GCC

Press release:

For five decades, Genesee Community College has celebrated its graduating classes at commencement, and the College is excited about the upcoming 50th annual graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 20.

The College, however, is also pleased to be introducing a new tradition this year.

On Wednesday, May 16, at 1:30 p.m. in the Richard C. Call Arena, the "SUNY GCC Employees -- Serving Beyond Expectations" ceremony will formerly recognize the many outstanding achievements of GCC's faculty and staff.

Among the highest honors are recognizing the recipients of prestigious 2018 State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor's Award for Excellence, which includes the following:

Award for Excellence in Faculty Service

• Timothy P. Tomczak, professor/director of Social Sciences

Award for Excellence in Professional Service

• Tara E. Conrad, assistant registrar
• Amy A. Masters, technical specialist/financial aid retention

Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Service

• Joseph L. Ziolkowski, assistant professor, Photography and Art

Award for Excellence in Teaching

• Candice S. Vacin, associate professor of Psychology
• David W. Johnson, instructor of Biology

Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching

• Carol E. Geiselmann, adjunct instructor
• Raymond A. Boucher, adjunct instructor

Award for Excellence in Classified Service

• Raymond J. Strzelecki, building maintenance supervisor

"Genesee Community College has long had a reputation for being a great place to work," GCC's President James M. Sunser said. "In the spirit of commencement and the hard work and commitment of our students, we have also wanted to recognize the dedication of our faculty and staff who consistently go beyond expectations in helping our students succeed.

"This new event is the opportunity to honor the many GCC employees whose passion and compassion are on the job every day."

It should be noted that some College offices will be closed the afternoon of May 16 to accommodate the new awards ceremony.

In addition to the SUNY Chancellors Awards, the new "Serving Beyond Expectations" Ceremony will also recognize employees with extensive years of service at the Longevity Awards with benchmarks of 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years of service to the College.

And, the College also created a whole new segment of recognition with seven unique categories of service in the newly adopted "Cougar Awards" in the following areas.

Spirit and Community Award -- celebrates exemplary school spirit

Innovation Award -- recognizes one who's implemented idea made a positive impact on GCC

Cougar Salute -- honors a supervisor or manager consistently demonstrating GCC's core values

Teamwork Award -- praises superior performance by a department or cross-functional team

Rookie of the Year Award -- acknowledges the outstanding achievements of a new staff member

Inclusive Excellence Award -- commends a significant role in embracing the diversity, equity and inclusiveness of the campus community

President's Award -- distinguishes the efforts and services of an individual in support of the college's mission and strategic priorities

The Cougar Award nominees are secret until the awards ceremony and recipients will be named live during the event.

Lastly, but no less important, the "Serving Beyond Expectations" Ceremony recognizes the numerous accomplishments and contributions made by GCC's faculty and staff throughout the past academic year.

The number and breadth of these achievements exemplifies the quality and compassion that seems near endemic across all departments and divisions at GCC. Forty-four members of GCC's staff, and many of them with multiple honors and recognitions are listed under the general Awards category.

From professional presentations to serving as a panelist, board member, keynote speaker, juror, volunteer, evaluator, singer, exhibitor and even earning a certified drone piloting license -- GCC staff members are an active collection of top-notch professionals motivated by passion, patriotism and the idea of making the community a better place to live and work.

Press release:

On Thursday, May 10, starting at 9 a.m., more than 100 high school students from across the GLOW (Genesee, Livingston, Orleans and Wyoming counties) region will be participating in high-tech, agricultural career experience at Genesee Community College, hosted by The BEST Center.

The third annual Precision Agriculture Day at the College's Batavia Campus features a wide array of presenters from the industry who will share information on the latest technological, science, engineering, and agricultural trends including drones, embryo transfer, precision farming and processing, GPS/GIS, auto steering and robotics.

This emerging technology is anticipated to create new employment opportunities in the future. High schoolers from 13 districts across the four counties have the opportunity to discover more about these potential and exciting career pathways and will be checking out how these technologies are used in their own backyard of Western New York.

The Precision Agriculture Committee, chaired by Nathan L. Rudgers, senior vice president of Business Development at Farm Credit East,was formed in 2015.

The committee, comprised of local precision agriculture consultants, agricultural leaders, as well as high school representatives, has been providing guidance and input on the development of programs to address the educational and awareness needs of this growing field.

Advances in technology have resulted in agricultural systems collecting data and using it in multiple operations all controlled through a computer, tablet or smart phone. This technology has created education and training opportunities, but there is a lack of skilled workers.

Enter The BEST Center, which is working to provide multiple educational opportunities in this growing arena.

The BEST Center provides businesses and organizations with customized training solutions ranging from supervisory skills to technical training. The Center also offers numerous professional and personal development courses for individuals, including classroom and online opportunities.

After working for the then-fledgling Genesee Community College District for more than 46 years, Maxine Koberg (nee Palmer) retired in 2016, leaving campus as an employee for the last time on Jan. 29th two years ago.

On Sunday, April 29th, the 72-year-old Batavia native and longtime Elba resident died at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester.

In an article written about her in The Batavian upon her retirement, she said she worked steadily after graduating from high school, later passing a Civil Service exam then landing a clerk's job at the GCC. She planned from the get-go to stick with it; she said felt competant in her duties and liked her work.

By all accounts, Koberg was a true team player and got along well her coworkers.

The kind of dedication she embodied certainly seems increasingly hard to come by; long-term "institutional knowledge" spanning decades in any field, more rare.

For her full obituary, click here.

For the article about her retirement published Jan. 30, 2016, click here.

The Forum Players performed selections Saturday night from 50 years of theater productions at Genesee Community College.

The show included selections from:

"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "Singin’ in the Rain," "Peter Pan," "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," among others.

These photos are from the musical "Chicago."

To purchase prints, click here.

Press release:

The Genesee Community College Nursing Program produces qualified and skilled candidates for positions in the healthcare each year. Under the direction of the Alumni Affairs Office, the Nursing Program Alumni are working hard to help qualified Nursing Program students overcome financial obstacles.

The GCC Nursing Alumni Committee established a new scholarship opportunity for future Nursing Program students to help mitigate financial obstacles to GCC student success. The entire community is invited to kick off National Nurses Week at the Batavia Downs at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, May 4, for the debut of the Gatsby Gala to support the GCC Nursing Alumni Scholarship.

Guest registration at the event begins at 5:30 p.m.. followed by a delicious sit-down dinner with a cash bar at 6 p.m. Emcee Scott Gardner, president of the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce, will introduce: GCC's Director of the Nursing Program Laurel Sanger; Chase Hughes, of Buffalo, who will testify to the difference qualified and passionate nurses made for him and his family; and Jennifer Sonricker, of Warsaw, who will share her journey battling her daughter's cancer.

At 7:15 p.m. all guests have chances to win big with door prizes and a cash raffle! The evening will conclude with a beautiful dessert and dancing the night away to the DJ talents of students from GCC's radio station 90.7 WGCC.

Tickets to the Gatsby Gala cost $100 per person and all proceeds go directly to the GCC Nursing Alumni Scholarship.

Tickets are on sale now! RSVP online here. You can also contact the Alumni Affairs Office at alumni@genesee.edu

The Nursing Scholarship is generously sponsored by the following:

Bronze Sponsors:

Summit Family Dental Care

Laurel Sanger

Jerilyn Constantino

Brenda Schiavone

Michelle Grohs

Jeffrey Erickson Law Office

In-Kind Supporters:

Bobette and Dan McCormick

Tops Friendly Markets in Warsaw

Healing Hands Massage & Spa LLC

Steuben Trust Company

Envision Salon & Spa

Michelle Grohs

Jeffrey Erickson Law Office

Additional Donations:

Robert O. Holley

There are still opportunities available to sponsor Nursing Program scholarships at many levels.

For online details go to: https://www.genesee.edu/home/offices/alumni/alumni-events/gatsbygala/ which offers commitments of $100 - $3,000 and also includes In-kind Support for those wishing to customize their sponsorship. All sponsorship levels include a variety of benefits from free advertising to photos, and GCC Foundation recognition.

For more information, contact Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs Jennifer Wakefield at (585) 343-0055, ext. 6265, or via email at jgwakefield@genesee.edu

Students at Genesee Community College competed today in a business idea pitch competition. with a couple of hundred dollars in prize money at stake from StartUp Genesee Committee of the Genesee County Economic Development Center.

In all, 17 individuals and teams competed, including Gino Vos, above, who pitched his idea of a tourism-related T-shirt company in his home of Kurasoleno, in South America. He won second place in the "Most Likely to Succeed" category.

The winner in that category was Glenn Holmes, with Livestock Haulage Company. Holmes is also an international student from Ireland.

The "Most Creative" prize went to Josh Berranco, Nathan Maniscalko, and Richard Estes, with the TV Show, "Spooky Kooky Investigation Inc." (see video below)

Second in "Most Creative," Paige Biggins, hockey for children with special needs.

Casey Smalls, a GCC fashion student, pitched a new natural eyelashes product.

Zoe Falsone, Paul Elliott, and Dave Inzinna, a TV show, "Music Then, Now, Forever."

Press release:

"Time" magazine recently quoted Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith as she talked about the value of poetry in our world today.

She said, "Poetry requires us to be humble and beholden to something other than our own opinion. That's important. There's too much in our 21st century lives that is telling us we're the most important thing, that our initial gut reaction is incredibly valuable and not vulnerable, and that our opinions as consumers are more important than just about anything else about us.

"A poem says 'No, no. You have feelings. You have fears. You have questions. Let's get back to the voice and the vocabulary of being human.' "

The annual student poetry contest at Genesee Community College is designed to do just that -- to encourage and reward students for their abilities to express their feelings, fears, questions and voices through poetry.

For the 17th year, the poetry contest illuminated the unique and impressive talents of GCC's students. On Tuesday, April 17, the six winning students were honored at an awards and recognition ceremony in the Alfred C. O'Connell Library where they each received a certificate, gift card, and a journal to encourage them to continue their writing.

The 2018 Student Poetry Contest winners, awarded by a panel of six judges, included:

Body of Work: Committee's Choice -- Catherine McCabe-Strong, of Rochester

McCabe-Strong is in her final year of Paralegal Studies at GCC. She is a repeat winner of the Student Poetry Contest.

Body of Work: Director's Choice -- Cameron Kowalczewski, of East Aurora

Kowalczewski began at GCC in 2016 as an Accelerated College Enrollment (ACE) student and has since graduated high school and is now pursuing an associate degree in the Social Sciences with a concentration in English at GCC.

1st Place -- Nicole Favata, of Dunkirk

Favata is a Fashion Design student at GCC. Favata submitted a poem in spoken word format and the transcript is available on the Poetry Contest Web page.

2nd Place -- Raxel Piper, of Oakfield

Her second-place winning poem is entitled "The Perfect Woman."

3rd Place -- Mackayla Poorman, of Farmersville Station

Poorman is pursuing an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts at GCC's Arcade Campus Center and plans to transfer to a four-year college for writing and to minor in Theater. Her creative poem format was inspired by several of her favorite authors; Maggie Stiefvater, Jennifer Niven and Jonathan Safran Foer.

Honorable Mention honors -- Gabrielle Rozanski, of Avon, for her piece, "Tomorrow."

The entire works of these students can be found onGCC's Alfred C. O'Connell Library Poetry Contest Web page.

"Our students have many responsibilities between their studies, clubs, sports, jobs and families that demand their time and attention," Assistant Professor and Reference Services Librarian Cynthia Hagelberger said.

"We are thrilled to see so many of them putting in the extra effort it takes to enter the poetry contest each year. The library is proud and honored to offer a program that provides students with a public forum to celebrate their writing skills and creativity."

Press release and photos from Genesee Community College:

While there may still be flurries in the air and icy sidewalks, the Alumni Affairs Office at Genesee Community College is thinking about golf!

Registration is now open for the third annual Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble scheduled for Monday, July 23, at the Stafford Country Club, 8873 Morganville Road (Route 237) in Stafford.

The Cougar Classic Scholarship Scramble allows up to 36 foursomes for the 18-hole event at the esteemed Stafford Country Club. Sign-in starts 11:30 a.m. with lunch available, and golfers tee off in "shotgun" style at 12:30 p.m. 

Registration is $125 per golfer and includes 18 holes of golf, a golf cart, all beer and nonalcoholic beverages during play, lunch and dinner with a cash bar, and much more!

To join the event for dinner only is $25.

Most importantly, all proceeds go directly to GCC Student Scholarship Program, making higher education possible for deserving students in our community.

The registration deadline for golfers is June 15. Contact Assistant Director of Alumni Affairs Jennifer Wakefield at 343-0055, ext. 6265, or via email at jgwakefiled@genesee.edu.

The golfer registration form is also available online here.

Additional opportunities to sponsor GCC scholarships are available at a number of levels ranging from $100 to $3,000.

Sponsorships for golf games, including a putting contest, longest drive, closest to the pin, and beat the pro and other in-kind support efforts are also being accepted.

A sponsorship sign-up form with all donation details is available here and should be sent to Jennifer Wakefield at jgwakefiled@genesee.edu to reserve a sponsorship level.

Submitted photos and press release:

Did you know Genesee Community College offers a complete child care center for students, staff, faculty AND THE COMMUNITY?

You don't have to be a student at GCC for your child to attend the College's state-of-the-art Child Care Center! Operated by the Genesee Community College Association, the Child Care Center features extensive developmental resources for children ages 6 weeks to 5 years old.

The Child Care Center is open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday -- including over the summer according to GCC's academic calendar. Breakfast, lunch and snacks are included in the tuition rates.

All of the food provided to the children is regulated through CACFP (Child Adult Care Food Program), which is a food program that adheres to all nutritional standards and values recommended for young, developing children. The Center also has safe sleeping equipment and spaces for a comforting naptime for the little ones!

The trained and dedicated staff at the Child Care Center provides age appropriate activities such as kindergarten readiness lessons, fine and gross motor activities, and socialization. In addition to the center's outdoor playground which provides great exercise and fresh air all summer long, the facilities available at the College's Batavia Campus provide creative and active programming, such as visiting the library, going to the theater to see a show, running in the gym, playing in the clock tower quad and enjoying the physical therapy obstacle course.

For convenience, the College provides designated drop-off and pick-up parking spots right up front by the Stuart Steiner Theatre entrance.

In addition, all teachers are CPR, First Aid and AED trained. All of the lead teachers hold degrees in education and all staff complete at least 30 hours of training every two years to guarantee that they stay up to date on early childhood best practices.

"We take great pride in offering our children the best care and developmentally appropriate education," Staci Williams, director of the Child Care Center said. "We strive to immerse the children into the College environment and allow them to enjoy and appreciate these beautiful facilities that surround us as much as possible.

"From letting the children ride tricycles in the gym on a snowy day, to getting them outside to the playground in the summer-our children really benefit from GCC, like so many other students and staff." 

Registration for the GCCA Child Care Center is simple, the application is available online here and can be mailed or dropped off to the Child Care Center at GCC's Batavia Campus located at One College Road in Batavia.

Child Care Center rates are based on the number of days the child attends and the age of the child. The U.S. Department of Education and SUNY awards grant funds for child care tuition subsidies for income eligible GCC students.

Please contact the Child Care Office if you would like specific pricing. GCC makes it easy to make child care tuition payments with an online payment center -- no more having to remember your checkbook!

For more information, contact Child Care Center Director Staci Williams at (585) 345-6833 or via email: slwilliams@genesee.edu

Submitted photos and press release:

Officials at Genesee Community College are delighted to announce the College's 50th graduating class will hear from the new State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor, Kristina M. Johnson, Ph.D., as the keynote speaker at the commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. on Sunday, May 20.

Johnson is the fourth SUNY Chancellor to grace the College's commencement stage with Nancy L. Zimpher appearing in 2010, John R. Ryan in 2007 and Robert King in 2003.

GCC's first-ever graduating class received their diplomas in 1969 inside the auditorium of the New York State School for Blind. Through the years, GCC has held commencement ceremonies in several other locations to accommodate the growing number of graduates.

Batavia High School, the William W. Stuart Forum in the Batavia Campus and finally the Anthony T. Zambito Gymnasium have all hosted GCC's commencement programs. This year, GCC's Class of 2018, the College's 50th Class of graduates, will celebrate their success in the new and permanent venue, the Richard C. Call Arena.

"This year's Commencement Ceremony is going to be a special day for so many reasons. First and foremost, graduation is a sacred event celebrating the personal accomplishments of hundreds of students -- each with his or her individual story and journey. It is, without question, the best day of the year for the whole College community," said GCC President James M. Sunser, Ph.D.

"Secondly, we are honored to welcome Chancellor Johnson to our campus and look forward to hearing her distinguished remarks. Finally, this event brings our 50th Anniversary celebration to a grand crescendo, and what better place than in our new Call Arena."

SUNY Chancellor Johnson joined The State University of New York as its 13th Chancellor just six months ago in September. With 64 college and university campuses located across New York State, SUNY is the nation's largest comprehensive system of public higher education. It serves more than 1.3 million students annually, employs more than 90,000 faculty and staff, and connects more than three million alumni around the world.

Prior to joining SUNY, Johnson was cofounder and CEO of Cube Hydro Partners LLC, and had served as undersecretary at the U.S. Department of Energy. She served as Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs at Johns Hopkins University from 2007 to 2009 with direct oversight of the academic operations and budget of nine schools that included leading interdisciplinary programs, academic centers and institutes. As Dean of the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke University from 1999 to 2007, Johnson created intensive student/faculty research partnerships and led a strategic planning process as part of Duke's "Building on Excellence" university plan.

Among Johnson's many academic awards are:

• 40 years of Title IX -- 40 Women Who Have Made an Impact by ESPNW (2012)
• Woman of Vision Award for Leadership by the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology (2010)
• Milton Steward Award from the Small Business Technology Council (2010)
• John Fritz Medal (2008)
• Society of Women Engineers Lifetime Achievement Award (2004)
• Dennis Gabor Prize for creativity and innovation in modern optics (1993)
• Fulbright Faculty Scholar (1991)
• National Science Foundation Presidential Young Investigator (1985)

In addition, Johnson was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame (2015) and the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame (2003), holds 118 U.S. and international patents, has published 149 referenced papers and proceedings and has received honorary degrees from the University of Alabama at Huntsville, Tufts University, McGill University, Trinity College, Dublin and the National University of Ireland, Galway.

Johnson received her B.S. with distinction, M.S. and Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Stanford University. After a NATO post-doctoral fellowship at Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland, she joined the University of Colorado -- Boulder's faculty in 1985 as an assistant professor and, later, full professor.

Additional commencement information can be found here. For families interested in using GCC's Child Care Center for children 5 years old and younger, the reservation deadline is Friday, May 4.

Below is a photos of GCC's first graduating class -- the Class of 1969.

The Genesee County Health Department conducted a community health emergency drill today at Genesee Community College, this time simulating how workers would handle a potential outbreak of Hepatitis A.

These drills are required by the state and state health department officials draw up the scenario that will be handled by all the county health departments in the state.

In this case, the health department was notified that a fictitious worker at a fictitious grocery store had contracted Hepatitis A, confirmed by lab results. Since the store employee handled fresh produce, residents in the county were to be notified through news media that if they had been in that store, especially in the produce section, that they may have been exposed to Hepatitis A. The residents are then encouraged to come to the aid station, register, be asked a few health questions and if not yet symptomatic, given a vaccine shot.

In the drill, nurses, from the mental health department in this drill, simulated the shots by sticking a needle into a tangerine. 

Some of the participants acting as patients in the drill were GCC students. Each trip through the process was worth a slice of pizza.

Press release:

The GENESEE IT, SAY IT initiative continues at Genesee Community College with a special performance of "The Script" by Tim Collins on Thursday, April 12, at 12:30 p.m. in the Batavia Campus gymnasium.

GENESEE IT, SAY IT is a powerful campaign the College launched to encourage and empower individuals to speak up if or when they witness, or learn of, a sexual assault.

One of the key components of this initiative includes opportunities to educate students, faculty and staff on the power of reporting incidents they are aware of. The initiative is jointly sponsored by GCC's Dean of Students Office, Human Resources Office and the Title IX Coordinator.

Tim Collins will perform his award-winning one-man show entitled "The Script" about sexual assault prevention, toxic masculinity and bystander intervention.

"It is crucial that we continually encourage students, staff and faculty to speak up and report incidents of sexual assault," said Dean of Students Patricia Chaya. "One of the ways to empower individuals is to teach them bystander intervention strategies and to reiterate the avenues of support available to not only victims of these kinds of assaults, but to those reporting it as well."

This event is free and open to the public. Bleacher seating is available on a first come, first served basis.

Press release:

Genesee Community College invites homeschooled students, their parents and siblings to attend the Homeschool Information and Orientation Session on Wednesday, April 25, at 10 a.m. at the Batavia Campus in room T119 of the Conable Technology Building.

Attendees can learn about GCC's exciting opportunities for students who are homeschooled, and visit with key college staff members who work with homeschool students to have their specific questions answered. 

Homeschooled students have extensive opportunities to advance their education through GCC. Classes are offered in many subject areas and students under age 18 may take approved ACE (Accelerated College Enrollment) courses at a reduced tuition rate.

ACE Program Specialist Dan Snyder, who works with many homeschooled students currently enrolled at GCC, will be at the session to provide information. GCC Assistant Dean of Recruitment and Admissions Lindsay Gerhardt will also share information about the admissions process, as will Joe Bailey, GCC's director of Student Financial Assistance and Veteran Services. 

The session will include an overview on how to obtain a New York State high school diploma through college credit earned, placement testing, the registration process, financial aid, online learning, campus tours and a Q & A session. The overall program includes the following schedule:

• Orientation (10 - 11 a.m.)
• Information Sessions (11 a.m. - 12 p.m.) including Admissions, Financial Aid Eligibility, and Online Learning Technical Orientation
• Lunch and Campus Tours (12 - 1 p.m.)
• Closing Q & A and Campus Tours (1 - 2 p.m.)

"GCC is enjoying a growing population of homeschooled students," Snyder said. "It's a great opportunity for students to continue with a quality, home-based education and get a head start on college for a fraction of the cost."

Through the ACE Program at GCC, homeschooled students are exposed to small classroom environments with extraordinary one-on-one attention to ensure students receive a quality education that is focused on individual success.

GCC's homeschooled students enjoy the use of all of the College facilities, including the Transfer Center, Alfred O'Connell Library, Fitness Center and computer labs. Students can explore and expand their career aspirations through GCC's Career Center. GCC's newest facilities, the Richard C. Call Arena and the Student Success Center that are both scheduled to open this summer, will provide even more exciting new opportunities at GCC's Batavia Campus. 

Participants are strongly encouraged to register in advance -- by April 20 -- by contacting contact Dan Snyder at desnyder@genesee.edu or by calling (585) 343-0055, ext. 6393.

Press release:

What: Spring Open House at Genesee Community College

When: 9-11 a.m. Saturday, April 14

Where: Genesee Community College -- One College Road, Batavia

Who: Everyone looking for an affordable higher education

Registration is open now for both summer and fall 2018. Have you seen all of the great courses being offered at GCC? Don't miss your chance to get started on your college degree!

The admissions team and student success coaches at Genesee Community College are here to help you pursue your degree or certificate program. Apply today and get registered right away!

Representatives from GCC's student services offices will be on hand to answer questions about admissions, career and transfer services, student activities, athletics and you can attend a financial aid session. Tours of the campus will be available, including the new Student Success Center, Richard C. Call Arena and College Village -- GCC's apartment-style residential housing.

Register today at www.genesee.edu/openhouse or call 1-866-CALL-GCC.

Can't make it to Open House? Join us on a Friday Visit Day. Learn about GCC's application and admissions processes, financial aid opportunities, take a campus tour, and sit in on a college class. Friday Visit Days begin at 9 a.m. and end at noon on the following dates:

• April 20
• May 4

You can also visit www.genesee.edu/VT for a virtual campus tour.

GCC offers a comprehensive selection of over 70 degree and certificate programs. Dedicated to student success and accessibility, GCC offers a totally FREE application process, FREE career counseling, FREE tutoring and FREE parking.

With more than 100 courses available online every semester and 15 degrees that can be earned completely online, GCC is more convenient than ever. GCC's Campus Centers located in Albion, Arcade, Dansville, Lima, Medina and Warsaw provide additional options to attend class close to home.

Contact GCC's Admissions Office at 585-345-6800 or email Admissions@genesee.edu today to get started. For online, door-to-door driving directions go to: http://www.genesee.edu/about/visit/maps/

Submitted photos and press release:

In 2014, the owners of the Village Bakery & Café in Downtown Rochester contacted Karen (Todd) Flack to paint a mural to illustrate their fresh food philosophy which boasts local farm products, produce and free-range eggs.

Flack was excited about the project and she developed a farm scene stretching across nearly a full wall in the Café. The 10' x 25' painting features the sun rising behind mountains that edge a farm with chickens, a cow, trees, a wagon, fields and flowers and a banner that reads: "It's not just what we use. It's what we don't." Patrons have been enjoying the mural for nearly four years since her original artwork was developed.

An adjunct Art teacher at Genesee Community College, Flack teaches all of her students to do their homework and use a variety of resources to maximize the impact of a visual assignment. In fact, she collected approximately 150 images for visual reference while doing the Village Bakery & Café painting. In her 10 years of teaching at GCC, Flack has enjoyed teaching students of all ages.

She has also worked various art restoration projects and architectural conservation projects including assignments in the Senator's Mansion in Churchville, The First Universalist Church in Rochester, and privately owned works by artists such as Andy Warhol and Ramon Santiago. She also designed the commemorative button for the Second Annual Orleans County Heritage Festival in 2017.

As both an artist and educator, Flack was recently honored when she discovered the mural in the Village Bakery & Café was being used as a reference by R.I.T. graduate student, Kelly Ryan in a teaching unit for a seventh-grade studio art class at The Harley School in Brighton.

The unit Ryan developed teaches students about effective use of the foreground, middle ground and background to develop great compositions, how to foster creativity and apply acrylic painting techniques. The farm-scape unit included a guest artist session where Ryan's students met Flack to discuss not only the mural, but the students' artwork, as well.

"I was so impressed seeing all of the pieces these young budding artists created using my work as inspiration," Flack said. "Most artists hope their work inspires or educates and it was humbling to see it first-hand in these students." 

Ryan's unit also served to illustrate the various careers available to artists.

"With each unit I teach, I work hard to make sure my students see the opportunities their learning and skills can produce," Ryan said. "Having Karen come into the classroom created a real-world connection for the students that demonstrated how art can be used to communicate messages, in this case the farm to table concept, to the community through a social context.

"The farm-scape unit culminated with a student art exhibit at the Village Bakery & Café. The public display really drove the students to produce their very best work."

Flack's mural, which was one of four nominated for the Best Mural in Rochester in 2014 is visible at the Village Bakery & Café at the Armory, located at 145 Culver Road in the City of Rochester.

To appreciate Flack's additional creativity in arts go to her website here, which features a video of her playing her violin or "fiddle" as a guest appearance with the Marshall Tucker Band at the Rochester Lilac Festival, and also her work at the Perry Chalk Art Festival where she won first place in 2016 and was the featured artist in 2017.

(In addition to the Culver Road location in Rochester, Village Bakery & Cafe has two other sites: in the Eastview Mall in the Town of Victor; and in the Village of Pittsford.)

Press release:

Last Thursday, the Genesee Community College Pool was filled with 400 bright yellow rubber ducks each representing a donation to the eighth Annual United Way Campaign.

The Duck Derby is the single biggest initiative GCC developed to solicit donations for the campaign from faculty, staff and students. However events are scheduled throughout the campaign period.

This year the Duck Derby raised more than $400 for the United Way and the following participants won prizes: Katina Maher, John McGowan, Dave Hoover, Marguerite Badami, Kelly Sutcliff and Maureen Goodsell.

To champion the campaign efforts each year GCC establishes a United Way Committee. The 2018 committee includes:

• Courtney Andros, assistant director of HR Compliance
• Bethany Aradine, assistant director of HR
• Justine Briggs, TS Business training specialist
• John McGowan, director of Business and Employee Training Skills (BEST Center)
• Katherine Trombley, director of the Adult Education Opportunity Center (AEOC)
• Gina Weaver, associate vice president of HR
• Dolores Wilkin, HR Department secretary
• GCC's student athletes

The committee has set a donation goal of $16,000 for 2018, a 6-percent increase over 2017. Donations are accepted through payroll deductions, one-time gifts and of course, the purchase of ducks for the Duck Derby.

"The United Way does so much for so many organizations and individuals in our community," Campaign Coordinator Gina Weaver said. "Our campaign is our way of ensuring that good work can continue."

GCC faculty, students and staff are encouraged to make their contributions online at https://secure.uwrochester.org/epledge/crm/Start.jsp?accountNumber=53868.

Press release:

Each year in April, the Office for Victims of Crime helps lead communities throughout the country in their annual observances of National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), which will be observed this year April 8-14. The 2018 theme is “Expand the Circle: Reach All Victims” and it emphasizes the importance of inclusion in victim services.

Monday of that week, April 9, is designated Criminal Justice Day 2018: "Surviving and Thriving After Trauma." It will be held locally at Genesee Community College from 8:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Conable Technology Building, Room T102, 1 College Road, Batavia. The day is sponsored in part by GCASA and Our Lady of Batavia Knights of Columbus.

Cost to attend is $20 per person / $10 per student or senior (62+) and lunch is included.

For registration, contact Genesee Justice at 344-2550, ext. 3929, or e-mail: Holly.McAllister@co.genesee.ny.us

Keynote Speakers:

Sheriff Timothy Whitcomb of Cattaraugus County. Sheriff Whitcomb is a dynamic and powerful speaker who lectures on topics such as: post-traumatic stress disorder, suicide, and protecting and treating those exposed to trauma. 

Eva Abrams, a survivor of the Holocaust, along with her daughter, Bonnie Abrams, who is Director of the Center of Holocaust Awareness and Information in Rochester. Eva was born in Oradea, Romania, in 1926 and was 17 when the Nazis occupied her hometown and sent her family to a ghetto. Her family was then deported to Auschwitz a month later.

Criminal Justice Day 2018 Partners are:

• Batavia City Police
• Justice for Children Advocacy Center
• Genesee Community College
• Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (GCASA)
• Genesee County District Attorney’s Office
• Genesee County Mental Health
• Genesee County Office for the Aging
• Genesee County Sheriff’s Office
• Genesee County Youth Bureau
• Genesee Justice
• Mental Health Association of Genesee and Orleans Counties
• RESTORE Sexual Assault Services
• YWCA of Genesee County

Press release:

The Fashion Program students at Genesee Community College have been interviewing models and finalizing pieces for the 37th Annual Fashion Show to take place on Saturday, April 28, at 7 p.m. in the new Richard C. Call Arena. Get your tickets now!

Each scene in the show is designed and coordinated by a student in the Fashion program. This year, the students challenged themselves, selecting "Ascendant" as the show theme.

"Ascendant" speaks to the rising power GCC has in communicating thoughtful and impactful fashion while simultaneously representing a person's rising sign -- the astrological sign under which a person is born. The "Ascendant" theme moves beyond recognizing astrologically assigned character trait differences and to using fashion to make statements about appreciating those differences as potential contributions to creative teamwork.

This year's show features the following scenes:

Cancer -- Fuses bohemian wear and earthy elements into a free-spirited look.

Scene Coordinator: Maya Neeley of Harrisville, NY

Libra -- A wedding scene emphasizing romance and elegance.

Scene Coordinator: Jewel Watters of Sandy Valley, NV

Gemini -- Examines the sameness and individuality of twins.

Scene Coordinator: Emily Lontkowski of Batavia, NY

Capricorn -- Showcases the independent and professional women's work attire.

Scene Coordinator: Alexa Higgins of Le Roy, NY and Tykayila Hawkins of Rochester, NY

Taurus -- Demonstrates the conservative and unisex styles of today.

Scene Coordinator: Felton Terrell Poole of Medina, NY

Virgo -- Exposes an inner realness through the transparency of ingenuousness.

Scene Coordinator: Adeline Kijsiravej of Bangkok, Thailand

Pisces -- Utilizes bright colors and impactful graphics to depict the Pisces personality.

Scene Coordinator: Serenity Brown of Rochester, NY

Scorpio -- Compiles mystery, passion and fierceness into a contemporary street look.

Scene Coordinator: Charlotte Hughes of Ordizan, France

Leo -- Portrays a desire for love and admiration

Scene Coordinator: Tsubasa Mirua of Japan

Aries -- Represents individuality and confident fierceness through dark and neutral colors with bold trims.

Scene Coordinator: Katie Plummer of Brockport, NY

Sagittarius -- Screams "Freedom" through a variety of denim pieces.

Scene Coordinator: Harrison Lourens of Batavia, NY

Aquarius -- The unique nature of Aquarius will be communicated through garments of unique styles constructed by various GCC students

Luna - A nighttime scene that showcases formalwear created by various GCC students

In Darkness & In Light -- Draws luxury from utility as light is drawn from darkness.

Scene Coordinator: Kaeli LaFrance of Akwesasne, NY

Comet -- Elegant formal wear with an upbeat taste.

Scene Coordinator: Kaitlyn Tipton of Meyersdale, NY

Ophiuchus -- The newest zodiac sign which falls between Scorpio and Sagittarius is being celebrated by our guest design company, Sseko Designs. Sseko Designs develop clothing and accessories that are constructed by women pursuing higher education and fair wages in Uganda, Africa. The new zodiac sign is a positive representation of a new ethical direction of the fashion industry.

"Ascendant" will completely transform the field house in the new Richard C. Call Arena into a dreamlike space with a powerful runway! Tickets to attend the show are available in advance for $5 per person until 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25. Tickets will also be available at the door for $8 per person. To purchase tickets in advance, email fashionshow@genesee.edu today. 

Are you interested in an opportunity to show your support for the Fashion Show? GCC's fashion program students are currently soliciting and accepting production sponsors. Business donation opportunities of $10 and personal donation opportunities of $5 are still available.

Sponsors will be included in the Fashion Show Program as well as on the Fashion Show website. Please email fashionshow@genesee.edu to schedule a donation pick up or to make special arrangements for your donation. Checks should be made payable to GCCA and can be mailed to Genesee Community College, Fashion Show, One College Road, Batavia NY 14020-9704.

As it has in the past, the Fashion Show will include a vendor fair giving local businesses a chance to showcase their products and services. There are still a few tables available for additional vendors. Interested businesses should email fashionshow@genesee.edu. Tables are only $25 and are an excellent marketing opportunity, given the fashion show attendance of nearly 2,000 local consumers.

To get an inside look at the 37th Annual Fashion Show, Ascendant, follow @trendygcc_ on Instagram and @trendygcc on Twitter. You can also read our student blogs at https://geensee.edu/wordpress.com/blog/. Students will be sharing details about the show and more!