Press Release, GCC
BATAVIA – Two leaders in the field of education will be celebrated by their alma mater as Genesee Community College inducts the class of 2015 Alumni Hall of Fame.

The new honorees will be recognized at 4 p.m. on March 18 with the induction in room T119 of the Conable Technology Building on the Batavia campus. A reception follows in the Alumni Hallway on the second floor.

The following will be recognized:

Renee Garrett

Renee Cain Garrett graduated from GCC’s teacher education program in 1993. She went on to earn Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from SUNY Geneseo and an administrative degree from the College at Brockport. She began her career in the Attica Central School District where she taught students with disabilities and first grade before becoming an elementary principal.

She served as superintendent of schools in Mount Morris and Wayne Central School Districts and in January 2015 became superintendent of the Forestville Central School District in Chautauqua County.

Renee grew up in Orleans County and credits her success to the teachers who inspired her at a young age.

“While I didn’t have many resources, my teachers served as great role models for me,” Renee told the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, which selected her for a Women to Watch interview. “I had a few key teachers that said, ‘you are worth it, push yourself and you can get it.'”

As superintendent Renee sees herself as “a teacher, mentor, advisor and facilitator. Making sure you know and understand who you are serving is really essential in this role, as well as the ability to make tough decisions.”

She is known as an innovator and top-level communicator and is committed to the value of lifelong learning for students, staff and stakeholders. She has been active in community organizations, including Rotary and Kiwanis, and is a member of a number of professional organizations.

Renee lives in Forestville with her husband, Mike, and their rescue dog, Tess. They enjoy exploring the outdoors together. Renee also enjoys quilting and is very handy with all kinds of home improvement projects from drywall to plumbing to exquisite tiling.

Roger Klatt

Dr. Roger J. Klatt is superintendent of both the Barker and Royalton Hartland (Roy-Hart) Central School Districts in Niagara County. He led the Barker district for six years before taking on leadership of Roy-Hart in 2013 in a first of its kind arrangement for the Buffalo area that has thus far proven successful.

For his work in leading both districts as a shared superintendent, Klatt received the Educational Leader of the Year Award from Niagara University’s College of Education in October 2014.

A native of Albion and a 1978 graduate of Albion High School, Klatt spent 15 years in that district as a teacher and coach, earning Albion’s Educator of the Year award in 1995.

He has been with the Barker Central School District for 17 years and served as middle school principal, director of instructional services and assistant superintendent before being named superintendent. Under his leadership Barker ranked 17th among the 98 Western New York school districts and earned an Achievement Index ranking of 2 among 425 schools across the state.

He was nominated for the GCC’s Alumni Hall of Fame by Barker athletic director David Carson who noted that “I have known Dr. Klatt for 17 years and he often speaks of how instrumental Genesee Community College was in his career. Dr. Klatt serves as an outstanding example of the impact that the GCC experience can have on one’s career.”

While a student at GCC, Klatt played on the men’s basketball team and earned his associate degree in physical education in 1982. He continued his studies at the College at Brockport and the University at Buffalo where he earned Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership.

Klatt resides in Barker with his wife of 24 years, Kristen. They have two daughters: Emily is a recent graduate of Purdue University’s pharmacology program and Madeline is a junior studying business management at SUNY Oswego.

The GCC Hall of Fame is located in the Conable Technology Building of the Batavia campus on the second floor corridor, and features photos of alumni who have distinguished themselves through business and personal achievement, as well as service to the community.

Marlee Diehl will lead 70 clubs in WNY, Southern Ontario

Photos by Tom Rivers – Marlee Diehl is pictured by the Rotary sign outside Tillman’s Village Inn, where the Albion Rotary Club meets every Thursday for lunch and a program at 12:15 p.m.

ALBION – A member of the Albion Rotary Club is on track to become district governor of the 70 Rotary Clubs in Western New York and Southern Ontario.

Marlee Diehl will be the third woman to serve in the role as district governor for District 7090. Her term starts in 2017-18.

She has been active in many district events and committees, and will continue in the district leadership until her term starts as district governor. Diehl already serves as an assistant district governor for the clubs in Orleans and Genesee counties, and helps plan the annual district conference.

Retaining and growing membership, committing to community service and celebrating the volunteers in Rotary will be a part of her message as district governor, Diehl said.

“Fun and fellowship are the biggest things in Rotary while doing good in the community,” she said.

The 70 clubs had about 3,200 members collectively about 10 years ago and are down to about 2,400 now.

Diehl wants to reach out to younger adults, perhaps through Rotaract Clubs which have less of a time commitment for members. There are three Rotaracts right now in the district that are affiliated with colleges. There are also 18 Interact Clubs at high schools, including one in Albion.

Diehl wants to engage more students in Rotary, and also reach out to retired people and other community members who also have a lot of energy to give to Rotary and the community.

She will encourage existing members to invite prospective members. She also wants existing Rotarians to celebrate each other, because many Rotarians are committed to service in their community and beyond.

“Every Rotary Club and every Rotarian is different and they all come with their own life story,” she said.

Marlee Diehl has been active in Rotary since 1994, when she joined a club in Hamilton, Ontario.

Diehl’s husband Bill is current president of the Albion Rotary Club. They met at a Rotary conference in Toronto in 2009, when they were both at a training session for incoming Rotary presidents.

Bill was to be president of the Albion club for the first time in 2009-10, while Marlee was to be president of the Hamilton, Ontario club.

They became friends at that conference and would marry in December 2011. Mrs. Diehl emigrated and now lives with her husband in Carlton.

For about 35 years she worked as a recruiter, helping companies find executives and leaders in management. While connecting with business leaders, she noticed many wore Rotary pins or had Rotary posters on their walls.

When she was looking for an outlet for community service, she turned to Rotary and joined the Hamilton club in 1994.

“I believe that those who find success in life should also give back to their community and the world at large in as many ways as they can find,” Diehl said.

She is also active at the First Presbyterian Church in Albion and the Oak Orchard Neighborhood Association.

A local Rotary Club recently had one of its members serve as district governor. John Heise of Holley led the district during 2010-11.

Leann Balcerzak

Press Release, Lyndonville Central School

LYNDONVILLE – A L.A. Webber Middle-High School senior has been named to Business First’s 2015 All-Western New York Academic Team.

Leann Balcerzak (Special Mention) has qualified for this year’s list of the 100 most outstanding high school seniors in the eight-county region.

Winners were chosen for their records of academic excellence, school leadership and community involvement. The top 25 were named to the First Team, 25 runners-up to the Second Team, and another 50 to the Special Mention list.

“The competition for the Academic Team is intense,” said Jack Connors, president and publisher of Business First. “There are almost 20,000 high school seniors in Western New York, yet only 100 are selected for this honor. Every student named to the Academic Team is truly an outstanding student.”

Schools throughout the eight-county area were asked to nominate their smartest and most accomplished students for consideration by a seven-member committee, which included five admissions directors at area colleges and two Business First editors. A total of 124 schools responded with 426 nominees. (Each school was limited to four candidates.)

The complete list of 100 honorees – along with their photos and profiles – will be published in Business First’s 2015-2016 Guide to Western New York Schools, which will hit newsstands on June 12.

Press Release, Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES

LYNDONVILLE, NY – An L.A. Webber Middle-High School senior has been named to Business First’s 2015 All-Western New York Academic Team.

Leann Balcerzak (Special Mention) has qualified for this year’s list of the 100 most outstanding high school seniors in the eight-county region.

Winners were chosen for their records of academic excellence, school leadership and community involvement. The top 25 were named to the First Team, 25 runners-up to the Second Team, and another 50 to the Special Mention list.

“The competition for the Academic Team is intense,” said Jack Connors, president and publisher of Business First. “There are almost 20,000 high school seniors in Western New York, yet only 100 are selected for this honor. Every student named to the Academic Team is truly an outstanding student.”

Schools throughout the eight-county area were asked to nominate their smartest and most accomplished students for consideration by a seven-member committee, which included five admissions directors at area colleges and two Business First editors. A total of 124 schools responded with 426 nominees. (Each school was limited to four candidates.)

The complete list of 100 honorees — along with their photos and profiles — will be published in Business First’s 2015-2016 Guide to Western New York Schools, which will hit newsstands on June 12.

ALBION – Photo North East has released the results of its annual photo competition and reported that Bruce Landis of Photos by Bruce and Associates is a multiple winner with “Future Farmer” and “Blue Eyed Mikko.”

A high school senior portrait of Albion Senior Class President Aaron Burnside, titled “Future Farmer,” was Landis’s highest scoring image. The setting for the portrait is the Poverty Hill Farm of County House Road in Albion. Operated by the Neal family, the farm milks 490 cows.

Burnside, a four-year member and vice president of the Albion FFA, was photographed in the one of the barns wearing his FFA jacket with several cattle in the background. Burnside aspires to obtain a doctorate in Agriculture Business. He credits his high school teacher Adam Krenning and farm co-owner Jody Neal for the opportunity to work at the dairy farm, putting his FFA education to practical use.

Landis also won first place honors for a portrait of a Siberian Husky owned by Nick Causyn. “Blue Eyed Mikko” is a photograph taken outdoors on a snowy day, with snow covered evergreens as the background at Bruce’s Ridge Road studio.

Photo North East is the annual convention, trade show and photo competition hosted by the Professional Photographers of New York State, the Professional Photographers Association of New Jersey, and the Professional Photographers of America.

Photos by Tom Rivers
David Callard (center), chairman of the Orleans County Legislature, speaks during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 17, 2014, when the bridge on Route 279 was reopened following repairs.

The project was honored by the Genesee Valley Branch of the American Public Works Association during a banquet on Jan. 29. The Orleans County Highway Department was recognized along with the state Department of Transportation, LaBella Associates and Keeler Construction Company for their work on the project.

Orleans County Legislator Ken DeRoller, right, stands with Jerry Gray, the county highway superintendent, on Wednesday to highlight the bridge’s recognition by the APWA for projects that cost less than $5 million.

The bridge was closed for five months last year while it received $1.5 million in upgrades, including new railings, repairs to concrete piers, a new deck, asphalt top, two new fascia beams and drainage improvements.

The bridge is the longest county-owned span at 700 feet, crossing Lake Alice and the Oak Orchard River.

Kendall star honored with teammate Louis Orr

Photos by Mike Okoniewski, Syracuse University Athletics – Roosevelt Bouie, left, and Louis Orr, his teammate at Syracuse University, were both honored at the Carrier Dome this afternoon when their numbers were retired by the university and hung from the rafters.

SYRACUSE – A former Kendall basketball star was honored in a big way at Syracuse University today.

Roosevelt Bouie had his No. 50 jersey retired by Syracuse today in a ceremony when Syracuse also retired Louis Orr’s No. 55. The two were a dynamic duo for Syracuse, leading the Orange to a 100-18 record from 1977-1980.

Syracuse University retired Roosevelt Bouie’s No. 50 and Louis Orr’s No. 55 during a ceremony today at the Carrier Dome.

Bouie’s freshman season was also the start of Jim Boeheim’s career. The legendary coach has credited Bouie and Orr for getting his coaching career off to a hugely successful start. Boeheim is second on the list of all-time wins for a NCCAA Division I coach with nearly 1,000.

The Orange reached the NCAA Tournament each year of the “Louie and Bouie Show.” Bouie was a four-year starter and still ranks second in program history in blocks (327), seventh in rebounds (987) and 18th in scoring (1,560 points).

“We couldn’t have accomplished it without having each other and the rest of our teammates,” Bouie told Cuse TV after the ceremony. (Click here to see the interview.)

Roosevelt Bouie and Louis Orr shake hands after being honored at halftime in the Carrier Dome today.

Bouie was a first-team All-BIG EAST Conference selection in 1979-80. He was picked in the second round of the 1980 NBA Draft by the Dallas Mavericks. Bouie signed to play professionally in Europe and played overseas for 13 seasons.

He has returned to Kendall and he attends many of the Kendall basketball games and is active in other local community events. Kendall retired his jersey in June 2012, the first one picked by the school with the recognition.

Bouie said he was grateful to be honored by Syracuse and to see many of his former teammates as part of the celebration.

“It’s really special we got a chance to see all of our friends last night,” he told Cuse TV.

Bouie is congratulated after having his number retired by Syracuse University.

Orr grew up in Cincinnati and played eight years in the NBA after Syracuse. He said Bouie has been like a brother.

“I’m honored and blessed to have a great teammate and friend to share the moment,” Orr told Cuse TV. “You never accomplish anything by yourself. It’s a team effort.”

Orr said Boeheim was instrumental in Bouie’s and Orr’s success.

“Coach Boeheim believed in us and trusted us a long time ago,” Orr said. “He gave us the opportunity and without the opportunity there is nothing you can accomplish. I thank Coach Boeheim and I thank him for seeing something in Roosevelt in me and for trusting in us.”

Press Release, Rochester Institute of Technology

ROCHESTER, NY – The following local residents made the Dean’s List for fall 2014-2015 semester at Rochester Institute of Technology:

Michael Fischer of Albion, is a second-year student in the chemical engineering program in RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering.

Alyssa Hering of Albion, is a second-year student in the diagnostic medical sonography program in RIT’s College of Health Sciences and Technology.

Rebecca Atwell of Albion, is a fourth-year student in the diagnostic medical sonography program in RIT’s College of Health Sciences and Technology.

James Cooper of Albion, is a third-year student in the mechanical engineering technology program in RIT’s College of Applied Science and Technology.

Kyle Appleman of Albion, is a third-year student in the mechanical engineering program in RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering.

Roland Sanford of Albion, is a third-year student in the physics program in RIT’s College of Science.

Steven Dill of Holley, is a third-year student in the game design and development program in RIT’s B. Thomas Golisano College of Computing and Information Sciences.

Michael Pernicano of Holley, is a third-year student in the international hospitality and service management program in RIT’s College of Applied Science and Technology.

Jessica Dill of Holley, is a fifth-year student in the mechanical engineering program in RIT’s Kate Gleason College of Engineering.

Raquel Roberts of Kent, is a fourth-year student in the biomedical sciences program in RIT’s College of Health Sciences and Technology.

Daniel Marek of Lyndonville, is a fourth-year student in the management information systems program in RIT’s Saunders College of Business.

William Barber of Medina, is a fourth-year student in the film and animation program in RIT’s College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.

Jonas Hartway of Medina, is a third-year student in the illustration program in RIT’s College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.

Erika Edwards of Waterport, is a second-year student in the interior design program in RIT’s College of Imaging Arts and Sciences.

Degree-seeking undergraduate students are eligible for Dean’s List if their term GPA is greater than or equal to 3.400; they do not have any grades of “Incomplete”, “D” or “F”; and they have registered for, and completed, at least 12 credit hours.

Press Release, Genesee Community College

The Dean’s List at Genesee Community College recognizes students enrolled either part-time or full-time who have earned a grade point average of 3.50 to 3.74.

GCC proudly announces that the following are among 366 students who were named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2014 semester.

Makaila Albanese, a full-time student and resident of Albion

Arielle Ashton, a full-time student and resident of Albion

Zachary Beecher, a full-time student and resident of Albion

Halie Gray, a full-time student and resident of Albion

Kimberly Haight, a full-time student and resident of Albion

Tricia Holtfoth, a full-time student and resident of Albion

Ashley Johnson, a full-time student and resident of Albion

William Jones, a full-time student and resident of Albion

Alec Pinson, a full-time student and resident of Albion

Kelly Sargent, a full-time student and resident of Albion

Shannan Wells, a full-time student and resident of Albion

Jenna Wildschutz, a full-time student and resident of Albion

Joshua Carpenter, a full-time student and resident of Holley

Alicia Ford, a full-time student and resident of Holley

Gary Heale, a full-time student and resident of Holley

Priscilla Hills, a full-time student and resident of Holley

Annemarie Lang, a full-time student and resident of Holley

Jenna Livezey, a full-time student and resident of Holley

Nicole Mauro, a full-time student and resident of Holley

Dominique Mendes, a full-time student and resident of Holley

Danielle Oliver, a full-time student and resident of Holley

Rebecca Reid, a full-time student and resident of Holley

Jaimie Smith, a full-time student and resident of Holley

Emily Smith, a full-time student and resident of Holley

Jennifer Stenshorn, a full-time student and resident of Kendall

Amy Herman, a full-time student and resident of Knowlesville

Seth Earle, a full-time student and resident of Lyndonville

Katherine Grochowski, a full-time student and resident of Lyndonville

Chelsey Silversmith, a full-time student and resident of Lyndonville

Abigail Andrews, a full-time student and resident of Medina

Rebecca Bashford, a full-time student and resident of Medina

Christine Capstick, a full-time student and resident of Medina

Jenna Carpenter, a full-time student and resident of Medina

Mikaela Cherry, a full-time student and resident of Medina

Christina Greco, a full-time student and resident of Medina

Valeri Kujawa, a full-time student and resident of Medina

Haley Noreck, a full-time student and resident of Medina

Felton Poole, a full-time student and resident of Medina

Mackenzie Lamirand, a full-time student and resident of Waterport

Courtney Traxler, a full-time student and resident of Waterport

Yetunde Awopetu, a part-time student and resident of Albion

Denisolt Beterbiyev, a part-time student and resident of Albion

Katelynne Klossner, a part-time student and resident of Albion

Bambi Heideman, a part-time student and resident of Lyndonville

Kimberly Eick, a part-time student and resident of Medina

Sara Marciniak, a part-time student and resident of Medina

Kevin McMullen, a part-time student and resident of Medina

Melody Parker, a part-time student and resident of Medina

Lucas Silversmith, a part-time student and resident of Medina

Victoria Szott, a part-time student and resident of Medina

Andrea Tombari, a part-time student and resident of Medina

Provided photo – The Iroquois Trail Council of the Boy Scouts of America on Saturday recognized three adult volunteers with Silver Beaver awards, the top recognition given by the BSA. The following were recognized, from left: John G. Maier of Lockport, Linda J. Wohlers of Clarendon, Donald H. Morris of Lockport.

BATAVIA – The local council of the Boy Scouts of America honored a Clarendon woman and two other adult volunteers for their efforts on behalf of the Scouting program.

Linda Wohlers of Clarendon, Donald Morris of Batavia and John Maier of Lockport all were presented with Silver Beaver awards on Saturday during a volunteer awards dinner by the Iroquois Trail Council.

The Silver Beaver is a National BSA award that recognizes distinguished service to local youth. Each recipient is a long-tenured volunteer who has also made significant contributions by way of service to his or her local community.

Linda Wohlers has volunteered for 20 years to the Scouting program, serving as a Tiger Leader, Den Leader, Webelos Leader, Cubmaster, Commissioner and Committee Member.

John Maier’s Scouting history includes current roles as a Cubmaster, Troop Committee Member and Merit Badge counselor. A former Webelos leader, he is also an active member of the camp promotions team, district training team, and commissioner staff.

Donald Morris has served the whole family of scouting with exemplary dedication. Over the past 40-plus years, he has been involved in Scouting with 3 different local councils; Finger Lakes, New York; Blue Grass Council, Kentucky; and most recently Iroquois Trail.

The council was itself recognized by the Boy Scouts of America with the 2014 Journey to Excellence Gold Award for program excellence.

Local Cub Scout and Boy Scout leaders were recognized for program excellence in the areas of advancement, camping, membership recruitment and retention, and helping Scouts to meet their funding needs.

Several youth members were also recognized. Cub Scout Tyler Mutka of Corfu topped the list with Popcorn Sales of more than $4,200. The sale raises money for Scout programs, and also qualifies Tyler for a national college scholarship program. This is Tyler’s fourth year as top seller among Scouts in a five-county area. Other Scouts who will be inducted into the scholarship program are Cameron Kreger of Lockport and Ethan Nelson of Avon.

The Iroquois Trail Council provides development, leadership, and life skills to more than 3,000 youths in Orleans, Niagara, Genesee, Wyoming, and Livingston counties.

Dr. Clark Godshall named NYS superintendent of the year in 2014; Becky Albright praised as board president

Photos by Tom Rivers
ALBION – Legislators from Orleans and Niagara counties presented “Special Recognition Awards” to two leaders of the Orleans-Niagara BOCES.

In the top photo, Dr. Clark Godshall is congratulated for being named the 2014 New York State School Superintendent of the Year by the New York State Council of School Superintendents. He is shaking hands with David Godfrey, a Niagara County legislator.

Godshall has served as the District Superintendent of the Orleans/Niagara Board of Cooperative Educational Services for the past 15 years. He started with the local BOCES 25 years ago and served as assistant superintendent for 10 years. He started his career as a science teacher at Hilton.

The Orleans/Niagara BOCES serves 38,000 students. It is consistently ranked as one of the top BOCES in the state.

The two-county Niagara-Orleans Regional Alliance praised Godshall on Wednesday for his distinction in winning the award.

“You are a nationally recognized leader, an advocate for all students, and an expert on educational service agencies, school finance, and effective school district governance,” according to the certificate signed by Orleans County legislators David Callard, Lynne Johnson, William Eick and Ken DeRoller, and Niagara County legislators William Ross, David Godfrey, John Syracuse and Michael Hill.

The two counties also recognized Becky Albright, president of the board for the Orleans/Niagara BOCES. Albright, second from left, was recently honored by the Western New York Education Service Council Award winner.

Orleans County Legislator Ken DeRoller reads the certificate while Godfrey is pictured at far right.

“As the BOCES board president you have shown extraordinary commitment to the district and community, excellent leadership, and many achievements both in and outside of the workplace,” legislators said. “You have inspired others around you and therefore are a role model to our district and community. The positive impact of your efforts is widespread and long-lasting.”