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.
Drew Bateman
Drew exemplifies being a well-rounded student. He balances campus leadership, involvement in activities, academic excellence, and a part-time job off-campus. Milton Johnson, professor of communications, spoke of Drew’s outstanding performance in the classroom as well his dedication as a campus leader. He aspires to make lasting impacts for current and future Lakers through his service, such as creating stronger relationships between students and Campus Police officers and ensuring that the community college student voice was heard at SUNY Student Assembly.
Terrance “Dom” Domingues-Hover
Dom stands out for his remarkable combination of academic excellence, leadership, and commitment to community service. He is a non-traditional student, coming back to school after serving in the United States Army. Dom pursued a double major in graphic design and fine arts. Sarah Morgan, associate professor of art, shared that she “was most struck by his desire to learn and improve.” Through his leadership of the Student Veterans Organization, Dom created the Student Veteran Relief Fund with our FLCC Foundation, which is the first veteran-focused emergency fund.
Beth Johnson
Beth is head of the Visual and Performing Arts Department and has extensive teaching experience, which enhances her ability to meet the needs of students and highlight their creative work. As faculty advisor of Theatre Club, she has led trips to see productions in NYC and the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada. She is a member of the Association for Theatre in Higher Education, the Association of Theatre Movement Educators, the Community College Theatre Alliance and Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. She has also been on the board of directors for the Smith Opera House.
Kimberlie Noyes
Kimberlie has taught at the college since 2015. She challenges her students to think critically, fostering an atmosphere of collaboration and encouraging the freedom to ask questions in her classroom. Many graduates from the nursing program still speak fondly of the impact she had on their education and career development. Former student and registered nurse Danielle Pinckney shares that “Professor Noyes took the time to ensure we not only understood the information but also shared her passion with all of us. I felt seen and heard while in Professor Noyes’ classes.”
John Onorato
John has been the point person for the system used for scheduling and preparing setups for college events. He is helpful in evaluating the dimensions of rooms, HVAC needs, table and chair requirements.
He goes above and beyond to share ideas or brainstorm based on his expertise to improve the quality of life for students and employees. John serves on the Employee Engagement Committee, ensuring that his colleagues feel a sense of comfort and pride in working at FLCC. John also serves as the president of the CSEA unit for FLCC, an added responsibility that requires support to colleagues.
Maura Sullivan
Maura is dedicated to cultivating learning experiences that are relevant and applied, utilizing actual methodology, equipment, and techniques used in the professional field or at four-year institutions. She consistently invests in new teaching techniques and, more importantly, reflects on and learns from the teaching process. Maura has also assumed the roles of coordinator of the environmental science degree and director of the Muller Field Station. Under her guidance, her students have had the opportunity to collect authentic data and make real-time contributions to environmental work.
