STUDENT LEADERSHIP, ATHLETIC AWARDS CEREMONY HELD AT C-GCC
The Fifteenth annual Student Leadership Awards Ceremony was held Monday night (May 1) in the Arts Center Theater at Columbia-Greene Community College.
The event was coordinated by the Student Development Office to recognize students for their leadership in student organizations, clubs, academics and sports. Introductions were made by Vice President and Dean of Students and Enrollment Management Joseph Watson. Greetings were given by President James Campion.
The names of students who made the President's and Dean's lists were read by Catherine Carlson, director of accessibility services, and Anita Broast, professor of business.
Michele DeCarlo, associate for public relations, and Karen Fiducia, clerk typist for student activities, awarded certificates to students named to "Who's Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges."
Student senators and officers were introduced by Watson and awarded certificates by David Cucinotta, senior associate for student activities. Fall 2016 senators were Mercury Mason (of Chatham), Abigail McVicker (Germantown), Joshua Moon (Hudson), Haley Hickman (Kinderhook), Jeremy Herbst (Kingston), Rebekah Dempsey and Mariah Szlachetka, both (Oak Hill), Eric White (Palenville), and Bethany Russell (Tivoli). Fall officers were Raymond Strawn III (Hudson), president; Olivia Smith (Catskill), vice president; Lily Ring (Lake Katrine), secretary; Logan Mead (Germantown), treasurer; and Shannon Harte (Palenville), vice president of programming.
Spring 2017 senators were Dempsey, Erica DeLong (Cairo), Laura Hoystradt-Wheeler (Hudson), Mason, McVicker, Moon, Russell, and White. Spring officers were Strawn, president; Smith, vice-president; Ring, secretary; Mead, treasurer; and Harte, vice president of programming.
Presentation of athletic awards 2016-2017 were made by Athletic Director Richanna Lindo. Male Athlete-of-the-Year was awarded to Joseph Dwy (Hillsdale), with Female Athlete-of-the Year going to Tanisha Edge (Cementon).
Brooke Hapeman (Elizaville) and Tori Popp (Tivoli) were both awarded the Gail Marie Gabriele Memorial Scholarship. Lukas Gaschel (Cairo) received the Michael F. Betke Award. The David A. Rarich Scholar/Athlete Award went to freshman Austin Haley-Berry (Tivoli), and sophomore student Juan Trillo (Hudson).
Lindo presented the Green and Gold Award to Christopher Kidd (Catskill).
The Women's basketball Most Outstanding Player was given to Edge, while the Women's basketball Coaches Award was presented to Shayna Ostrowsky (Catskill).
The Men's basketball MOP went to Kidd, while the Men's basketball Coaches Award was given to Travis Hamilton (Brooklyn).
The Max Kelly baseball MOP was presented to Collin S. Lynk (Hudson), and the Men's baseball Coaches Award went to Michael Bowes (Hudson). The women's softball Coaches Award went to Popp.
Women's track & field MOP went to Sabra Simon (the Bronx). The Men's track & field MOP Award was given to Tyler Cook (Catskill).
Lindo presented the Director's Award to Corey Smith, athletic trainer. Columbia-Greene Community Foundation Executive Director Joan Koweek announced Erika Burke (Coxsackie) as the recipient of the Mustapha Diversity Award.
Watson and Cucinotta, presented the Outstanding Program Event Award to Associate Professor Frankie Beaver-Timmons and the Criminal Justice Club, for its Inside Out program. The Outstanding Fundraising Program Event was given to the International Club, with the Outstanding Student Organization Award going to Assistant Professor Rebecca Pinder and the Conservation Club.
Strawn presented the Student Club Advisor Award to Associate Professor Barbara Shaffer. Watson presented the Student Employee-of-the-Year Award to James Tierney (Chatham).
Assistant Director of Accounting Dawn Bucci presented the Leader on the Horizon Award to Edge. Acting Vice President and Dean of Administration Dianne Topple presented the Community Service Leadership Award to Rory Schiafo (Tivoli).
Vice President and Dean of Academic Affairs Phyllis Carito presented the College Life Leadership Award to Strawn. Mason was awarded the Omnia Award by Campion.
Sophomore Student Athlete Letter Award recipients are as follows:, Noah Ernst and Niacheem Gray (both Catskill); Liz Gould (Earlton); Tydrea Rodriguez (Middletown); D'Arcy Bittner (Saugerties); and Bowes, Lynk, Trillo, Hamilton, Hapeman and Mason.
Koweek, representing the college's foundation, and Hudson Valley Blue Star Mothers New York Chapter 10 President Cindy Shilling and Treasurer Debbie Osuch presented the second annual Student Veteran Award to graduating veterans Jake Jensen (Catskill) and Katherine Patestas (Cairo).
Director of Admissions Rachel Kappel presented certificates of appreciation to student ambassadors Florentina Campion (Livingston), Lindsey Fenaughty (Palenville), Haley Hickman (Kinderhook), and Ryan Skinner (Cairo).
Closing remarks were delivered by Watson.