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Winter 2014 issue of the St. John Fisher College alumni magazine

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Winter 2014 Collegium
Page 2: Winter 2014 Collegium

Messa

ge fr

om th

e Presi

dent

Dona

ld E

. Bain

, Ph.D.

Dear Alumni, Friends, and Colleagues: We have turned the corner on yet another academic year. Though we’ve been shoveling more snow and fighting colder temperatures than normal thus far this winter, I am always encouraged to know that, when this semester comes to a close, we will see buds on the trees and flowers blooming across campus. And, of course, we will see another class of students become alumni.

The fall semester was filled with great accomplishments, and we started the year off strong. In the last issue of Collegium, we shared with you our rankings on the U.S. News & World Report America’s Best College 2014 list, the Forbes.com annual list of America’s Top Colleges, and the 2014 Military Friendly Schools list. The College recently received one more honor, as we were recognized by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance as a best value private college.

The spring semester always seems to focus on service to others. The Teddi Dance for Love, Relay for Life, Project Community Convergence, and the annual service trip, this year to Jamaica, are traditional campus events that so beautifully illustrate the spirit of community and caring that is the backbone of the Fisher community. I am proud that, while our students are focused on success in the classroom, they are also committed to improving the lives of those less fortunate.

We have nearly 4,000 students on campus, with over 800 faculty and staff focused on providing the best possible experience—in and out of the classroom—for these young men and women. In this edition of Collegium, you will see some of the “behind the scenes” photos of these people who make Fisher a top-tier institution and a wonderful place to work.

With kind regards,

Donald E. Bain, Ph.D.President

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Page 3: Winter 2014 Collegium

COLLEGIUM

Winter 2014. 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-CHIEF Maherly Schaeffer ’98

LAYOUT Maherly Schaeffer ’98

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Donald E. Bain, Ph.D. Anne Geer Samantha Reynolds ’14 Maherly Schaeffer ’98 Kate Torok

PHOTOGRAPHY Annette Dragon Photography John Smillie Photography Nick Donovan Maherly Schaeffer ’98 Kate Torok Eryn Yates

FEATURES16 Around the Clock

at Fisher

DEPARTmENTS3 Campus News

11 Academics

27 Class Notes

33 Athletics

Page 5

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Page 4: Winter 2014 Collegium

#FisherCares initiative launchesNearly everywhere you look on campus, you can find a sign promoting #FisherCares. But what exactly does it mean?

Amanda Nasso and Kara Crosson, Residence Directors, say the initiative was established by staff members in the Division of Student Affairs and Diversity Initiatives as a way to continue Fisher’s “ethic of caring” that students experience on a daily basis across campus. The Office of Residential Life worked through summer 2013 to plan the various parts of the program, and it was launched during Orientation Weekend and upper-class move-in.

“It is our hope that #FisherCares will serve as a means to further integrate the values of the Fisher Creed into our daily interactions with others in an effort to promote a community that is safe and welcoming for everyone,” said Nasso.

“On campus, we regularly talk about the ‘Fisher family.’ Once you are part of it, you understand what that concept involves but, to our new students, it’s often hard to convey the level of kindness and caring that our community has for one another,” said Crosson. “This initiative showcases some of the great things that were already taking place on our campus, and brings groups of students, faculty, and staff together to celebrate what makes St. John Fisher College a special place to study, work, and live. Our hope is that the spirit of Fisher continues to flourish through this initiative.”

Over the course of the academic year, #FisherCares organizers have used Twitter and

Instagram to connect with students to share things happening on campus that highlight the Fisher community of caring.

On November 12 - 11/12/13 - the group held #FisherCares Day, using the Campus Center Mainstage as headquarters for several different campus service projects. Tables were set up for

students to stop in and donate canned goods, write letters to soldiers serving overseas, and many other initiatives (see “By the Numbers”).

As the spring semester moves forward, #FisherCares will continue to share the big and little things that make Fisher a wonderful place: pop-up breakfasts for residents and commuters on their walk into class and recognition of small gestures of kindness performed by people on campus, to name a few.

CAMPUSNEWS

By the Numbers: #FisherCares Day24 Friendly Home residents received holiday cards

29 soldiers stationed overseas received letters written by students

30 young patients at Golisano Children’s Hospital and Mount Hope Family Center kept warm with fleece blankets made by students.

32 new toys were made for cats at Lollypop Farm

34 custom coloring books and 98 school supply kits were shared with young kids in need

72 toiletry items were donated for Rape Crisis Services kits

126 items of clothing were collected

1,092 canned goods and donated food items were delivered to the Pittsford Food Cupboard

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# Fisher Cares

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Page 5: Winter 2014 Collegium

CAMPUSNEWS

The surprising star in the College’s new TV commercials“This is what awaits you here,” will soon start to become a familiar phrase in living rooms across Upstate New York, with the debut of the College’s new television commercials in December.

The commercials showcase the beauty of the Fisher campus and highlight individual students.

Of the six new ads, there are four 15-second spots that represent our four professional schools and two 30-second brand spots that highlight the strong liberal arts foundation of the College.

Students responded to a casting call for the spots focused on nursing, education, pharmacy, and business. “We have terrific students with a great deal of talent here at Fisher,” said Anne Geer, Director of the College’s Marketing and

Communications Department. “We wanted to keep with the Fisher tradition of featuring our own students rather than professional actors.” Jordan George was chosen to represent the Wegmans School of Nursing, Theologia Ladas is featured in the spot focused on the Ralph C. Wilson School of Education, Christian Volk appears in the Wegmans School of Pharmacy spot, and Tyrese Bryant represents the School of

Business. Additionally, all students were shot on location and not in a studio.

The other star of the commercials is one that can’t be seen on screen: a video camera-equipped drone. “We have a beautiful campus and have made so many changes in the last few years. We wanted to showcase the campus in a way we haven’t before,” said Geer. The production crew decided to bring in a flying drone to shoot aerial footage of the campus, and the California-based creator/operator of the drone had just one day in early fall to capture the footage. “Mother Nature cooperated, and we got one of the most beautiful early fall days to shoot. It all came together perfectly,” reflected Geer.

The spots can be seen on both network television and cable in Rochester, and on cable stations in Syracuse and Buffalo. They are also available on the College’s website (www.sjfc.edu) and on the St. John Fisher College YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/stjohnfishercollege).

Fisher student Theologia Ladas films with Grace Torok on location in Lavery Library.

The video camera drone resting between takes.

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CAMPUSNEWS

5

On Saturday, November 16, the College officially dedicated the new W.J. Pellicano Pavilion, nestled in the College’s athletic

facilities next to Growney Stadium. William Pellicano ’80 and his family took part in the ribbon-cutting ceremony and festivities.

Pellicano is a former Fisher football player, and gave a generous gift for the construction of the pavilion in fall 2012. Construction began shortly after Commencement in May, and was finished this fall. The 3,000 square-foot open-air spectator pavilion includes seating and a bar area for entertainment. The space is available for the campus and community to rent for special events.

“I see this pavilion as a symbol of openness. There are no walls holding us back, reminding me of all of the opportunities Fisher has afforded me,” said Pellicano during remarks before the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

College dedicates Pellicano Pavilion

Top: The Pellicano family at the dedication. Bottom: Bill Pellicano and President Bain.

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CAMPUSNEWS

Kiplinger’s Personal Finance recognitionKiplinger’s Personal Finance has included St. John Fisher College on its list of the country’s best values in private colleges. Kiplinger’s annual list ranks 100 private universities and 100 liberal arts colleges.

Fisher and the other schools included in the 2014 lists represent the colleges that provide high-quality academics at a reasonable cost during these continued tough economic times. The colleges exemplify the attributes parents and students look for in higher education, including small class sizes, a good freshman retention rate, and a high four-year graduation rate.

“This type of recognition just reinforces the value of a Fisher education to our students, parents, alumni, and prospective students,” said President Bain. “It is also a testament to the hard work of the entire institution day in and day out, which has led to College-wide enrollment growth, high retention and graduation rates, and successful outcomes for our alumni.”

Fisher was one of only three local colleges to appear on the private universities’ list, along

with the University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology.

“With President Obama’s recent emphasis on rating colleges and universities based on their value, our rankings serve as a valuable resource to help students and families make more informed choices,” says Janet Bodnar, editor of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine. “Combining a high-quality education with an affordable price tag is a challenge, but the colleges on this year’s list offer the best of both worlds.”

Kiplinger’s rankings measure academic quality and affordability. Academic criteria include the student admission rate (the number of students accepted out of those who apply), the test scores of incoming freshmen, the ratio of students to faculty members, and the four- and five-year graduation rates. On the cost side, Kiplinger’s measures the sticker price, the availability and average amount of need-based and merit-based financial aid, and the average student debt at graduation. The full list is available online at www.kiplinger.com/links/college.

ECC PartnershipIn October 2013, Fisher and Erie Community College announced a 2+2 partnership agreement., designed specifically for students wishing to transfer to Fisher.

The program will require students enrolled at ECC to complete two years of prescribed coursework for an associate’s degree, then continue their coursework at Fisher, earning a bachelor’s degree from most programs in just two years. Students who enroll in the program receive guaranteed acceptance to Fisher as long as all academic requirements are fulfilled.

“Academic alliances designed to benefit transfer students are very important to us as an institution, and we are pleased to add Erie Community College to our list of partners,” said President Bain.

With the addition of ECC, Fisher has 2+2 agreements with a total of seven schools, including Corning Community College, Finger Lakes Community College, Genesee Community College, Mohawk Valley Community College, Monroe Community College, and Onondaga Community College.

“Every year, students attempt unsuccessful transitions from high school to college, and their families lose thousands of tuition dollars,” said ECC President Jack Quinn. “Here at ECC, we can guide these students through affordable courses while they decide on a viable program path. Then they can take their credits on a four-year path at a top-tier institution like St. John Fisher College.”

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Wegmans School of Pharmacy

ACADEMICS

“Team Scott” supports dean’s fightHe thought hearing the words, “You have diabetes,” would be the scariest words he would ever hear, not knowing that just eight months later, he’d hear three even scarier words: “You have cancer.”

Dr. Scott Swigart, Dean of the Wegmans School of Pharmacy, was shocked when he was diagnosed with diabetes because he followed a low-carb diet. But, his mother was a type-2 diabetic. “It really perplexed me,” he said. “Unfortunately, you can’t beat genetics.”So, he listened to his doctor and put on his pharmacist hat, and immediately started drug therapy, which included two commonly used drugs. His daughter, Kimberly, a 2011 graduate of the School of Pharmacy and practicing pharmacist in Seattle, Washington, convinced him to start another treatment—losing weight. He started to exercise and eat even fewer carbs. In a short period of time, he lost about 20 pounds, and he was managing his new burden.

He then began to experience back pain so bad that he wasn’t able to sleep. A CT scan ruled out pancreatitis, but when the pain landed him in the emergency room at Strong Memorial Hospital, an ultrasound and another CT scan revealed the devastating news. “There’s a mass on your pancreas.”Being a health care professional, Swigart knew what that probably meant. But, the next step was a biopsy to see if it was in fact cancer. Shortly thereafter, he was diagnosed with locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, the most common and aggressive pancreatic cancer. The good news was that the rest of his body was cancer free. But, because of how advanced his cancer was and the fact that major vessels were involved, the bad news was that surgery was not an option.

“This kind of cancer doesn’t have a good track record. It’s not a good cancer to have, but the goal is to get to surgery,” he said.

Starting in July, he entered into an intensive nine-week chemotherapy treatment, receiving chemo at the University of Rochester’s Wilmot Cancer Center every other Wednesday. The goal of the treatment was to shrink the tumor, in an effort to bring the possibility of surgery closer in sight.

After that course of treatment, he went for another CT scan. The news he received was not what he wanted to hear, but did offer some hope. The tumor had shrunk a small amount, but not enough for surgery.

“My oncologist was ecstatic because it hadn’t metastasized, but I was depressed,” said Swigart.

In the middle of starting a second course of treatment, Swigart traveled to Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital to get a second opinion. There, he met with a team of specialists, including a pancreatic oncologist, medical oncologist, radiologist, and pancreatic surgeon. They told him that, with more treatment and a couple of other stumbling blocks he’d have to leap over, they were confident they could do the surgery.

He will continue his current treatment course, more CT scans, and an intense 5½ week regimen of chemotherapy and radiation before he is able to get the green light to surgery. But, he remains optimistic.

“I have hope in my horizon. I’m a happy man, I have a plan,” said Swigart, with a smile. “I was dealt a crappy hand, but I have to play it, and I think I’m playing it okay.”

His doctor is confident that, because Swigart has physically handled the treatments as well as he has, he will beat the typical track record. Swigart also said he has confidence in the recent research on pancreatic cancer, and thinks it will work to his benefit.

And the strong show of support at Fisher has helped. The School of Pharmacy has rallied campus— and alumni from across the country—by wearing purple “Team Swigart” buttons and bracelets, and holding fundraisers to support pancreatic cancer research. Recently, a group from the School of Pharmacy participated in a walk to benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Association of WNY. Swigart was walking, too, front and center.

Faculty from the Wegmans School of Nursing have sent him ice cream and the makings for milkshakes

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ACADEMICS

Wegmans School of Pharmacy

every week, complete with whey powder to help him gain weight, since he has completely lost his appetite. And Dar, an on-campus Lackmann employee, gives him her homemade soup, a recipe she made for her mother while she was receiving chemotherapy treatments.

Many people on campus have even been recorded on video sharing knock-knock jokes or just well wishes with Swigart—videos he watches while receiving his treatments.

“I have been so humbled by everyone’s support, you just can’t imagine. The love and support from the Fisher community has been incredible.” he said.

Alumni from across the country have also shown their support by wearing “Team Swigart” pins at their workplace. At his first day of infusion therapy, he recalled how scared he was, waiting for his treatment. After having blood work done, the oncology pharmacist, who was a 2010 graduate of the School of Pharmacy, came to the center to give Swigart a hug and prayers.

Another alumnus is a pharmacist with the home health care company that helps to administer an at-home drug treatment. The alumnus sends along thoughts and prayers with the treatment nurse when she visits Swigart.

But perhaps his best moment during treatment was when he heard from a child with whom he worked in the 1980s while he was a professor at the University of Nebraska. During that time, he co-founded and volunteered at a camp for children with cancer. One of those campers - now an adult - found Swigart on

Facebook and shared how much he had touched her life, and how much he means to her and fellow former campers.

He said hundreds of people have contacted him with well wishes, and he has been added to prayer chains at a variety of churches. He credits his wife, family, and church family for giving him the abundance of support and his extra fight.

“You have to fight, you can’t give up,” he says. “When you have that many people praying for you, something has to come from it. I believe that.”

Swigart said he talks a lot about the Fisher family to people, because it’s a real thing.

“We are more than colleagues here. We are a family. There is no place I can go on

this campus without finding love,” he said.

Pam Carzo, Swigart’s assistant, said he has never shown his staff if he was having a down day and sometimes even seems more concerned with how they have been affected by his illness. In fact, he has only missed one day of work since his diagnosis. “Even in the face of this health challenge, he has continued to be upbeat and positive. Just his presence here in the building has been a daily reminder of what perseverance looks like,” said Dr. Jennifer Mathews, Associate Professor. “Scott finds the bright side to everything and has reassured and comforted all of us.”

Faculty, staff, and students - with Swigart in the forefront - wore purple for National Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month on November 1.

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Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education

ACADEMICS

First Ed.D. at OCC class shows program’s diversityIn April 2013, the College announced that it would offer its Doctoral Program in Executive Leadership (Ed.D.) at Onondaga Community College’s Regional Higher Education Center. The program was set to enroll its first cohort beginning in September.

The College of New Rochelle was Fisher’s first satellite site, opening in 2009, and has experienced great success. Bringing the program to OCC was the next great step for the program.

At the announcement of the partnership, President Bain discussed how the arrangement would serve the Central New York region well. “We are so pleased to partner with Onondaga to serve the surrounding community,” he said. “Both Fisher and Onondaga are dedicated to preparing a new cadre of executives—men and women with essential leadership skills and a global perspective—who will not only play key professional roles in their communities, but who will use their knowledge and expertise to serve those communities as well.”

OCC’s Interim President, Margaret “Meg” O’Connell echoed his thoughts. “We are excited to collaborate with St. John Fisher College and provide students from throughout our area with a new pathway to support their personal and professional goals.”

Now, with one semester complete for the inaugural cohort, the partnership has proven very successful. Eighteen professionals are enrolled in the program, and they represent

a variety of industries including healthcare, government, higher education, non-profit, and K-12 administration. Students enrolled come from the immediate Syracuse area, as well as Ithaca, the Binghamton area, Potsdam, New York City, and even India.

The unique program, first launched at Fisher in 2006, was developed to provide an attractive and viable alternative to traditional doctoral programs in executive leadership. Though run by the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education, the program creates leaders for all industries, not just school educators. Research topics from the first OCC cohort range from leadership in faith-based schools to medical tourism and employment and interviewing practices for veterans.

“These students are already leaders in their industries,” says School of Education Dean Dr. Mike Wischnowski of the first OCC cohort. “We are proud of our graduates from the Fisher program and the New Rochelle extension site, and, with the caliber of candidates in Central New York, I feel the OCC program will produce great leaders as well.”

To learn more about the Ed.D. in Executive Leadership, go to www.sjfc.edu/edd.

The first cohort of students in the Ed.D. program at OCC visited the Fisher campus this past fall. Pictured are members of the cohort along with co-instructors Arlette Miller-Smith (bottom left) and C. Michael Robinson (bottom right).

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ACADEMICS

Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education

School of Ed uses grant to support urban student college readinessDr. Jeffrey Liles, Associate Professor in the School of Education, has long been concerned with issues of college readiness among high school students in urban schools. Statistics show that fewer than 50 percent of the students in the Rochester City School District graduate from high school in four years. And, of that number, the state reports that only five percent are “college ready.”

His interest in the issue of college readiness led him to pursue-and receive-a grant. “I want to provide opportunities and programming for students from city schools to learn about and prepare for college,” says Liles. “But I also want to learn more about why this population of students is overwhelmingly not ready. If we can learn more about that, we can help remedy the situation.”

With the support of a $7,500 Bank of America grant, Liles partnered with the Rochester Early College and International High School to bring “Project College Bound” to St. John Fisher College. In the Fall of 2013, a group of 35 eligible students have attended two day-long workshops with two more planned by the close of the academic calendar. The 9th and 10th graders learned about the financial aid process, support available through the Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), multicultural and diversity events at Fisher, and college readiness.

The students also work in groups to develop and research their own questions related to college readiness, including time management, transitioning from high school to college, extracurricular activities, and academic skills. A group of 15 Fisher faculty, staff, and students volunteer to work with these groups.

“’Project College Bound’ is designed to support the high school’s mission and the students there who are interested in going to college. Research shows that programs like this help students academically while they are in high school and increase the odds that they will go to college and be successful. I am really hopeful that our program will have this impact,” Liles said.

In his effort to explore the issue of why these students are not ready, Liles and a group of Rochester-area professors collaborated with teachers and students from East High School. “The adults and students have equal power and voice within the group,” says Liles. Through their efforts to research why only five percent of Rochester’s urban school graduates are ready for college, the group has presented their findings at major academic conferences in both New York City and Boston. And, they wrote and produced a documentary entitled “College Ready” which debuted at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association in San Francisco. The benefits of this collaboration have been two-fold: they are gleaning answers on how to improve the system, and engaging students in solid academic work that will help prepare them for college. “The first three students from our group to graduate are all college freshmen this year,” he says proudly.

Moving forward, Liles hopes the partnerships with both schools will continue. “We are helping more students gain the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed in college, and we are gaining insight on how to help even more students prepare for their next big step in education.”

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Fisher CSI: Criminology comes to FisherFisher students can now check the “Criminology” box when choosing their major. The major was approved by the New York State Department of Education in October, and, according to Program Chair, Dr. Barbara Rockell, approximately 30 students have already made the switch.

The major provides students with a solid background in the core concepts and theories shaping the larger field of criminology. Some of the new courses include Women and Crime, Punishment Perspectives, and Juvenile Delinquency, to name a few. Students will study crime and its causes, related social policies, criminal law, the origins and ongoing development of the U.S. criminal justice system, and comparisons of criminal justice systems across societies and cultures. Additionally, for students interested in advanced studies in the field, the new major will provide a strong foundation for pursuing graduate work and/or entering the policy arena with respect to crime, law, and the criminal justice system.

Rockell said many of the students are interested in law enforcement, while some are interested in the law itself. Recently, she has brought in a probation supervisor and jail deputy who spoke to the students about all of the opportunities in the system, including internships. Her goal is to enlighten the students about all the field offers.

“I want students to consider the somewhat invisible positions, especially in the policy and program analysis areas and crime analysis. Crime is a social fact, and there are — and probably always will be —numerous opportunities in the various fields,” she said.

Dr. Rockell has an interesting résumé. She started in the criminal justice field by teaching college-level history in a maximum security prison. And her résumé grew from there. She has also worked for the state as an intake person at the Child Abuse and Maltreatment Register; served as a lock-up/jail/prison inspector for the

State Commission of Correction; spent time as director of a unit of staff who investigated “unusual incidents” in facilities; and was a Senior Program/Policy Analyst at the Division of Criminal Justice Services. In 1990, she moved home to Rochester and worked for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, first as the Classification Officer in the county jail, and then as the Sheriff’s Staff Inspector. In 2003, her experience brought her to Fisher.

Even though the major is now official, plenty of alumni have found themselves working in law and law enforcement areas, so the alumni network available to Criminology majors is already strong.

“We really want to provide students with a solid, critical liberal arts foundation as they explore opportunities in criminal justice. This is essential now more than ever, with the dramatic changes occurring in the field, especially technological, and the economic crises experienced in the country,” said Rockell. “We hope, especially, to attract women to criminal justice - they remain very underrepresented. And we want students who listen and think and realize that they are, first and foremost, public servants, dealing with people at what are usually incredibly traumatic times in their lives.”

School of Arts & Sciences

ACADEMICS

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School of Business

Surviving SashiStudents have been spotted around campus wearing new apparel that sports a certain professor’s face. The “I Survived Sashi” t-shirts, created by the College’s American Marketing Association (AMA) chapter in honor of Dr. Hemant Sashittal, Professor and Chair of the Department of Management/Marketing, were selling fast this fall.Alison Taylor, President of the AMA chapter, said the idea came about during one of Dr. Monica Hodis’ classes.“Students claimed they had already ‘survived Sashi.’ Dr. Hodis brought the idea to the club, and we decided to turn it into a t-shirt,” said Taylor.Jessica Zepp, a senior business student and AMA member, designed the t-shirt — a design approved with two thumbs up by “Sashi” himself.“I warned them, ‘I have a face for radio; no one is going to buy a t-shirt with my mug shot,’” joked Sashittal.

The short sleeve tees were sold for $12 each, or two for $20, and long-sleeved shirts were $15. As an extra perk, Sashittal personally signed shirts for students who received an “A” in his class.Taylor, a Sashi survivor herself, said his class was terrifying, but in the end, beneficial.

“I found the class intimidating, but I also took the most out of that class and I believe I will apply it in a future marketing job. The research process he teaches us allows us to implement skills from statistics, math, writing classes, and marketing classes all into one, and the class made me think way outside of the box,” she said.Sashittal said he feels lucky to get talented students in his classroom year after year at Fisher.“When they are pushed hard – and I do push them hard – they rise up to the challenge and do something fantastic. The honor is all mine,” he said.

All proceeds from the sale of the shirts have been put towards the chapter’s trip to the AMA International Collegiate Conference in April.

School of Business maintains high honorsThe School of Business has maintained its business accreditation by AACSB International—The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB accreditation is the hallmark of excellence in business education and has been earned by less than five percent of the world’s business programs.

“The faculty and staff in the School of Business are proud that our continuous improvement processes have been recognized as meeting the very high standards of AACSB International. Truthfully, the real beneficiaries are our students and the

employers who hire them,” said Dr. David Martin, Dean of the School of Business.

“It takes a great deal of commitment and determination to earn and maintain AACSB accreditation,” said Robert D. Reid, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB International. “Business schools must not only meet specific standards of excellence, but their deans, faculty, and professional staff must make a commitment to ongoing continuous improvement to ensure that the institution will continue to deliver the highest quality of education to students.”

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Fisher Prime Care Nursing Center: One Year LaterIn 2012, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield announced a $1 million grant to St. John Fisher College to be used over five years to expand primary health care, mental health care, social services, and adult education for Rochester’s underserved populations. Dr. Dianne Cooney Miner, Dean, Wegmans School of Nursing, was instrumental in securing the grant.

The College used the money to create the Fisher Prime Care Nursing Center at St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center, working closely with Executive Director, Sister Christine Wagner, SSJ. The center provides new patient, acute, follow-up, and primary care services for up to 60 patients on a weekly basis, and expands

educational opportunities for students in the School of Nursing. After having its doors open for a full year of service, Dr. Virginia Krebbeks, Medical Director of the center and Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing, says so far, so good.

Krebbeks said that the collaboration has led to several positive outcomes. One of those has been the ability of Fisher’s nursing staff to obtain clinical data for statistical analysis, which has contributed to the concept that advanced practice nursing and mental health counseling students—guided by experienced faculty—have a positive influence on the advancement of health care for the uninsured and undocumented members of the Rochester

Wegmans School of Nursing

ACADEMICS

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Wegmans School of Nursing

community. Since the center opened, four students have been given clinical experience in primary care—three with direct care and one providing assistance with case study testing for the advanced practice nursing students. To date, there are approximately 170 patients registered with the center.

“Prime Care has made a significant contribution during its inaugural year of operation – specifically, we have provided primary care and mental health counseling for underserved and vulnerable populations in the Rochester community and contributed to the education of

nursing and mental health counseling students,” said Cooney Miner.

Starting this year, additional nursing faculty will be providing primary and women’s health care for patients at the center, giving students additional opportunities for clinical experience. In addition, the center is now offering mental health care to patients, provided by Fisher’s mental health counseling students who are supervised by Dr. Doug Bufano, faculty member in the School of Nursing’s Mental Health Counseling program. In addition, students are gaining experience with an electronic medical record system, including electronic prescribing.

“The biggest benefit to students is the exposure to the multiple ethnic cultures from our patients. Communication with those who do not speak English, have different health priorities, and those with no or limited work experience or financial resources have given our students a flavor for these community concerns. A real-life experience with ethnic diversity provides an experience that cannot be obtained by a textbook alone,” said Krebbeks.

She added that seeing and experiencing patients’ health improve has been an “immeasurable” opportunity for the students. Also, through the use of current, research-based information, students and faculty have successfully taught better healthcare to patients, assisting them with obesity, hypertension, and diabetes.

“A common statement is, ‘it takes a whole community to teach a child,’ but it also takes a whole community to provide health care to patients,” said Krebbeks. “The patients who come to St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center belong to all of us who live, work, and play in this community, so it is our collective responsibility to give what we can to those in need. The students and faculty who are providing healthcare to those in need develop a oneness within the community, which is a benefit and satisfaction for all involved.”

Above: St. Joseph’s Neighborhood Center. Left: Dr. Ginger Krebbeks and Nicole Fochesato, a graduate student, work with a patient at the center.

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CAMPUSNEWS

Staff SpotlightKevin Johnson, Director of the Poster and Sign Studio, is a familiar face to many people in the Fisher family. This July, he will celebrate his 30th anniversary with the College.

He started at Fisher as an offset press operator, then became the shop supervisor. Later, he came to direct both the print and mail centers on campus. In 2010, he presented the idea of running wide-format and vinyl graphics, along with a few other non-traditional printing components, as an enterprise for the

College. Administrators agreed, and the Poster and Sign Studio was created. “It’s the best of both worlds,” says Johnson. “I get to work with customers from both on and off campus, and I really enjoy the creative aspects of it. Turning out a product at the end of the day is very satisfying.” Johnson’s work can be seen throughout campus, at Fisher alumni events and golf tournaments, He also works with McQuaid and Aquinas high schools, the Monroe County Sports Commission, and many of the Events Office’s external clients

who choose to use Fisher for their corporate events. (Go to www.sjfc.edu/campus-services/signs for samples and pricing).

Kevin’s impact on campus spreads beyond printed materials. He is on several campus committees, and this year co-chaired the record-breaking Faculty/Staff Pledge Drive for the Fisher Fund. “I’ve worked on many cross-functional teams over the years, and it’s very enjoyable to work with groups, come up with solutions, and be involved in different areas all over the campus,” he says.

Fisher has always been a big part of Kevin’s family, too. He and his wife of 36 years, Marcy, have four children, all of whom often visited when they were young. “They would spend time with me at work, and chatting with customers and hitting up the vending machine,” he laughs. That time at Fisher must have had an impact on Kevin’s son, Kevin, as he graduated from Fisher in 2002 and is now an attorney and managing partner at Klafehn, Heise & Johnson in Brockport, aTown Justice for the Town of Sweden and a member of the Justinian Order.

“Fisher is such a wonderful place,” he says. “I felt welcomed my first day here, and as the years have passed, the feeling that I am part of the Fisher family has only grown.”

First Friday Spring LineupIn its ninth year, the First Friday Lecture Series is continuing to explore the history of the past 50 years through a variety of topics this spring.

The fall 2013 lecture topics included Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and the Catholic Church’s convening of Vatican II.

The spring lineup began with a retrospective of 50 years of the Olympic Games, and the March 7 and April 4 installments will look back on the 50-year evolution of crime scene investigation

and 50 years of television history, respectively.

The First Friday Lecture Series is sponsored by the 1948 Society, a society

recognizing donors who have named the College in a will or trust.

If you’re interesting in attending the First Friday Lecture Series, please email [email protected] or call (585) 385-5292. For more information on the 1948 Society, contact Larry Oberlies, J.D., at [email protected] or (585) 385-5225.

SocietY1948St. John Fisher College

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Every hour of every day, something is happening at St. John Fisher College. And at the center of it all are the students. Each day, an entire campus community comes together to make sure

that the Fisher experience is the best that it can be, from a challenging academic environment, to great food, a warm atmosphere in the residence halls, and a team of faculty and staff to power that engine. The following pages provide a glimpse of what is happening “Around the Clock at Fisher.”

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Bonnie Zawiski, pastry chef for Lackmann Culinary Services, arrives on campus at 3:30 a.m. each day to bake sweet treats for the several dining and grab-and-go locations across campus. In addition to the dining locations, Lackmann provides catering for special events, as well as serving the Buffalo Bills throughout the summer.

Rick Dukes, Shawn Kogler, and Lorenzo Morrison set up for an event in the Joseph S. Skalny Welcome Center. The Office of Events and Conferencing coordinates thousands of events on campus—those run by faculty, staff, and students, as well as groups from off campus. They are also part of the team that works closely with the Buffalo Bills organization each summer at Training Camp.

7 a.m.

Instagram photo of sunrise taken by student Kacie Bittner.

5 a.m. 6 a.m.

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Instagram photo of sunrise taken by student Kacie Bittner.

9 a.m.8 a.m.

Wegmans School of Nursing student Jasmine Whitney evaluates a “patient” in the new Simulation Center.

Fisher education students like Veronica Maraghi work with the young children in the Early Learning Center each day. “Working with the children enhances what we learn in the classroom,” says Veronica, a junior education major. “And they’re just a lot of fun!” The Early Learning Center educates 50 children, ages 18 months to five years, and has an after-school program for school-aged children as well.

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10 a.m. 11 a.m.

Fisher students work with students at the Rochester Early College Interna-tional High School as part of a community-based service-learning project in an Adolescence Development course. Community-based service-learning is the integration of service projects into academic courses to meet identified com-munity needs, enhance student learning, and strengthen communities. In the past four years, 1,500 Fisher students have participated in 100 courses, work-ing with 50 community partners.

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Each Wednesday, student volunteers, led by Biology professor Dr. Mike Boller, sort edible food scraps from napkins, bones, and inedible food to collect data on how Fisher, as a community, utilizes resources. The data is recorded and Lackmann Food Service managers respond to trends they see. For instance, last year, “No Waste Wednesday” saw many half-eaten sand-wiches, so Lackmann responded by offer-ing more half-sandwiches. The food scraps are processed into compost through the Waste Management Organics program, and, as a result, the campus has diverted 45 tons of waste away from the landfill and to the compost pile this year alone.

Noon

President Bain and his cabinet meet weekly to discuss College strategy and issues. In addition to Dr. Bain, members of the cabinet are (left to right) Jacqueline DiStefano, Vice President for Finance and Business and Chief Financial Officer; Dr. Gerard Rooney, Executive Vice President for Enrollment, Advancement, and Planning; Dr. Richard DeJesús-Rueff, Vice President for Student Affairs and Diversity Initiatives; and Dr. Randall Krieg, Provost and Dean of the College.

20

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Above: Cecil Felton, Media Center Coordinator and Cardinal Television Advisor, guides students through video production in the Media and Communication studio in Basil Hall. Right: Ed Freeman, Associate Professor of Biology, holds a pre-finals recitation session for students in his Introductory Biology course in Skalny 141, the largest lecture space on campus.

Senior Lauren Keppler, a Fisher Ambassador, gives a campus tour to a prospective student and her family. A team of 60 Fisher Ambassadors lead campus tours to hundreds of prospective students annually. Some of our visitors take walking tours, while others take advantage of the 10-person tram, driven by Cole Lachance-Tofany, to view the campus.

2 p.m.1 p.m.

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3 p.m.

Boris Krasnov (back), Vladimir Poplavskiy, and Matt Lombardozzi, second-year pharmacy students, conduct research as part of an elective course. They are working under the guidance of Dr. Ramil Sapinoro, Assistant Professor in the Wegmans School of Pharmacy, in his study of the beneficial effects of Omega-3 fatty acids in immunity. The students dedicate 6 to 8 hours each week planning and performingexperiments.

Fr. Joseph Lanzalaco, C.S.B. ’83—Fr. Joe as he’s known to most—chats with churchgoers prior to daily Mass in Coleman Chapel in Murphy Hall.

4 p.m.

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5 p.m. 6 p.m.

On the first floor of Lavery Library, the Learning Commons is a popular place for group work and research while other students take advantage of quiet study spots on the upper and lower levels.

MBA students taking Integrated Advanced Financial and Accounting Analysis with Dr. Merouane Lakehal-Ayat have access to state-of-the-art technology in the Trading Room of the Salerno Center.

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The campus fitness center, open for students from 6 a.m. to midnight, is a popular place in the evening, offering cardio machines, free weights, and weight-lifting machines. Just across the hall in the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Athletic Center, men’s basketball head coach Rob Kornaker directs his players during practice on Bobby Wanzer Court in

Manning & Napier Varsity Gym.

7 p.m.

Student Brian Kelly grabs a ride in the campus shuttle. The shuttle runs seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., with nine stops on campus.

Resident Assistant Brendan Hughes serves a late night spaghetti dinner to a resident in the Dorsey lounge at his “Men Make Dinner” program.

Alumnus Scott Gray ’11 accompanies the cast of the Fisher Players production “All Shook Up” in a warm-up before a late evening rehearsal in Cleary Auditorium.

7 p.m. 9 p.m.8 p.m. 10 p.m.

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Fisher Fund Ambassadors ask fellow students to write thank you notes to donors during the end-of-semester tradition, Late Night Breakfast.

Brave students raise awareness for homelessness with the annual Box Town event. The students slept outside in boxes in the Campus Center Quad from 8:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m., and raised money for the Rochester Center for Youth, an organiza-tion that takes homeless teenagers off the streets.

Ed Kushi of the Facilities Department is on campus through the evening to respond to any housekeeping or maintenance calls, and to perform regular upkeep to all campus buildings. Kushi joined the Fisher staff fifteen years ago, just days after he and his family emigrated from Albania to the U.S. The Facilities Department is comprised of maintenance, housekeeping, and grounds crews, keeping Fisher clean and beautiful year-round.

11 p.m. midnight 1 a.m.

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Safety and Security Officers John Maloney (left) and Phillip DeLaus (right) patrol campus, performing a variety of tasks while on duty. The Office of Safety and Security has a presence on campus 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Mark Ahrens (left) and Jeff Fredericks (right) perform overnight updates on servers in the Office of Information Technology Data Center.

The snow can come quickly and out of nowhere in Rochester, and the grounds crew is on call at all hours of the day and night to keep campus roadways, walkways, and parking lots clear.

2 a.m. 3 a.m. 4 a.m.

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1967Jerry Eckert retired from his position as Vice President for University Advancement at Millersville University. He will now serve as special assistant to the president at the university. During his time at Millersville, he earned many honors and, in 1992, he received the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) District II “Professional of the Year” award. He served two terms as a National Trustee for CASE from 1986 to 1991, was chairman of CASE District II (1986), Treasurer (1984-85) and Conference Chair (1983) and has been a presenter at numerous CASE professional meetings. Jerry was instrumental in

several institutional honors during that time, as well. Millersville was recognized in both 1989 and 2006 with CASE’s Gold Medal Award.

1971Daniel Meyers received two top honors in 2013. The Ad Council of Rochester recognized Dan with the 2013 Legacy Award at their Annual Celebration, and Rochester General Hospital awarded him the 2013 B. Thomas Golisano Honorary Award during their annual Philanthropy Awards.

1972George A. Lopez was named Vice President of the U.S.

Institute of Peace’s Academy for International Conflict Management and Peacebuilding in September 2013. He leaves the University of Notre Dame’s Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies after 27 years at the helm.

1976Kevin Conroy retired from Christian Brothers Academy in Syracuse, NY, after 37 years of teaching English and Social Studies. Kevin also served as coach for junior high cross country, soccer, junior varsity and varsity golf, and varsity ice hockey. He will continue coaching JV baseball. During his time at CBA, he was Faculty Representative to the

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CLASSNOTES

Remembering Dr. Karyl MammanoDr. Karyl Mammano, a beloved employee of the College, passed away in September 2013. She was Professor of Accounting and the Director of Nonprofit Management for the Center of Community Engagement at Fisher.Mammano joined Fisher in 2001 as an adjunct professor in the human services, nursing, and accounting programs. At the time, she worked in the nonprofit sector, and had previously served Rochester General Hospital and the Epilepsy Foundation. She greatly enjoyed her experience in the classroom, though, and chose to earn her Ph.D. so she could pursue teaching full-time. She earned her doctorate and, in 2007, joined the Fisher faculty.

She had a great impact on her students, as well as the community. A native of Rochester, Mammano served the community in many ways. She was a member of the Town of Irondequoit Audit Committee, the finance committee at East House Mental Health, the Irondequoit Public Library Board of Trustees, the board

of the Irondequoit Ambulance, and the board of Stepping Stones Learning Center. In December 2013, she was posthumously named the Irondequoit Citizen of the Year.

Mammano’s brother, Ron Ange, recently retired from Fisher after more than 30 years with the Safety and Security Department. Recently, a student scholarship was established in memory of Dr. Mammano. For information on the scholarship, please contact Elizabeth Dorscheid at [email protected] or (585) 385-8134.

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They give their time. They give their talent.

And this year they gave

$83,000.Thank you to the dedicated men and women who

supported this year’s Faculty & Staff Pledge Drive for the

Fisher Fund, breaking the record for funds raised. Every

day, you make a difference in the lives of students.

Honor their dedication by making a gift of your own at www.sjfc.edu/makeagift.

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CLASSNOTESCLASSNOTES

Playing for the winMark Adams ’92 knows basketball. He knows it as a player, a fan, and a coach. He knows it at the high school level, the college level, and the professional level. So it’s no surprise that Mark Adams’ job is basketball.

In his senior year at Fisher, Mark led the men’s basketball team to their first NCAA postseason berth and became a member of the 1,000-point club. He then attended Syracuse University to pursue a Masters in Higher/Postsecondary Education, and served for three years as a graduate assistant under the legendary Jim Boeheim. After completing his master’s degree, Mark moved to the high school level, working for 16 years as a head coach for basketball programs in North Carolina and Florida.

In 2010, his love of basketball and his extensive experience led him to start his own player training and development company, Mark Adams Basketball, LLC. “I love working with all levels of players,” says Mark. “So, having made it my job to work with players at all ages and all skill levels is very satisfying.”

The venture has already been a great experience. “I have worked with kids as young as five, with players in the NBA, and I have traveled the world doing it,” Mark laughs. “I took a big leap when I decided to

branch out and do this full time. But it has been so rewarding.”

This past November, Mark returned to his alma mater to hold an all-ages basketball clinic. When former teammates heard that Mark was running a clinic at Fisher, word spread fast and the court was filled

with the sons and daughters of former Fisher basketball players, in addition to many other local players. “It was one of my greatest basketball experiences,” says Mark. “To come back to Fisher, catch up with old teammates, and team up to teach their kids the game – it was a dream come true.”

The 2005 inductee to the St. John Fisher College Athletics Hall of Fame credits his time

at Fisher for his success. He names Bob Ward, Athletic Director, former head basketball coach, and a mentor and big influence in his life. “Fisher has a special place in my heart. I hope that with all the traveling that I do, I will have the opportunity to make my way back on a regular basis.”

See more from Mark Adams at www.markadamsbasketball.com or follow on twitter (@MarkAdamsBball).

By Samantha Reynolds ’14

Top: Adams (kneeling, with black shirt) with former teammates and their children. Above: Adams inspiring campers.

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CLASSNOTES

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Board of Trustees, served on Faculty Council, Organizing Committee of Academy Teachers Association, and served 6 years as ATA President. In 2000, he was recognized by fellow faculty as the LaSallian Educator of the Year and selected by parents and students as Teacher of the Year. And in 2011, he was given the Purple and Gold Award by the Alumni Association for dedication to the school and students. In retirement, he will continue to serve as President of the Board of Directors of CORE Federal Credit Union headquartered in East Syracuse.

Clark Godshall has been named the 2014 New York State School Superintendent of the Year by the New York State Council of School Superintendents. Dr. Godshall is the District Superintendent of the Orleans/Niagara Board of Cooperative Educational Services. With this recognition, Clark is one of the nominees for National School Superintendent of the Year.

1991Chip Travis has opened two restaurants in Rome, NY: Fresh Mex of Rome and Lettuce Eat of Rome. Fresh Mex opened in July 2012 in the historic Grand Hotel Building, which Chip owns and restored. Lettuce Eat opened in January 2014.

1991Jeff DiVeronica was named Multimedia Journalist of the Year by the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle newspaper. Also this year, Jeff and his wife, Chrissy, also welcomed a daughter, Francesca Margaret, on September 7, 2013.

Scott Williams was named Executive Vice President of Student Affairs and Chief Academic Officer of the Utica School of Commerce, a two-year private college in Utica, NY.

1993 Douglas Malone was named Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Hardinge Inc., a leading international provider of advanced metal-cutting solutions. Malone joined Hardinge in 2008 as Corporate Controller and served previously at Five Star Bank and KPMG, LLP.

1994Bo Brugel welcomed a son, Alexander “Lex” Edmond, on August 8, 2013.

Scott Bausch and Trish Stephens were married on August 24, 2013 in Utica, NY.

Tom Coletta was named President of the Orlando market for American Momentum Bank. Coletta previously served as President and

CEO of Business Financial Solutions, a firm he founded to help business owners and non-profit entities manage credit, cash flow, and other needs. He also formerly served as Orlando Market President, Bank Director, and Holding Company Director for Anderen Bank and Florida Choice Bank.

1995Steve Napier was named Lieutenant Colonel for the United States Air Force on October 1, 2013. He is currently stationed at Hickam Air Force Base in Hawaii.

1997Susan (Ippoliti) Kavanagh and Neil Kavanagh welcomed a daughter, Olivia Antonietta, on April 4, 2013.

1998 John Cole was named Director of Mobile Solutions at ServicePro.net, a software provider. In this new position, he will focus on new mobile products, marketing, and building the company’s current mobile business.

2000David Silpe and Jenna Silpe ’01 welcomed a son, Matthew Edward Silpe, on September 17, 2013. He joins older twin brothers, Jakob and Noah.

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CLASSNOTES

2001Phil DuBrava and Vanessa DuBrava welcomed a daughter, Quinn Harper, on July 3, 2013.

2002LaShunda Leslie-Smith has written The Journey of a Teenage Mother, released this past September (www.journeyofateenagemother.com).

She has also been named the CEO and President of the Young Women’s College Prep (YWCP) Foundation, Inc., which supports

the YWCP charter school in Rochester.

2004Brian Delamter and wife, Kathleen, welcomed a daughter, Alida Renee, on April 28, 2013.

Starsheema Drake welcomed a daughter, Journey Michelle, on February 3, 2013.

Bryan O’Donovan was appointed Administrator of Operations for the University of Rochester Medical Center

Strong West. He formerly served as Program Administrator for the URMC Program in Heart Failure, Artificial Heart, and Transplantation.

2007Emily Shearing moved to Los Angeles in June 2013 and is working as a freelance web editor and photographer.

Laura Plummer welcomed a daughter, Sophia, in March 2013.

Christopher Marino (MS in Educational Leadership) was named the 2013 Greece Teachers’ Association Golden Apple Teacher of the Year.

2008 Jen Cardinal and Sam Chimera were married on August 10, 2013. Many members of the wedding party were St. John Fisher College alumni (see photo below).

Edward Solorzano and Sarah Briggs ’09 were married on December 14, 2013 in Rochester, NY.

2009Jillean Bastian welcomed a son, Parker James, on July 25, 3013.

Lindsay Bertram and Robert Wick III were married on September 28, 2013, at Shadow Lake Golf Club in Penfield, NY (see photo below).

2010Curt Vogelsang was published in Parachutist magazine in both December 2013 and January 2014 with articles on skydive photography.

Adam Washbon works as a Recreation Leader for the Town of Chili. He was recently recognized by the Genesee Valley Recreation and Parks Society with the 2013 Young Professional Award.

Jen (Cardinal) and Sam Chimera with their wedding party

31

journeyofateenagemother.com).

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CLASSNOTES

2011Sloane C. Martin and Matthew Coller were married September 23, 2013 in Santa Barbara, CA. Sloane is the News Anchor/Producer for WBTA AM1490 in Batavia, NY, where the couple currently resides.

2012Andrew Hale was recently named Deputy Sheriff by the Genesee County Sheriff’s

Office following his graduation from the Niagara County Law Enforcement Academy. He was previously employed by FedEx.

Stephanie Stoneham was appointed Pharmacy Manager at Specialty RX, Inc., in Rochester, NY.

IN MEMORIaMDonald S. Luczak ’58 passed away on August 31, 2013, after a courageous battle with cancer.

William A. Winfield, Jr. ’57 passed away unexpectedly on October 18, 2013.

Daniel S. Brown ’58 passed away on October 22, 2013.

Michael L. Kehoe ’63 passed away on November 19, 2013.

alumni honored at Rochester-area ceremoniesAlumni have been honored this fall and winter with the Rochester Business Journal’s “Forty Under 40” Award and the ATHENA Award.

The “Forty Under 40” award recognizes professionals younger than 40 years of age for service in their jobs and in the community. The ATHENA award honors local women based on professional achievements, community service, and leadership in the advancement of other professional women.

Leonard Brock ’09 (Ed.D.), Dina Natale ’00, ’06 (MBA), and Matt Vahue ’05 were honored with the “Forty Under 40” award, along with Fisher adjunct faculty member Dr. Mona Chitre.

Mary Loewenguth ’82 and Jill Knittel ’94, ’03 (MBA) were recognized as finalists for the 28th Annual ATHENA Award.

Coming back to the nestTwo alumni have returned to their alma mater to help lead fundraising efforts at the College. Melissa Head ’94 and Elizabeth “Tish” Ciaccio ’83 joined the Advancement Office as Senior Gift Officers in December 2013.

“I know Tish agrees with me when I say that we’re thrilled to return to Fisher in this capacity,” says Head, who is married to alumnua Bill Head. “Though the College has changed significantly since we were students, it has the same heart and it feels great to be ‘home.’”

Head comes to Fisher from Nazareth College, where she was Senior Associate Director of Major Gifts and

Planned Giving. Ciaccio formerly worked at Rochester Institute of Technology as the Senior Director of Development.

“We’re looking forward to meeting alumni and donors,” says Ciaccio, who is also married to an alumnus, David Vogt ’82. “Helping to advance the mission of the College, while connecting with fellow alumni, is a very exciting prospect.”

Melissa Head ’94

Tish Ciaccio ’83

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Playing for more than a winEnding the year strong with nine wins, St. John Fisher College women’s varsity soccer team left the field with more than a few grass stains and sweaty cleats; the girls’ hard work ethic and dedication left them with the legacy of what will hope to be an annual event they can be proud of.

On October 12, they held the first-ever Pancreatic Cancer Soccer Game in memory of Mike McCabe, the late brother of women’s head coach Jill McCabe, who passed away from the disease in 2009.

Senior leading scorer, Alexandra Rohloff, said, “We wanted to show Coach our appreciation for her dedication to the team by doing a benefit.”

In the three weeks leading up to the game against Alfred, the team held various fundraising events, including a “pie-t h e - p l a y e r s ” fundraiser where parents, family, and friends could pay for the chance give a player a face-full of whipped cream. In addition, the team sold purple pancreatic cancer awareness wristbands and ribbons, and received generous donations from family and friends.

Rohloff stated, “We managed to keep the whole thing a surprise from Coach and still had the opportunity to pie her in the face for a great cause.” On the day of the game, they revealed that secret to McCabe during the pre-game locker room talk, moving her to tears.

“They pulled it all off,” says McCabe. “Every detail was taken care of— they called my family, the visiting coach, spoke to Fisher administrators, and they surpassed their financial goal. And somehow they kept this all a surprise. It is hard to put into words how much this meant to me and my entire family. I

am grateful, honored, and so proud of the team.”

In a pre-game ceremony, team captains Katie Burgstrom, Val Hanson, and Krista Pilla presented McCabe with a check for $1,600. All proceeds will be donated to the Lustgarten Foundation, a non-profit organization solely dedicated to finding a cure for pancreatic cancer. During the game, the team wore purple

wristbands and headbands in memory of Mike.

The Cardinals tripled the original fundraising goal of $500, and went on to defeat visiting Alfred, 2-0 - a true win-win.

Additional writing by Samantha Reynolds ’14

CARDINALATHLETICS

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CARDINALATHLETICS

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Fisher rowing joins the Liberty LeagueSt. John Fisher College has accepted an offer from the Liberty League to become an associate member in the sports of men’s and women’s rowing.

The rowing program completed its inaugural in May 2013, finishing 14th out of 25 teams at the New York State Collegiate Rowing Championship.

“St. John Fisher College shares the Liberty League’s vision of providing a high quality student-athlete experience while maintaining academic success,” said President Bain. “While new to the arena of college rowing, we are committed to the sport and look forward to developing a strong relationship with the Liberty League.”

The Liberty League includes several institutions that sponsor women’s rowing as a Division III sport: the University of Rochester, Rochester Institute

of Technology, Skidmore College, St. Lawrence University, Union College, and William Smith College. While men’s rowing is not an NCAA sport, the Liberty League also sponsors a men’s rowing championship.

“The Liberty League is excited to welcome St. John Fisher College as a member in the sports of men’s and women’s rowing,” said Liberty League Commissioner Tracy King. “Like our current league members, Fisher has demonstrated a commitment to providing a high quality educational experience for its student-athletes. We look forward to providing NCAA championship access to our dedicated student-athletes. This is a win-win situation for the Liberty League and St. John Fisher College.”

Football program recognized for 2013 seasonThe Fisher football program reached great heights this fall. At the opening of their 2013 season, the team was nationally ranked, and started strong with four straight wins. Midseason, they had a few hiccups, suffering back-to-back Empire 8 Conference losses to Salisbury University and Ithaca College. But they recovered and made the most of an at-large bid to the NCAA Division III Football Championship, cruising past John Carroll University in the opening round and Hobart College in the second round.

They earned a trip to Texas, where they faced national DIII powerhouse, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, which ended their season with a 45-23 loss.

The stellar season won many accolades for the program, with head coach Paul Vosburgh being named the d3football.com 2013 All-East Regional Coach of the Year for the second time in the last three years. Many players also earned honors including James Thomas, Tyler Fenti, Cody Miller, and Sean Preish.

And in early January, the football program received another honor. The team was named the Lambert Meadowlands Football Award winner for Division III. The Cardinals will be honored on March 27, at the Eastern College Football Awards Banquet, hosted by the ECAC at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ.

Established in 1936 as the Lambert Trophy to recognize supremacy in Eastern college football, the award has since grown to recognize the best team in the East in the Bowl Subdivision. In 1957, the Lambert Cup was created to recognize non-Division I-A teams, and in 1966 a Division III award was added. In 1983, the Lambert family decided the Meadowlands Sports Complex would be the best organization with a sincere and involved interest in college athletics to sponsor and manage the award, and since that time, the awards have been known as the Lambert Meadowlands Awards.

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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 from the 1976 JoRoffs yearbook shows a group of students making

the most of a cold Rochester winter. We invite you to see more photos of Fisher

winters, past and present, at www.Facebook.com/Fisheralumni. Share your Fisher

winter memories on our Facebook wall, or contact the Alumni Office at

[email protected] or (585) 385-8001.

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