JUDGED ON HER MERITS fall 2024 THELAKER a publication for alumni and friends of finger lakes community college A pivotal class in chaos theory pg. 12 President’s Report to the Community pg. 15 LaToya Lee ’03 discovered her aptitude for the law at FLCC
Viticulture and wine technology alumni are key players in the annual fundraising dinner, Vintners & Valentines. At the April event, half of the participating wineries were represented by alumni of the FLCC program. Several alumni and students posed for a photo with Gina Lee ’13, coordinator of the programs; Paul Brock, associate professor; and technical specialist Marc Peterson ’11, ’19 (Winery employers are in parentheses after alumni names.) Front row, left to right: Elisabeth Dudek ’19, Cindy Hanlon ’19 (Canandaigua Winery – Gallo), Emily Doi ’20 (Glenora Wine Cellars), Tito Chavez ’20 (Anthony Road Wine Company), student Rachel Wolfanger, student Kayla Ryder, student Amanda Mott, Gina Lee, student Jerry Decker, Jonathan Aponte ’24 Back row, left to right: Dimetri Tantaros ’24, alumnus Will Jenkins, Nick Brydels ’24, Wes Andrew ’20 (Atwater Vineyards), Marc Peterson, James Acquilano ’23 (Acquilano Wine Cellars), Nate Moore ’19 (Inspire Moore Winery and Vineyard), Brien Gardner ’16 (Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery), John Monnier ’17 (Ravines Wine Cellars), Alex Robb ’13, Jan Klapetzky (Boom Point Winery), Paul Brock. Not shown: Greg Taylor ’16 (Bully Hill Vineyards), Angelica Lawler ’22 (Fox Run Vineyards), Jesse Alexander ’18 (Lamoreaux Landing Wine Cellars) and Bruce Stebbins ’17 (Silver Thread Vineyard.) PHOTO BY RIKKI VAN CAMP
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2 | THELAKER President Robert K. Nye Chief Advancement Officer Brie Chupalio Director of Development Michelle M. Robbins Editor/Chief Writer Lenore Friend Director of Public Relations and Communications Contributors Laura Alishauskas Nicholas Julien Margaret Lorenzetti Design and Layout Sarah R. Butler Photography Rikki Van Camp The Laker is produced by the Advancement and Communications offices at Finger Lakes Community College. Views and opinions expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor or official College policies. Finger Lakes Community College does not discriminate based on an individual’s race, color, national origin, religion, creed, age, disability, sex, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, familial status, pregnancy, predisposing genetic characteristics, military status, domestic violence victim status, or criminal conviction. Connect with us Finger Lakes Community College 3325 Marvin Sands Drive Canandaigua, NY 14424 Email: alumni@flcc.edu (585) 785-1454 www.facebook.com/fingerlakescommunitycollege @flcc_connects @flcc_connects FLCC celebrates achievement, service is edition of the Laker features 2012 alumna Jade Myers (see page 12), who credits Professor Sam Samanta for changing the course of her life. Many others had the same experience with the founder of the innovative FLCC Smart Systems Technologies (SST) program. For this, he was honored with the CCFL/FLCC Alumni Association Exceptional Service Award in September. Sam works tirelessly to help students nd meaningful co-op experiences that o en lead to full-time positions. Many of his students are older and seeking a transition to a new career eld. e photo above shows Sam in his doctorate academic regalia with 2022 SST graduate Sudeep “Kumar” Soni and much of his extended family, including Vishal “Bobby” Datta, a 2016 SST graduate standing behind them. Earlier this year, Sam reunited with the family when he attended Kumar’s graduation from Alfred State College. “ is was the rst time I had met with the extended family,” Sam said of the 2022 photo. He noted that Kumar’s family members, in particular his wife, were instrumental in helping him go back to school for a new career. “Graduation was an accomplishment for the whole family. I was happy to come to that realization in a ‘communal’ setting.” In addition to Sam, FLCC also celebrated these alumni and friends of the College: Distinguished Alumni Award: Kiki Wilson ’06 Young Alumni Achievement Award: Sarah M. Goodman ’10 Foundation Award: Stephen R. Martin, former chair of the Board of Trustees Benefactor Award: e Children of Mary Porcari Brady Outstanding Art Alumni Achievement Award: Andrea Cornett ’87 Outstanding Nursing Alumni Achievement Award: Nikima Perovich Glatt ’11 Outstanding Horticulture Alumni Achievement Award: Karen Luong ’17 Outstanding Conservation Alumni Achievement Award: Nicholas J. Dietschler ’14 Outstanding Humanities Alumni Achievement Award: Amanda Stack ’15 Outstanding Computing Sciences Alumni Achievement Award: Christopher Sirianni ’08 Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee: Max Franzone ’15 Professor Prashanta “Sam” G. Samanta with Sudeep “Kumar” Soni and his family at commencement in 2022. PHOTO BY JAN REGAN The FLCC Alumni and Foundation Awards Ceremony took place while this edition was being printed. See photos and more information on the FLCC Facebook page. Christopher Sirianni '08 is the founder of IT Insights. PHOTO BY MICHAEL HANLON
THELAKER | 3 CLASS notes pages 28–32 FROM THE COVER: A career in law pages 4–6 FALL 2024 CONTENTS THELAKER ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT Jade Myers ’12 page 12 CAMPUS HAPPENINGS pages 7–11 page 14 SAVE the DATE president’s report to the community pages 15–27 Hospitality notes Pasta guru visits FLCC New York Kitchen, where FLCC holds many of its culinary arts labs, has arranged for chef and author Dan Pashman to speak at the College on Tuesday, Oct. 22. Chef Pashman wrote “Anything’s Pastable” and hosts “ e Sporkful” podcast. He is known for developing the cascatelli pasta shape. Details and tickets are available through New York Kitchen at nykitchen.com or (585) 394-7070. FLCC students will prepare a tasting of some of Chef Pashman’s dishes prior to the event. New memorial scholarship e Business Department has launched a $1,000 scholarship in memory of the late Rich Larkin (see the In Memoriam section of Class Notes), to be awarded annually to a student enrolled in culinary arts or a hospitality program. Donations can be made to the Rich Larkin Memorial Scholarship fund at cc.edu/giving. A portion of the proceeds from Vintners and Valentines will also supplement the fund. “Rich, in many ways, is really the father of the culinary program,” said Jamie Rotter, associate professor of culinary arts. Rich championed the creation of the program and helped shepherd the courses through the approval process. e scholarship application opens by February of each year. ere is just a single application for more than 100 FLCC scholarships. Students’ responses to a series of questions determine their eligibility.
4 | THELAKER from the cover At age 8, LaToya Lee decided she would be an attorney when she grew up. Sort of. A teacher was going around the classroom, asking children about careers. LaToya and a friend were among the last to respond, and they didn’t want to repeat what other kids had said. ey got an idea from “Matlock” and other TV dramas their grandparents watched. “We saw it was getting to us, so we gotta think of something quick. On the y we decided, ‘OK we'll say we want to be attorneys.’” LaToya would use that answer again at Rochester’s John Marshall High School, though it was more of an aspiration to throw around when adults asked. She didn’t dare to believe it herself until Cassy Kent’s Introduction to Legal Practice class at FLCC in fall 2001. ‘IT TRULY ISN’T WHERE YOU STARTED, BUT WHERE YOU END UP’ LaToya Lee ’03 realized over time she had the intellect and drive for a career in law.
THELAKER | 5 LaToya Lee ’03 poses in June 2024 with a photo taken a decade ago for a display in the second-floor hallway of the main campus. PHOTO BY RIKKI VANCAMP Cassy Kent wrote a letter of recommendation when LaToya Lee was applying to law school. LaToya keeps it under the glass of her desk in her judge’s chambers at Rochester City Court. Cassy has since been promoted to associate vice president of instruction for the College. “ e only thing that I really knew was criminal law, which is such a disheartening thing to think of now because the law is so vast and expansive,” said LaToya. “Cassy was the person who piqued my interest in di erent areas of law, and she brought it closer to home. Little by little it started to position me, small things that made me realize, ‘Wait a minute, I think I can do this.’” Now a Rochester City Court judge, LaToya visited the College this past June. Her last trip to the main campus was a decade earlier to have a portrait taken. It hangs in the second- oor hallway among framed photos of alumni with “LaToya Lee, Esq. ’03” under her wide smile. She had been right about becoming an attorney a er all. It still surprises her sometimes. “In high school, we would have speakers come, and I thought, ‘ ey're not paying attention to me because I don't fall in that perfect group of students,’ so you grow up and it stays with you,” LaToya said. “I've always thought of myself as invisible, and so you have to grow and learn in your visibility, which is a constant process.” ‘I had this cousin…” With her associate in paralegal studies, LaToya transferred to Morgan State University, a historically black college in Baltimore, Md. ere, she majored in political science, a typical pre-law course of study. Her rst term GPA was a 3.8, but her heart was not in three more semesters of political science. LaToya asked Cassy to recommend a paralegal bachelor’s program. Cassy suggested Hilbert College, south of Bu alo, and LaToya graduated from the school in December 2005. She took a job at Frontier Communications as a 411 directory assistance operator to earn some money, then worked at Verizon Wireless in customer service. e initial attraction of a steady job and a lower-than-hoped-for score on the LSAT blunted her interest in law school for a while, but a proud relative wouldn’t let her forget it. “I had this cousin who would introduce me saying, ‘ is is my cousin. She's gonna be a lawyer.’ And I'm like, ‘Stop saying that.’ I understand they're trying to motivate, trying to show you o to people, but it stings a little bit. Part of me felt a burden that I needed to accomplish law school because I didn't want to let anybody down.” LaToya reached out to her FLCC mentor again. She still has Cassy’s letter of recommendation for law school with a sticky note o ering good luck under the glass cover of the desk in her judge’s chambers. In summer 2010, LaToya felt more than ready for omas M. Cooley Law School. “I drove to Lansing, Mich., and never looked back. When I got there, immediately I got to the library, got some study friends, and I got serious. My brain went to a next level of study.”
6 | THELAKER from the cover A new narrative A er passing the bar exam, she worked as a mortgage foreclosure defense attorney with the Empire Justice Center. She was moved by clients’ trauma of losing the spaces where they gardened and held barbecues and holiday get-togethers. e late Betty Tyson, the Rochester woman who spent 25 years falsely imprisoned for murder, was among her clients. “I was there for about a year, but I still had this gut-wrenching desire to go and do criminal work, and I speci cally wanted to go to the Monroe County Public Defender's O ce.” at desire also went back to her childhood. “I thought to myself if I can be a lawyer, I can help some of the people that are in my community who are victims of the criminal justice system. I remember a gentleman on the side of my building one time, he was strip-searched right outside in broad daylight.” She also wanted to change the narrative of apathetic public defenders, so evident in a back-handed compliment she once received: “‘You're such a good public defender, have you ever thought about being an attorney?’ “Some of the public defenders in our local o ce are some of the top attorneys in the county, and I'm still, even to this day, trying to wash away that narrative about public defenders,” she said. ‘Yeah, they want you’ LaToya was working as a judicial law clerk in 2021 and hadn’t considered the bench herself. Colleagues suggested she apply for a mayoral appointment when a judgeship vacancy opened between election cycles. “I was surprised,” she said. LaToya had to overcome the same nagging doubts she had had since childhood. “ ere's no way they're going to take a little black girl like me from the city school, who barely got out of high school, barely made it to college, barely made it to law school,” she began. “Sometimes you have to stop and talk to yourself and say, ‘Yeah, they want you.’ When I look at my body of work, I'm not surprised. I've done everything I was supposed to. I have given everything to the work I do. I work hard. I constantly learn every day.” Mayor Malik Evans appointed her in February 2022, and she was elected to a 10-year term the following fall. Now, she welcomes both the weight and potential of her role as defendants come before her court. “I love being a judge. It is the most exciting — sometimes it can be the hardest — job that I've had. . . . You never know, it could be through something you said to them, something you did in the case, that's going to change a person's life, especially when you have people that come back to the courts time and time again in a revolving door. You may be the person that puts the stop on that door.” Perhaps they feel invisible, too. LaToya recently requested her high school transcript. She laughed as she referred to herself as an “alphabet student” in high school, with grades ranging from A to F. She wanted the record so she could show young people that a shaky start doesn’t seal your fate. “ e rst thing I tell them is to take your adolescent self out of the way of your adult self, and what I mean by that is: Do not stand in the way of what's going to happen when you get older because the mind that you have right now is not going to be the mind that you'll have next year. “When I look at my old transcripts and think of my times at the schools that I attended, it reminds me of the growth. From barely making it out of high school to graduating cum laude from law school. So again, it truly isn’t where you started, but where you end up.” – Lenore Friend “When I look at my old transcripts and think of my times at the schools that I attended, it reminds me of the growth.” — Rochester City Court Judge LaToya Lee ’03 Rochester Mayor Malik Evans appointed LaToya Lee to the bench in February 2022, and she was elected to a 10-year term the following fall.
THELAKER | 7 campus happenings Natural resources alum paints with foraged pigments Alexander Fals, a natural resources conservation alumnus, and his partner, Hayley Dayis, held a joint exhibit of paintings called “Generation Earth” at the main campus over the summer. Alexander and Hayley work with foraged mineral pigments from volcanic soils in the region of Cauca, Colombia. ey use water and an adhesive to turn about 150 powdered pigments into paints, yielding works dominated by earthy oranges, reds and browns. For example, one shade, black as coal, is literally nely ground powder of the combustible rock. Alexander grew up in Naples. When he was 17, he spent a year as an exchange student, living with his father’s relatives in Colombia. ey introduced him to the art of using natural pigments. “As a young man I was deeply moved by the unique painting practices of my family,” Alexander said. A er attending FLCC, he moved to Colombia to try his hand at painting with foraged pigments. Hayley, who had been looking for natural alternatives to toxic paints, learned about Alexander’s work and sought him out at a Rochester art event. Now, the couple spend about half the year in Colombia and about half in the Rochester region pursuing their art and hosting workshops in natural pigment painting. Look for their work online at foragedpigmentart.com. These women rock The theme of the 2024 Spring Arts Festival was “A Tribute to Women in Rock.” Students performed 18 songs, including “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll” as sung by Joan Jett, “You’re so Vain” as sung by Carly Simon, “Be my Baby” as sung by the Ronettes, and “Respect” as sung by Aretha Franklin. Landon Ingersoll on bass; Cat Oldfield on guitar and vocals; Trevor Agnello on drums; and Eric Higgins on guitar are all music recording technology majors. Ash Carney, a student in the Early College Scholars program for high school and home schooled students, was one of five who provided American Sign Language performance signing during the event. PHOTOS BY RIKKI VANCAMP Alexander Fals with “La Mujer” (“The Woman”) in the Williams-Insalaco Gallery 34
8 | THELAKER campus happenings Three-peat grad gives advice to Class of 2024 Commencement keynote speaker Rick Plympton ’83, ’85, CEO of Optimax, told the Class of 2024 that advice from a librarian put him on the path to running the largest manufacturer of precision optics in the U.S. “As a young adult, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I seriously considered learning to drive semis and being a truck driver, anything to get out of town,” he began. “My neighbor was a well-educated librarian, and she convinced me to give college a try.” Rick started his education in Florida but admitted to spending more time on the beach than in class. He came home, enrolled in FLCC and buckled down, earning three associate degrees: business administration, computer science and engineering science. His physics professor steered him to an optics bachelor’s program at the University of Rochester, a path that led him to Optimax when it was a startup in a barn. In the years since, Rick has advised the U.S. Commerce Department on a standard for high-quality jobs. He has also received several business awards and the FLCC Distinguished Alumni Award. It all started with good advice from two people, he noted. “If you think about your personal journey, I’m sure someone has provided you with advice and encouragement,” Rick said. “Do yourself a favor and take a moment to reach out and thank them.” President Robert Nye jokes with Alexander Whitcomb ’24 of Macedon during commencement in May. Alexander was recognized as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa All New York Academic Team. PHOTOS BY RIKKI VANCAMP Keynote speaker Rick Plympton ’83, ’85, CEO of Optimax, a Wayne County optics manufacturer, congratulates the class of 2024. Maureen Maas-Feary, professor of humanities, led the processional.
Professor Kalbach joins FLCC emeriti Robert Kalbach, who taught chemistry for 23 years before retiring in 2020, was recognized as professor emeritus during commencement in May. Bob, who has a doctorate in chemistry from the University of South Florida, undertook the complete revision of the general and organic chemistry curricula to align with SUNY guidelines. He was instrumental in the renovation of the chemistry labs and frequently visited other area colleges to gain insight. In 2008, he was recognized by the United Kingdom's Professional Body as a Member of the Royal Society of Chemistry. THELAKER | 9 ‘There’s always more to your story’ Kimberlie Noyes ’00, associate professor of nursing, shared her career journey with the Class of 2024 at the Nursing Advancement Ceremony in May. Upon completion of her associate degree more than two decades ago, Kim felt she was done with education for a while. Yet within a year, she enrolled in a bachelor’s degree program at Keuka College. A few years later, a former professor from Keuka asked Kim if she would consider substitute or adjunct teaching work. “A er my rst time as a substitute clinical instructor, I fell in love with teaching nursing and then I asked: What do I have to do in order to keep teaching nurses? ey said you have to be taking classes in a master's program, so two weeks later I enrolled in a master's program. “Being able to come full circle and teach in this program that changed my life has been more than gratifying,” she continued. “It's a true gi to watch you all ourish as nurses.” Kim encouraged the graduates not to rule out opportunities in their own lives: “ ere's always more to your story,” she said. “You're always the author of your own story.” “Many students appreciated his deep concern for their success in the course and their long-term professional aspirations,” said Laura Ortiz, provost and vice president of academic and student a airs. “He consistently went above and beyond in performing his job responsibilities and sharing his experience and skills.” Emeriti must have at least 15 years of service and have retired within the previous ve years. A committee reviews nominations and makes a recommendation regarding honorees to the Board of Trustees each spring. Allyson Dressing ’24 of Waterloo and her fellow officers of the 2023-24 Nursing Club present a $1,000 donation to Suzanne Underhill, executive director, and Mary Katherine Killen, assistant executive director, of Light Hill, a comfort care home for the terminally ill during the 2024 Nursing Advancement Ceremony. PHOTO BY RIKKI VANCAMP Professor Emeritus Robert Kalbach stands as the provost recognizes him during commencement in May. PHOTO BY RIKKI VANCAMP
10 | THELAKER Men’s volleyball: Champions again The men’s volleyball team claimed their second consecutive championship at the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Invitational in April. And this is only the second year of the team’s existence. The Lakers went to their first invitational in 2023, the team’s first year of competitive play, and defeated Monroe College of New Rochelle, 3-1. This past spring, the men defeated Monroe again, also 3-1. State Sen. Pam Helming invited the team to Albany to be recognized on the Senate chamber floor. Nick Ferris of Canandaigua was named most valuable player, ending the championship match with 11 kills and a total of 14.5 points. He had 47 kills over the two days of the tournament at the College of DuPage in Illinois. Coach Steven Verbridge was named NJCAA Men's Volleyball Coach of the Year. PHOTO COURTESY OF NJCAA Six lumberjills take top honors e women’s logging sports team won the Northeast Women’s Division title in April at the spring meet at Paul Smith’s College in the Adirondacks. e six-woman team competed against opponents from 12 four-year colleges, including Colby College, Dartmouth and the University of Connecticut. ey posted rst-place nishes in nine out of the 19 events. Mackenzie Ferris of Spencerport and Rachel Joseph ’24 of Cohocton won the standing block chop, in which competitors stand on a block of wood and chop it in half from both sides. Nita Schumacher ’24 of Cli on Springs won the super bow saw event. Lydia Culbert of Rochester and Naomi Weed of Shortsville won the doubles scoot load – rolling logs with poles and stacking them on a platform. Morgan Cheney, who also competed in track and eld, rounded out this year’s stellar team. e team also won the portage canoe event, which involves paddling and carrying a canoe. Logging sports consists of four divisions: women, men, jack and jill (mixed team of men and women) and open. Ryan Staychock ’96 serves as head coach with the assistance of Brandon Graves ’15, Hanna Quigley, and Blaise Cox ’19. is year’s win in the women’s division marks the 39th championship for the Lakers. e College celebrated the 50th anniversary of the team earlier this year (See the Class Notes section.) campus happenings The champion women’s logging sports team, standing, from left, Morgan Cheney, Mackenzie Ferris, Naomi Weed, and Rachel Joseph ’24. Kneeling, left to right: Lydia Culbert and Nita Schumacher ’24.
THELAKER | 11 Track and field shines in region, division e track and eld team, led by head coach James Bathgate, ended the spring season with strong performances in the NJCAA Region III championship and the national meet in May. Trinity Ortiz of Yonkers was the standout at the Region III meet at Hudson Valley Community College. She took rst in all three of her events: 100-meter dash with a time of 12.96 seconds, the high jump at 1.47 meters, and the long jump at 5.25 meters. Distance runner Zach Lester of Marcellus nished as Region III champion in the 10,000-meter race with a time of 37:02.73, setting a personal record. He also took third in the 1,500-meter event. Juliette Ventura of Geneva took second in the heptathlon, which consists of seven events: 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, javelin, 200-meter dash, long jump, and 800-meter race. She took third place in the high jump with a leap of 1.39 meters and fourth in the javelin throw with a mark of 24.69 meters. Jason Hunt-McLean of Lyons nished second in the discus with a throw of 34.30 meters and second in the javelin with a throw of 37.31 meters. Morgan Cheney of Prattsburgh took third place in the steeplechase. Terreque Davis of Farmington earned third place in the 110-meter hurdles, clocking 16.95 seconds, and third in the high jump with a clearance of 1.83 meters. Grace Holmes of Newark took second place in the pole vault by clearing 2.44 meters. Overall in the Region III championships, the women's team nished in third place and the men's team in h place. Seven members of the team earned a trip to the Division III Track and Field National Championships in mid-May at Mohawk Valley Community College. ere, the women Lakers nished seventh in the nation among 21 institutions. At the national event, Trinity took second in the high jump following a jump-o with her competitor from the College of DuPage, Illinois. She nished second in the long jump and third in the 100 meters. For her second place performance at nationals, Trinity earned NJCAA Second Team All-American honors. Other notable results at the national meet: • Juliette nished fourth overall in the heptathlon. • Morgan nished h in the steeplechase. • Grace nished seventh overall in the pole vault. • Terreque earned fourth place in the high jump. Freshman Trinity Ortiz won all of her events – 100-meter dash, high jump and long jump – at the NJCAA Region III championships in May. PHOTOS COURTESY OF NJCAA Zach Lester of Marcellus was the NJCAA Region III champion in the 10,000-meter race. PHOTO COURTESY OF NJCAA Cheer on the Lakers Entry to all FLCC athletic events is free and open to the public. Game schedules are posted by sport at flcc.edu/athletics. Follow FLCC Athletics on social media: @flccathletics on Facebook and Twitter, and @flcclakers on Instagram.
12 | THELAKER alumni spotlight ORDER FROM CHAOS An eye-opening class helped Jade Myers ’12 chart a path toward research and development of 3D-printed prosthetics. Jade Myers starts a tour of the AMPrint Center at Rochester Institute of Technology with a basic 3D printer she uses for prototypes. A few feet away rests a stereolithography printer. Instead of laying down thin layers of a polymer, it directs a laser into a vat of resin at the bottom. e object emerges from the liquid as if coming to life. Jade points to another groundbreaking device. “ is is one of our brand new printers that I'm super excited to start working with. is resin has bioabsorbable powdered ceramics in it,” she says, explaining its potential to replace damaged bone while a patient’s own cells grow around it. As she moves to printers that use metal alloys, nylon, and other materials, she rattles o possible uses with infectious enthusiasm. Since graduating from FLCC, she has traveled to Haiti several times to provide 3D-printed prosthetic limbs for earthquake victims. She also earned a doctorate in mechanical and industrial engineering. Like ripples in a pond, these e orts grew from the splash of an FLCC class: Chaos: e Self-Organizing Universe with Sam Samanta, professor of physics. “I honestly can say that it was the most pivotal class that I've ever taken,” she says. “I learned there is a pattern underlying just about any discipline. Once you recognize that pattern, you're like, ‘OK now I understand. is makes sense to me.’” Finding patterns In chaos theory, patterns help us understand and predict how systems behave over time. Even in seemingly random situations, recognizing patterns can reveal order and help explain why small changes can lead to big, unpredictable outcomes. Patterns o en have a distinctive shape, such as branching trees or neurons. In this way, chaos theory brought together her interests in art and science. A er earning a liberal arts and sciences degree at FLCC,
THELAKER | 13 she enrolled in a multidisciplinary arts and sciences bachelor’s program at RIT. “As an undergrad, I really had a huge interest in the brain and intelligence. I was doing a project that involved, believe it or not, slime mold. Slime mold doesn't have a brain, yet it can solve complex puzzles, and people use slime mold to design, for example, the shortest path for railways. “I was doing a project to see if I could use slime mold against MapQuest and see which would make a better path for a bike path between RIT and the U of R. Spoiler alert, the slime mold won.” To get the slime mold to communicate the best path, she put food – a piece of an oat – in a location representing RIT and another a distance away to represent the University of Rochester. en, she recorded its trajectory from one snack to the next. Jade wanted to show the path visually with a 3D topographical map. at led to a conversation with a professor who was setting up a 3D printing lab. 3D printing is ideal for fabricating one-of-a-kind objects, such as a prosthetic limb that ts the contours of a patient’s body. “It was super intriguing because it put the arts and sciences together, and I was learning something that could be positively impactful on another person’s life,” she says. Jade’s focus on 3D printed prosthetic limbs led her to travel to Haiti in 2016 with the nonpro t LimbForge. e team provided prosthetics to those who had lost limbs following a 7.0 earthquake in 2010. She became team lead in 2017 and led several visits in 2017 and 2018. In 2017, she met Danie Exilus, who was tted with a prosthetic arm. e meeting began a years-long e ort to bring Danie and her family to America. Danie and her two daughters settled in Canandaigua earlier this year. Jade is now working to bring Danie’s husband and son to join them. Ripple effects Today, Jade is a research development specialist at the AMPrint Center and teaches a class in 3D printing and prosthetics. Danie inspires her current research to nd innovative ways to improve the design and safety of upper limb prosthetic sockets. She remains a champion of liberal arts, which gave her freedom to explore at FLCC. In her teens, Jade had not thought about college, and in early adulthood, her life took what she called “rough turns.” e victim of abuse, she recalls lying in an emergency room bed when a social worker gave her a business card and said, “You don’t have to live like this anymore.” Months later, Jade reached out to the social worker, who recommended college. Her sister, Nani Nehring Bliss, worked at FLCC, so Jade applied for admission and a scholarship. It was a small step with profound consequences. “I felt like all of the choices I had made in my life to that point had gotten me into the hospital, so I wanted to try to do things drastically di erent,” Jade says. “I threw myself into it, and I ended up getting another scholarship. e last scholarship that I got at FLCC was for the last year at FLCC and the rst year at a four-year college. I probably would not have thought to go to a four-year college without it. “Back in 2008, where I was in my life, if you would have told me that I would have my Ph.D. in mechanical and industrial engineering and be teaching students, I would have said, ‘No way.’” It’s not unlike chaos theory, in which small actions can have far-reaching results. As Jade says, “Don't underestimate the power of just making that one decision.” -Lenore Friend Jade Myers ’12 conducts research at Rochester Institute of Technology’s AMPrint Center to improve the design and safety of 3D-printed upper limb prosthetic sockets. PHOTO BY LENORE FRIEND Jade Myers sponsored Danie Exilus and her two daughters, Landine and Rayna, to travel to the U.S. from Haiti earlier this year. Jade was leading a team in 2017 to provide prosthetic limbs to victims of the 2010 Haitian earthquake when she met Danie, who had lost her left arm.
14 | THELAKER DECEMBER Opening Reception for the Victor and Canandaigua High School Art Show ursday, Dec. 5, 4:30 to 6 p.m. ArtSpace36, 36 S. Main St., Canandaigua Show runs through Dec. 19 Gallery hours: Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Finger Lakes Camerata with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Canandaigua Academy Holiday Pops Concert High school auditorium, 435 East St., Canandaigua ursday, December 5, 7 p.m. Finger Lakes Camerata Holiday Concerts Saturday, Dec. 7, 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 8, 3 p.m. See events. cc.edu for location, free entry Jazz Ensemble Concerts Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 9 and 10, 7 p.m. Main campus, Stage 14, free entry Winter Concert Friday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m. Main campus auditorium, free entry Finger Lakes Chorale Holiday Concerts Saturday, Dec. 14, 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 15, 3 p.m. See events. cc.edu for location, free entry OCTOBER Closing Reception for “Inheritances” Exhibit Friday, Oct. 4, 1 to 2:30 p.m. ArtSpace36, 36 S. Main St., Canandaigua Prints, paintings, 3D work by Luanne Redeye on navigating modern world as a native woman Gallery open Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m., free entry Mixed Media Sketchbook Exploration: Personal Narrative with Liz Brownell Mondays, Oct. 7, 14, 21, 28, 4:30 to 6 p.m. ArtSpace36, 36 S. Main St., Canandaigua Visualization of personal stories through color, image and texture; materials include collage, stamping, acrylic paint, alcohol markers $80 fee includes all supplies, registration link at events. cc.edu Biennial Alumni Exhibition: Immersive Perspectives by Emi Diaz Exhibit of work by Emiliano Diaz ursday, Oct. 10, 2 to 3 p.m., reception to follow Williams-Insalaco Gallery 34, main campus rst- oor Exhibit runs Sept. 19 to Oct. 24, free entry Louise Nevelson Mini Sculptures: Halloween Edition with Michele Vair ursday, Oct. 10, 4 to 5:30 p.m. ArtSpace36, 36 S. Main St., Canandaigua Art with found objects (use ours or bring your own) $20 fee includes all supplies, registration link at events. cc.edu Muller Field Station Open House Sunday, Oct. 13, 1 to 4 p.m. 6455 County Road 36, Canadice Open trails, demonstrations, free entry Opening Reception for the Student Portfolio Show ursday, Oct. 24, 4:30 to 6 p.m. ArtSpace36, 36 S. Main St., Canandaigua Show runs through Nov. 16 Gallery hours: Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Fall Faculty Recital ursday, Oct. 31, 12:30 p.m. Main campus, Stage 14, free entry NOVEMBER Paint & Sip Finger Lakes Landscapes Friday, Nov. 8, 6:30 to 9 p.m. ArtSpace36, 36 S. Main St., Canandaigua Buy FLCC wine or pay for tasting, bring images for reference $40 fee includes art supplies (wine purchased separately), registration link at events. cc.edu Opening for “Series of Moments” Work by Bill Santelli ’74 Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2 to 3 p.m. talk, 4 to 6:30 p.m. reception Williams-Insalaco Gallery 34, main campus, rst oor Exhibit runs Nov. 13 to Jan. 24, free entry Talk with Sgt. Allen Lynch Congressional Medal of Honor recipient ursday, Nov. 14, 8 p.m. Online, nd link at events. cc.edu Fall Mainstage Theatre Performance “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” ursday and Friday, Nov. 21-22, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, 2 p.m. FLCC main campus auditorium $15 general admission at door, $10 for non-FLCC students and seniors, and free with current FLCC ID save the date Events are subject to change. Check events.flcc.edu to confirm or get updates and details. rough the fa Create + Connect with The Community Support Center Informal art projects for ages 7+ ArtSpace36, 36 S. Main St., Canandaigua Select Wednesdays, 6:30 to 8 p.m. In-person: Oct. 9, 23, Nov. 13, Dec. 11 Online: Oct. 16, Nov. 20, Dec. 18 More at events.flcc.edu Dinner at Julia Restaurant Nights Culinary arts students serve gourmet meals under direction of faculty Fridays, Oct. 4, 11, 18, 25; Nov. 1, 8, 15 (Veterans Dinner) Seatings between 5:30 and 7 p.m. FLCC main campus, Stage 14 Reservations at Julia@flcc.edu or (585) 785-1476 $40 per person Jazz Café Thursdays, Oct. 3, Nov. 7, Dec. 5 1 p.m. Main campus, Stage 14, free entry
president’s report to the community Associate Professor Paul Brock, left, supervises students bottling 2023 vintages at the FLCC Viticulture and Wine Center in Geneva. The College’s viticulture and wine technology degree and certificate programs were designed in partnership with the region’s wineries to ensure graduates have the skills required in modern facilities. PHOTOS BY RIKKI VANCAMP The 2023 vintages bear the Fresca Leyenda (Spanish for “fresh legend”) label. Laura López, an international student from Colombia, designed the label for a competition that gives students an opportunity to apply their classroom skills in a real-world scenario. Dear Community Member, Interconnectedness is one of FLCC’s four institutional values. It is not more important than the others: inquiry, vitality and perseverance. Yet it often forms a foundation for these to take root. Our students' connections with faculty and staff lead to new opportunities for internships and further education. Take the Honorable LaToya Lee ’03, the Rochester City Court judge featured in this edition’s cover story. LaToya turned to her faculty mentor, Cassy Kent, for advice on a bachelor’s degree program and a recommendation to law school. Cassy’s direction provided an outlet for LaToya’s inquisitiveness about the legal system and the perseverance she tapped to get through law school. Institutions thrive on their connections, too. FLCC builds relationships with local employers to keep our programs up-to-date. This makes our students good job candidates. We also work on economic development projects with our sponsor, Ontario County. The county has contributed funding to cover short-term hospitality training for local businesses (See page 18). A new SUNY grant also supports our students’ ability to get real-world experience (See page 20). As you will see in this report, the College master plan takes the idea of institutional interconnectedness a step further. As we project future needs for classrooms and labs, we are thinking more deliberately about how we could use our space on campus to support our partners and communities. For instance, we are in the planning stages for a horticulture facility that some county-sponsored agencies can share. Everyone – including taxpayers – benefits when we pool our human and financial resources. A bunkhouse expansion at Muller Field Station is another project that will deepen our interconnectedness with fellow institutions. Since the late Florence Muller donated her retreat at the south end of Honeoye Lake to FLCC, students of all ages and researchers from across the region have taken advantage of its rich plant and wildlife resources. Overnight accommodations will be a game-changer for this property. This report gives examples of FLCC’s efforts to leverage personal and institutional connections. We are confident our work will improve our community and the quality of life for those who live here. Regards, Robert K. Nye President, Finger Lakes Community College IN THIS REPORT A new master plan, pages 16-17 Who we serve, page 18 Demographics, page 19 Hands-on learning, page 20 Foundation update, page 21 Budget breakdown, page 22 Our supporters, pages 23-27
REIMAGINING THE ROAD AHEAD Students are taking more online classes than ever before, yet hands-on learning has taken on new importance. Numbers of traditional-aged students are declining, while FLCC’s nursing and horticulture programs are growing. The College’s new facilities master plan makes sense of these seeming paradoxes with a vision for re-organizing buildings and operations in ways that work for students and the community. Here are a few examples. Making the most of Muller Over the next year, renovations at the FLCC Muller Field Station at the south end of Honeoye Lake will allow for more immersive experiences in the wooded and wetland habitats at the 48-acre site. A combined grant of $1.65 million from the Florence M. Muller Foundation and the Emil Muller Foundation and a dollar-fordollar state match will pay for construction of a 20-person handicap accessible bunkhouse. Current overnight accommodations are limited, meaning research, field experience classes, and outdoor activities have to halt at the end of the day so participants can drive home. It’s a trek from anywhere given the field station’s location 20 miles from Canandaigua and nearly 50 miles from the farthest reaches of the FLCC service area of Ontario, Seneca, Wayne and Yates counties. “Really rich experiences can happen there when people can settle in for a longer stay,” said Maura Sullivan, associate professor and director of the field station. Faculty from SUNY Brockport would like to bring students down to assist with efforts to protect spotted salamanders. The visits haven’t been practical because that work happens at night during the amphibians’ migration from the hills into the wetlands, “Over the past couple years, we've gotten a lot of asks from other institutions. SUNY Empire State University would like to offer a field camp there,” Maura added. “We see a lot of opportunities for partnerships with other schools.” Patricia Leo, executive director of the Muller foundations, said a bunkhouse has come up at strategic planning sessions for several years. “We are all thrilled to see this long-desired enhancement coming to fruition,” she said. “The Florence M. Muller Foundation and the Emil Muller Foundation are immensely proud of the high-quality education and research conducted at the Muller Field Station and are excited for the opportunities that the addition of the bunkhouse and accessibility improvements will bring.” FLCC Muller Field Station conceptual rendering by PLAN Architectural Studio, PC, showing proposed bunkhouse in brown siding president’s report to the community
THELAKER | 17 The funds will also cover extensive sitework to create a bus turnaround and expanded parking. Drivers for K-12 field trips find it hard to maneuver at the site, and more than a few cars have had to get pushed out of the mud. Work is scheduled to run from March to November of next year, making 2026 the first year for expanded programming. A shared horticulture facility A key element of the master plan is the proposed horticulture and greenhouse facility to be built on the main campus. It would replace the original greenhouse, built in 1979, and provide modern classrooms and labs. The goal is to develop a facility that could be shared with Ontario County-sponsored agencies that also deal with agriculture and the environment, such as Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Soil and Water Conservation District. “This is an opportunity to band together with like-minded agencies and collaborate at a whole new level,” said FLCC President Robert Nye. “Ontario County is excited to partner with FLCC on this innovative and exciting project that will create new opportunities for students and the broader community alike,” added Ontario County Administrator Christopher DeBolt. The greenhouse would have a hydroponic system and modern temperature and humidity controls to allow for different growing environments. Fundraising thus far includes $1 million secured by U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer in a federal appropriations bill and an estate gift from the late Adrienne O’Brien, a longtime friend of the College and supporter of the viticulture program. Funding for the master plan will require individual donations, grants, and county participation. A state program will provide a dollar for dollar match to support the capital improvements. The business of art A grant from Ontario County’s Arts, Culture and Recreation program will make it possible for students to complete internships at ArtSpace36, combining creative skills with the practicalities of operating a gallery. The $100,000 award comes from Ontario County’s share of American Rescue Plan Act funds, meant to counter the effects the pandemic had on arts, culture and recreation. Funds will also help cover utilities, staffing necessary to increase gallery hours, and stipends and travel costs for visiting artists. ArtSpace36, the College’s gallery in downtown Canandaigua, opened in 2019, about 10 months before the COVID-19 pandemic. The gallery currently works with the Community Support Center, a program of the Partnership for Ontario County, to provide several opportunities every month for informal creative expression. Create + Connect is open to residents age 7 and up twice a month. The schedule is available on the FLCC events calendar at events.flcc.edu. To learn more about the master plan and how you can support the new greenhouse, contact the FLCC Foundation at (585) 785-1541 or foundation@flcc.edu. Concept rendering of proposed horticulture facility created and provided by PLAN Architectural Studio, PC
How a workforce program begins The College continually updates all its programs as technology and fields evolve. Credit-bearing classes must be designed for transfer to other institutions, meaning SUNY approves those changes. The College has more leeway in the creation of workforce development programs, which are often built specifically to address the needs of local employers. Here is an example: In response to a shortage of trained hospitality workers, FLCC staff began conversations about the most-needed skills with representatives of the Ontario County Economic Development Corporation (OCEDC) and the Finger Lakes Visitors Connection, a 501(c)(3) established to stimulate economic growth through both leisure and meeting travel. The result is a 12-hour, in-person Finger Lakes Customer Champions training program for small and medium sized businesses. The training is divided into three four-hour modules, the first on understanding and improving the customer experience, the second on professional skills such as teamwork and self-management, and the third on the basics of the food and hospitality industries. The schedule and training site are tailored to the needs of the businesses that enroll employees. OCEDC will provide $25,000 in seed money to cover early adopters who send up to three employees to the training. To access the funds, businesses contact FLCC directly at workforce@flcc.edu or (585) 785-1670. OCEDC will ask the participant and business owner or manager to fill out short questionnaires at the conclusion of the training. HIGH SCHOOL THROUGH ADULTHOOD The College posted a total of 10,044 enrollments* during the 2022-23 academic year across its four main programming areas. Credit-bearing classes for high school graduates seeking two-year degrees, one-year certificates, transfer credit and personal enrichment High school concurrent enrollment, in which students, including homeschoolers, take FLCC classes to satisfy high school and college credit at the same time Non-credit programs for professional development or short-term certifications through the Workforce and Career Solutions Office Adult basic education which prepares students for the four exams that make up a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) and offers English as a Second Language (ESL) *These numbers may count some individuals twice, for example, if an adult basic education student earns a GED in the fall and starts FLCC college classes in the spring. Credit classes for high school graduates: 5,192 Adult basic education: 341 Concurrent enrollment: 3,188 Workforce development: 1,323 Most popular programs in fall 2023 Health Care Studies Business Administration Psychology Nursing Computer Science Networking and Cybersecurity Horticulture: Cannabis Biology and Cultivation Kinesiology and Human Performance Engineering Science Music Recording Technology president’s report to the community
THELAKER | 19 NEW TOOLS TO PROVIDE EQUITABLE ACCESS The College is investing in new tools and programming to ensure that students with disabilities have an equitable opportunity to succeed in spite of limitations or other barriers that get in the way of learning. A disability is any condition that substantially limits a major life activity. Low vision and hard-of-hearing are examples, as well as learning disabilities and mental health diagnoses. Even a temporary disability such as a concussion can hold someone back. The number of students reporting a disability has been rising, both in numbers and as a percent of the student population. In 2019, 327 students – or 9 percent of those enrolled in credit-bearing programs – reported a disability. By fall 2023, 412 students, or 12.5 percent, signed up for an accommodation. The increase could be the result of more students feeling comfortable to reach out for help, said Melissa Soules, FLCC disability services coordinator. Or, it may be a growing recognition among potential applicants that community colleges have more experience with accommodations. The figures are likely undercounts. National data suggests a majority of students with disabilities do not report them, she added. The most common accommodations deal with testing, including more time to take a test or the ability to take a test in a reduced distraction location. New this fall, tutoring centers have adjustable tables that can accommodate wheelchairs. They also help students who need to alternate between sitting and standing to manage chronic pain. The tutoring centers have laptops with assistive technology that converts course materials into different formats. For example, those with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) may benefit from reading and listening to a text. The same tool is also useful for non-native English speakers seeking to improve pronunciation or understand nuances in language. One program – GLEAN, a notetaking assistance software – uses artificial intelligence (AI) to create a five-question quiz based on a recorded lecture or notes. Students learn right away whether they have grasped the material or need tutoring. For the last three years, a SUNY Enhancing Supports grant has covered costs for Melissa and Lynne Sassenhausen, the executive functioning coach, to teach a College Prep Workshop for incoming students who report disabilities before the start of the fall semester. The class introduces students to the services available and the staff who can help them. DEMOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT A look at the makeup of the 3,279 full- and part-time students enrolled in a credit-bearing course at one of FLCC’s locations or online in fall 2023 First-generation College Student female male unknown 55% 45% 2% Race & Ethnicity Gender Breakdown 41% 24% 20% 14% Age Breakdown under 20 20–24 25–34 over 34 Quiet rooms with assistive technology can help students overcome barriers to learning. 32% 73% 24% 3% White Unknown Students of Color
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