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103rd Commencement

Congratulations, Graduates!

Friends, families, and fellow students celebrated as approximately 900 Alfred State graduates participated in commencement ceremonies on Sunday, May 18,

2014. Dr. Skip Sullivan, president, presided over the event held at Pioneer Stadium on the Alfred State campus. Welcoming the audience on behalf of the stu-

dents was Joshua Altemoos, of Buffalo, N.Y., president of the Alfred State Student Senate, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in information technology:

network administration. This year’s student speaker was Tsu Zhu, of Flushing, NY. Zhu is a graduate of both the Culinary Arts Department, where she received

her associate degree, and — most recently — the technology management program, where she received her bachelor’s.

Keynote speaker for the ceremony was David Campbell, successful businessman and founder and chair of All Hands Volunteers. Campbell, a native of Buffalo

and resident of Carlisle, Massachusetts, has been President of BBN Technologies of Cambridge and CEO at Computer Task Group of Buffalo and Xpedior of

Chicago. He has also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Tektronix, M&T Bank, MRO Software, and Gibraltar Industries; he has been a Trustee at

both Niagara University and the University at Buffalo; held the position of Chairman for Roswell Park Cancer Institute Council, the Buffalo United Way cam-

paign, the Erie County IDA, and the Buffalo Chamber of Commerce; and he has served on the board of directors for numerous other organizations.

Following a tsunami in Thailand in 2005, Campbell became one of the founders of Hands onThailand.org, and helped to bring in more than 200 volunteers

and several hundred thousand dollars to assist in rebuilding. Inspired to continue the work of providing hands-on assistance to communities in need, Campbell

then incorporated All Hands Volunteers in 2006 and quickly brought 1,500 volunteers to Biloxi, Mississippi, in response to Hurricane Katrina. Under his leader-

ship over the next seven years, the organization managed more than 30 projects. To date, All Hands Volunteers has helped communities in Haiti, Peru, Thailand,

Indonesia, the Philippines, and Bangladesh. US relief projects have taken place in Mississippi, New York, Tennessee, Rhode Island, and Iowa.

President Sullivan also awarded an honorary degree during the ceremony, the Doctor of Humane Letters (L.H.D.), to William Goodrich, president and CEO

of Rochester’s LeChase Construction, Alfred State class of ’84. Goodrich has been an integral member of LeChase since 1985. He was named president in 2002

and CEO in 2007; has been involved with Rochester Careers in Construction, a program that connects high school faculty and students with construction in-

dustry experts, for more than a decade; has been a driving force behind continuing education and training for his company’s employees. More than 40 Alfred

State graduates have found careers at LeChase.

At Alfred State, Goodrich has been an essential supporter of the $4.1 million Construction Workforce Development Center at the School of Applied Tech-

nology in Wellsville and in the opening of the $33.5 million Student Leadership Center, where LeChase sponsored one of thirteen leadership suites awarded to

student organizations. LeChase also supports several institutional, charitable, and community-based organizations on an annual basis.

Goodrich maintains membership in many community and professional organizations; was the recipient of a President’s Medallion from Alfred State in 2010;

was the keynote speaker for Alfred State’s 99th Commencement ceremony; and was featured in the Transitions, the College’s magazine. He has a bachelor’s de-

gree in business from Roberts Wesleyan College and an associate degree in Construction Engineering Technology from Alfred State.

The presentation of the Paul B. Orvis Award for Excellence, awarded to outstanding two-year graduates from each of the college’s schools of study as well

as to one or more baccalaureate graduates, was a highlight of the ceremony. The award honors Paul B. Orvis, a former president of Alfred State and State Uni-

versity of New York dean for two-year colleges. Recipients must meet the criteria of service, leadership, character, and scholarship.

Honored at the ceremony were Nicole M. Agosta, Amsterdam, N.Y., (School of the Arts and Sciences baccalaureate recipient); Rachel A. Howard, Pittsford,

NY, School of Arts and Sciences associate degree recipient); Lisa J. Kowalewski, Akron, N.Y., (School of Architecture, Management, and Engineering Technology

associate degree recipient); Joshua D. Lenahan, Woodhull, N.Y., (School of Applied Technology recipient); and Kyle “Christian” J. Perry, Frewsburg, N.Y., (School of

Architecture, Management, and Engineering Technology baccalaureate recipient).

The Alfred State Men’s Quartet performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” and the Alfred State alma mater during the ceremony. Students and faculty were led

out in recessional to the music of the Gates Keystone Police Pipes and Drums.

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Tor Echo / Spring 2014

Scenes from the 103rd Commencement of Alfred State SUNY College of Technology

Christian Kyle Perry (above, right) receiving the Orvis

Award from VPAA Craig Clark. Christian, an architec-

ture major, will be heading off to Honduras next, where

he is working on plans for a children’s hospital in the

capital city of Tegucigalpa. Christian is the co-founder of

“Little Angels of Honduras,” a not-for-profit foundation

whose mission is to reduce the infant mortality rate in

Honduras by providing optimal conditions for birth and

newborn care. This organization embodies the ideals of

civic engagement that Alfred State tries to imbue in its

students. Congratulations, Christian!

SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor Dr.

Aniko Constantine announcing the names of

more than 900 graduates at the 103rd Alfred

State Commencement on Sunday, May 18,

2014.

“Keep your eyes on the prize,” and, in this case, keep your

hands on the prize, too! Congratulations, Pioneer Graduates!

More than 900 students re-

ceived diplomas on a sunny but

cool day as thousands of family

members, friends, Alfred State

faculty, staff, and administrators

looked on.

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Tor Echo Staff Editor-in-Chief: Britteny L. Monahan (2013-14) - Editor-in-Chief: Matt Cooley (2014-15)

Associate Editor: Lynnette Lockwood (2014-15) Treasurer: Karla Chun (2013-14) - Treasurer: Daniel Davied (2014-15)

Advisor: Dr. Brian Quinn Copyright Tor Echo 2014

Editorial

Farewell, Alfred

After three and a half years as a student at Alfred State College it is time for

me to say goodbye – So much time has passed, and as I look back on every-

thing I have done, all of the people I have met, and all of the friends I have seen

come and go it is with a mixture of sadness and relief that I move forward into

the unknown and into the next chapter of my life. My time here has been an

amazing adventure of ups and downs, love and hate, education and new experi-

ences. I thrust myself into situations I otherwise would have never ventured, I

took chances and tried things I never thought I would. I met an array of inter-

esting individuals, some even became my greatest friends and companions. I

made many mistakes along the way, but everything happens for a reason and

while I do wish there were times I could go back and correct my mistakes, or

take the chances I never allowed myself to in the past, I am content with my life

and my time here in Alfred. I won’t be going far, but it still feels like I am saying

goodbye to a large piece of myself. It has been quite the adventure being the

editor of the newspaper, and I wish those following in my footsteps and taking

the reigns as the new editor and staff of Tor Echo the best of luck. Remember

to have fun, talk to people and keep an open mind to all possibilities that sur-

round you. The school newspaper was meant for the students to get their voic-

es out there and heard. I want to thank my small, yet dedicated and resourceful

staff and our advisor, Brian Quinn, for all of your hard work this past year as

members of the newspaper. I couldn’t have done any of it without you all. <3

Also, I want to wish all of my friends who are graduating the best of luck and

congratulations on all of your hard work! You’ve earned it!

Goodbye, Alfred State.

—Britteny Monahan, Editor-in-Chief

MEET THE NEW EDITORS AND

STAFF OF TOR ECHO 2014-15

Matt Cooley, who is planning to

become a high school teacher,

will be taking over as Editor-in-

Chief of Tor Echo, the online

Alfred State student publication

in Fall 2014. Matt has already

written articles for Tor Echo,

and he has been featured in a

“Spotlight on an RA” feature in

an issue this Spring.

Associate Editor Lynnette Lockwood

has been part of Tor Echo since the

Fall of 2012, when she served as the

newspaper’s Treasurer. She has been

a faithful contributor to Tor Echo, as

well. Lynnette’s reporting has been on

the cover of Tor Echo, most recently

when she wrote about the 2014 Tun-

nel of Oppression. She also reported

on her involvement with Superstorm

Sandy relief work on Long Island —

here she is (right) pictured in her vol-

unteer outfit from that trip.

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Tor Echo / Spring 2014

“A leader has the vision and conviction that a

dream can be achieved. He inspires the power

and energy to get it done.” This quote by Ralph

Lauren, demonstrates Josh Stellerecht’s leader-

ship and dedication to his fellow students, the

Department of Residential Life, and Alfred State

as a whole.

Josh has contributed to the betterment of

Residential Life in many ways. Josh has been a

Resident Assistant for two semesters and a

Head Resident Assistant for five semesters in

MacKenzie East. As a leader in Mackenzie East,

Josh started many notable initiatives such as

creating electronic rounds sheets, developing

the ‘Staff B’ model (RAs sharing responsibilities

in staff bonding events), starting the tradition of

the MacKenzie East Staff Yearbook, starting a

recycling campaign and encouraging Hall Coun-

cil to purchase recycling bins for every floor,

organizing a ‘Cleaners Appreciation Day’, and

creating an in-house OTM process. Josh has

done all this while also attending Hall Council every week and helping Hall Council Members develop a vision for what they can do with their budget. With his

Hall Council leadership, he has assisted in sponsoring a Wii, retuning the piano, refelting the pool table, a new cookware set and check-out system, a surround

sound system, new sports equipment, board games, and microwaves and TVs for floor lounges. Josh’s leadership extends to his involvement in Residential Life’s

Recruitment Committee, and he also served as the President of National Residence Hall Honorary and has helped to rebuild the group.

Outside of Residential Life, Josh also has a strong commitment to civic engagement and sustainability on campus, as well as other student groups. Josh has

led the ‘Rock the Vote’ Voting Campaigns. He is an active contributor on the Pioneer Cup Steering Committee and is a valued member of the Sustainability

Club. He provides helpful advice from a student perspective on the Pioneer Cup committee and designed a “bulletin board in a box” that Residence Life staff

could post in each hall to make the Pioneer Cup more visible. With the Sustainability Club, Josh has helped organize the annual MegaDrive collection of usable

goods at the end of spring semester and the associated MegaSale at the beginning of the school year. In the first year, the Sustainability Club was able to raise

around $800 through this program and donate a great deal to charity with Josh’s assistance.

Josh has served as a role model for his fellow staff members and his peers, through his academic achievements, his HRA role, and his extra-curricular activi-

ties. As a result of all of his hard work, Josh has previously won the Rising Star Award, the Pillar Award (twice), and the end-of the year monetary award

through Residential Services, the 2014 Spirit of Service Award, and was nominated for the Chancellor’s Award, and now is the recipient of the Buckman Award

for 2014. Josh has truly shown that he is humble in his confidence yet courageous in his character and therefore will continue to achieve greatness.

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Spotlight on

Josh Stellerecht