Dr. James Sunser

Press Release, GCC

BATAVIA – In sports, it’s the MVP or most valuable player. In journalism and the arts, it’s a Pulitzer Prize. Film has its Oscars and Academy Awards, and television has the Emmy Awards. But in the serious business of higher education, standards of excellence and adherence to quality are gauged by the Commission on Higher Education, a voluntary, non-government, regional membership association that assures institutional accountability, improvement and innovation through a rigorous application of standards within a peer reviewed process.

Dr. James M. Sunser, president of Genesee Community College, was recently appointed as one of 26 commissioners (board members) of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which oversees 530 colleges and universities within New York State, as well as Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. He was selected from 85 nominations for just three open seats, and he is one of the few community college presidents to serve as commissioner.

The Commission is recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation to accredit degree-granting institutions which offer one or more post-secondary educational programs of at least one academic year. Dr. Sunser joins the team of academic leaders who help define, maintain and promote educational excellence across many institutions with diverse missions, student populations and resources. Prior to his appointment as a commissioner, he served as a chairman or a member of an evaluation team within the peer-review process on more than a dozen occasions over the past 20 years.

To earn and retain accreditation through MSCHE, each institution of higher education undergoes a multi-stage accreditation review process every ten years that begins with an intensive self-study.

The institution appoints a steering committee and working groups, and organizes campus-wide discussions to prepare a comprehensive Self-Study Report focused on specific accreditation standards. The Report also helps frame the three-day site visit by an assigned evaluation team made up of members from peer institutions.

After careful review of the Self-Study Report and numerous on-campus interviews, the evaluation team chair compiles an Evaluation Report summarizing the team’s overall findings. In the end, the commissioners of MSCHE can affirm accreditation, require follow-up action, or remove accreditation.

Ironically, Genesee Community College is currently undergoing its decennial evaluation and is in the final stages of completing its 150+ page Self-Study Report with its MSCHE site visit scheduled April 2-5, 2017. (To avoid all conflicts of interest, the commissioners recluse themselves from all discussions involving their own institutions of employment.)

President Sunser is a native of Syracuse and has spent the majority of his professional career in higher education. He is a graduate of Onondaga Community College, earned his BS degree from Syracuse University, an MS from SUNY College at Brockport, and a Certificate of Advanced Study and his Ed.D. Degree from the University of Rochester. He came to GCC in 2011, after working at Onondaga Community College in several capacities including as the bursar and vice president for finance, and vice president for continuing and extended learning.

“I am truly honored to be a part of such an important organization within higher education,” President Sunser said of his new appointment. “Accreditation is the lynch pin that holds higher education together. From setting policy to the self-assessments, team reviews during on-site visits, Middle States has imparted leadership in higher ed throughout its nearly 100-year history.”

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Press Release, GCC

The Albion and Medina Campus Centers of Genesee Community College are pleased to announce the Fall 2016 Students and Instructors of the Semester. Each semester, one student and one instructor at each campus center are awarded the honor for outstanding academic or teaching performance.

Albion Campus Center

Holley Dawson

Holly Dawson has been chosen as the Instructor of the Semester at the Albion Campus Center for the fall semester. She teaches History at the Albion and Medina Campus Centers, and also teaches at Erie Community College. Holly graduated from North Tonawanda High School and earned degrees from Niagara County Community, the University at Buffalo and Canisius College.

Students who nominated Holly mentioned that her teaching is, “planned and well thought out,” and she “encourages us to dig deeper into history.” Students also walk away with lessons that extend beyond the classroom and one student shared that, “she challenges us to seek out the truth and to not be afraid to ask questions.”

When asked about her experience at GCC, Dawson said, “GCC is a positive place to work; everyone is kind, helpful, and happy to be here.” She advises new instructors the same advice that was given to her, “have fun!”

Holly resides in North Tonawanda with her husband of 32 years, two sons, and Snowball, her west highland terrier. Outside of the classroom, she enjoys outdoor activities including biking and walking and assisting with the Boy Scouts. She also loves to read and counts the Harry Potter series and the works of Stephanie Evanovich among her favorites.

Elena Mergler

Elena Mergler has been selected as the Student of the Semester at the Albion Campus for the fall 2016 semester. Elena will be finishing her degree in Teacher Education this spring. She plans to transfer to Nazareth College and pursue a Bachelor’s in Art Education. Her long-term goal is to become an art teacher.

The instructor that nominated Elena shared that, “Elena produces exceptional work, on time and on task. Her presence also had a positive influence in class and she is a mature contributor, as well as a caring listener.”

In her free time, Elena enjoys art, spending time with her family and many different outdoor activities including hiking, camping, kayaking, horseback riding, zip-lining and sky diving. She credits her family (mom, dad and two sisters) as a major influence in her life. She resides in Albion.

Medina Campus Center

Patrick Seidel

Patrick Seidel has been selected as the Instructor of the Semester at the Medina Campus Center for the fall 2016 semester. He teaches Responding to Emergencies and Fly Fishing and also teaches Physical Education and coaches at Lockport High School, along with being a New York State Coaching Instructor. His most rewarding teaching experience was being named the Western New York Wrestling Coach of the Year.

Pat earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Physical Education from The College at Brockport and also obtained a Master’s degree in School District Administration from Niagara University. He enjoys how close and personal GCC and the Medina Campus Center are as an institution.

He was nominated by multiple students that promote him as very interested in how students are doing and as someone who makes sure students are getting the correct information and that it is being understood.

In his personal time, Pat enjoys golfing and fly fishing and notes that his favorite book is Fail Safe. He also enjoys watching the New York Yankees and reading Newsweek. Pat is married and has two children, 11 mini horses, five cats and one dog. He resides in Gasport.

Dennis Wakula

Dennis Wakula has been selected as the Student of the Semester at the Medina Campus

Center for the fall 2016 semester. He is a non-traditional student majoring in Alcohol and Substance Abuse Studies and plans to complete his internship at Hope Haven in Batavia this fall. After graduating from GCC, he plans to transfer to The College at Brockport to further his education.

Prior to attending GCC, Dennis worked in the restaurant industry for over 20 years. He decided to pursue his degree as a means to help people recover from substance abuse, as well as spend more time at home with his wife, Beth. Dennis expressed that his wife and son, Tyler, as well as many good friends and the faculty and staff at GCC are major influences in his life, with regard to pursuing his education.

The instructor that nominated Dennis praised him for being an “A” student, who is, “always the first one to class, ready to work.” When asked about his strengths as a student, Dennis stated, “I try to attend all of my classes so that I don’t miss anything. I don’t procrastinate, and I try to stay ahead in all of my classes. This way, I don’t stress myself out.” His advice to new college students is to pay attention in class, stay current with homework assignments, and most of all, ask for help if you need it.

Dennis has always felt that his GCC instructors and staff really care about student success. Dennis resides in Holley.

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Provided photos

ROCHESTER – Members of the Mad Scientists, a First Lego League team from Orleans County, are happy on Sunday after the team won the research award for top project among the 147 teams in the Finger Lakes region.

The Mad Scientists include, from left: Zachary Neal, Deegan Bragg, coach Erik Seielstad, Aiden Miller, coach Marlene Seielstad, Emma Foote, Bryce Wilson and Josh Bovenzi.

The Mad Scientists are one of three Lego teams from Orleans County in the 4-H program. The Mad Scientists advanced to Sunday’s championship finals, featuring the 40 top teams in the region.

Aiden Miller holds the trophy for the research award. In winning the award, the Mad Scientists developed a prosthetic leg for a dog.

In creating the prosthetic, the team used CAD to design a prosthetic and then made one with a 3-D printer. The design can easily be modified depending on the size of a dog.

The team was motiviated to create a prosthetic after hearing about a three-legged dog at the Olde Dogge Inn in Albion. The dog was from Puerto Rico but was receiving care and love at the Olde Dogge Inn so he could be adopted to a family. The dog visited the 4-H Team and tried the prosthetic, which seems to work for the dog named Bary.

The prosthetic can be made for $15 with a 3-D printer, compared to buying a customized one from a company for $400 to $600, Mrs. Seielstad said.

The team has been meeting three times a week for about three months. George McKenna, a veterinarian in Barre, also met with the team and had advice on how to size the prosthetic. (Dogs might lose a leg due to cancer, being hit by a car, nerve damage or a birth defect.)

The team gets its robot ready to complete different tasks. Team members programmed the robot to use different attachments to for challenges on the course. The Lego program is open to students in grades 4 through 8.

The program started five years ago in orleans County. Sunday was the first time an Orleans team won one of the major awards in the finals.

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Demetrius Revelas

An Albion native was one of eight educators honored by Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Dec. 6 with the Shine Award, given for making significant contributions to education.

Demetrius Revelas, a member of Albion’s Class of 1979, is principal at Murdock Middle School in Charlotte County in the Fort Myers area of Southwest Florida.

In the past two years, over 700 Microsoft certifications have been earned by students at the school. Revelas also is the recipient of the National After School Association “My Principal Matters” Award, according to a news release from the Gov. Scott.

Revelas is also a graduate of Brockport State College in 1983. He is the son of Gus and Barbara Revelas.

“As a veteran educator I want to share my experiences with others,” Revelas said in a phone interview today. “As an educator I am always here to grow.”

In Florida, the school districts are organized by counties. Revelas works in a district with about 16,000 students.

He tries to bring small-town values he learned at Albion and Brockport to his career, making relationships and personal connections a priority.

“The Shine Award is presented to outstanding teachers like these who go above and beyond in the classroom to educate Florida’s future leaders,” Gov. Rick Scott said on Tuesday when the awards were presented. “I applaud these educators for continuing their professional development with this demanding program and preparing students for Florida’s workforce.”

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Press Release, Orleans/Niagara BOCES

MEDINA – This group graduated from the Licensed Practical Nursing (LPN) Program at the Orleans/Niagara BOCES. They include, from left, front row: Marisa Poole, Megan Berhalter-Krawczyk, Sarah Drier and Hailey Jakubowski.  Middle row: Patricia Page, Lori Doberstein, Desiré Gannon, Kaitlyn LaJoie, Tibreya Grace and Amanda Gilbert.  Back row: Lindsay Schmid, Justeen Sweeney-Ortiz and Tiffany Davis.

Anyone interested in the Orleans/Niagara BOCES LPN program should contact Terry Josker at (716) 731-6800, extension: 4445 or tjosker@onboces.org.  The testing for the next class will be this spring.

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