The Latest from FLCC

Finger Lakes Community College offers free classes in Ontario, Wayne and Yates counties for adults who want to get a high school diploma and move onto more advanced training.

FLCC provides a seamless transition from high school equivalency study to college courses and job training programs. Students can enroll at any time and work at their own pace.

Classes that prepare students for the Test Assessing Secondary Completion, or TASC, to get a high school equivalency diploma are offered in Canandaigua, Geneva, Naples, Newark, Penn Yan, Sodus, Wolcott and Victor. FLCC offers small class sizes and a mix of day and evening classes for students’ convenience. More information and class schedules are available online at www.flcc.edu/abe.

Spanish speakers can attend TASC preparation in their own language at a special program offered in Lyons and Geneva.

Before beginning one of these programs, students must make an appointment to meet with an FLCC representative by calling (585) 785-1431 or 785-1544.

Reyna Grande

Author Reyna Grande will visit Finger Lakes Community College on Thursday, March 29 for a reading and discussion about her memoir, “The Distance Between Us.”

The event is open to the public and will be held at 12:30 p.m. in Stage 14 at the FLCC main campus, 3325 Marvin Sands Drive, Canandaigua. Visitors should arrive early for parking. Admission is $2 or free with a current FLCC student ID.

“The Distance Between Us” has been selected for the Writers & Books’ 2018 Rochester Reads program. Seven FLCC faculty members, including Curt Nehring Bliss, professor of English, are using the book as a teaching tool in classes this semester.

“‘The Distance Between Us’ is provoking some of the most thoughtful classroom conversations I’ve ever participated in,” said Nehring Bliss. “Her story helps cut through the noise and rhetoric of our current national conversation on immigration by showing a first-hand account of a childhood that straddled two worlds: Mexico and El Otre Lato, ‘the Other Side.’”

Grande and her siblings grew up in poverty in Mexico and were left behind for eight years when their parents fled to the U.S. in search of work. After living in poverty with their stern grandmother, Grande later crossed the U.S. border as an undocumented child immigrant, and faced much adversity as she became the first in her family to earn a college degree.

Her first two novels, “Across a Hundred Mountains” and “Dancing with Butterflies,” are fictitious, though they draw on Grande’s experiences. Published by Atria Books in 2012, “The Distance Between Us” is a coming-of-age memoir that explores the complexities of immigration.

“The Distance Between Us” was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. Grande has also been honored with an American Book Award, the El Premio Aztlan Literary Award, and the Luis Leal Award for Distinction in Chicano/Latino Literature.

For the third consecutive year, Nehring Bliss has brought the Writers & Books common read to FLCC. In partnership with the student organization AALANA and with the support of colleagues in the Humanities Department, he sought to expand the initiative with a kickoff reception for students, faculty and staff at the main campus earlier this month. Fifty complimentary copies of the book were provided to students. Students at Canandaigua Academy who are taking part in a college readiness program coordinated by FLCC are also using the book as a learning tool.

The March 29 event is one of several planned stops by Grande as part of the Rochester Reads program. For more information, contact Curt Nehring Bliss at (585) 785-1367.

FLCC student Rachel Smith, fourth from left, was selected for a New York State Sheriff’s Association Institute award. She was recently congratulated by, left to right, James Valenti, associate professor of criminal justice; Jason Maitland, director of campus safety; Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts; FLCC President Robert K. Nye; and Joseph Mariconda, associate professor of criminal justice.

Rachel Smith of Palmyra, a Finger Lakes Community College student, has received a New York State Sheriffs’ Association Institute award.

The Sheriffs’ Association grants a $250 award to one student at each New York community college who demonstrates academic excellence in the pursuit of a career in criminal justice.

Smith, a 2017 graduate of Palmyra-Macedon High School, is in her second semester. She plans to transfer upon graduation and is considering enlisting in the police academy.

Smith was nominated for the award by her advisor, James Valenti, an attorney and associate professor of criminal justice. Valenti and FLCC President Robert K. Nye congratulated her during a visit to the main campus by Wayne County Sheriff Barry Virts on March 16. Also on hand were Joseph Mariconda, associate professor of criminal justice, and Jason Maitland, director of campus safety at FLCC.

Adrian Colvin as Oscar and Will Pulver as his poker buddy

Adrian Colvin, left, and Will Pulver get into character
during a rehearsal of "The Odd Couple."

Finger Lakes Community College students will stage “The Odd Couple,” the classic Neil Simon comedy about two ill-suited roommates, at the main campus on April 13 and 14.

Three shows are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 13 and 2 and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 14 in the FLCC Student Center Auditorium, 3325 Marvin Sands Drive. Tickets, available at the door, are $8 for general admission, $5 for seniors and students, and free with a current FLCC ID.

Nathaniel Lecceardone
plays Felix in "The Odd Couple"

This year, the spring theatre production coincides with Spring Visit Day, a main campus open house for high school juniors and seniors. Prospective students and their parents who register online for Spring Visit Day will get complimentary tickets to the “The Odd Couple” performance on April 14 at 2 p.m. when they check in.

Adrian Colvin of Macedon plays the sloppy Oscar Madison who opens his apartment to the fastidious Felix Ungar, played by Nathaniel Lecceardone of Manchester. Victoria Elia of Canandaigua and Jamie Schojan of Tampa Bay portray the Pigeon sisters. Alex Boucher of Marion, Jerrett Laskett of Batavia, Andrew Parisi of Brighton, and Will Pulver of Newark round out the cast as Oscar and Felix’s poker buddies. The understudy is Amanda Phelps of Clifton Springs.

This play opens in Oscar’s apartment on poker night. The last of the group, Felix, arrives late and suicidal: he and his wife have recently separated. Oscar invites Felix to move in with him and pair struggle to coexist.

Lecceardone performed in musicals while at Red Jacket, including the role of the scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz” and Pinocchio in “Shrek: The Musical.” He is particularly enjoying playing Felix.

“What I love about doing ‘The Odd Couple’ is being able to let loose and play a goofy character with a hilarious personality, alongside my talented friends and amazing directors,” he said. “In preparation for the role of Felix, I studied and watched the different versions of ‘The Odd Couple’ such as the 1968 film, the 1970 sitcom, and the recent sitcom which came out in 2015. I tried to take notes from each version while putting my own twist on who I think Felix is.”

Colvin also studied the film and TV comedy to get a feel for Oscar.

“There is a mix of emotions that my character possesses that really puts my acting skills to the test,” he said. “I love the work I am able to put into this show. There is also a lot of comedy in this show which makes rehearsing with the other actors and actresses a lot of fun.”

Colvin is a graduate of Wayne Central’s James A. Beneway High School where he participated in the musical “Curtains” during his senior year.

Two students, Bayana Burnell of Williamson and Brandon Lee Wyand of Victor, will direct “The Odd Couple.” Students Erin Symonds of Phelps and Angela Hurlbutt of Canandaigua serve on the crew as light board operator and sound engineer, respectively. Graphic design student Julian Trinchini designed the poster for the show.

FLCC faculty and staff supporting the students are James Perri, technical director and production manager; Beth Johnson, professor of theatre; and Kathyrn Snyder and Jessica Ames, technical specialists for theatre. Douglas Blackall will provide lighting design.

At FLCC students can enroll in a liberal arts degree with a theatre track to prepare for transfer to a four-year school with theatre and related programs.

For information about FLCC academic programs, including the theatre track, call the One Stop Center at (585) 785-1000 or sign up for Spring Visit Day, April 14, at flcc.edu/apply.

For more information about “The Odd Couple” contact Beth Johnson at (585) 785-1242.

FLCC professors Jon Palzer, Trista Merrill and Barbara Murphy are shown at the 15th Annual Campus Authors Reading held in 2017. Merrill and Murphy will return this year, along with several colleagues.

Finger Lakes Community College will mark National Poetry Month in April with the 16th Annual Campus Authors Reading on Wednesday, April 11.

The reading will begin at 7 p.m. at the FLCC Honors House at 4340 Lakeshore Drive, Canandaigua. Its host and organizer is writer Curt Nehring Bliss, professor of English at FLCC. Entry is free.

The event celebrates the literary accomplishments of the FLCC faculty and staff. The reading is offered each year in recognition of National Poetry Month, though all literary genres are represented. Curt and Nani Nehring Bliss of Middlesex will perform songs adapted from poetry, while the following will share a mix of poetry and creative nonfiction:

· Maureen Owens of Seneca Falls, assistant director of online learning

· Trista Merrill of Canandaigua, professor of English and director of honors studies

· Alton Jowers of Rushville, associate professor of English

· Margaret Gillio of Pittsford, assistant professor of humanities

· Marty Dodge of Canandaigua, professor emeritus, environmental conservation

· Barbara Murphy of Brighton, professor of humanities

· Erin Brewer of Farmington, adjunct instructor of English

· David McGuire of Rochester, professor of music

· Sam Samanta of Canandaigua, professor of physics

For more information, contact Curt Nehring Bliss at (585) 785-1367 or at curtis.nehringbliss@flcc.edu.

Vietnam veterans, from left to right, Roger Johnson, Tony Gurak and Jim DeCamp, shown with Livingston County Historian Amie Alden. Alden edited a 2014 book co-authored by the trio that tells of the war’s impact on their hometown. Photo credit: Michael Johnson

The horrors he endured in Vietnam silenced Roger Johnson for years after his return from the battlefield.

“When I got home I started to slowly unwind, but I never spoke of Vietnam,” he said. “I never said a word.”

These days, though, Johnson reflects on his experiences as an Army infantry soldier with just about anyone who’ll listen. It is equal parts duty and cathartic: He is determined to preserve history in the retelling, and has found healing in recounting his year at war.

He and two fellow Vietnam veterans, Tony Gurak and Jim DeCamp, will share their memories during a visit to Finger Lakes Community College on Tuesday, April 10. The free, public event, “50 Years After Tet: Personal Reflections on the Vietnam War,” will mark the 50th anniversary of the Tet Offensive, which is widely considered the turning point of America's involvement in the Vietnam War.

The talk begins at 12:45 p.m. in Stage 14 at FLCC’s main campus, 3325 Marvin Sands Drive, Canandaigua. Visitors should plan to arrive early for parking.

“Almost a half-century since its painful termination, the legacy and scars of the Vietnam War are still being felt today,” said Robert Brown, professor of history at FLCC and coordinator of the event. “It is meaningful, moving and profound that after decades of silence, or neglect, those who served in Vietnam are now speaking up, and relating their diverse experiences of one of the longest and most controversial conflicts in American history.”

Brown will serve as moderator of the talk. Audience members will be given an opportunity to pose questions.

Roger Johnson in a jungle during the Vietnam War

Johnson, Gurak and DeCamp all attended high school in Geneseo and collaborated on the book, “Blue Devils in Vietnam,” a compilation of over 30 first-person accounts of the war’s impact on their community. The “Blue Devils” in the title is a nod to their school mascot.

Johnson said he was in gym class one day in 1965 when he was approached by a schoolmate, Francis “Butch” Rosebrugh. “He came up to me and put his foot up on one of those long benches, and he said, ‘Roger, look what I did.’ He told me he joined the Marines,” said Johnson. Soon after, Rosebrugh was sent to Vietnam. He was killed a year later.

Johnson was drafted in 1969. “My father took it exceptionally hard,” said Johnson. “He had this awful feeling that I would never come home.”

Johnson was 20 when he was deployed. “I didn’t know where I was going to be or what was expected of me,” he said. “I was immediately sent to the field, and I have to be honest, I was just scared to death.”

A sniper fired at his platoon the first night. “I practically laid on the ground and the guys didn’t even move – they were very used to it. It became more intense very quickly. It was a horribly dangerous place. I lost a number of my guys to mines and booby traps – I had one of my friends blow right up in front of me. I had another platoon-mate step on an old mine set up for a tank; he lost both legs and an arm.”

He added, “It hardened you, but it never got easy.”

In the years after his return to the states, Johnson’s family never asked about his experiences, perhaps sensing his unwillingness to share or afraid of hearing of the horrors he endured. He first opened up to a fellow veteran over cold drinks. Slowly, he realized the talking helped.

Johnson wanted to write a book about his experiences, but his idea didn’t become a possibility until he connected with Gurak, DeCamp and Livingston County Historian Amie Alden. Alden wanted to help record the memories and wound up the book’s editor.

Since the book was published in 2014, Johnson, Gurak and DeCamp have appeared in front of several crowds to share their experiences. Their stories have more than once inspired fellow Vietnam veterans to open up for the first time.

“We’re finding out that we’ve opened a valve to so many hearts, and that’s our mission now – to reach out to these veterans and tell them how important it is to tell their stories,” said Johnson.

The Finger Lakes Community College main campus in Canandaigua will host a Spring Visit Day open house on Saturday, April 14, for high schoolers and their families who want to learn more about FLCC programs, financial aid and student services.

Doors open at 8 a.m., and the day starts at 8:45 a.m. with a welcome from FLCC President Robert Nye, followed by an FLCC Connections Fair with a continental breakfast. Faculty members will be available for one-on-one discussions about classes and programs. College staff will answer questions about advising, transfer, financial aid, EOP (Educational Opportunities Program), disability services, FLCC campus center opportunities, online learning and academic support. Some programs and clubs, including game programming and design and the Fencing Club, will offer demonstrations.

The rest of the morning includes a series of information sessions and tours students can choose based on their interests. Tours of facilities include the music recording studios, which offer the same technology used at commercial studios in Nashville and New York, and the recently renovated fine arts studios and graphic design labs.

Information sessions include study abroad and taking advantage of honors studies as well as a panel discussion with current FLCC students who can discuss their choices and experiences.

Early afternoon events include the FLCC Spring Derby logging sports competition and a matinee performance of the student theatre production of “The Odd Couple.”

Students must register online at flcc.edu/visit before April 14. For more information about Spring Visit Day, call the One Stop Center at (585) 785-1000.

Finger Lakes Community College will host two financial aid workshops in April to help current and prospective college students and their parents understand the process and fill out forms.

Evening workshops run from 6 to 8 p.m. Upcoming events are as follows:

Tuesday, April 17: Geneva Campus Center, 63 Pulteney St., Geneva
Wednesday, April 25: FLCC main campus, 3325 Marvin Sands Drive, off Lakeshore Drive in Canandaigua

Following a brief overview, an FLCC representative will lead participants through completion of the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the New York State Aid Payment Application on college computers.

Entry is free but registration, on a first-come, first-served basis, is required online at calendar.flcc.edu.

FAFSA workshop participants should get a federal student aid ID at least two days before attending by visiting fafsa.gov and clicking on the “FSA ID” button in the menu at the top of the homepage.

High school juniors and seniors can also learn more about the financial aid process during FLCC’s Spring Visit Day on Saturday, April 14. The event features information about college programming, support services for students, advice from current students, tours of the college and specialized tours of the music recording and arts facilities. Online registration for Spring Visit Day is available at flcc.edu/visit.

For more information about financial aid workshops or Spring Visit Day, call the One Stop Center at (585) 785-1000.

Finger Lakes Community College and Cazenovia College have formed a partnership to provide a bachelor’s degree program in human services at the FLCC Geneva Campus Center on Pulteney Street, starting in fall 2018.

An information session on the new program is scheduled for Tuesday, April 17, at 6 p.m. at the Geneva center, 63 Pulteney St. Register for the session by emailing Linda.Cunningham@flcc.edu. Participants who are not currently enrolled can find out more about both the FLCC associate degree and the Cazenovia bachelor’s degree. Current FLCC students can learn how to transfer into the new bachelor’s degree program.

Human services is among FLCC’s most popular degree programs with about 130 full-time and 50 part-time students. It is an A.S. program, or associate in science degree, which means it is designed for transfer to a four-year institution.

FLCC offers joint admission in human services with SUNY Brockport, Buffalo State, and Roberts Wesleyan College, which means students can apply and be accepted to FLCC and these other institutions simultaneously. FLCC has transfer agreements in the Rochester area with about a dozen public and private colleges, including Cazenovia College.

To make the transfer to Cazenovia’s program easier, FLCC now has an agreement in which FLCC graduates in human services can take Cazenovia human services classes at the Geneva Campus Center in order to earn a bachelor’s degree. The program is also designed for students graduating from the FLCC chemical dependency counseling program.

Students can enroll in two Cazenovia degrees: bachelor’s in human services with an alcohol and substance abuse concentration and a bachelor’s in human services with a generalist concentration.

The Cazenovia College bachelor’s degree is a part-time, three-year program, consisting of a combination of on-campus evening classes and online classes. Students can take two or three classes per semester instead of a full course load, allowing those with jobs and families a manageable way to get a bachelor’s degree.

For more information about the Cazenovia human services program at FLCC, contact Sherri Benedict at (315) 655-7288 or sjbenedict@cazenovia.edu or Linda Cunningham, FLCC site liaison, at (585) 785-1317 or Linda.Cunningham@flcc.edu.

Finger Lakes Camerata, a choral group based at Finger Lakes Community College, will perform “Some of Our Favorites” in two free community concerts, one in Canandaigua and another in Keuka Park.

Performances are scheduled for Saturday, April 14, at 3 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, 58 N. Main St., Canandaigua, and Sunday, April 15, at 3 p.m. at Keuka College’s Norton Chapel. Entry is free; donations are accepted for FLCC music and music recording student scholarships.

Selections include “The Road Home” by Stephen Paulus, featuring soprano soloist Stephanie Durham, and “The Vacant Chair,” arranged by Ben Allaway, featuring soloists David Hayden on trumpet and soprano Cindy Bridgeford.

The ensemble will also perform the title song of “Oklahoma!” spiritual “Elijah Rock,” and “Across the Vast, Eternal Sky.” For the full program, visit calendar.flcc.edu.

Dennis Maxfield, adjunct instructor of music at FLCC, is the director of the Finger Lakes Camerata. Anthony D’Agostino will serve as accompanist. For more information, contact Maxfield at (585) 396-0027.

The most recent graduates of the joint Finger Lakes Community College-G.W. Lisk Advanced Manufacturing Machinist program are, from left, Garrett Flower of Clifton Springs, Karen Kollie of East Rochester, Forrest Macaluso of Palmyra, Calvin Alexander of Farmington, Fred Enamait of East Rochester, David Calderwood of Honeoye Falls and William Grube of Fairport.

As he congratulated a graduating class of machinists, Ed Maier, president of G.W. Lisk Co., announced that his company made more than 50 components for the SpaceX Fusion Heavy rocket.
It was that fascinating work that drew the seven students who completed the six-month advanced manufacturing machinist training program operated jointly by Finger Lakes Community College and G.W. Lisk. The company and the college celebrated with a lunch and ceremony at Warfield’s Restaurant in Clifton Springs on March 22.

“You’re making something,” graduate David Calderwood of Honeoye Falls said, referring to high-precision parts for aerospace, military and other industries.

“I like working with my hands,” agreed Karen Kollie of East Rochester, who was already working as an assembler at G.W. Lisk, but wanted the higher pay and advancement potential of machining. “This was the best decision I’ve ever made,” she said of the machining program.

Frederick Enamait of East Rochester thanked his teachers for their encouragement and patience as the class learned print reading, measuring techniques, machine tool operation and most importantly, how to analyze a manufacturing problem.

“They didn’t give us the answers. They gave us the ability to get the answers,” he said. “I learned a different way of looking at the world.”

Robert Nye, president of FLCC, echoed Maier as he told the graduates: “The products you make will make a difference in the world.”

Most graduates were hired by G.W. Lisk Co., a maker of solenoids, valves and flame arrestors with more than 600 employees at the Clifton Springs plant.

Graduate Garrett Flower of Clifton Springs simultaneously enrolled in the FLCC instrumentation and control technologies program and will graduate with a two-year degree in December, in addition to his machining credentials.

Future students who enroll in both programs will be able to make faster progress on an associate degree. Graduates of the machinist program can now get 12 college credits toward the completion of an instrumentation and control technologies degree, a related FLCC manufacturing technology program. Under a separate arrangement with Monroe Community College, they can also apply 15 credits toward the MCC precision machining and tooling certificate and degree programs.

Calvin Alexander of Farmington, William Grube of Fairport and Forrest Macaluso of Palmyra also completed the six-month program.

A new class will begin in September. Previous manufacturing experience is not necessary and grant funding to cover full tuition is available for eligible applicants. For more information on the class and funding eligibility, contact Andrea Badger at FLCC at (585) 785-1906 or Andrea.Badger@flcc.edu.

Mason Rodriguez will be one of the "books" featured in the Human Library at FLCC on April 19.

Mason Rodriguez knew as a youngster that he was nothing like his twin sister. While she gravitated toward dolls and dresses, he preferred Matchbox cars and Army figurines and he felt uncomfortable when his mother dressed him in pink, frilly things.

His name then was Kelly, and he was born a girl. Meet him today and you’d likely not have a clue. Beard stubble casts a shadow on his face. His voice is deep. He has a man’s physique.

Rodriguez is a transgender male, or a “trans-man.” He has received testosterone injections for several years and soon plans to undergo plastic surgery to help better match his external appearance with how he feels on the inside.

He will talk about the adversities and triumphs he has faced as one of several “books” participating in the Human Library at Finger Lakes Community College on Thursday, April 19. The free public event will be held from noon to 4 p.m. in the Charles J. Meder Library at the main campus, 3325 Marvin Sands Drive, Canandaigua.

Attendees will be able to check out books to "read" with a 20-minute, one-on-one conversation.

"Books come from all walks of life," said event organizer April Broughton, FLCC’s electronic resources and online instruction librarian. “It is about starting conversations that might not otherwise happen naturally, and encouraging learning and understanding within the community. I’m excited to once again bring this experience to FLCC.”

Rodriguez resides in Canandaigua and is the owner of The Massage Medic in the new Chosen Spot Chiropractic and Wellness center. He is a 2016 graduate of FLCC’s therapeutic massage program. FLCC’s first Human Library was held during his last semester. It piqued his interest.

“I’ve always been interested in doing it,” he said. “I always thought that I would have something to offer. I’ve always been pretty vocal about who I am. If I keep the exact nature about who I am a secret, that sends a very strong but subliminal message that I may be ashamed, and that sends an even deeper message to an audience that you should be scared of me or what I’m about.”

While struggling with his identity, especially as a teen and young adult, Rodriguez also grappled with addiction to food, alcohol and drugs. He sought help, and except for one relapse, has been sober and in recovery since 2007, around the time he started the hormone treatments. He enrolled in FLCC in 2012, and quickly became a leader and mentor on campus.

Onni Adams

Fellow alumni as well as current students, college employees and community members will also serve as books at the event. They include, among others, a school psychologist from the Naples Central School District, an Army veteran who has served overseas, a woman who survived a devastating fire, and an immigrant.

Student Onni Adams will serve as the “Diary of a Black Woman” book. “We are one of the most underrepresented groups,” she said. “Obviously I can’t speak for every black woman in America, but I feel like this is a great opportunity to clear the air and educate people on who black women are, and our culture and experiences.”

The Human Library Organization is an international diversity effort. To learn more about it, visit humanlibrary.org. For details about FLCC’s event, including a complete list of books, visit http://libguides.flcc.edu/human_library or call Broughton at (585) 785-1425.

John Foust holding fish up to a group of onlookers

John Foust, professor of environmental conservation, shows off a walleye during a demonstration at a previous Muller Field Station open house. This year’s open house is scheduled for April 21.

The Finger Lakes Community College Muller Field Station near the south end of Honeoye Lake will hold its annual Spring Open House on Saturday, April 21. Faculty and students will be on hand to offer guided nature hikes as well as updates on the walleye spawning season.

The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Muller Field Station, 6455 County Road 36. It is free and open to the public.

FLCC conservation professor John Foust will lead an electrofishing demonstration on Honeoye Inlet with his students at 10 a.m., followed by a tour of the Walleye Fish Culture facility. Attendees will learn about FLCC’s role in supporting the Honeoye Lake walleye population through its hatchery activities and partnership with the state Department of Environmental Conservation.

John Van Niel, professor of conservation, will give a talk at noon titled, “Bearing the winter: The secret lives of black bears.” He will share interesting discoveries from camera traps placed near the entrances to bear dens in the Southern Tier. The images have revealed, among other things, how bears survive in the winter.

Prof. John Van Niel, holding a black bear cub, poses
with his Black Bear Management class. He will
share images and information about how black bears
survive the winter at the field station open house.

Throughout the day, family activities include nature hikes, an animal artifacts touch table, fish print-making and invasive species education. The FLCC Alumni and Student Nature Wildlife Photo Contest entries will be on display; visitors can vote for their favorites. Native tree seedlings will be available to guests, courtesy of the college’s Horticulture Club.

For information, call the FLCC Department of Environmental Conservation and Horticulture at (585) 785-1257.

Helen Levinson

Finger Lakes Community College will host a talk by Holocaust survivor Helen Levinson on Thursday, April 19, at 12:40 p.m. in the Student Center auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

Helen Levinson grew up in Lublin, Poland, where her father was the brew master in a Jewish-owned brewery. The Nazi affinity for beer gave the family a short reprieve, but she was picked up one day and sent to the Majdanek concentration camp near Lublin.

A few weeks later, her mailman came to the camp and helped her escape by giving her a Hitler Youth uniform. When the family was no longer allowed to stay in the brewery, rather than report to the ghetto, they split up with the hopes that someone would remain alive after the war.

Levinson survived because she had false papers saying she was Catholic. She worked for Nazis in Vienna – keeping her Jewish identity secret. She was the only survivor of her immediate family.

Levinson’s talk is part of the History, Culture and Diversity series organized by Robert Brown, professor of history. For more information, contact him at Robert.Brown@flcc.edu.

FLCC students, from left to right, Dylan Marshall ’17, Althea Jones-Johnson, and William Maskrey received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence. They are shown at the awards ceremony with FLCC President Robert K. Nye.

Finger Lakes Community College students Althea Jones-Johnson, William Maskrey and Dylan Marshall received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Albany last week.

“I am immensely proud of these students, who have demonstrated academic excellence and dedication to enriching their campuses and communities,” said SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson at the April 10 ceremony. “From research publications in industry journals to volunteering in hospitals and local clinics to holding leadership roles at their institutions, I am inspired by each student we recognize today. Congratulations to all of the students receiving this year’s award.”

Althea Jones-Johnson of Canandaigua will graduate in May with an associate in science degree in human services. At FLCC, she has held many roles, including service as a student aide in the general tutoring center and as a peer mentor. She serves as president of FLCC’s chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, an international honor society for two-year colleges, and the African-American, Latino/a, Asian and Native American student organization, often referred to as AALANA. During the spring semester, she has also interned with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for the Canandaigua Veterans Administration Hospital. She has been accepted to the University at Buffalo, where she will pursue a bachelor’s degree in communications.

William Maskrey of Canandaigua will graduate in May with an associate in science degree in business administration. He has served as a leader among fellow FLCC students and as a representative in the larger SUNY system. He is currently the president of the FLCC Student Corporation, and was elected to serve as a community college representative on the SUNY Student Assembly Executive Committee, in addition to his role as chair of the Community Colleges Committee. Maskrey also serves on the board of directors for the nonprofit FLCC Association, Inc., which provides auxiliary services such as food service, childcare, athletics and housing. As a member of the Honors Program at FLCC, he was selected to present his work at the Inaugural Fall Honors Convocation. He plans to transfer to a four-year institution to pursue a bachelor’s degree.

Dylan Marshall of Bath graduated in December 2017 with an associate in science degree in communications. While at FLCC, Marshall served as a member of the FLCC Association, Inc. Board of Directors, the non-profit board that provides auxiliary services. He was also active in student government, serving as the vice president of the Student Corporation, as well as a representative on the executive committee of the SUNY Student Assembly. He spent the summer of 2017 studying abroad in Paris, France, and on a mission trip to Tegucigalpa, Honduras, where he helped work on a local school. He transferred to SUNY Albany this semester and was elected a student senator for the fall 2018 semester.

The Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence was created in 1997 to recognize students who have best demonstrated the integration of academic excellence with accomplishments in the areas of leadership, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, campus involvement or career achievement.

A selection committee at each campus reviews the accomplishments of exemplary students and forwards the names of nominees to the chancellor’s office for a second round of review. Finalists are then recommended to the chancellor to become recipients of the award.

John and Joe Dady

Celtic musicians The Dady Brothers will give a workshop and two concerts at Finger Lakes Community College on Tuesday, May 8.

A free, hour-long concert will begin at 12:30 p.m. in the Student Center cafeteria at the main campus, 3325 Marvin Sands Drive. A second, ticketed concert will be held at 7 p.m. in the adjacent venue, Stage 14, following a free workshop that begins at 5 p.m.

The Dady Brothers are a widely acclaimed folk duo and have performed their special brand of Irish music throughout the U.S., Canada, and Ireland. They use a variety of instruments including fiddle, mandolin, guitar, pennywhistle, bodhran, harmonica, banjo, and uilleann pipes. Special musical guests are also expected to perform.

Entry to the 7 p.m. concert is $5 for the general public and free with an FLCC student ID.

This program is sponsored by the FLCC Student Corporation and the FLCC Social Science Department. For additional information, contact Joshua Heller, professor of sociology and chair of the social science department, at (585) 785-1335 or Joshua.Heller@flcc.edu.

The Finger Lakes Chorale, a community chorus based at Finger Lakes Community College, will give two free concerts with the theme “Of Heaven and Earth” on the first weekend in May.

Performances are scheduled for Saturday, May 5, at 3 p.m. and Sunday, May 6, also at 3 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of East Bloomfield, 10 South Avenue. Entry is free; donations are accepted for FLCC music and music recording student scholarships.

This concert celebrating the earth, sky and elements opens with “The Heavens are Telling” by Franz Joseph Haydn and closes with “The Ground” by Ola Gjeilo.

For more information, contact Dennis Maxfield, Finger Lakes Chorale director and adjunct instructor of music at FLCC, at (585) 396-0027.

From left, Finger Lakes Community College students Brandon Dunlop of Ithaca, Dustin Ayers of Livonia, Colby Kutzer of Rochester, who are studying athletic training, take part in a demonstration with Evan Pappalardo of Albion, a physical education major, in October 2017 at the main campus. The athletic training specialization has been replaced with a new degree: kinesiology and human performance.

The state Education Department has approved new Finger Lakes Community College programming that provides greater flexibility and transfer options for students pursuing careers the field of sports medicine.

Starting this fall, students can enroll in the FLCC kinesiology and human performance associate in science degree. The College has offered a concentration, or what is known as an “advisement area,” in athletic training in its liberal arts degree program since 1990. Continued interest among students and growth in the career field prompted the creation of the degree program.

“Given the strong history of enrollment in athletic training, the vast transfer options, and the employability of graduates from this program, we felt it was the right time to make this a major area of study,” said Jeremy Tiermini, associate professor of physical education and integrated health care and coordinator of the program at FLCC. “The program maintains the liberal arts core while also providing students with an improved opportunity to take science courses needed to transfer to baccalaureate programs in a sports medicine field.”

Students enrolled in the kinesiology and human performance degree will be able to continue their education in programs such as athletic training, exercise physiology, exercise science, kinesiology, or pre-physical/occupational therapy. The coursework also prepares them to earn certification as a personal trainer from the American College of Sports Medicine or the National Strength and Conditioning Association, giving them the opportunity for direct employment after graduating from FLCC.

“While it is designed as a transfer degree, our graduates will have the opportunity to earn credentials that can make them immediately employable,” said Tiermini, noting that students currently enrolled in the athletic training advisement area will be able to switch into the new program in the 2018-19 academic year.

Tiermini is a New York state licensed athletic trainer, certified by the National Athletic Trainers’ Association. He earned his bachelor’s degree in sports medicine from Mount Union College and his master’s degree in sports medicine from the United States Sports Academy.

The new degree will soon appear on applications, with enrollment starting in September; the application is available at flcc.edu/apply. Prospective students can also get more information during a visit to FLCC, which can be scheduled online at flcc.edu/visit.

FLCC now offers 58 degree and certificate programs at its main campus and campus centers in Geneva, Newark and Victor. For information, call the FLCC One Stop Center at (585) 785-1000.

A rendering showing two turf fields planned for FLCC

This rendering shows the layout for turf fields to be built behind the main Finger Lakes Community College campus with the lacrosse/soccer field and baseball field combined as a multipurpose field and a separate softball field. The lacrosse field will have lines for both men’s and women’s competition, enabling FLCC to start a women’s team in the future. The FLCC Foundation has received a challenge grant to help complete the project in which every contribution will be matched by an anonymous donor up to $125,000. To help out, visit give.flcc.edu.

Finger Lakes Community College invites the public to a groundbreaking ceremony to build turf fields at the main campus to allow for expanded team rosters, better playing conditions, the ability to play more games and the ability to host tournaments.

The ceremony is scheduled for Friday, May 11, at 10:30 a.m. at the project site behind the main building at 3325 Marvin Sands Drive. The Ontario County Board of Supervisors gave final approval on April 19 for the $5.95 million project to build softball, baseball and lacrosse fields behind the main campus building. Construction will start in early May and end in February 2019.

“We will be on these fields next spring, and they can’t come too soon,” said FLCC Athletics Director Bob Lowden. Due to the cold, snowy spring, FLCC teams have had little outdoor practice time and the women’s softball team had not yet played on college fields as of April 24.

Many lacrosse home games are currently played on other fields due to excess water on the FLCC field.

The new turf fields will have lighting, enabling FLCC to host high school and college tournaments. Such events will provide a return on investment for the community by bringing in visitors and offering more opportunity for the local sports community. Currently, the only large-scale sports events FLCC hosts are regional and national cross-country meets on its Bruce Bridgman course. The project would also make it possible to add a women’s lacrosse team in the near future.

Lowden added that improved facilities will help with recruitment of student athletes, many of whom come from high schools that already have turf fields. The college would like to encourage more students to join athletics as data on student retention shows that student athletes are more likely to stay in school than the overall student population.

“Athletics makes students more engaged in their college experience and provides a community of support. Getting in more practice time – and having home games at home – will improve our teams’ performance, but we also want more students out on those fields,” said Lowden.

The project will be funded as follows: $1,950,000 from the FLCC Association, the affiliated nonprofit that provides auxiliary services such as the bookstore and housing; $550,000 from the Student Corporation; $250,000 in private fundraising, $326,514 in Ontario County capital improvement funding; and $2,876,514 in state matching funds, which is included in the current state budget. The county funds are part of its annual maintenance budget for FLCC and includes funds unspent from previous capital projects.

The FLCC Foundation will oversee private fundraising, which will include naming opportunities. The baseball scoreboard will be named for the late Jeffrey Stahl, who was a pitcher on the teams that won the NCJAA Region III Tournament in 1992 and 1994. The FLCC Foundation has received a challenge grant in which every gift to the turf field fund will be matched by an anonymous donor up to $125,000. Those who wish to contribute to help FLCC earn the match can visit give.flcc.edu or call (585) 785-1541.

Finger Lakes Community College will host a 50th Anniversary Welcome Home Celebration on Friday, May 11, featuring a dinner honoring those who have served the college, the sealing of a time capsule and an after-hours party.

Events begin with a social hour at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. The evening ends with an 8:30 p.m. after-hours party featuring music by alumnus Ken Campbell, who sings and plays guitar, harmonica and drum synthesizer as a soloist and with the local band Flint Creek.

Tickets are on sale through May 1 for $75 per person at give.flcc.edu or (585) 785-1454.

“The college began with a vision and a passion which led to the creation of classrooms in storefronts along Canandaigua’s Main Street. For 50 years, dedication to the belief in the transformative power of education has led to the FLCC we know today,” said FLCC President Robert Nye. “Whatever your connection to the CCFL/FLCC family, our college is the home we built and we’ll keep building together for the future. On May 11, we reunite to celebrate our past, present and future.”

The honorary chair for the evening is Dave Phillips, training manager for G.W. Lisk Co., which co-sponsors programming with FLCC and funds scholarships. Speakers include William Maskrey, president of the Student Corporation, who will reveal the contents of a time capsule to be buried on college grounds in May. The college will also honor emeritus trustees, faculty and administrators.

Copies of the commemorative 50th
anniversary book
will be on sale during the event.

A photo slideshow will highlight people, places, and events from throughout the college’s 50-year history. Copies of the 50th anniversary commemorative book, “This Bold Decision,” will be available for purchase. All guests will receive limited edition 50th anniversary mementoes.

The Ontario County Board of Supervisors voted in September 1965 to start a community college following a motion by Supervisor Arthur Hawkins of South Bristol, who had led a committee of supervisors and citizens to study the concept.

The first board of trustees met in November 1966 to begin the process of finding space in downtown Canandaigua for classrooms, labs and offices and hiring the first employees. They appointed the first president Roy Satre in April 1967 and launched non-credit evening classes the following September. The first daytime, credit-bearing classes began on Feb. 1, 1968 under the name Community College of the Finger Lakes. Lincoln Hill, just outside the city limits, was selected as the site for a permanent campus a month later, but it would take seven more years before the main campus opened.

The college’s extended stay in downtown led to the nickname Storefront Pioneers for the first faculty and students. FLCC moved into the current main campus in 1975 and changed its name to Finger Lakes Community College in 1992.

Today, FLCC offers 58 degree and certificate programs and has a total full-and part-time enrollment of 6,350. The College has campus centers in Geneva, Newark and Victor and also provides instruction at the FLCC Viticulture and Wine Center in Geneva, the Muller Field Station at the south end of Honeoye Lake and the East Hill Campus field station in Naples. FLCC will hold its 50th commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 19.

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