Faculty/Staff Newsletter • Thursday, May 18, 2017
Spring Commencement
On May 12, MVCC held its Spring Commencement for the more than 1,100 students invited to  walk across the stage for conferral of associate degrees or certificates awarded in December  2016, May 2017, or August 2017. Ryan Miller, director of MVCC’s thINCubator, delivered this  year’s Commencement keynote address. MVCC’s 2017 Alumni of Merit Award winner, Scott H.  Perra ’77, president and CEO of Mohawk Valley Health System, also appeared and gave  students some words of wisdom.
Engineering students win Clarkson scholarship
Eight Engineering Science students at Mohawk Valley Community College have been nominated for Clarkson University awards. Almir Tricic, Matthew Sammons, Matthew Smith, and Sean Ward won the Clarkson University Transfer Leadership Award ($15,000 per year for two years), and Eric Miller, Matthew D’Angelo, Jeff Marraffa, and Sunshine Stacy were awarded the Clarkson Academic Achievement Transfer
Scholarship ($12,000 per year for two years). All eight scholarship winners are transferring to Clarkson University in Fall 2017.
Engineering student awarded with RPI medal
Mohawk Valley Community College Engineering Science major Monica Jackson, of Utica, has been awarded the Joseph H. Smith Jr. ’45 Engineering & Science Medal from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The award, which honors students for excellence in engineering and math, comes with a transfer scholarship for $18,000 per year for two years of her transfer education at RPI, where Jackson plans to major in Civil Engineering.
MVCC, Cazenovia College sign agreement to allow MVCC graduates seamless transfer

On Tuesday, April 4, President Randall VanWagoner, Ph.D., and Cazenovia College President Ronald Chesbrough, Ph.D., signed an agreement in the University Partners & Transfer Center on the Utica Campus, allowing MVCC graduates the opportunity to seamlessly transfer credits to one of Cazenovia’s bachelor’s degree programs.

“Expanding the UPTC with a forward-thinking partner like Cazenovia College is a great addition that can only mean more quality transfer opportunities for our students,” VanWagoner said.

Under the agreement, Cazenovia College will grant full credit to any MVCC student transferring with an associate degree who maintained a grade of “C” or better in their coursework. These students will enter Cazenovia with junior status. Per the agreement, Cazenovia College representatives also will be housed in the UPTC at MVCC’s Utica Campus in order to facilitate student enrollment, relationship management with MVCC, and to support grant initiatives and community outreach activities.

“We are excited about this new partnership and the opportunity to have our representatives on the MVCC campus to assist students who are interested in Cazenovia College as a convenient and affordable option for continuing their education in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree,” Chesbrough said.

Spring Open House
MVCC hosted its Spring Open House on April 7, welcoming hundreds of prospective students to  the Jorgensen Center to see the College’s offerings. Faculty and support staff were on hand to  talk with students and families and answer questions throughout the day, and many programs  had displays of student work, including cupcakes made by the Hospitality students!
Criminal Justice Career Fair and Expo
On April 12, MVCC held its Spring Career Fair and Criminal Justice/Emergency Preparedness  Expo at our Utica Campus. The event featured many local employers from a variety of
industries to expose current students and community members to the numerous career  possibilities within the criminal justice/emergency preparedness field. Students had the  opportunity to talk with members of these agencies, faculty, and alumni about specific career  topics, such as agency requirements, hiring processes, and employment outlooks. Criminal  justice and emergency preparedness agencies held several demonstrations throughout the  event, including the New York State Police with demos for police K9s and rappelling procedures.
MVCC celebrates our international heritages through displays, performances, and interactive booths
MVCC celebrated its cultural diversity with its annual International Festival April 13, in room 116, Alumni College Center, at the Utica Campus. The festival showcased many cultures from around the world, and students wore clothing representative of their culture for an International Fashion Show. There also were table displays, demonstrations, and performances by MVCC students, faculty and staff, and cultural organizations from the greater Utica community, including the Mohawk Valley Resource Center for Refugees, One World Artisans, Italian Heritage Club, St. David’s Association, Midtown Utica Community Center, Mohawk Valley Latino Association, and more.
Men of Color Symposium
Bishop Liston Page Jr., senior pastor of The Highway Church in Paterson, N.J., was the keynote speaker at the seventh annual Men of Color Symposium, sponsored by MVCC’s Office of Civic Responsibilities, on April 21. His presentation, “Keeping the Faith in Life’s Hardships,” touched on issues of importance to men of color, including how to stay focused during relationship problems, what happens after life doesn’t go as planned, respecting each other’s differences, and making education a priority amid so many distractions. The event also included lunch and live music by the Greater Highway Deliverance Temple of Utica choir.
Grammy-nominated hip-hop star Wale at MVCC
On April 22, Grammy-nominated hip-hop star Wale performed for a packed crowd in the  Jorgensen Center on the Utica Campus. Wale is one of the most idiosyncratic talents in hip-hop  and one of the most prominent figures in music today. After signing with Rick Ross’ Maybach  Music Group imprint in 2011, Wale released his breakthrough sophomore album, “Ambition,”  which spawned the Grammy-nominated single “Lotus Flower Bomb (feat. Miguel)” followed by  2013’s “The Gifted,” which debuted atop Billboard’s “Top 200 Albums” chart.
Prepare for Success Event
On April 27, the Institute for Emergency Preparedness and Public Services hosted a Prepare for  Success event on the Utica Campus, during which students were able to shop for free  professional clothing, including gently used men’s and women’s shirts, suits, ties, dresses,  shoes, accessories, and more. Academic Advising and Career Services staff were also available  for students looking to prepare for interviews and professional jobs. Local professionals from  the Emergency Preparedness and Public Service field were on-hand to help students pick out  clothing and give advice on being successful.
Airframe & Powerplant Competition
Students in the MVCC Airframe and Powerplant program placed seventh among aviation school teams at the 10th annual international Aerospace Maintenance Competition in Orlando on April 24-27. MVCC was represented by students Dave Cocca, Joe Jiamarrino, Mitchell Keegan, Isaac Miller, and Brian Schutz, and Assistant Professor Todd Rankins, Adjunct Instructor Chris Johnston, and Instructor Peter Abbe. These MVCC students, with only eight months of training, posted faster overall times than some professional teams including Virgin Galactic, Qantas Airlines, and the US Army.

Retiree Luncheon
Retirees from MVCC had the opportunity to reconnect with friends and colleagues at the  Retiree Luncheon held by the Foundation on May 1. While enjoying lunch and company,  attendees also learned about the College’s new initiatives and program advancements.
Excelsior Scholarship Information Sessions
On May 8, MVCC hosted the first of two information sessions regarding the new Excelsior Scholarship, led by RoAnn Destito, commissioner of the New York State Office of General Services, who discuss the details of the Scholarship plan for free SUNY tuition. MVCC President Randall VanWagoner, Ph.D. and MVCC financial aid staff also were on hand to answer questions. The second info session will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, May 18, in Plumley Complex room 150 on the Rome Campus.

In Memoriam
Carol Jane Fox 1944 - 2017

Carol Jane Fox, 73, a retired MVCC Trustee, school teacher and administrator in the Utica City School District, and a lifelong resident of Utica, passed away on Friday, April 28, 2017, in the comfort of her own home. Carol treasured education both as a student and as a teacher and administrator. She believed the major emphasis being on the development of each student to his or her potential. Her mantra was "Let each become all that he or she is capable of becoming". Carol's long and storied career spanned from classroom teaching, to assistant principal, to principal at Sunset and Jones Schools, Proctor Junior High School and Donovan Middle School, while culminating as Director of Curriculum and Instruction. While an educator, Carol wore many hats and was involved in numerous district committees.


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