The wines are produced by FLCC students under faculty instruction as part of their work toward a viticulture and wine technology degree or certificate.
Medals are as follows:
Gold Medal: Empire White Bland Gold Medal: Empire Red Blend Gold Medal: Rose, Blaufrankisch Silver Medal: Chardonnay Silver Medal: Riesling Bronze Medal: Cabernet Franc
The New York Wine Classic, an annual competition organized by the New York Wine and Grape Foundation, included 749 entries from 108 wineries from across the state. Judges awarded 10 Platinum, 320 Gold, 294 Silver, and 81 Bronze medals. Full information is available at newyorkwines.org. FLCC has received medals in every New York Wine Classic since 2016.
Students in the viticulture and wine technology two-year degree and one-year certificate programs produce commercial wines that are available at Ryan’s Wine and Spirits in Canandaigua and Pedulla’s Wine and Liquor in Geneva. Orders can also be arranged via online form on the FLCC website at flcc.edu/viticulture-center.
The Synthesis label was created by Emer O’Brien, a 2023 graphic design graduate. Every fall graphic design students present designs in a competition to select a label for the wine that will be bottled the following spring. Graphic design students present their work during an event at the FLCC Viticulture and Wine Center in Geneva to viticulture and wine technology students, who vote to select a winner. The winemaking and label design are part of the college’s emphasis on hands-on learning that aligns with current industry practices.
For more information about the viticulture and wine technology program, visit flcc.edu/wine.
Finger Lakes Community College has begun offering free GED classes at the Seneca County Office Building at 1 DiPronio Drive in Waterloo.
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.
Students meet with their instructor in the Seneca County Division of Human Services office on the second floor.
Other community services will support the GED program: Literacy Volunteers of Seneca County is available to provide additional assistance, and the Seneca County Office Building is on the RTS bus route.
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. Those with questions can also call Seneca County at (315) 539-1904.
Classes are also offered in Ontario, Wayne, and Yates counties at FLCC locations, libraries and the Yates County Workforce Development office.
A total of 512 full- and part-time students were named to the Finger Lakes Community College dean’s list for spring 2023.
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 by county and town in New York State. Out-of-state and international students are at the end of the list.
Garett Lester of Bloomfield, shown with Sam Samanta, FLCC professor of physics, graduated from FLCC before completing high school.
Garett Lester graduated on May 20 with an associate degree in smart systems technologies from Finger Lakes Community College and plans to transfer to Rochester Institute of Technology.
And today (June 23), he will graduate from Bloomfield High School.
No, that is not the typical order, but knowing it was possible to finish two years of college before high school graduation motivated Garett to take some extra classes over the last year.
Garett and another student completed associate degree requirements before finishing high school this year, but each took a different path. Garett attended the PTECH program while Ava Rodriguez of Pittsford took college classes through the FLCC Early College Scholars program, starting at age 14. Her high school graduation is tomorrow (June 24). A third student, Lily Hall of Dundee, joined this club using another strategy: a mix of Early College Scholar and Gemini credits. Gemini, also called concurrent enrollment, is a program that allows students to take classes in their home districts that satisfy both high school and college requirements. Lily’s graduation from Dundee High School on Thursday, June 22 made her a high school and college graduate at the same time.*
Garett Lester: PTECH
Short for Pathways in Technology, PTECH allows students from 25 school districts to enroll in an alternate high school at the FLCC Newark Campus Center and earn a mix of high school and college credits, starting in ninth grade. Most PTECH students finish high school and then spend another year or two at FLCC. Through careful planning with a counselor, Garett realized he could finish degree requirements before completing 12th grade.
“I thought not many people get an opportunity to do that, so that helped to motivate me a lot,” he said. “There were definitely times where I was thinking, ‘This is a lot to be doing,’ but it’s one year then it’s done, and I accomplished something.”
Garett was drawn to technology in eighth grade after taking Design and Drawing for Production (DDP) classes, in which students learn to use computer-aided design (CAD) software and programs like Audodesk Inventor. He attended a presentation on PTECH at Bloomfield and decided to enroll. Ninth-graders in PTECH take a class that introduces them to technology programs and careers with a grant covering the tuition costs for the college program they select.
Garett was a couple classes ahead when he started, having taken algebra and Living Environment in eighth grade. When he got his driver’s license, he was able to take additional classes at the FLCC Victor Campus Center off Route 251. He credits his PTECH and FLCC instructors, in particular physics professor Sam Samanta, for giving him the flexibility to complete his classes, while working part-time. Samanta coordinates the smart systems technologies degree, which integrates electrical, mechanical and computer skills.
“He’s always willing to help you and make sure you’re following along with class but you’re not getting piled up on homework,” Garett said. “I’d have to say PTECH is very similar in that they’re trying to be as open-minded and understanding of your situation to make sure you’re getting the help you need to learn.”
Beyond the instructors, he said fellow students provide a sense of community.
“We’re all new to it. We’re all looking for someone to talk to and by the first quarter of your freshman year, you have made friends,” Garett began. “It’s a great community. You’re not going to feel out of place because everyone’s in the same boat, everyone’s there for you. We’re all rooting for each other. You really don’t get the separate cliques, it’s one big group.”
Garett’s program required a co-op experience, and in November 2022, he was placed at Addex in Newark, which makes blown film equipment for applications like bags, wraps and shrink films.
After his co-op, Addex hired him part-time. His work consists of building mechanical and electrical assemblies and working on circuit boards. He also enjoys the challenge of troubleshooting a mechanical or electrical problem under the guidance of his mentor, Bill Wilck, mechanical and technical services engineer at Addex.
“You get to work with your hands. It’s rewarding at the end of the day being able to go in with something that doesn’t work and being in that role where you can make everything fit together and work out right.”
Dan Poehlein, technical specialist for the smart systems program, has known Garett since he joined Ptech.
“Despite his obvious skills as a student, I believe that his greatest attributes are in the area of kindness, compassion and curiosity,” Dan said. “Garett is the first student from the Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES to complete the required college course of study by the end of his 12th grade year. This accomplishment has laid the foundation for future students to follow his path toward success.”
Garett, who will turn 18 in July, will transfer to RIT this fall. He is deciding between electrical and mechanical engineering with long-term plans to work in the railroad industry. He recommends that students who are looking for a different kind of high school experience consider PTECH. “If you decide you don’t like the programs, you always do have the option to go back to your district, so I would tell them: ‘If you’re interested, go for it and keep your friends back home, but make new friends when you get to PTECH.’”
Ava Rodriguez: Early College Scholars
Ava Rodriguez had watched as her older sister got ahead on college credit by taking community college classes, so at age 14, Ava enrolled in two art history classes through the FLCC Early College Scholars program.
Then, she kept going, completing her high school homework during lunches and study halls at Pittsford-Mendon then switching gears to college work in the afternoon and evening.
In August 2022, Ava and her mother, Zenah, reviewed her credits and confirmed that, with the right courses, she could finish work toward her liberal arts associate degree before completing high school. After the Pittsford-Mendon High School graduation on Saturday, June 24, she will be both a high school and college graduate.
“My mom is my biggest supporter. I really couldn’t have done it without her,” Ava said. “She wanted both of us to have a head start and graduate college earlier.”
Ava is starting this fall at St. John Fisher University’s Wegmans School of Pharmacy. It is typically a six-year program, but Ava’s associate degree means she can finish in four.
“I really like science. I like being in the lab,” she said. “Then, I was doing my own research one day, and I came across pharmacy, and the whole career sounded really interesting to me.”
Ava took most of her FLCC courses online with some in-person classes. In addition to her mom, she received guidance from Laura Jamieson, assistant director of concurrent enrollment, in navigating the college. Laura oversees FLCC classes taught in high schools in the College’s service area as well as Early College Scholars, which gives students in high school and homeschool settings the ability to take FLCC classes with reduced tuition.
Ava particularly enjoyed biology with Professor Kelli Prior, chemistry with technical specialist and instructor Jennifer Zink, and physics with adjunct instructor Thomas Henderson.
“They were easy going. If you were having trouble with the material or an issue came up in your personal life, they’re more than willing to work around it,” she said. “I think my favorite professor was Dr. Henderson. You know those teachers that really have a passion for teaching, and they try to make it as enjoyable for the student. He was all-around one of the best teachers I’ve ever had.”
Ava found time among her high school and college coursework to pursue a range of visual art media, from oil pastels to watercolors to charcoal. She often paints scenes from nature but has earned two commissions drawing characters from movie and TV series.
Ava found her combined high school and college schedule a challenge at times and credits her mother for keeping her on track. She also says the work became easier the more she understood about herself.
“Really take the time to learn about you. What I mean by that is, ‘How do I learn? How do I retain information the best?’ because you can manage your time better and make room for other classes.”
Lily Hall: Gemini and Early College Scholars
Lily Hall used the Early College Scholars and Gemini programs to finish high school and an associate degree at the same time.
Lily Hall took some online classes directly through FLCC as an Early College Scholar and earned other credits by taking Gemini classes at Dundee High School. She built up enough credits for an associate degree in liberal arts by the last day of high school classes this month.
“I’ve always enjoyed setting high goals for myself and this certainly played a role in my decision to pursue my associate degree before I finished high school, but the bigger motivation for me was that I knew that it would be the wisest way for me to use my time,” Lily began.
“Going into senior year, most kids expect to take the bare minimum of classes and coast through the year. As nice as that may sound, I am so glad I decided to maximize my time by pursuing this path. It surely makes the summer more enjoyable knowing I already have two years of college, and a degree, under my belt.”
Lily and her mother learned about the Early College Scholars program with the help of a former high school counselor, Sarah Baker, who put them in touch with Laura Jamieson.
Lily credits Laura with helping her balance her course load.
“She helped me to develop a plan for the courses I would be taking during each semester to earn my associate upon graduation from high school,” Lily explained. “She advised me with care and wanted to keep me from being too overwhelmed by my courses. She also kept me updated on how to go about the details of enrollment and graduation. She played one of the most key roles in my success and I am extremely thankful for her.”
Lily said she learned more than new content in her college classes.
“I learned how to communicate with my professors. I learned how to stand up for myself when it came to my grades, I learned how to learn about things I did not enjoy and find meaning in them, and I even learned about how important time management is,” she said. “The ups and downs that I have faced in college so far have helped me grow as a person and that is what made my FLCC experience positive.”
Lily’s favorite classes were art history and American Sign Language. She is currently pursuing a certification from Google in cybersecurity
Learn more about PTECH here or contact your high school counseling office.
*There is a minor technicality here. Enrolling at FLCC requires a high school diploma, so Garett, Ava and Lily will turn in their high school transcripts, whereupon their credits will be immediately applied to their degree programs and their college degrees issued.
FLCC’s Chancellor’s Award recipients for 2023 included, from left, Zachary Shirley of Phelps, Hannah Hoffman of Cameron, Wendy Bacon of Canandaigua, Maureen Maas-Feary of Rochester, Kathy Fuchs of Geneva, and Melissa Soules of Canandaigua (Shown below: Lisa McAnn)
Seven Finger Lakes Community College employees and students have received the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence, which acknowledges individuals across the SUNY system for notable achievement. They are as follows:
Hannah Hoffman
Hannah Hoffman of Cameron, Steuben County, a business administration major, received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. She has served in three roles on the Student Corporation: executive secretary, executive treasurer and president, and was a member of the softball team. Hoffman joined the Phi Theta Kappa honors society in 2022.
Zachary Shirley
Zachary Shirley of Phelps, Ontario County, a May 2023 liberal arts and sciences graduate, received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. Shirley served from 2016 to 2021 in Army intelligence and currently serves in the U.S. Army Reserves. While president of the Student Veterans Organization for two years, he led Veterans Week, a series of events to honor veterans in November. He was master of ceremonies for the 2022 FLCC Veterans Day Ceremony.
Wendy Bacon
Wendy Bacon of Canandaigua, Ontario County, received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service. She is the senior clerk for the FLCC Office of Instruction where she oversees the scheduling of classes and events and has filled in as assistant to the provost, managing administration of faculty teaching assignments. She is credited with helping manage many adaptations necessary to keep classes running during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Melissa Soules
Melissa Soules of Canandaigua, Ontario County, received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. She is the disability services coordinator with the FLCC Academic Success and Access Programs Office. Soules works with more than 300 students each semester arranging accommodations and is credited with advocating for improved inclusivity across the college. She is often an informal academic counselor and personal advocate and coach for students.
Kathy Fuchs
Kathleen Fuchs of Geneva, Ontario County, received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching. An FLCC adjunct instructor for more than 12 years, Fuchs has taught Composition I and II and Children’s Literature. Her nomination included colleague and student testimonies. Students wrote they felt welcomed, supported and respected in her classes and grew in critical thinking skills. Over the past 25 years, Fuchs has been a member of the Geneva Martin Luther King Jr. Committee and is a recipient of the Geneva 2008 Martin Luther King Educator Award.
Maureen Maas-Feary
Maureen Maas-Feary of Rochester, Monroe County, professor of humanities, received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service. She led the Humanities Department through the COVID-19 pandemic and the restructuring of developmental English that streamlined the pathway for students to complete composition courses. She also co-chaired the effort to prepare an extensive report for the College to maintain its accreditation with the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Lisa McAnn
Lisa McAnn of Middlesex, Yates County, associate professor of nursing, received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. She has taught at FLCC for 15 years and played an important role in revising the nursing curriculum to align with contemporary nursing practice. McAnn developed two case studies for Wolters Kluwer, a Dutch health care and research company, for its upcoming medical-surgical textbook and received a national award for implementing successful strategies in assessing students’ readiness for the national nursing exam.
For more information about the SUNY Chancellor’s Awards, visit suny.edu and search for “chancellor’s awards.”
FLCC phlebotomy graduates are, front row, from left, Azure Wing, Mykaela Turner, and Jacquelyn Geihs; and back row, from left, Patricia Hollins, Adi Aunkst-Park, Octavia Overton, instructor Ginnie Jackson, Julie Steffler, Emily Ubiles, Sarah Pesta, Emma MacDonald, Jasmine Hoffman, FLCC custom training specialist Patrick Bennett, Eva Lunduski, Kimberly Shores, and Desha Snow
Finger Lakes Community College celebrated its first phlebotomy class graduation in May, following a pause due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fourteen students from across the region completed the nine-week course, which trains participants to work in blood draw stations in medical settings.
Those interested in taking any of the College’s healthcare training programs, which also includes certified nurse assistant and home health aide, can fill out a form at flcc.edu/reimagine or email workforce@flcc.edu.
Grant funding is available to cover costs for these in-demand programs; all 14 of the most recent phlebotomy graduates received assistance from government workforce grants.
Below are graduates by town:
Canandaigua: Emma MacDonald
Fairport: Jacquelyn Geihs
Geneva: Jasmine Hoffman, Sarah Pesta, Emily Ubiles
Phelps: Azure Wing
Rochester: Patricia Hollins, Octavia Overton, and Desha Snow
FLCC celebrated its 2022-23 GED graduates with a ceremony on June 8.
Finger Lakes Community College celebrated 38 students who have received a general equivalency diploma in the last year with a ceremony on June 8 at the main campus.
FLCC’s program allows people to work at their own pace with an instructor to prepare for the four exams necessary to earn a high school equivalency diploma.
Leon Hoover of Penn Yan speaks at the FLCC GED graduation on June 8.
Information about FLCC’s high school equivalency and English as a second language programs is available at flcc.edu/abe, (585) 785-1431, or ged@flcc.edu.
Classes are offered in hybrid (online and in-person) and in-person formats days and evenings in Ontario, Wayne and Yates counties at FLCC locations, libraries and the Yates County Workforce Office. New students take in-person tests in math and reading to gauge their skill levels.
Hazel Arteaga-Martinez of Williamson and Kimberly Zenzen of Caledonia celebrate their induction into the honor society.
The Finger Lakes Community College chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), the honor society for two-year colleges, inducted 175 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.
Fairport: Connor Bashaw, Nathaniel Hartley, Joseph Indorato, Hannah Owens
Hilton: Drew Bateman
Honeoye Falls: Lucas Mendrick
Penfield: Christopher Zielinski
Rochester: Andrew Black, Luke Chalone, Joseph Fornieri,Tanner Frank, Brianna Jones, Damien McGonnell, Naomi Moore, Vanessa Torres
Rush: Tyler Young
NASSAU
Freeport: Sandra Sanchez
Long Beach: Kristen Valentino
NEW YORK CITY
Arverne: Ciji Stewart
Brooklyn: Dwane Dunbar
Flushing: Nicole Luk
Jamaica: Jasmine Taylor
New York: Kathryn Cole
Richmond Hill: Natalie Plaza
Saint Albans: Ugonta Abengowe
ONEIDA
Utica: Sara Dodge, Justin Jones
Gabriel DeSouza of Brazil poses with FLCC President Robert Nye at the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society induction ceremony.
ONONDAGA
Jordan: Jonas Pritchard
ONTARIO
Bloomfield: Sarah Barker, Gordon Kornbau
Canandaigua: Julia Coy, Gabriel De Souza, Culyn Debeer, Mackenzie Depew, Madison Depew, Shena Edington-Bright, Grecia Gamez, Van Hill, Liam Houle, John Kelley, Austin Kephart, John Lasky, Samuel Leblanc, Keith Letky, Grace Lucas, Kevin Mapstone, Julie McKee, Sydney Rosario, Michael Ruedy, Audria Rutkowski, Faith Searls, Lexus Shannon Hummer, Hunter Shuler, Molly Snyder, Rebecca Steinmetz, Stephanie Vitalone, Harland Wunrow
Clifton Springs: Carly Bennett, Victoria Haynes, Beryl Remacle-Grimm
Farmington: Angelina Allen, Philip Beaman, Clayton Belmont, Riley Cicero, Rylee Hardgrove, Christopher Kalen, Maureen Morley, Eldridge Mount, Spencer Reese, Nicholas Reifsnyder, Alana Shaw, Cole Smith, Elyse Triola
Victor: Matthew Brady, Morgan Collazo, Emily Davis, Alexa Henehan, Madison O’Donnell, Jackson Pealer, Jonathan Schultz, Johanna Swan, Roman Wright
ORANGE
New Windsor: Hulya Peker-Evren
FLCC President Robert Nye and Misty Hall of Shortsville at the Phi Theta Kappa honor society induction ceremony in May.
Newburgh: Desiree Henry
Port Jervis: Shmuel Elkeslasi
OSWEGO
Hannibal: Kaliess Evans
OTSEGO
West Exeter: Ryan Quinn
PUTNAM
Putnam Valley, Lisa Zegarelli
SARATOGA
Saratoga Springs Miranda Germain
SCHUYLER
Burdett: Jesse Perlmutter
SENECA
Interlaken: Kiersten Traver
Ovid: Kimberly McLaughlin, Ovid Rachel Natale
Romulus: Tabitha Wilson
Seneca Falls: Nicholas Jastrzab
Waterloo: Jacob Digiovanni, Allyson Dressing, Angela Hubbard
Seneca Waterloo Jose Rivera
ST. LAWRENCE
Winthrop: Justin Moore
STEUBEN
Canisteo: Lori Hoyt
Jasper: Samantha Taft
Savona: Christopher McNew
ULSTER
Modena: Renae Gregory
WAYNE
Clyde: Richard Ducayne, Corrine Spronz
Lyons: Faith Magwood, Casey Wood
Macedon: Brianna Whitcomb
Newark: Lorely Rivera Barreda
Ontario: Elena Disanto, Holly Fox
Palmyra: David Luke, Joshua Snyder
Sodus: Marilyn Bennett, Cody Freeman
Walworth: Logan Maioli, Jerry Lay, Leah Vaughn
Williamson: Hazel Arteaga-Martinez, Morgan Baumgartner, Elena Ramirez Rendon
WESTCHESTER
Cortlandt Manor: Thomas Wilson
Rye: Harold Torres Gonzalez
YATES
Dundee: Ingrid Semans
Penn Yan: Kerry Catlin, Jenelle Schroeder
Rushville: Evelyn Bergstresser
OUT OF STATE
Richard Zephyr, Naples, Fla.
Christina Lenhauser, Haines City, Fla.
Caidin Taeschner, Port Republic, Md.
Asia Muselli, Scotch Plains, N.J.
Ashley Holbrook, Woodruff, S.C.
Ericka Moody, who grew up in Lyons, graduated on May 20 with a degree in hospitality and tourism management, specializing in the food and beverage area.
A 2021 graduate of Lyons Central School, she had an opportunity meet with college President Robert Nye, while participating in Dinner at Julia later that year.
Dinner at Julia is an opportunity for hospitality students to get real-world experience right on campus. The college converts a room in the Student Center to a restaurant open to the public several Fridays during the semester.
“After experiencing my work, and getting to learn about each other, Dr. Nye told me if I needed help getting on the right path in the hospitality world, to reach out,” Ericka began.
“March then came around, and I had been struggling to find my sense of place in the hospitality world, so I emailed him. I asked him simply just to be a person I could put as a reference on my resume. I asked to meet with him to prove how determined I was.”
Ericka and the president talked about her goal of working for a while at the Constellation Brands-Marvin Sands Performing Arts Center and eventually becoming an event producer.
“He wrote me a letter of recommendation, and graciously took it a step further and reached out to the hospitality manager on my behalf,” she said, adding that she was hired as a VIP concierge for the concert venue.
“My time at Finger Lakes was uplifting. I walked in only to gain a degree but walked out with new experiences, new memories, and new friends,” Ericka added. “My experience here was like a movie with twists, turns, loss, and gains and an ending with a warm feeling that life only gives to when you close a door and start walking to the next.
“My advice to incoming Laker is: Do not just come to campus, be a part of campus and its community. Join a sport, club, or even join in on weekly Laker activities. Walk away with an experience, not just a diploma.”
Daniel DiSalvo greets FLCC President Robert Nye on the CMAC stage on May 20.
Daniel DiSalvo of Canandaigua graduated on May 20 with a degree in liberal arts. He is a 2021 graduate of Canandaigua Academy. He shared some thoughts recently on his FLCC experience, which he calls “life-altering.”
What are your plans after graduation?
I plan on spending this summer in my hometown with my friends enjoying my time off before I move down to Wilmington, N.C. to take a gap year with ambitions on continuing to pursue a bachelor’s degree.
What has been the most rewarding part of your experience and why?
The journey. The whole time I’ve been a student here at Finger Lakes Community College I thought my reward and goal would be graduation, the day I get to walk across the stage and get my diploma. I dedicated every day I had at Finger Lakes Community College for this day. Along the way I took up as many opportunities as I could. While at Finger Lakes in my athletic life I competed in multiple sports such as Track and Field, Lacrosse, and the Woodsmen team even making school history by helping the men’s track and field team to win the school’s first ever regional championship for that program last spring. Aside from athletics, in my academic life I achieved a lot such as becoming the president of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, making the All-State USA academic team, and raising my GPA up from when I started here at a 3.7 to finishing with a 3.85.
I also got the chance to see a lot more of what else is outside of my world of the college campus and my hometown of Canandaigua. For example, I won a raffle for tickets to the Buffalo Bills vs. the Miami Dolphins game this past Fall where I had the chance to tailgate and crash some tables, but also watch my NFL team kick some butt on their homefield under the lights while it was snowing. For the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, I had the chance to be flown out to Columbus, Ohio for the annual catalyst event where there were over 30,000 members attending. While there I was able to tour Ohio State University.
All these different experiences, achievements, medals, and awards with my name on it, all of this I achieved in just two years. When I was working hard and trying new things at school here, I didn’t care about medals or going down in history books or any of that tangible stuff, I just wanted to do what I thought was the right thing and all those achievements were just extra bonuses I got from my hard work. I may be the one talking now about my journey, but it’s not just me that’s walking across this stage.
We celebrate everyone who is a student here at Finger Lakes Community College: Business, Environmental Science, Communications, Healthcare, and every other major. Everyone here is gathered for one purpose and that’s not only to celebrate our academic achievements and success, but to reflect on our journeys here. For the sophomores such as myself here, two years of our lives we dedicated our time and effort into this one school each with our respective majors and here we are now about to graduate. Goals achieved and diplomas received, everyone had their own journey, yet all of us have experienced loss. As most of us know life isn’t always about winning there’s a lot of loss, but as we students know one thing it’s how to get up and keep going, how to buckle down and get ready for the next class, next assignment, next exam, and maybe even next semester.
My journey here has been the most rewarding part of my experience here at Finger Lakes, not because of the achievements and awards, but because of the adventures I got to go on and the people I met along the way. I got to know so many different people coming from all sorts of walks of life. Professors, students, faculty, and staff alike. During my time here I had to overcome so many obstacles and I’ve grown so much as a person, yet none of this would’ve been possible if it weren’t for the people beside me such you all gathered here with me today that helped me along my adventure.
Our time here at Finger Lakes has come to an end, yet the lives we impacted and the things we’ve achieved will always remain with myself those who got to be with us and help us along our journey. It’s easy to give up, it’s easy to be lazy and do things just for yourself. Where it’s hard is when it’s time to wake up and get to work. To wake up and do things for others. It’s hard to dedicate your time and effort to helping others without looking to get anything for yourself. Speaking for myself, I did a pretty dang good job here and I’m excited for what adventure awaits me tomorrow, but for today we all should thank those who helped us along the way. We must thank Finger Lakes Community College for providing us with a place of opportunity and unity for us to come together and chase our dreams, allowing us to achieve greatness along the way. We must thank our professors, faculty, and staff for helping us along our journeys making this college be as great as it is. For athletes such as myself, we must thank our coaches for dedicating their time and effort into believing in us and our athletic abilities allowing us to achieve what they knew we were capable of, finally we must thank our parents for raising us and being our biggest supporters as they will always be there for us in our lives. Thank you, Finger Lakes Community College, we are grateful for everything you have done for us and will continue to do so as we all go on to our next journey.
What advice would give to a new student?
If I were to give a piece of advice to everyone here whether they’re graduating, transferring, or returning in the fall, I just got this here to say:
Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try new things. Someone who isn’t willing to give up everything will never change anything. While attending Finger Lakes Community College I made the choice to give up who I thought I was, for what I knew I could become. It’s easy to be a good person and help others along your way. We may be at the same school together, pursuing the same major, on the same team, or in the same class, yet everyone here is on a different adventure of their own. Just because we’re all on our own adventures going for different dreams doesn’t mean you can’t give some of your time to step out of your way to help someone achieve theirs. You’ll find you may get more in life from doing that then doing nothing at all. I believe that not only for this school, but in this world it’s better to try and do something than nothing.
All six wines bottled in 2021 under the Synthesis label at the Finger Lakes Community College Viticulture and Wine Center were awarded medals in the New York Wine Classic competition this summer.
