4 | theLAKER from the cover Maybe it was Professor Kelli Prior’s teaching style that got Jason Gottfried’s attention. Or her expectations. Or both. “She changed my outlook on life, and she was not easy on me,” Jason, a 2004 humanities graduate, said with a laugh. After biology with Professor Prior, education took on a new urgency. He started re-taking classes at FLCC that he had previously taken elsewhere to raise his grades. Jason, executive director of the Sands Family YMCA in Canandaigua, and his colleague, Kate Eberts ’93, associate executive director, are giving back to the College by offering internships to current students. Taking a career for a test drive is one of the best ways for students to explore their interests and test their abilities. The College started tracking the number of students who participated in an applied learning experience before the pandemic. A total of 448 students had at least one experience during the 2018–19 academic year. By 2024–25, the number had risen to 609. Building a bench Jason worked part-time at the former Southeast Family YMCA in Pittsford while attending FLCC. His roles included camp counselor, ALUMNI TAKE STUDENTS BEYOND THE CLASSROOM The Sands Family YMCA has hosted 10 interns during the last academic year. Jason Gottfried ’04, executive director of the Sands Family YMCA in Canandaigua, and Kate Eberts ’93, associate executive director, have welcomed 10 FLCC interns over the last year. The cover photo shows some of the FLCC alumni and interns at the Sands Family YMCA. From left, interns Deanna Williamson, Geisha Aman, Cameron Glessing, and Zac Ward; Kate Eberts ’93, associate executive director; Jason Gottfried ’04, executive director; Scot Haynes ’05, buildings and grounds director; Sandi Heacock ’90, Active Older Adults coordinator/registrar; intern Carla Holtz; and Jason DeRycke ’25, aquatics staff associate. PHOTOS BY RIKKI VAN CAMP
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