winter 2013 collegium

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A PUBLICATION OF THE ST. JOHN FISHER COLLEGE OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT · WINTER 2013 COLLEGIUM Transformation The Vision 2020 Campaign

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Winter 2013 issue of the St. John Fisher College alumni magazine.

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Page 1: Winter 2013 Collegium

A P U B L I C A T I O N O F T H E S T . J O H N F I S H E R C O L L E G E O F F I C E O F I N S T I T U T I O N A L A D V A N C E M E N T · W I N T E R 2 0 1 3

COLLEGIUM

Transformation The Vision 2020 Campaign

Page 2: Winter 2013 Collegium

Messa

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om th

e Presi

dent

Dona

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. Bain

, Ph.D.

Dear Alumni, Friends, and Colleagues: It is with sincere gratitude to everyone who helped raise over $50 million in support of the College that I share with you this edition of Collegium.

The success of the Vision 2020 Campaign has made possible vital strategic growth at the College. Since 2005, the student population has grown, as have the faculty and staff on campus. We have added outstanding academic programs, superior new facilities, and state-of-the-art technologies. These dynamic changes have been aimed at enriching the student experience and fulfilling the mission of the College.

While the College has grown in size and purpose, we continue, at our core, true to the Basilian motto of teaching goodness, discipline, and knowledge. As I often say, students are our most important responsibility and alumni our proudest achievement. We are blessed with young men and women who are remarkable students and our aim is to help them build lives, create careers, and serve the community.

The transformational changes of our academic programs and new buildings have also strengthened the place we hold in higher education and enriched the contributions our graduates make to their professions. Now, secure in our mission, we are braced with fresh resources for the promising years ahead. Confident in our past, with a sound foundation for our purpose, we move forward with a clear and certain vision of our future.

In closing, I wish to share with you my toast at the Vision 2020 Gala. It is my wish to you and your families for the coming year:

May your mornings bring joy; May your evenings bring peace; May your troubles be less; And your blessings increase.With kind regards,

Donald E. Bain, Ph.D.President

Page 3: Winter 2013 Collegium

COLLEGIUM

Winter 2013. Collegium is a magazine for alumni, parents, and friends of St. John Fisher College and is published by the Office of Institutional Advancement.

Letters to the Editor are welcome and may be sent to the address below. Diverse views are represented and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editor or official policies of the College.

St. John Fisher College • Collegium Editorial Office • 3690 East Avenue •Rochester, NY 14618 •Email: [email protected]

EDITOR-IN-CHIEFGerard J. Rooney, Ph.D.

MANAGING EDITORMaherly Schaeffer ’98

LAYOUT Maherly Schaeffer ’98

CONTRIBUTING WRITERSDonald E. Bain, Ph.D.Anne GeerNorm Kieffer ’96Maherly Schaeffer ’98Kate Torok

PHOTOGRAPHYBrady DillsworthJaime Germano ’80John Smillie PhotographyMaherly Schaeffer ’98Kate TorokEryn Yates

Features3 Academic

Transformation

15 Vision 2020 Campaign Recognition

17 Celebrating Success

19 From the Campaign Chair

21 Impact: Scholarships

23 National Recognition

25 Impact: Athletics

27 Impact: Lavery Library

29 Campus News

On the cover: Vic Salerno ’66, Marty Keating ’75, Mike Goonan ’75, and President Bain.

Page 4: Winter 2013 Collegium

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ACADEMIC TRANSFORMATION

Fisher has been my professional home for 13 years. I was a member of the biology faculty from

1999-2011 and in 2012 took on the responsibilities of Interim Provost. My history with Fisher goes back even farther, as two of my siblings and three of my uncles are graduates. Even before I joined the College, I knew of its strong reputation.

It has been an honor to see the transformational power of the Vision 2020 Campaign. Each academic year, I would walk through campus and see the physical evidence of growth as buildings were under construction. What is more difficult to see, but just as important, is the academic growth of the College since 2006. As an institution, we worked to assess market needs and interests of students to maintain a strong offering of academic programs. On the undergraduate level, we added human resources management, digital cultures and technologies, legal studies, finance, marketing, and statistics as new majors.

But we also saw the need to academically expand Fisher in a different way, by adding doctoral-level programs. With confidence in our mission and the approval of the New York State Board of Regents, the Doctor of Pharmacy and Doctor of Education in Executive Leadership programs were created in 2006 and the Doctor of Nursing Practice program the following year. In 2009 we launched the College’s

first extension site, the Doctor of Education in Executive Leadership, at The College of New Rochelle.

Such robust academic expansion would not be possible without support from the Vision 2020 Campaign. Financial support has afforded the College the ability to construct new buildings, but also the ability to grow academically, attract first-rate faculty, and invest in program development.

In 1951 the doors opened at St. John Fisher College, with only Kearney Hall and the Basilian Fathers’ motto, “Teach me Goodness, Discipline, and Knowledge.” Though the College looks very different today, the core of our school remains the same, and our dedication to academics is stronger than ever.

On the pages that follow, we’re pleased to describe how all of the schools at the College have been transformed by the Vision 2020 Campaign.

Dr. Eileen Lynd-Balta, Interim Provost Contact Dr. Lynd-Balta at [email protected].

“CELEBRATING THE FISHER OF TODAY” PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITA fall exhibit featuring the winners of the “Celebrating the Fisher of Today” photo contest was held in the Patricia O’Keefe Ross Gallery in the Joseph S. Skalny Welcome Center. See the winning entries from students, faculty, staff, and alumni at www.sjfc.edu/alumni/news/events-gallery.dot

THE ARTS FACULTY INVITATIONALVisit the Patricia O’Keefe Ross Gallery from January 21 through March 8, 2013 for an exhibit featuring the art of faculty from the Visual and Performing Arts Department.

At right: An entry in the “Celebrating the Fisher of Today” exhibit, by Jen Haught Casasanta ’96.

Page 5: Winter 2013 Collegium

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The Vision 2020 Campaign has supported exceptional enrollment growth, new

academic and athletic program development, and great physical change at the College.

While celebrating success, the College has also been working to sustain its strong momentum. Under the direction and guidance of President Bain; Dr. Gerry Rooney, Executive Vice President for Enrollment, Advancement, and Planning; and Dr. Eileen Lynd-Balta, Interim Provost; the College embarked on a strategic planning process.

The strategic plan is a blueprint for our future and an affirmation of our past. As the economic challenges of the past few years have taught us, we must identify both the challenges and opportunities moving forward.

After a year’s worth of diligent and collaborative work, a strategic plan was presented to and adopted by the Board of Trustees in June 2012. With six core goals to guide us, the College has set its course for the future.

GOAL 1 Consistent with our Basilian heritage of teaching goodness, discipline, and knowledge, the College will strengthen its commitment to liberal arts and professional programs through purposeful curriculum renewal and innovative program development and delivery.

GOAL 2 Recognizing the importance of balanced curricular and co-curricular learning on academic development and personal growth, the College will expand and build on activities that intentionally integrate academic work, experiential learning, student life, and career development.

GOAL 3 To enable all campus community members to understand, appreciate, and interact effectively in today’s pluralistic society, the College will develop new, and enhance existing, efforts to be an inclusive campus for faculty, staff, students, alumni, and the wider community.

GOAL 4 Building on its strong regional reputation, the College will continue to strive for mission-consistent and fiscally responsible growth.

GOAL 5 Considering future, as well as existing, campus facility and infrastructure needs, the College will continue to improve living and learning environments, incorporating state-of-the-market technologies, in order to promote student success and support the varied needs of our vibrant campus community.

GOAL 6 Demonstrating an ongoing commitment to evidence-based institutional effectiveness and continuous improvement of student learning outcomes, the College will collect, interpret, and disseminate information for ongoing strategic analysis that is designed to inform and link decision-making, long-range planning, and resource allocation.

ST. JOHN FISHER COLLEGE VISION STATEMENTBy the end of the decade, we will be a widely recognized college in the Northeast Region that enriches student character and deepens intellectual inquiry to prepare men and women for success in a complex and diverse global community. Adopted June 2012

SUSTAINING MOMENTUM

BY THE NUMBERS: THE STRATEGIC PLAN COMMITTEE66 The number of students, faculty, staff,

alumni, and trustees that served on the strategic plan committee.

15 The number of months that the committee worked to create the plan.

To view the entire Strategic Plan, visit our website at www.sjfc.edu/about/mission.

Page 6: Winter 2013 Collegium

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TRANSFORMATION The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education

Thank You The Vision 2020 Campaign has greatly benefited the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education. It has been a period of great growth for us as we have pushed our boundaries–both geographically and programmatically.

In 2006, after an extensive review process, the School of Education earned professional accreditation from the National Council for the Accreditation of Teacher Education. Having this “stamp of approval” reaffirmed the dedication of our students, faculty, staff, and graduates, and put us in a position to reach even greater heights than before.

Also in 2006, we introduced our first doctoral program, the Doctor of Education in Executive Leadership. This was not only the first doctoral program in the School of Education, but it joined the Wegmans School of Pharmacy in offering the first doctoral programs at the College as well. Our executive leadership program attracted educational administrators from the region as well as leaders from other industries who were looking to strengthen their leadership skills and better the community.

The success of the executive leadership program and the great interest it generated brought about our next pursuit and our next pioneering activity. In 2009, we launched the College’s first extension site, offering the Ed.D. in Executive Leadership at The College of New Rochelle in New Rochelle, NY. Fisher saw an opportunity to reach a new market of students in an area where similar programs

were not available. The CNR program has remained strong and generates a great amount of interest in St. John Fisher College.

In 2012, the undergraduate teacher education program revised its curriculum to reflect its recent name change: the Inclusive Education program. Recognizing that many children with special needs are receiving services in K-12 classrooms with their peers, the curriculum infuses a more differentiated approach to teaching all students. The curriculum also makes more room in a teacher candidate’s schedule for earning a full content major (American Studies, English, History, Math, Modern Language), along with two teaching certifications. The curriculum remains clinically rich, with many courses and field experiences offered in local school districts. A reflective and collaborative approach to teaching is also emphasized. Upon approval of the New York State Education Department, the new curriculum will be implemented in fall 2013.

Dr. Michael Wischnowski, Interim Dean, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education Contact Dr. Wischnowski at [email protected].

School of Ed achieves continued accreditationStudies show that teacher quality is the most important factor in school achievement for K-12 students, making the preparation and training of teacher candidates at the college level instrumental to the success of the education system.

As previously stated, in 2006, Fisher earned accreditation from NCATE, a high achievement. In 2012, the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education achieved NCATE’s continuing accreditation.

NCATE currently accredits 623 institutions, which produce two-thirds of the nation’s new teacher candidates each year. NCATE-accredited schools must meet rigorous professional standards.

The School of Education works diligently to train its future teachers, focusing on social justice and its five related tenets: diversity, achievement, compassion, knowledge, and service. Teacher candidates learn in the classroom, in field experiences, and in clinical practice, working with community partners to gain experience in a variety of educational settings.

“Continuing accreditation speaks to the quality of the programs in the School of Education,” said Interim Dean Michael Wischnowski. “This is an important achievement and inspires us to continue reaching for even higher standards as we produce the educators of tomorrow.”

Page 7: Winter 2013 Collegium

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Education students surprise fifth graders with a classroom makeoverTwo fifth grade classrooms at The Children’s School (School No. 15) in Rochester were in desperate need of a makeover, so 28 Fisher education students set out to make it happen. During two days in early November, Fisher students painted, cleaned, organized, and renovated the rooms, in an effort to have a surprise reveal for the class on Monday, November 5.

Under the guidance of Visiting Instructor Sharon Christman, the 28 students worked with School No. 15 to assess the needs of the students and teachers in order to create a better classroom.

Christman purchased many of the supplies herself, and recruited Lowes in Webster, NY, to support the

renovation by providing materials and supplies at cost. And thanks to a donation from a loyal Fisher parent, all fifth graders received their own white board. A brand new fish tank was also donated to the classroom.

Childhood and Special Education major Kylie Hart ’13 said that as a future teacher, the experience

was invaluable.

“It really helped me think about how I would set up and create my classroom. However, the best thing that I gained from this whole experience was the students’ reaction after the reveal,” she said. “Before we opened the doors to their new classrooms, they could barely contain their excitement. And once the doors opened, it was like Christmas morning.”

Cherie Ward ’13, also a Childhood and Special Education major, said she really enjoyed collaborating on the makeover with her classmates.

“As future teachers, we expect our students to work together, but sometimes we forget what it takes,” she said. “It was nice to see my classmates, professor, and School No. 15 teachers and administration all contributing something different while working towards a common goal.”

Literacy Center profileEach summer, St. John Fisher College hosts the Literacy Center, bringing students from kindergarten through 12th grade to campus to work with graduate teacher candidates from the Master of Science in Literacy program

In the summer of 2012, more than 45 urban, suburban, and rural students were able to experience literacy in a new environment. The Fisher tutors were able to engage students and offer instruction tailored to the learner’s strengths, needs, and interests.

At the same time, the graduate students who serve as tutors are offered an opportunity to investigate research-based literacy practices with high-needs children in a focused, supportive setting.

“The Literacy Center gives us all an opportunity to be creative, take risks, and benefit from the rich surroundings of the College,” said Dr. Kathy Broikou, Director of the Literacy Center. “We are providing a great service to the community while our graduate students are receiving priceless experience working with students.

Fisher’s Literacy Center also offers year-round instruction, with participating students receiving tutoring once a week during the fall and spring programs. Those eligible for the Literacy Center are children and adolescents from school districts in Monroe and surrounding counties.

For further information, go to www.sjfc.edu/academics/education.

Above: A Fisher student working to organize the class library; A happy fifth grader from School No. 15.

Page 8: Winter 2013 Collegium

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Thank YouI joined the Wegmans School of Nursing in 2003 as the director of the small undergraduate and graduate nursing department. In 2006, with the Wegman’s leadership gift that would fund the creation of the Wegmans School of Nursing, I became the founding dean. From the beginning, I was impressed by the model of education for professional nurses at St. John Fisher College. This model has its foundation in the arts and sciences and its focus on preparing graduates to practice in increasingly complex, diverse, economically challenged, and research-based health care organizations. The science of nursing practice is enhanced at Fisher by the values-based education that is rooted in the educational philosophy of the Basilian Fathers. Fisher endeavors to prepare graduates who integrate the basic sciences and humanities with nursing science and who practice a profession of service based on ethical and moral principles. This Fisher tradition and the model of education that they create best serve the professional who practices in a world of challenges, ethical dilemmas, and scientific discovery.

The Wegmans School of Nursing also recognizes the important role it plays in preparing advanced practice nurses and mental health professionals to help fill critical shortages in areas such as primary care, veterans outreach, and mental health services. The focus of the program on expert practice, research, and leadership, combined with the strength of the faculty and the support of this new state-of-

the-art facility, has allowed the school to admit the largest classes in the history of the program and add a new doctoral program in 2008.

The generosity of the Wegman family allowed the Department of Nursing to transition from a program with local prominence to the Wegmans School of Nursing with state, national, and international prominence. Over the last five years, with expanded capacity and the addition of new faculty, the evolution has continued. Despite its growth and changes, the Wegmans School of Nursing has remained true to its professional values and traditions that began long ago in the cadet nursing program that opened during WWII at Alfred University. It continues to distinguish itself as a student-centered program providing excellence in undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral education within the Basilian tradition, and committed to the values of goodness, discipline, and knowledge, which identify a Fisher graduate and a Fisher nurse.

Dr. Dianne Cooney Miner, Dean, Wegmans School of Nursing Contact Dr. Miner at [email protected].

TRANSFORMATION The Wegmans School of Nursing

The Fisher Prime Care Nursing CenterA $1 million grant from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield will fund the creation of the Fisher Prime Care Nursing Center at St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center in Rochester. The Center will provide primary health care, mental health care, social services, and adult education for Rochester’s underserved populations, and will expand educational opportunities for students in the Wegmans School of Nursing. Dr. Dianne Cooney Miner was instrumental in securing the grant.

“Providing access to high quality health care for people who need it is a fundamental part of our mission as a non-profit health plan,” said Christopher Booth, president and chief operating officer of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. “At the same time,

this center will provide valuable training for the nurses who will be caring for all of us in the future.”

As part of the grant, health outcomes will be measured and tracked, with emphasis on following diabetes, cancer screenings, and plans of care around falls, a major issue for elderly patients.

“We welcome this opportunity to partner with St. John Fisher College and Excellus BCBS in our advocacy for the uninsured and also in supporting young nursing professionals to reach their highest potential,” said Christine Wagner, SSJ, head of the neighborhood center. “This is community collaboration at its best.”

Page 9: Winter 2013 Collegium

Nursing goes onlineThis fall marked a first for Fisher as it launched its first fully online program: the RN-to-BS in Nursing Program through the Wegmans School of Nursing.

While Fisher was exploring online education opportunities, the field of nursing was experiencing change. A bill known as “BS in 10,” currently under review in the New York State legislature, would require nurses prepared at the associate degree and diploma levels to complete a bachelor’s degree in nursing within ten years of graduation in order to maintain active licensure.

Dr. Dianne Cooney Miner, Dean of the Wegmans School of Nursing, feels this bill is important to health care. “The bill, along with the Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing Report, which recommends that by 2020, 80 percent of the nursing workforce be baccalaureate-prepared, clearly outlines the need for nurses to advance their education in the interest of quality patient care,” said Dr. Miner.

She added, “We are offering working nurses a convenient and efficient way to achieve that education—in the interest of the profession, of the public we serve, and of ongoing, quality health care.”

The fully accredited program includes a total of nine seven-week modules that typically offer one nursing and one liberal arts course per module. However, each student’s plan of study is individually designed based on previously completed coursework. The coursework focuses on advancing and refining skills in areas such as leadership, ethics, physical assessment, evidence-based practice, patient-centered care, professional portfolio development, caring for diverse populations, and more. In addition, the program has been designed to be completed in as little as 18 months. Courses are taught by current Fisher nursing and arts and sciences faculty.

For more information on the program, visit www.sjfc.edu/academics/nursing/departments/rnbs_online.

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A new addition for the Wegmans School of NursingWith nursing shortages looming and rising demand for the nursing programs at Fisher, the Wegmans School of Nursing is well-positioned to expand its facilities and programs. As the nursing profession focuses on a baccalaureate-prepared work force, the Wegmans School of Nursing is ex-panding its footprint to accommodate the community’s needs.

Construction on a 10,000 square-foot addition to the existing School of Nursing building will begin in the spring. The added space will include classrooms and a state-of-the-art hospital simulation wing so nursing students can get the experience of doing hospital rounds prior to their clinical rotations.

“With our expanded space, we will be able to train more nurses, and provide them with an experiential education early on. After graduation, these nurses will go into our hospitals, nursing homes, and other care facilities and improve the quality of care in

the Rochester region,” says Dr. Marilyn Dollinger, Associate Dean of the Wegmans School of Nursing.

The addition will be located on the north side of the nursing building, adjacent to Pioch Hall.

For more information about the Wegmans School of Nursing, go to www.sjfc.edu/academics/nursing.

New nursing addition

Page 10: Winter 2013 Collegium

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Thank YouAs construction progresses on the Victor E. Salerno Center for American Enterprise, it is easy to see how the Vision 2020 Campaign has impacted the School of Business at St. John Fisher College. Beginning in September 2013, students taking classes in accounting, finance, management, and marketing will enjoy a new state-of-the-art facility, thanks to a Vision 2020 gift from alumnus Vic Salerno ’66.

But as much as the Salerno Center is physical evidence of the success of the Vision 2020 Campaign, we also must look back at the impact of the campaign before the landmark donation. Before the campaign began in 2005, the School of Business had already been established. In fact, the School of Business was the first official school created within St. John Fisher College.

With its prestigious AACSB International accreditation, enrollment grew steadily throughout the period of the Vision 2020 Campaign. New undergraduate programs were added, including finance, marketing, and human resources management, and the master of business administration program was enhanced.

One of the wonderful stories of this campaign was the founding of the Accounting Alumni Society. A group of dedicated School of Business alumni joined forces to create a group of accounting graduates focused on giving back to their alma mater.

We have so many people to thank for the strength of our program and our success, including Victor E. Salerno ’66, Tom Bonadio ’71, Dr. Mac Evarts, and Jim Leo ’71 for their support of our new facility. We also thank the Accounting Alumni Society, founded during this campaign, for their efforts to raise more than $3,500,000. The Accounting Alumni Society is a wonderful example of the caliber of individual that graduates from the School of Business.

Dr. David Martin, Dean, School of Business Contact Dr. Martin at [email protected].

TRANSFORMATION The Bittner School of Business

The Bonadio Group sets exampleSince its founding nearly 35 years ago, The Bonadio Group has grown to become the largest independent CPA and financial services firm in Upstate New York. And Fisher alumni have played a large part in that success. In addition to founder Tom Bonadio, a 1971 alumnus and former chair of the St. John Fisher College Board of Trustees, more than 40 employees at the firm graduated from Fisher. And these alumni have shown their dedication and support for Fisher and The Bonadio Group in a special way.

Fisher alumni employees at The Bonadio Group came together in support of the Vision 2020 Campaign. Under the leadership of Tom Bonadio, the group donated $225,000 to name the main lobby of the Victor E. Salerno Center for American Enterprise. Tom Bonadio kicked off the fundraising efforts by personally committing $100,000 to the fund.

“We bring in Fisher student interns and we hire Fisher graduates,” says Lauren Burns ’81, managing director and owner of Bonadio Payroll Services, a division of The Bonadio Group. “Many of us are graduates ourselves, so we know firsthand the

kind of education students receive at the School of Business. Giving back to our alma mater will support continued excellence.”

Burns was joined by Scott Cresswell ’88, Steve Terrigino ’89, and Gerry Archibald,’74, all partners at The Bonadio Group, to lead the fundraising efforts at the firm.

The Bonadio Group Lobby will greet students, faculty, and visitors as they enter the Salerno Center and will serve as a gathering space for students and a location to host special events.

“Our company’s vision is very much tied to the vision of the School of Business. We have a strong regional presence with offices in Buffalo, Syracuse, and Albany, in addition to our main office here in Rochester, and we pride ourselves on responsible, community-minded, ethical, hard-working employees,” says Burns. “That’s why it was so important to us to name The Bonadio Group Lobby. We wanted to invest in the growth and success of the School of Business and the Salerno Center.”

Page 11: Winter 2013 Collegium

ACCOUNTING FOR GENEROSITY. At the annual Accounting Awards Banquet, the Accounting Alumni Society presented President Bain with a check for $3,552,767 for the Vision 2020 Campaign. The gift is the result of fundraising efforts undertaken by the Accounting Alumni Society. With the leadership gift made by founding member Victor E. Salerno ’66, the Accounting Alumni Society approached alumni at area accounting firms, with strong support from the local community.

Construction on the Victor E. Salerno Center for American Enterprise is underway. The building is a result of the $2 million gift from Victor Salerno

’66 (right), CEO of O’Connell Electric and Vice Chair of the College’s Board of Trustees. It is the largest gift the College has ever received from an alumnus. The building is slated to open in September 2013, and the photo above shows the building’s progress in mid-December.

A Ground Breaking Gift

L-R: President Bain, Jill Knittel ’94, ’03 (MBA), Steve Terrigino ’89, Vic Salerno ’66, Cheryl Yawman ’86, and John Magee ’81.

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Thank YouThe Vision 2020 Campaign has had a transforma- tional impact on the campus and the School of Arts & Sciences. With enhancements to our facilities and equipment, we are now much better equipped to accommodate our students and offer the learning experiences they need and expect.

Steady growth in enrollment had left us with a lack of adequate laboratory space for our science programs. Since each lab has the capacity to provide a finite number of students with an appropriately rich learning experience, increased enrollment made course scheduling increasingly difficult. It became necessary to schedule lab sessions on Saturdays, and we felt this practice was negatively affecting the quality of student life, since many students use this time to participate in a variety of College activities as well as to work. Because of gifts made through the Vision 2020 Campaign, we have been able to expand our laboratory space and offer students more flexibility in planning their schedules.

New technologies and ongoing changes in the media industry highlight the importance of our communication/journalism students becoming proficient writers, professional speakers, and technologically capable practitioners. The addition of the William A. Fay Building has afforded us the space to add an enhanced Mac Multimedia Lab

with the capabilities to allow students to develop their expertise in web design, desktop publishing, video editing, special effects creation, and podcasting.

The Community-Based Service-Learning Program (CBSL), a significant addition to the Fisher student experience, was made possible by a grant through the Vision 2020 Campaign and has provided immediate impact to both students and the Rochester community. This program connects students’ classroom experiences to the activities of local organizations. These partnerships provide students the opportunity to apply their learning while, at the same time, helping these organizations enrich the lives of members of the Rochester community. The Vision 2020 Campaign not only gave CBSL its start through a three-year grant, it also provided course-based service learning with a permanent home at Fisher through subsequent funding support.

Dr. David Pate, Dean, School of Arts & Sciences Contact Dr. Pate at [email protected].

Community-Based Service-Learning teaches Goodness, Discipline, and KnowledgeCommunity-Based Service-Learning at St. John Fisher College integrates service projects in academic courses to enhance student learning, teach civic responsibility, address community needs through meaningful service, and strengthen communities. An outgrowth of Fisher’s commitment to community service through programs like the Service Scholars Program and the First Generation Scholarship Program, CBSL is a growing initiative in the School of Arts & Sciences.

The program was created through a Learn & Service America Grant in 2009. The three-year grant, awarded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, was highly competitive: Fisher was just one of twenty institutions to receive the award out of 250 applicants nationwide. The grant funded a service-learning program for the academic years 2009-2010, 2010-2011, and 2011-2012.

Community partnerships focused on four categories: youth, health care, housing, and Rochester’s Southeast neighborhood.

FAST FACTS ABOUT SERVICE-LEARNING

640 Student participants

50 Participating community partners

38 Service-learning course sections

30 Participating faculty (since 2008)

TRANSFORMATION The School of Arts & Sciences

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For the last few semesters, students in the Service-Learning Initiative Program have been working to develop relationships with three Rochester-based after-school programs through research, mentoring, and teaching. With the 11th highest child poverty rate and a 45.5 percent graduation rate, Rochester needs programs to assist its at-risk youth population.

As support for the Service-Learning Initiative was coming to an end and Fisher’s involvement with the local after-school programs was facing an uncertain future, Dr. Lynn Donahue, Service-Learning Initiative Program Coordinator, received word that the College was the recipient of a grant from the Gannett Foundation and the Democrat and Chronicle Media Group.

“I’m excited that we now have an opportunity to pursue projects that were just in the beginning stages,” said Donahue. “These funds will allow the College and our students to deepen the relationships with the programs, and will give Fisher students the chance to be leaders and apply what they are learning in new ways. The teens will also benefit by working directly with our students and learning how to lead a project.”

Through the Social Change through Service course taught by the Rev. Lee Chase, Fisher students worked with the Monroe Family YMCA to create an entrepreneurship project. The YMCA’s asset-building approach to their program helps teens develop the skills they need to become successful through programs that build social, emotional, physical, and leadership skills.

Over the course of two semesters, Fisher students worked with teens in the YMCA program to create a business. First the Y teens and Fisher students

conducted research on what businesses would be feasible in the Monroe Family YMCA and what members of the facility needed. What they found was that members wanted a quick and healthy snack option while at the Monroe Family Y. With that information, the group created a thorough

business plan and the Smiley Snacks business was founded.

But without additional grant funding, the program was in jeopardy. The group was looking forward to production and marketing of three varieties of Smiley Snacks. When the Gannett Foundation grant was announced, the program was back on track.

The Fisher students and Y program teens worked through the spring semester to create the recipe, to name each snack option, and to prepare and package each of the Smiley Snacks. They also worked to market the program to Y members and began selling the product in April. The program was an immediate success, and as the marketing took off and word spread, sales continued to increase.

In addition to the program at the Monroe Family YMCA, the Gannett grant is providing funds to support two other Service-Learning Program initiatives in Rochester.

Grant brings students & smiles to the YMCA

Students with Dan Hoock (fourth from the left).

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TRANSFORMATION The Wegmans School of Pharmacy

Thank YouThe Wegmans School of Pharmacy became my home just as the Vision 2020 Campaign was being launched. I knew that Fisher was primed for tremendous growth and it was an exciting time to be joining the College. The Rochester community is known to be very philanthropic and the colleges and universities in the region hold stellar reputations. Creating a School of Pharmacy at Fisher with a gift from Robert Wegman was the perfect fit not only for our institution, but for the community as well.

As the Wegmans School of Pharmacy began construction, there was great anticipation, both on campus and in the region. This strong community support helped recruit the best faculty, as they knew they were joining a team that was poised for success.

The inaugural class in the School of Pharmacy was comprised of 55 students from as close as Rochester and as far away as California. Both faculty and students knew the success of the program rested on their shoulders, and how they performed both in the classroom and in the community would establish a standard for the School. They immediately began impacting the community through Wegmans School

of Pharmacy service projects and also quickly earned a strong reputation through their classroom work in local hospitals, nursing homes, and drug stores.

In June, the fourth class of Wegmans School of Pharmacy students will graduate. The program has earned professional accreditation and our alumni have begun their careers as pharmacists. Our donors are the reason why we are able to do the work that we do, and we strive each day to meet the expectations of our benefactors. Thank you to all who have made the Wegmans School of Pharmacy possible.

Dr. Scott Swigart, Dean, Wegmans School of Contact Dr. Swigart at [email protected].

A Pharm.D./MBA collaborationThe School of Business and the Wegmans School of Pharmacy are now offering a new Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.)/MBA joint degree program. The goal of the program is to educate students regarding the role of management within the pharmaceutical industry and health care delivery systems.

As separate degree programs, the pharmacy degree requires completion of 151 credit hours, and the MBA degree requires completion of 30-48 credit hours, depending on previous coursework completed by the student. Up to 18 credit hours of MBA foundation coursework can be waived if the student has completed equivalent coursework as an undergraduate, which reduces the MBA program to the minimum 30 credit hours. The new program allows up to 18 credit hours to be shared between both degree programs.

“This program will add a much needed benefit to our students who are interested in a career in pharmacy

management,” said Dr. Swigart. “It will not only give them a competitive advantage within the pharmacy field, but also the necessary management skills, making them very marketable and unique candidates.”

To be accepted into the program, candidates must first meet the entrance and admissions requirements for the Doctor of Pharmacy program. Students may apply to the joint program after successful completion of their first year in the School of Pharmacy.

“We wanted to extend a program across the disciplines that would both benefit our students and make sense for the College moving forward,” said Dr. David Martin, Dean, School of Business. “We hope the program is embraced by current and future pharmacy students as the demands of the pharmacy profession require excellent management skills more than ever.”

Pharmacy

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How the Vision 2020 Campaign impacted meI became a freshman at Fisher in September of 2003. I chose the College because, as a native of Webster, I knew of its strong academic reputation, and, because it was local, I could continue working part-time at Wegmans, a job I had held throughout high school. My plan was to earn my Fisher degree and apply to pharmacy schools, hoping to get accepted at one of the schools “nearby” in Buffalo or Albany.Then, in 2005, the College made an announcement that has so greatly impacted my life. I can still remember the day I learned that Robert Wegman had made a gift to establish the Wegmans School of Pharmacy at Fisher. Both Fisher and Wegmans had played a big part in my life and my education, and I was excited to know that there was now an opportunity to continue down that path.

It was a great honor to be chosen as a student in the first class of the Wegmans School of Pharmacy. During my four years in the program, I was taught by first-rate faculty and I had the opportunity to learn from the best in the community through my preceptorships. Staying in Rochester to earn my pharmacy degree gave me the opportunity to

be close to my family, and I hope that it has also given me the opportunity to give something back to Rochester as well.

I am now a practicing pharmacist and I have the privilege of being a faculty member in the Wegmans School of Pharmacy. In 2003, I came to Fisher as a proud freshman, and in the last ten years my pride has only grown as I have seen the Vision 2020 Campaign bring the College to even greater heights. The Vision 2020 Campaign gave me an education, opportunity, and a career. I know the students of today and tomorrow will benefit from the generosity displayed during this landmark campaign.

By Dr. Alex DeLucenay

BY THE NUMBERS: SERVICE AT THE WEGMANS SCHOOL OF PHARMACY Since the Wegmans School of Pharmacy opened in 2006, service to the community has been an important part of the daily life of the school. Faculty, staff, and students all participate in service initiatives at home and abroad. Here’s a snapshot of their work:

25,550 The community service hours performed by Wegmans School of Pharmacy students to date.

9 The number of medical mission trips performed by WSOP students. Six trips to El Salvador were led by the WSOP, while three trips to Kenya were performed in partnership with the Wegmans School of Nursing.

17 The number of students that have participated in Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experience (APPE) rotations to the Dominican Republic, India, Honduras, and Kenya.

50 The number of students that have participated in international medical mission trips.

100 The percentage of students that participate in the annual Wegmans School of Pharmacy Service Day every April.

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The Wegman Family Wegmans School of Pharmacy

The Wegman Family Wegmans School of Nursing

The Polisseni FoundationThe Polisseni Track & Field Complex

Victor ’66 & Eileen SalernoThe Victor E. Salerno Center for American Enterprise

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. & the Buffalo BillsThe Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Athletic Center

The Estate of Julie A. FayThe William Fay Building

William J. Pellicano ’80W. J. Pellicano Pavilion

M. Kevin Dugan ’70Dugan Yard Enhancements

R. Wayne LeChaseLeChase Commons

Martin L. Keating ’75Keating Terrace

Dr. Robert E. Ross ’61The Patricia O’ Keefe Ross Gallery

Dominic ’60 & June ’85 PiazzaThe Piazza Conference Room

Joseph S. SkalnyThe Joseph S. Skalny Welcome Center

Vision 2020 Campaign

The Vision 2020 CampaignYour gifts strengthen our future.

We also extend thanks to the following major donors:

Glover-Crask Charitable TrustLackmann Culinary ServicesThe Estate of Mary Agnes McGovernEdward J. Lynd ’56Kilian J. and Caroline F. Schmitt FoundationJosé and Karen CoronasJohn A. (Jack) Palvino ’55Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Inc.George I. Alden Trust

Estate of Paul D. Hogan ’69Alvin F. and Ruth K. Thiem FoundationEstate of Fr. John Cavanaugh, C.S.B.Leon J. Creek ’60Davenport-Hatch Foundation, Inc.Paul E. Mura ’60Estate of Charles A. PiochBarnes & Noble CollegeRochester Gas & Electric

ISION2020

GUIDED BY OUR PAST. BUILDING FOR OUR FUTURE.

James ’71 and Kathleen M. LeoC. McCollister Evarts, M.D.Walter T. ParkesRonald D. Billitier ’88Thomas F. Bonadio ’71Estate of Arthur JenningsMark Wamp

“We extend sincere appreciation to those individuals, organizations, and foundations who have contributed to the success of our Vision 2020 Comprehensive Campaign, which raised over $52 million. These leadership gifts have had a transformational impact on the mission of the College and the lives of our students. The generosity expressed in their support of St. John Fisher College is a tribute to their belief in our past and their confidence in our future.”

~Dr. Donald Bain, President

Job #: 10087678Client/Product: SJFCAd Description: Vision 2020 Campaign Color: CMYK

Art Director: Aaron Live: N/ACopywriter: Trim: 17 x 11Production: Daniel Bleed: N/AMac Operator: DanielAE: Kate

Proof #: 1Publication(s) & Issue Date(s):

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Client

Traffic/Proofreader

Production

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Art Director

Initials Date w/changes

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Creative Director (Copy)

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The Wegman Family Wegmans School of Pharmacy

The Wegman Family Wegmans School of Nursing

The Polisseni FoundationThe Polisseni Track & Field Complex

Victor ’66 & Eileen SalernoThe Victor E. Salerno Center for American Enterprise

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. & the Buffalo BillsThe Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Athletic Center

The Estate of Julie A. FayThe William Fay Building

William J. Pellicano ’80W. J. Pellicano Pavilion

M. Kevin Dugan ’70Dugan Yard Enhancements

R. Wayne LeChaseLeChase Commons

Martin L. Keating ’75Keating Terrace

Dr. Robert E. Ross ’61The Patricia O’ Keefe Ross Gallery

Dominic ’60 & June ’85 PiazzaThe Piazza Conference Room

Joseph S. SkalnyThe Joseph S. Skalny Welcome Center

Vision 2020 Campaign

The Vision 2020 CampaignYour gifts strengthen our future.

We also extend thanks to the following major donors:

Glover-Crask Charitable TrustLackmann Culinary ServicesThe Estate of Mary Agnes McGovernEdward J. Lynd ’56Kilian J. and Caroline F. Schmitt FoundationJosé and Karen CoronasJohn A. (Jack) Palvino ’55Bank of America Charitable Foundation, Inc.George I. Alden Trust

Estate of Paul D. Hogan ’69Alvin F. and Ruth K. Thiem FoundationEstate of Fr. John Cavanaugh, C.S.B.Leon J. Creek ’60Davenport-Hatch Foundation, Inc.Paul E. Mura ’60Estate of Charles A. PiochBarnes & Noble CollegeRochester Gas & Electric

ISION2020

GUIDED BY OUR PAST. BUILDING FOR OUR FUTURE.

James ’71 and Kathleen M. LeoC. McCollister Evarts, M.D.Walter T. ParkesRonald D. Billitier ’88Thomas F. Bonadio ’71Estate of Arthur JenningsMark Wamp

“We extend sincere appreciation to those individuals, organizations, and foundations who have contributed to the success of our Vision 2020 Comprehensive Campaign, which raised over $52 million. These leadership gifts have had a transformational impact on the mission of the College and the lives of our students. The generosity expressed in their support of St. John Fisher College is a tribute to their belief in our past and their confidence in our future.”

~Dr. Donald Bain, President

Job #: 10087678Client/Product: SJFCAd Description: Vision 2020 Campaign Color: CMYK

Art Director: Aaron Live: N/ACopywriter: Trim: 17 x 11Production: Daniel Bleed: N/AMac Operator: DanielAE: Kate

Proof #: 1Publication(s) & Issue Date(s):

Internal Route

Client

Traffic/Proofreader

Production

Copywriter

Art Director

Initials Date w/changes

Creative Director (Art)

Creative Director (Copy)

Account Executive

Mac Supervisor

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On December 10, the College brought together Vision 2020 Campaign donors for a celebratory gala. Held

at the Wegmans Market Street complex in Rochester, the evening highlighted the great generosity of donors and the transformative success of the largest campaign in the history of the College.

Dr. Bain revealed the campaign results in front of a crowd of more than 300 donors, alumni, community members, faculty, staff, and friends of the College. Robin DeWind, Sports Director at News10 NBC and member of the Class of 1985, served as the emcee. At the opening of the campaign in 2006, President Bain set the goal at $50 million. The campaign team raised an impressive $52,112,552.00.

“From the outset, the Vision 2020 Campaign was designed as the blueprint for the strategically planned and managed growth of the College; for enhancing the academic programs and facilities; and for strengthening Fisher’s endowment,” said President Bain. “I am pleased to say that we have been successful on all of these fronts.”

Trustee Marty Keating ’75 served as the Chair of the Vision 2020 Campaign and Trustee Wanda Polisseni served as the Honorary Chair.

Board Chair Mike Goonan, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), reflected on Fisher’s 64-year history, including the first-ever capital campaign, which had a $1 million goal in 1947. “The most important similarity between 1948 and today is the confidence that the Rochester community has in the College,” he said. “What we all have in common is a strong belief in this institution and its mission.”

L-R: Robin DeWind ’85, Marty Keating ’75, Mike Goonan ’75, President Bain, Wanda Polisseni, and Vic Salerno ’66 announcing the Vision 2020 Campaign total.

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L-R: Bill Pellicano ’80, Tracy Pellicano, Kevin Dugan ’70, and Wanda Polisseni; Vic Salerno ’66, Eileen Salerno, Meg Bain, and President Bain; Marty Keating ’75; Frederic and Mary Ann Skalny; Jack Palvino ’55, Patti Walsh, Dom PIazza ’60, and Rick Walsh ’75; President Bain.

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The Graduate Programs at St. John Fisher College

MBA MS in Mental Health Counseling MS in Advanced Practice Nursing MS in Special Education MS in Adolescence Education/Special Education Doctor of Education in Executive MS in Childhood Education/Special Education Leadership (Offered at Fisher and MS in Educational Leadership our extension site at The College MS in International Studies of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY MS in Literacy Education Doctor of Nursing Practice MS in Math/Science/Technology Education Doctor of Pharmacy

For more information about Fisher’s graduate programs, visit www.sjfc.edu/graduate, call (585) 385-8161, or email [email protected].

TA K E Y O U R C A R E E R T O T H E N E X T L E V E L .

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Dear Friends:As many of you know, I had the distinct honor of being the Chair of the Vision 2020 Comprehensive Campaign. As Chair, as an alumnus, and as a trustee, I was pleased and proud to stand on the stage at the gala when Dr. Bain announced that the Campaign had in fact exceeded its goal!

As I did that evening, I would like to thank a number of people who helped make our $50 million dream a reality.

• First, my heartfelt thanks go to the Wegman family, whose vision and generosity set the stage for the rest of the campaign. Just think how many lives will be affected and changed for the better by all the nurses and pharmacists who will graduate year in and year out from the Schools of Nursing and Pharmacy;

• Many thanks to my Co-Chair, Wanda Polisseni, and her family for their leadership gift that changed the face of athletics at Fisher. Ponder for a moment the joy and camaraderie that will be shared on our new athletic fields, thanks to the Polisseni family in loving memory of their dad;

• My thanks to the Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees, Vic Salerno, for understanding the needs of our students and responding with his heart. Envision the ethical young men and women who will enter the business community to serve our society, thanks to Vic and his family.

• And finally, my thanks to all the families and donors—big and small—for their gifts, their thoughts, and the love they have shown to the College and the great city it serves.

The genesis of St. John Fisher College had its roots nearly 70 years ago when a building fund for a Catholic men’s college took shape in the living rooms and offices of the people of the Rochester Diocese. This initiative was started at the bequest of then Bishop James Kearney to serve the needs of the young men of the Rochester community. Father Hugh Haffey and the Basilian Fathers were tapped to fulfill that dream. The building drive drew funds from as far away as New York City, where then Cardinal Spellman and the New York Archdiocese wrote a check for 10% of the money needed to break ground for the “college on the hill,” which later became St. John Fisher College.

Ten years later, Father “Charlie” Lavery asked our own Jack Palvino and Leon Lesniak of the Class of 1955 to run the first Alumni Drive to meet the goals of a matching grant. There was one caveat, however; they needed 100% participation from the first graduating class to get the matching grant. Thanks to their perseverance, they achieved 100% participation and so began alumni giving at St John Fisher College.

A number of people have asked why I have given to Fisher for over thirty years. The answer is easy—I just think about five wonderful people in my life.

The first is Bill Baker, who was the Vice President of Finance at Fisher, and the man who took me under his wing as a freshman and taught me principles that would guide my business career, as he did for so many others in his two-decade career at the College. I started the Bill Baker Scholarship in 1980 with a $250.00 check. Like the story of the loaves and fishes, the Baker Scholarship has helped countless students for 32 years in Bill’s honor.

Next are Laura Cramer and Mildred Boylan, after whom I funded the Boylan-Cramer Scholarship for Diversity. Laura Cramer taught me so much about respect for the equality of women in our society. And Mildred Boylan taught me and hundreds of others the importance of being a complete person based on love of education and the ability to speak one’s mind.

But the most important scholarship for me is the one dictated to my parents and, in particular, my mom, the Margaret C. and Thomas F. Keating Scholarship. My mom loved seeing me develop into a young man who consistently amazed my dad with the attitude of service instilled in me at St. John Fisher College.

To all who have contributed to the Vision 2020 Campaign, I say “thank you.” To those who have benefited from the generosity of our donors, I ask that you honor the memory of those before you and continue to give back in all you do in life so others many benefit from your Fisher experience.

Marty Keating ’75 Chair, Vision 2020 Campaign

FROM THE CAMPAIGN CHAIR

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The Graduate Programs at St. John Fisher College

MBA MS in Mental Health Counseling MS in Advanced Practice Nursing MS in Special Education MS in Adolescence Education/Special Education Doctor of Education in Executive MS in Childhood Education/Special Education Leadership (Offered at Fisher and MS in Educational Leadership our extension site at The College MS in International Studies of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY MS in Literacy Education Doctor of Nursing Practice MS in Math/Science/Technology Education Doctor of Pharmacy

For more information about Fisher’s graduate programs, visit www.sjfc.edu/graduate, call (585) 385-8161, or email [email protected].

TA K E Y O U R C A R E E R T O T H E N E X T L E V E L .

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During the Vision 2020 Campaign, more than 80 new scholarships were created. As endowed funds, the impact of those gifts will continue for generations. Once a scholarship is established by a donor, it must

become endowed at $20,000 before being awarded, a process that can take years. With the help of alumni, family, and friends, two very special scholarships were quickly endowed, and are already supporting Fisher students. Their stories are shared here.

SCHOLARSHIP IMPACT

Kaitlyn MannixKaitlyn Mannix has focus, dedication, compassion, and plenty of drive to accomplish great things. What she doesn’t have is time. Kaitlyn is in her junior year in the Wegmans School of Nursing and is also a Service Scholar. “I have always wanted to be a nurse, and community service is important to me. That made Fisher a perfect fit,” says the Palmyra, NY, native.

Kaitlyn was excited to begin her junior year in the program, knowing that she’d be getting hands-on experience through her clinical rotations. But as she began to work through the list of things she needed to purchase, she began to get nervous. “I spent over $1,000 in books alone,” she recalls. “I also needed to buy my stethoscope, two uniforms, special sneakers for the hospital, and my professional name tag. It added up quickly.” Between her nursing and community service commitments, Kaitlyn knew there was little time to add more hours to her part-time job. “When I was told I had received the Tristan Foley Hanna Scholarship, I was so relieved.” When she was able to meet Bob Curtis, one of the founding donors of the Hanna Scholarship, she discovered another layer of meaning.

The scholarship was started in September 2011 in honor of Tristan Foley Hanna, a graduate of the Fisher nursing program, who had died in a car accident in North Carolina in 2007. Bob Curtis had worked with Brendan Hanna, Tristan’s father, to create the fund. “I was able to speak with Mr. Curtis for a while,” recalls Kaitlyn. “It made the gift that much more important.”

Kaitlyn hopes to become a nurse practitioner, and has enjoyed her time working in pediatrics and labor and delivery.

Reesha Quinones-SmithIn 2010, Mark ’77 and Mary ’78 Muench created the Mark & Mary Muench Scholarship as a gift to the Vision 2020 Campaign. An avid Fisher supporter, Mark was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2008. As he and Mary fought the disease, classmates and friends quickly helped raise funds to reach the $20,000 scholarship endowment minimum.

Reesha Quinones-Smith has been the grateful Muench Scholarship recipient for the past two years. “Receiving this scholarship has made it possible for me to be a Fisher student,” said the junior communication/journalism and digital cultures major. “I am here because of this scholarship.”

Reesha is a student in the First Generation Scholars Program, which means that she devotes a lot of time to tutoring and volunteering at local schools. “The scholarship allows me to focus on my academics and community service. Receiving the Muench Scholarship gave me the opportunity to study at Fisher and pursue my dreams.”

As she nears her senior year, Reesha is exploring the future. “I had the opportunity to meet Mark and Mary Muench, thank them for their gift, and tell them how they have changed my life,” recalls Reesha. “They are wonderful, open, and caring people and I hope to do all I can to live up to their example.”

21

Kaitlyn Mannix and Dr. Bob Curtis at the annual Scholarship Dinner.

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Annual golf tournament to celebrate 25 yearsThe Scholarship Golf Tournament was created 25 years ago to raise funds for the Charles & Eleanor Lavery Memorial Scholarship and, after his passing in 1988, for the Rev. Joseph B. Dorsey Memorial Scholarship. What began as an outing on the nine-hole Fisher golf course has now become a full-day premier event at the famed Oak Hill Country Club. Funds raised from the tournament support all private scholarships, such as the Mark & Mary Muench Scholarship and the Tristan Foley Hanna Scholarship.

Since the start of the Vision 2020 Campaign, the Scholarship Golf Tournament has raised more than $750,000 in support of Fisher scholarships, with $130,000 raised last year alone. The event draws annual support from alumni, trustees, and local businesses and organizations. The Theodore & Cashmere M. Mendick Foundation has generously served as the presenting sponsors for more than a decade.

The tournament is remarkable not only in the amount of money it has raised over the years, and the loyal sponsorship support, but also in the dedicated volunteer support it receives. It is an event that brings together College leaders, the Basilian Fathers, students, alumni, and community members.

The 2013 Scholarship Golf Tournament will be held at Oak Hill Country Club, just two months prior to the PGA Championship, and course conditions are sure to be top-notch, just right for celebrating the tournament’s silver anniversary.

2012 TOURNAMENT SPONSORS

PRESENTING SPONSOR The Theodore & Cashmere M. Mendick Foundation

GOLD SPONSOR Alesco Advisors LeChase Construction

SILVER SPONSOR Basilian Fathers of East Rochester

BRONZE SPONSOR Martin Moll, Jr. ’82 McAlpin Industries USA Payroll Monroe Roadways Mark ’77 & Mary ’78 Muench O’Connell Electric The Bonadio Group Barnes & Noble Lackmann Culinary Services Rochester Rigging & Erectors, Inc. Joe L. Cook The Bank of Castile Marsh USA, Inc./Travelers Precision Packaging Products, Inc.

Manning Squires Hennig Co., Inc. Leo J. Roth Corporation M&T Bank Billitier Electric

GOLD TEE SPONSOR T.Y. Lin International

SILVER TEE SPONSOR Brown & Brown of NY, Inc. Tom ’76 and Teri ’81 D’Agostino Chuck Constantino Harris Beach, PLLC ProCarpet, Inc.

BRONZE TEE SPONSOR B&L Wholesale Supply Manning & Napier Advisors, LLC Hartman Consulting, LLC Cambridge Financial Services Manitou Construction Covered Wagon Tours, LLC Apple Transportation, Inc. Hillyard, Inc. Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Chubb Group of Insurance Companies M/E Engineering

CART SPONSOR J.T. Mauro Co, Inc.

TEE SPONSORWhitney & Company Investment Management, a division of W.G. Shaheen & Associates

Top: President Bain accepts a check from Peter Mendick and the Mendick Foundation. Bottom: Golf coach Bob Simms and members of the Fisher golf team with golfers at Oak Hill.

The 25th annual Scholarship Golf Tournament will be held on

June 10, 2013. For registration or information on sponsorship opportunities, contact Elizabeth Dorscheid: 585-385-8134 · [email protected]

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NATIONAL RECOGNITION

Fisher has had a strong reputation in Rochester and Upstate New York since the first class graduated in

1955. During the Vision 2020 Campaign, the College has been recognized numerous times on the national level by a number of print and online publications, as well as a government agency.

Fisher named to “Fastest-Growing Campuses” listFisher has been recognized on the “Fastest-Growing Campuses” list published by The Chronicle of Higher Education.

The list was included in the Chronicle’s Almanac 2012-13 issue, and Fisher was ranked number 11 in the top 20 fastest-growing private non-profit research institutions in the nation. The rankings analyze enrollment from fall of 2000 through fall of 2010. During that time period, Fisher’s total enrollment grew from 2,739 (2000) to 4,020 (2010), an increase of 46.8 percent.

Fisher was the only upstate/western New York college included in the list, which also ranked public research institutions, public master’s institutions, and private non-profit master’s institutions.

“Our campus has seen unprecedented growth over the last decade, due to our increasing enrollment and interest in the College,” said President Bain. “Being recognized on this list is exciting for us, as our focus has always been on program expansion, strong academic initiatives, and a student-centered learning environment. As we continue to grow, we will keep that focus–and our mission–at the forefront of everything we do.”

Forbes.comSt. John Fisher College has been cited on the fifth annual list of America’s Top Colleges published by Forbes.com. Of the approximately 3,000 accredited colleges and universities in the United States, this report ranks 650 undergraduate institutions based on the quality of the education they provide and how much their students achieve.

Fisher was ranked number 440 out of 650. Of those 650 schools, 56 are in New York State. The only other Rochester-based schools included on this list are the University of Rochester (100), Hobart and William Smith Colleges (134), SUNY Geneseo (322), and Rochester Institute of Technology (551).

The rankings are compiled by the Center for College Affordability & Productivity (CCAP). The CCAP and Forbes use five general categories to rank each school, including student satisfaction, post-graduate success, student debt, four-year graduation rates, and academic success.

“This recognition from Forbes.com is the result of the hard work and dedication of the entire campus community,” said President Bain. “Our focus has always been on the centrality of the liberal arts, while offering excellent professional degrees in several academic disciplines. We provide a student-centered educational environment and a strong commitment to lifelong learning.”

U.S. News & World ReportFor the second year in a row, St. John Fisher College has been named to the list of America’s Best Colleges 2013 in the National Universities category by U.S. News & World Report.

In fall 2011, Fisher was moved into the National Universities category as a result of a reclassification by the Carnegie Foundation. Schools in this category offer a full range of undergraduate majors, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees. Many schools also strongly emphasize research, and are defined by the Carnegie Foundation as Research Universities (very high research activity), Research Universities (high research activity), and Doctoral/Research Universities (DRU). Fisher’s classification was changed to the DRU category, and the College ranked 151 out of 204 for 2013. Of the 81 DRU institutions that received a rank on the National Universities list, only 33 – including Fisher – were in the top-tier ranking.

Sports IllustratedThis past July, the Buffalo Bills Training Camp at St. John Fisher College was recognized on the “Top Ten Training Camp Site” list, published by Sports Illustrated.

The list cited the camp at Fisher as the “classic old-style football camp” where there are “fans on top of

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players in modern bleachers.” Additionally, it said “because the fans treat the players like community treasures, the Bills treat the fans with the same respect. Great vibe there. And a very nice souvenir tent.”

Sports Illustrated released the list online in July 2012. Also included were training camps for the New York Giants (University at Albany), Chicago Bears (Olivet Nazarene University), Dallas Cowboys (River Ridge Playing Fields), Kansas City Chiefs (Missouri Western State University), Minnesota Vikings (Blakeslee Stadium), Carolina Panthers (Wofford College), Philadelphia Eagles (Lehigh University), and Arizona Cardinals (Northern Arizona University). The Pittsburgh Steelers training camp at Saint Vincent College took the top spot.

“This ranking is great news for us, and reinforces the wonderful partnership that we have enjoyed with the team,” President Bain said regarding the College’s 13-year partnership with the Buffalo Bills.

The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor RollThe Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and the U.S. Department of Education recently honored the nation’s leading colleges and universities, students, faculty members, and staff for their commitment to bettering their communities through community service and service learning. St. John Fisher College was admitted to the Honor Roll for the sixth time for its work both locally and globally.

“Through service, these institutions are creating the next generation of leaders by challenging students to tackle tough issues and create positive impacts in the community,” said Robert Velasco, Acting CEO of CNCS. “We applaud the Honor Roll schools, and their faculty and students for their commitment to make service a priority in and out of the classroom. Together, service and learning increase civic engagement, while fostering social innovation among students, empowering them to solve challenges within their communities.”

The President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll recognizes higher education institutions that reflect the values of exemplary community service and achieve meaningful outcomes in their communities.

“It is an honor for the College to be recognized for service to the Rochester community,” said President Bain. “We are dedicated to our mission of helping men and women build lives, create careers, and serve the community. We take great pride in our students and alumni, along with their commitment to service, that are central to the spirit of the College.”

The Corporation for National and Community Service, which has administered the Honor Roll since 2006, admitted a total of 642 colleges and universities for their impact on issues from literacy and neighborhood revitalization to supporting at-risk youth. Of that total, 513 were named to the Honor Roll, 110 received the recognition of Honor Roll with distinction, 14 were identified as finalists, and five received the Presidential Award.

The “Most Over-Performing Colleges”St. John Fisher College has been included in the “Most Over-Performing Colleges” list by U.S. News & World Report. Only schools that were numerically ranked National Universities in the Best Colleges 2013 rankings were included in this analysis.

U.S. News compared academic peer assessment scores to key academic indicators when compiling the list. Fisher’s strong academic indicators—admissions selectivity, financial and faculty resources, alumni giving, and graduation and retention rates—outpaces our academic peer assessment. The academic peer assessment is a national survey that is subjective in nature.

Like Fisher, many of the over-performers on this new list are relatively small doctoral universities that have a regional presence and reputation.

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FISHER ATHLETICS

The Vision 2020 Campaign has greatly impacted Fisher athletics. In 2009, the Athletic

Department at Fisher engaged in a strategic planning process, focusing on program growth and facilities needs for the coming decade. That process resulted in the identification of several priorities.

At the time, Fisher offered fewer NCAA Division III athletic teams than every other institution in the Empire 8, the College’s athletic conference. Also, the growth of the Fisher student population brought increased traffic to the fitness facilities and a greater demand for recreation and intramural space.

With the announcement of the gift from the Polisseni Foundation for the construction of the Polisseni Track & Field Complex came the opportunity for the College to address many of the issues brought forward by the Athletic Department. An additional athletic field would help alleviate some of the demands for practice and intramural space, and it would also give the College the opportunity to recruit a new pool of student athletes.

With the Polisseni Track & Field Complex came seven new NCAA Division III athletic teams: men’s and women’s indoor and outdoor track and field, men’s and women’s cross country, and field hockey.

The Vision 2020 Campaign also helped to enhance

Dugan Yard, our baseball complex. Thanks to the ongoing generosity of Kevin Dugan ’70, we boast one of the finest collegiate baseball facilities in New York State, with a club house, a training facility and press box, outfield wind screens, and a grandstand. The investment in the facility has brought great returns for our baseball team. In 2012, the Cardinals had an outstanding season with a 31-12 record, tying the single-season College record for wins with the 2010 team, and finishing third in the Mid-Atlantic Regional of the NCAA Championship, defeating the No. 1 team in the country in the process.

The Vision 2020 Campaign has brought us improved facilities and additional athletic programs. These facilities and programs are attracting more young men and women that are great athletes, great students, and future leaders.

Bob Ward, Director, St. John Fisher College Athletic Department Contact Bob Ward at [email protected].

The Polisseni Track & Field Complex attracts great student-athletes“I remember the tour Coach [Mike] Henchen gave me of the athletic facilities when I first visited Fisher as a high school student,” recalls Cody Schweickert ’16. “When we got to the new Polisseni Track & Field Complex, he didn’t say much. He didn’t have to. It was love at first sight.”

Cody, a political science and English major from Springville, NY, is a great example of how the new athletic facility fits perfectly into the mission of Fisher. He is a long jumper, hurdler, and sprinter on the men’s track and field squad, as well as a First Generation Scholar, and an excellent student. “Education was my top priority in choosing a college, but my love for track and field had me hoping for the total package, a school that could offer it all. Fisher’s new track program and facilities fulfilled my hope.”

Cody was the type of student that every college wants: a member of the National Honor Society, the student representative to the Springville Board of Education, MVP of

his track and field team two years in a row, a record-breaker in the pentathlon and high jump, and a member of the 2011 New York State scholar-athlete football team. But he chose Fisher, impressed by the academic offerings and the opportunity to compete at the Polisseni Track & Field Complex.

The Polisseni gift and Fisher’s investment in recruiting has brought Cody, and many other young men and women like him, to Fisher. As much as the Vision 2020 Campaign impacted Cody’s future, Cody is also sure to impact Fisher, both on and off the field. “Any performance of mine that represents Fisher in a positive way will mean a great deal to me, and hopefully to the College.”

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Fisher dedicates Dugan Yard GrandstandMembers of the Dugan family, Fisher administrators, and the Fisher baseball team gathered this summer at Dugan Yard to dedicate the new grandstand. Dugan Yard, first built and dedicated in October 2000, was enhanced by a new grandstand with bleachers for the fans and additional storage for the baseball team.

During the ceremony, Trustee Kevin Dugan ’70 was presented with a framed baseball jersey and named an honorary member of the Cardinals baseball team. Dugan Yard is named for Kevin Dugan’s father, Donald Dugan, who was an avid baseball fan.

Above: Kevin Dugan ’70 . Bottom: (l-r) Bob Ward, Athletic Director; Gerry Rooney, Executive Vice President for Enrollment, Advancement, and Planning; President Bain; Kevin Dugan with members of the Dugan family; Kieran Murphy, member of the baseball team; and Brandon Potter, Head Coach of the baseball team.

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Nearly 40 years ago, Lavery Library opened its doors to support the academic pursuits of Fisher’s 2,000 undergraduate students. With three levels, the library was a welcome addition to the growing campus. The

library had formerly been housed in an increasingly cramped space on the third floor of Kearney Hall.

During the Vision 2020 Campaign, the library has received both cosmetic and program enhancements to accommodate an undergraduate and graduate student population of more than 4,000. An enclosed walkway was constructed on the outside of the library, giving the structure an updated façade overlooking LeChase Commons. Changes were made to the inside of the library, as well.

Digitize the OversizeGrants from the Rochester Regional Library Council and the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration are aiding Lavery Library’s “Digitize the Oversize” program. The College has been able to digitize twenty oversized scrapbooks dating from 1947-1985, documenting the origination and history of the College. In addition, the College has created searchable, digital files of more than 340 anti-slavery newspapers, including those published by Frederick Douglass. Lavery Library will make these pieces available for viewing on the Internet

The Learning Commons @ Lavery LibraryA grant from the Booth Ferris Foundation created the 3,000-square foot Learning Commons on the main level of Lavery Library. The space provides additional PCs for student use and adds a number of Mac computers, which were previously not available in the library, along with on-site computer support. A hub of student activity, the Learning Commons @ Lavery Library also features group workstations. Since the Learning Commons opened, library attendance has increased more than 30 percent.

Szarejko AwardThe Dr. Mark Szarejko Faculty Information Literacy Award was created to recognize a St. John Fisher College faculty member who actively supports information literacy. Recipients are Dr. Sue Schultz, Dr. Steve Brauer, and Dr. Kristen Picardo. This award is named for Dr. Mark Szarejko ’80 in recognition of his support of the library.

LAVERY LIBRARY FACTSIn the fall 2012 semester, the library was busiest on Tuesdays at 1 p.m.

This semester, enough people entered the library to fill Ralph Wilson Stadium 1.7 times.

Since May 2012, library staff have provided more than 1,800 hours of expert help to members of the Fisher community.

Since the launch of Fisher Digital Publications at the end of October, 55 pieces of faculty scholarship have been added and downloaded more than 235 times from visitors around the world.

The most popular book in the last two years is Downsiders by Neal Shusterman.

Lavery Library

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The Wall of VisionariesThroughout the Vision 2020 Campaign, Fisher Fund gifts were an important and steady source of support to all areas of the College. Contributions made through the College’s annual fund drive totaled more than $8 million throughout the six years of the campaign.

To honor the role that Fisher Fund donors played in this historic campaign, the College created the Wall of Visionaries, a permanent display in the Lavery Library Commons. Fisher Fund gifts greater than $250, given between June 2011 and May 2012, are recognized on personalized blocks on the Wall of Visionaries.

Unveiled in October 2012, the Wall of Visionaries includes 727 blocks with donor names and personalized messages.

“Donors were excited to be a part of the Vision 2020 Campaign and have their contribution recognized on campus,” said Tom D’Agostino ’75, Assistant Vice President of Institutional Advancement. “The Wall of Visionaries is a permanent part of campus and will honor the important role played by Fisher Fund donors in the Vision 2020 Campaign.”

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CAMPUSNEWS

Fall Sports Roundup

FOOTBALL. The St. John Fisher College football program finished another sensational season. In November, the Cardinals won the 2012 ECAC Northwest Championship Bowl, with a 63-7 win over Vermont’s Castleton State College.

With the win, Fisher finished the 2012 season with an 8-3 overall record (Fisher’s 11th consecutive winning season). It is the 10th straight year Fisher has advanced to the postseason and makes the Cardinals 5-1 all-time in ECAC Bowl games.

Eleven players earned All-Conference honors, including junior running back Cody Miller, who became just the fifth player in Fisher history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a season. Preseason All-American Troy Sant led the Fisher defense, ranking second in the nation with seven interceptions and finishing his career with 14, tying the College’s all-time record.

MEN’S SOCCER. The St. John Fisher College men’s soccer program proved all doubters wrong in 2012. After two consecutive seasons posting just three wins and being picked to finish last in the Empire 8 preseason poll, the Cardinals finished second in

the conference standings and posted a 10-5-3 overall record. Fisher’s Rob Searl was named the Empire 8 Conference Coach of the Year.

FIELD HOCKEY. Playing in just its second season, the Fisher field hockey program qualified for the Empire 8 Conference Championship. Led by Empire 8 Coach of the Year Tarah Christensen, Fisher tripled its win total from its inaugural season, despite playing with a roster composed entirely of freshmen and sophomores.

WOMEN’S SOCCER. The St. John Fisher College women’s soccer team defeated top-seeded College at Brockport 3-2 in the finals of the ECAC Upstate Championship and finished the 2012 season with a 9-7-5 overall record. It is the second postseason title for the Cardinals in the last six years, and is the best winning percentage by a Fisher team since 1995.

WINTER SPORTS. Stay up-to-date on winter sports and preview spring sports at www.sjfc.edu/athletics.

THE GIANT READ

On Friday, December 7, 2012, Fisher student-athletes participated in the Giant Read, an annual event that is part of the READ: Hope in Action Program. The athletes traveled to General Elwell S. Otis School No. 30 to read the book “The Lion and the Little Red Bird” by Elisa Kleven.

The trip was organized by Fisher’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and is part of a much larger effort with other Rochester area universities. In addition to reading, the Cardinals helped the first graders complete a reflection activity and discussed their respective sports.29

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CAMPUSNEWS

College announces leadership appointments President Bain recently announced leadership appointments at St. John Fisher College. “The senior leadership of the College will continue to work hand-in-hand with the entire campus community to move our great institution forward, always keeping ahead of the competition and being mindful of the needs of our students,” he said.

Jacqueline S. DiStefano, C.P.A., has been hired as Vice President for Finance and Business and Chief Financial Officer.

DiStefano comes to Fisher from the State University of New York at New Paltz, where she served as the Vice President for Finance and Administration for the past four years. Prior to her tenure at New Paltz, she held financial positions at Skidmore College, the University at Albany, Excelsior College, and the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering at the University at Albany.

Eileen Lynd-Balta, Ph.D., Professor of Biology and formerly the Chair of the Biology Department, has been named Interim Provost and Dean of the College. Lynd-Balta fills the position vacated by Dr. Ronald Ambrosetti, who left Fisher to become President of Our Lady of Holy Cross College in New Orleans.

Over the last 18 months, Lynd-Balta co-chaired the Strategic Planning Committee and led the “Foundations of Excellence, Student Success, and Retention” initiative, which is a comprehensive, evidence-based self-study of all aspects of the first year of college, with the goal of finding ways to improve first-to-second-year retention.

Gerard J. Rooney, Ph.D., formerly the Senior Vice President for Enrollment Management and Planning, has been promoted to Executive Vice President for Enrollment, Advancement, and Planning. In addition to his previous duties in the areas of enrollment and strategic planning, Rooney has assumed responsibility for institutional advancement and alumni relations. Dr. Bill O’Connor, who had previously served as Vice President for Institutional Advancement, left Fisher to serve as the Executive Vice President of the United States Naval Academy Foundation in Annapolis, MD.

Rooney has been with the College since 1996, when he served as Director of Enrollment Management.

Douglas Stewart has been named the Assistant Vice President for Human Resources for the College.

Prior to joining Fisher, Stewart was the Human Resources Compliance Officer and Manager of Benefit Programs for Textron, Inc., one of the world’s best known multi-industry companies, with approximately 32,000 employees and a presence in 25 countries.

Michael Wischnowski, Ph.D., has been named Interim Dean of the School of Education. Wischnowski fills the position left by Dr. Wendy Paterson. Wischnowski has been at Fisher for nearly a decade, and formerly served as associate professor in the Doctoral Program in Executive Leadership.

Class NotesThis edition’s Class Notes section is featured online. Stay in touch with the latest news from your classmates by going to www.sjfc.edu/alumni/classnotes.dot.

Be sure to share news of your marriage, your child’s arrival, a career highlight, or recognition by submitting a Class Notes form at www.sjfc.edu/alumni/news.

FISHER ALUMS ON FACEBOOK Keep connected with fellow alumni on Facebook. Click “like” at www.facebook/FisherAlums. See the latest Fisher alumni stories, news, and events!

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Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDRochester, N.Y.Permit No. 1317

3690 East AvenueRochester, NY 14618

FISHER THEN

This photo was taken at the Eastman Theater in Rochester in the late 1940s. On a

visit from New York City, Cardinal Francis Spellman (center), surprised

Rev. Hugh Haffey and other campaign volunteers with a check for $25,000 to

initiate fundraising for the creation of St. John Fisher College. The campaign would

go on to raise an astounding $1 million. (L-R: Bishop James E. Kearney, Otto Shults,

Cardinal Spellman, and Joseph Myler. )