy-Chi Laneri, Lydia McNally, Christian Olson, Hannah Papke, Lynessa Patterson, Grace Tursi

Hamlin: Tyler Danielak

Hilton: Ryan Beutel, John Pfeffer

Honeoye Falls: Morgan Brunner, Caroline Chudnick, Chester Doskos, Leah Herring, Allissa Merritt

Mendon: William Allen, Amy Slentz

Penfield: Skylar Betts, Johnathan Lupinetti

Pittsford: Josiah Capozzi, Maxx Countryman, Nicole Goodnough, Alexis Rippey, Nicholas Stein

Rochester: Angelica Acosta, Nyaliah Butler, Coral Chovaniec, Tyler Curtis, Abbey DiDuro, Alexis Drake-Alam, DeYonna Goolsby, Delia Hanley, Maria Hubbel, Rebecca Kane, Jonathan Landry, Victoria McKenzie, Geoffrey Medler, Edward Morrison, Dominic Pasquantonio, Grant Rodriguez, Amelia Salerno, Jason Smith, Katelyn Stokes, Rebecca Storto, Shaquanda Stubbs, Ruth Woodin

Rush: Rhett Crooks

West Henrietta: Alex Dickerson, Alexis Garcia

Webster: Bradon Detro, Josh Martins, Ian Palmer, Alessia Paratore, Nicolas Shengulette, Courtney Teeter

NEW YORK

New York: Geoffrey Awinyo, Tyler Boudreaux, Erin Grgas, Elyse Robinson

NIAGARA

Niagara Falls: Jacob Ramos

ONEIDA

Rome: Skyler Donley, Brianna Kelley

ONONDAGA

Baldwinsville: Emily Baird, Nathan Durkin, Jenna Wallace

Fabius: Christopher Wagner

Skaneateles: Matthew Lopez

Syracuse: Leah Hill, Ajeet Samuel

ONTARIO

Bloomfield: Samuel Berger, Austin Bonbrake, Joanne Campbell, Samuel Conlon, Robert Duliba III, Regan Haran, April Iachetta, Jonathan Kornbau, Jayde Langan, Christopher Mathis, Morgan Mitchell, Sarah Nelson, Brittney Starken, Emme Warden

Canandaigua: Sash Bollman, Rachel Boock, Shelby Brennessel, Matthew Brumagin, Kelly Callon, Russell Cammarata, Danielle Catlin, Austin Cayward, Andrew Corley, Sarah Ducar, Ashley Durkee, Olivia Fiero, Sophia Garlock, Cecelia Harris-Maxwell, Aimee Hawkins, Savannah Howard, Malcolm Ivers, Derek May, Amanda Mette, McKayla Moore, Kira Nixon, Alicia Nolan, Erin Norton, Katelyn Oneil, Strider O’Neill, Aaron Pierce, Cierra Pierce, Patrick Pinneo, Jaylea Ransom, Brena Rocca, Lisa Ryan, Matthew Sallee, Susan Schmeer, Nathen Seubert, Emilee Skuse, Faith-Anne Smith, Jacob Stanwix, Mitchell Steedman, Ashleigh Stetzel, Francesca Tiermini, Jadynn Tiffany, Jordan Tipton, Daniel Waldorf, Rebecca Williams, Erik Winarski, Kayla Youngs, David Zabliski

Clifton Springs: Taylor Richards, Shea Carr, Alexis Case, Lydia Garofalo, Christina Hyde, Octavio Mateo, Nicole Watts, Dylan Wong

Farmington: Zachary Bach, Carolyn Bisson, Gabrielle Constantino, Madison Cunningham, Rylee Delaney, Joshua Hall, Jake Harvey, Kaarel Kuus, Samantha LaPointe, Bianca Laudise, Linda Mesick, Allison Riley, Cecelia Santell, Mia Tambasco, Taylor Triou, Emma Wesley, Zachary Winters

Geneva: Olivia Bacon, Aaliyah Beverly, Jason Carle, Jonathan Ferrer, Emma Harris, Lindsey Johnston, Rachael Kurtz, Nicholas Mazzocchi, Angel Ochoa Palma, Nathan Olocki, Shelly Olsen, Amanda Owens, Alejandro Rudas, Shelby Smoker, Bailey Wayne, Rachael Webb, Emma Williams-McIntyre

Honeoye: Matthew Baker

Manchester: Jena Caramazza, Caitlin Hale, MarQuan Jackson, Stacey Swanger, Caitlin Unger

Naples: Madeline Abraham, Mariah Clawson, Jake Cratsley, Kara Cusson, Brianna Faber, Michael Hicks, Kate Livingston, Christina Macaluso-Patterson, Sophia Parshall, Ava Sheedy, Kallyn Stekl, Maeve Wright

Phelps: Nicole Augustine, Hannah Galloway, Morgan Lanich, John Salton, Abigail Sloane, Anna Smith, Erik Verdehem

Shortsville: Sara Clarke, Desiree Dixon, Eliott English, Brandy McNinch, Ryan Wood

Stanley: Gavin Davis, Dylan Howell, Treyci Krenzer, Dominique Robinson, Colby Rowe

Victor: Corey Baiera, Kalin Bailey, Alyssa Baird, William Brady, Ava Breuer, Richard Chute, Jersey Dillman-Hadlock, Tyler Durso, Samantha Farrelly, Timothy Keohane, Gabrielle Landry, Naomi McMullen, Alfonso Montes, Zane Palzer, Liam Richards, Rachel Sears, Cort Sherman, Carina Sulzbach, Katrina Vanorman

West Bloomfield: Gage Wagorn

ORANGE

Monroe: Esther Taub

Otisville: Lucas Bosland

ORLEANS

Medina: Kaylyn Holman

OSWEGO

Mexico: Joshua Hadcock

Richland: Alexander Sawchuck

QUEENS

Astoria: Matthew Burges, Brian Grellner

Queens: Rayad Hardial

Queens Village: Ahaila Mohabir

Ridgewood: Sheerel Abraham

RICHMOND

Staten Island: Adebayo Adewale

SCHUYLER

Cayuga: Samantha Dudgeon

Watkins Glen: Stephen Weldon

SENECA

Interlaken: Julia Diamond

Ovid: Jamie Bruning, Aliyah Reed, Sarah Wech

Seneca Falls Hunter Brignall, Mary Carter, William Chasteen, Regann Fleming, Angel Gonzalez, Dyan Kenkel, Kobe LaPrade, Mitchell Mestan, Paige Montgomery, Kristen Poole, Michelle Poormon, Libby Smith, Brenden Sofo, David Thieringer, Victor Tumbiolo, Jada Winfield

Waterloo: Joseph DiGiovanni, Halie Forde, Kiersten Jones, Abraham Kinney, Electra Laird, Exzavier Mattei, Alicia McKissock, Devon Reese, Clarissa Robson, Sarah Townson

STEUBEN

Bath: Camden Muller, Hannah Vanalstine

Bradford: Justin Deyo

Erin: Jolene Faulisi

Hammondsport: Madison Wright

Hornell: Emily Smith

Prattsburgh: Lydia Lenhard, MeLyssa Stratton, Lena Uthe

Savona: Kalyska Payne

Wayne: Amanda Scotchmer

SUFFOLK

Bohemia: Michaela Gamaldi

Holbrook: Lindsay Doyle

Manorville: Sky Garcia

TOMPKINS

Ithaca: Sean Rillera

WASHINGTON

Salem: Amber Marks

WAYNE

Clyde: Kailey Cole, Kaylee Dunn, Brittney Hayes, Alissa Hughes, Ignacio Mateo IV

Lyons: Janaye Austin, Shantaye Burkholder, Abram Johnson, Sarah Morrison, Martin Rodrick, Jacob Stearns

Macedon: Nigel Butler, Margaret Evarts, Mattia Hofstetter, Robert Kane, Shannon Kirbis, Madilyne Mancuso, Katherine McEwen, Zackary Morrison, Kaitlyn Nichols, Dmitri Novick, Corrin Popen, Kyle Russell, Nicklaus Sapienza, Tanner Thompson, Madeline VanGorden, Laryssa Wise

Marion: Thomas Capozzi, Faith Woodcock

Newark: Tatum Arnold, Cora Barbera, Meagan Belli, Madison Bowman, Benjamin Cepulo, Samantha Compton, Ana Cora, Aleksandra Dewa, Amanda DuVall, Joy Elmore, Jacqueline Furfaro, Elizabeth Henninger, Shaniah Jones, Mercedes Logins, Hoalai Luong, Leanna Murray, Connor O’Brien, Coral Silver, Audrey Smith, Jordan Walker, Abbey Zubb

Ontario: Treavor Barnhart, Hannah Davis, Autumn Leno, Yelyzaveta Lopatina, Katherine Pierce, Cambrie White

Palmrya: Katie Hungerford, Irina Chebotareva, Taylor Crane, Kimberly Dey, Natalie Goetz, Dylan Graham, Jordan Huddleston, Kellie Johnson, Alanjay Johnson-Ross, Brandon Moon, Anthony Rampulla, Jessica Ryan, Skylar Scheemaker, Katherine Smyth, Hannah Snelling, Grace Stiner, Brian Tones, Madison Upchurch, Akasha Vecka, Elizabeth Wagner

Red Creek: Kimberly Batz, Abigael Bush, Chloe Coffey

Sodus: Matthew Baker, Miranda Bennett, Noah DeGraff

Sodus Point: Cali Ellis

Walworth: Nicholas Block, Sierra Franco, Andrew Muha, Allison Smith

Williamson: Joseph Belmont, Kayla Brennan, Anna Heckler, Kelly Larock-Boyd, Pamela McCall, Andrew Niles, Heather Ramsdell, Adam Schreiber, Carrie Stubbings, Katlyn Westa

Wolcott: Kensie Graham

WYOMING

Wyoming: Brianna Hirschman

YATES

Dundee: Vivienne Dillon, Tarah Jayne, Hannah Miller, Anthony Thompson

Himrod: Alexa Wilderotter

Keuka Park: Morgan Kingsley-Hunt, Patricia Richardson, Philip Simmons

Middlesex: Alexander Lyons

Penn Yan: Morgan Bayer, Jessica Cintron, Jenna Curbeau, Natalie Dawley,

Holly Davis, Alexandra Hudson, Sydney Hulse, Corey Ledgerwood, Cameron Ledgerwood, Robert Phillips, Joel Pillsbury, Brendan Pinckney, Brittney Shamma, Ian Wachob, Rachel Wheeler, Sydnee Zigas

Rushville: McKenna Campbell-Fox, Nichaela Commisso, Gabrielle Doran, Misty Hill

OUT OF STATE

Davie, Fla.: Alfredo Hurtado

Pembroke Pines, Fla.: Jordan Perry

Milford, Maine: Daniel Corcoran

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”

New director and goals at FLCC Muller Field Station

Woman bending over a shallow sandbox — Alexandria Esposito of Springwater, conservation outreach education coordinator at FLCC, uses a field guide to verify footprints in a trap pit at the Muller Field Station in Canadice, Ontario County.

Finger Lakes Community College has named a new director for the Muller Field Station, a research and education facility at the south end of Honeoye Lake, and begun making plans to further enhance facilities and programming.

Head and shoulders image of John Van Niel — Professor John Van Niel

John Van Niel of Seneca Falls, professor of environmental conservation and coordinator of the fish and wildlife technology degree, began his duties on Sept. 1. He succeeded Professor Emeritus Bruce Gilman of Middlesex, author of “Ontario County Flora,” also known for his research into water quality trends in Canandaigua and Honeoye lakes. Gilman retired after 40 years of teaching in 2018 but stayed on as part-time director of the station through this past summer.

The late Florence Muller donated the 48-acre property to FLCC in 1999 in memory of her husband, Emil, a Swiss immigrant who sought to preserve the biodiversity of the Honeoye valley. Since then, funding from the Emil Muller Foundation and Florence M. Muller Foundation has supported education, research and improvements to property.

Continue reading “New director and goals at FLCC Muller Field Station”

What do fishers eat? There’s only one way to know for sure

Fisher facing forward — A fisher is a carnivorous mammal related to a weasel. Photo courtesy of John Van Niel

A professor and his students collect data on the stomach contents of this secretive mammal for the state Department of Environmental Conservation

A scalpel in her right hand, Chloe Bliss begins cutting into the brownish-pink organ she holds in her left.

This is part of her job as a work-study student at Finger Lakes Community College. Her boss is Professor John Van Niel, coordinator of the college’s fish and wildlife technology program. The work entails studying the stomach contents of fishers, a carnivorous north American mammal related to the weasel.

These solitary animals are fairly small, weighing up to 14 pounds, and have long bushy tails. Trapping for fishers is allowed in the fall in most of New York state, largely in the Adirondacks, Hudson Valley and North Country, with a brief season in the Southern Tier.

The state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) dropped off 500 frozen fisher stomachs at FLCC last year as part of an effort to gather data on New York’s fisher population. Fur trappers provided the carcasses so the DEC could study the teeth (to determine age), uteruses of females (to see how many kits they had) and the stomachs (to find out what they really eat).

Continue reading “What do fishers eat? There’s only one way to know for sure”

FLCC’s ‘Black Death’ course offers pandemic perspective

Man weariong a suit, standing in the grass — FLCC History Prof. Robert Brown is shown in Yorkshire, England, in 2009 while working on an exhumation project to research the Spanish flu. He is standing near the grave of one of its victims, Sir Mark Sykes. Brown took part a PBS documentary titled “Secrets of the Dead” while he was a research associate at the Wellcome Trust Centre for the History of Medicine, part of the University College London.

History Professor Robert Brown has taught the same course at Finger Lakes Community College for the past several years, but never has it been so relevant.

Called “The Black Death and Beyond: How Disease Has Changed History,” the course examines the evolutionary struggle between man and microbe and the myriad ways disease has shaped history.

“It offers useful and timely insight for navigating the challenges of COVID by presenting a host of historical scenarios in which the human population was unexpectedly assailed by an unknown or little understood pathogen,” said Brown, who resides in Victor.

The class will be offered again in the spring semester, which begins Jan. 25.

Brown earned his doctorate in history at Syracuse University. One of his main research interests – and a focus of the Black Death course – is the flu pandemic of 1918 that claimed an estimated 60 million lives. He has been featured in articles and television documentaries, including the PBS’s, “Secrets of the Dead: Killer Flu.” Continue reading “FLCC’s ‘Black Death’ course offers pandemic perspective”