16 | theLAKER foundation update COMMUNITY AND COLLABORATION In naming the Finger Lakes as the Wine Region of the Year for 2025, Wine Enthusiast magazine quoted Kyle Anne Pallischeck, director of programs for the New York Wine & Grape Foundation. She credited “community, collaboration, and creativity” for the region’s success. “There are countless stories of our collaborative community pulling together and working as one,” she said. The annual Vintners & Valentines dinner has become the College’s celebration of that spirit of collaboration. The April event, which raised $112,200 to support FLCC programming, featured a five-course meal prepared by students in the culinary arts program under the direction of faculty members Patrick Rae and Jamie Rotter. Over the event’s 11-year history, the number of participating winery owners and employees who are FLCC alumni has steadily increased. Of the 26 wineries that contributed to Vintners & Valentines this year, 10 were represented by alumni of FLCC. Representing the viticulture and wine technology program at Vintners & Valentines, front row, from left: adjunct instructor Steve Lerch, student Noel Wilson, Marete Seymour ’17, Amanda Mott ’25, Jerry Decker ’25, student Luke White, program coordinator Gina Lee ’13, student Connor Calder, student Ric Lopez; second row: student Ethan Miller, Jan Klapetzky, student Ivan Pagan, Cordell Bradley ’23, Emily Doi ’20, student Jackson Brady, professor Paul Brock; third row: Jim Acquilano ’23, John Monnier ’17, Brien Gardner ’16, Will Jenkins; fourth row: Phil Simmons ’20, Wes Andrews ’20, student Dalanie Kolz, student Charles Sasson; fifth row: Joseph Patrick ’20, Daniel Shafer ’25, Rachel Wolfanger ’25, Angelica Lawler ’22, technical specialist Marc Peterson ’11, ’19, and Chris Yarnall ’19 Culinary students included, front row, from left: Brooklyn Williams, Katerina Levanava, Ava Peacock, Mick Olsen; back row: Chris Thompson, Kyle Griffin, and Michael Hoffman
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