JCC’s Cattaraugus County Campus presented awards recently to student athletes for both academic and athletic excellence.

Recipients included: Andy Evans (sophomore, from Belfast) men’s basketball, Academic All-Conference-Western New York Athletic Conference (WNYAC); Chris Johnson (freshman, Olean) men’s golf, Academic All-Conference-WNYAC; Rueben Lehman (sophomore, Olean) men’s golf, Academic All-Conference-WNYAC, National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Academic All-American, and Academic All-Region-Region 3; Heather Pfeiffer (sophomore, Franklinville) women’s soccer and basketball, Academic All-Conference-WNYAC, NJCAA Distinguished Academic All-American, and Academic All-Region-Region 3. Pfeiffer was also named the 2008-2009 WNYAC Female Academic Athlete of the Year.

Denise Burbey and Taylor Pancoast are recipients of the 2009 SUNY Chancellor's Awards for Excellence.

Faculty, librarians, and professional service employees within the SUNY system who received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award were honored with a certificate and cast bronze medallion. The awards are announced after a SUNY advisory committee reviews nominations from faculty, students, and colleagues throughout the 64-campus system.

Ms. Burbey, interim director of technology, received the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. She joined JCC’s staff in 1997. After serving JCC’s Center for Continuing Education as a project manager and associate director, she became the director of distance learning in 2002.

JCC and Buffalo State College will co-host the 48th Annual University Photographers’ Association of America Technical Symposium at JCC June 22-26.

Fifty-three university photographers from across the U.S. and Canada will spend the week at JCC attending educational and inspirational presentations by some of the world’s leading photographers. This year’s symposium theme is “green.”

“We all know that June in western New York is a festival of green with its verdant rolling hills, vineyards, and farms,” noted Deb Lanni, coordinator of JCC’s communication and media arts programs and a co-coordinator of the symposium. “But this year, green takes on the additional connotation of environmental responsibility and the use of photography as a tool for social change,” she added.

Marilyn Zagora, vice president and dean of academic affairs, and Eileen Goodling, vice president and dean of student development, have announced the names of those students who were awarded degrees or certificates from the Jamestown and Cattaraugus County campuses in May 2009.

A total of 448 students earned degrees and certificates. One student earned two degrees and three students earned a degree and a certificate. Sixteen students graduated with highest honors, representing a 4.0 grade point average.

Auditions for the JCC Uncommoners’ fall musical production, The Producers, will be held June 22 and 23, beginning at 7 p.m., in Scharmann Theatre on JCC's Jamestown Campus.

Information on the auditions can be obtained by calling JCC theatre director Robert Schlick, 716.338.1153.

“The JCC Uncommoners are privileged to be the first company in the area to present the show,” said Schlick. “One reviewer called The Producers `the funniest show on the planet!’”

The Producers is the story of Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, men who sing and dance their way through the greatest show biz scam there ever was. In the story, they discover that through creative accounting, they can make more money with a flop than with a hit. They produce a show called “Springtime for Hitler,” figuring that when it flops, they will use the extra money raised to finance their own trip to Rio.

Café JCC, an online community launched recently for new students who have been accepted at JCC for the fall semester, continues to gather interest and activity.

“Café JCC is a coffeehouse-themed website focused on engaging new students,” notes Julie Ellis, interim director of student recruitment. “The site provides a cohesive platform to present information from various sources to incoming students.

“Students can participate in online discussions with each other and café baristas, ask questions, voice their opinions in polls, and make new friends - all before they set foot on campus for their first classes,” Ms. Ellis added.

The JCC Alumni Association honored 14 “Alumni Nurses of Distinction” recently.

The honorees, nominated by their employers, included: Christina Anderson ’96 and Andrea Carlson ’98, Lutheran Home and Rehabilitation Center; Heather Burrell ’96, Olean General Hospital; Jill Delaney ’89, The Rehabilitation Center; Jacquie Glendinning ’91, Southern Tier Health Care; Caprece McDunn ’80, Hospital Home Care Service; Lori Meacham ’00 and Tod Warner ’94, Warren General Hospital; Melissa Milks ’87, Heritage Green Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing; Mary Porter ’93 and Judith Scott ’84, Bradford Regional Medical Center; Shane Stanley ’04, Warren State Hospital; Therese Tilling ’88, WCA Hospital; and Robert Westfall ’96, The Resource Center.
 

The May issue of Aviation Digest, a buying guide for general and corporate aircraft and services, contains a feature on JCC’s professional piloting degree program.

The monthly publication is distributed to airports along the East Coast, to airplane dealers throughout the country, and to subscribers.

The article outlines curricular components of the degree and career opportunities for graduates of JCC’s program.

Information on the professional piloting program can be obtained by contacting Rick Rupprecht, JCC’s aviation director, at 716.338.1322 or rickrupprecht@mail.sunyjcc.edu.
 

Scholarships and awards were presented during recent ceremonies on the Jamestown and Cattaraugus County campuses to:
Allegany Wesley Callahan, Most Improved in Mathematics Award
Baldwinsville Jeffrey Parker, Sophomore Computer Information Systems Award
Belmont Max Evans, Honorable Mention in Mathematics Award
Bemus Point Britt Anderson, Constance E. Casey Memorial Scholarship
Clymer Allison Carey, Andrew P. Kibler Memorial Scholarship
Cuba Shane Merritt, Honorable Mention in Mathematics Award; Charanna Wise, Outstanding Student Award-Human Services, CRLA Peer Tutoring Certification Award-Regular
Dewittville Richard Simon, Paul Kelly Memorial Scholarship
Ellicottville Dorothea DeChane, Outstanding Business Administration Graduate Award-A.S. degree

JCC’s Weeks Gallery will present Weightlessness, an exhibition of photographs by Arno Rafael Minkkinen, from June 8-July 30.

The show features selections from the artist’s monograph, Saga: The Journey of Arno Rafael Minkkinen, Thirty-Five Years of Photographs.

Minkkinen is the featured artist for JCC’s Global Collection of Photography (GCP) summer exhibition. Gallery hours are 11 a.m.-5 pm., Monday-Thursday.

The Scandinavian Folk Festival will present Minkkinen as a distinguished speaker at 3:30 p.m. on July 18, which will be followed by a reception for the artist. The Weeks Gallery will be open during the festival from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. on July 18 and noon-5 p.m. on July 19.

Individuals who are unemployed or underemployed are encouraged to visit JCC’s Jamestown Campus on May 13 to explore the college’s certificate and degree programs and learn about admissions procedures and financial aid opportunities.

“We’re encouraging people to call us ahead to schedule appointments between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. that day so that we can provide personalized attention from career counseling, financial aid, and admissions personnel,” said Julie Ellis, interim director of student recruitment. “Those unable to visit on May 13 are always welcome on other days, but we’ve made a special effort to clear calendars and focus on the unique needs of dislocated workers on Wednesday.”

“One of the most gratifying aspects of my role at JCC is talking to individuals who have had their lives completely transformed by the JCC experience,” said JCC President Gregory T. DeCinque.

West Valley High School won the 2009 High School Bowl championship, defeating Chautauqua Lake 73- 60 in the concluding match. The contest, held at JCC, broadcast over Media One radio stations WJTN and SE-93.

West Valley is only in its third year of competition in High School Bowl, and finished the season with a record of six wins and one loss. Chautauqua Lake finished with a record of four wins and two losses.

The JCC Alumni Association will award a $1000 scholarship for each of two years to a senior at West Valley. Delta Kappa Gamma, the International Honor Society of Women Educators, will present $250 to help the team travel to the National Academic Championship in Arlington, Va. in June. In addition, each participating member of the championship team will receive a student computer desk from the Bush Furniture Factory Outlet in Jamestown.

Three JCC students participated in the annual SUNY Model European Union Simulation (SUNYMEU) held in April at SUNY New Paltz.

This year’s program was “European Council Summit: The Czech Presidency.” Students were assigned a role as a representative of a larger delegation (an EU country or the EU Commission), as heads of government, foreign ministers, EU commissioners, or even, for journalism majors, as members of the press corps.

Brody Childs of Olean, Grace Nadeau of Jamestown, and James Snow of Kennedy received scholarships provided by the Institute for European Union Studies at SUNY to participate in the three-day simulation. The JCC students, accompanied by Gregory Rabb, associate professor of political science and simulation advisor, joined over 120 other students from SUNY colleges and European partner institutions.

Heather Pfeiffer of Olean and Kenneth Long of Dunkirk were honored recently with the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. The students are among 238 SUNY students recognized for their academic achievement, leadership, and community service.

The annual awards are given to students who earn a grade point average of 3.78 or higher and record a significant contribution to their campus or local community.

“A rigorous three-part process that begins at the campus and evaluates each student’s performance not only in the classroom, but also in the athletic arena, the art studio, and the community, is used to determine our winners,” said SUNY vice chancellor and officer-in-charge John J. O’Connor.

JCC students Heather Pfeiffer of Olean and Jill Mahon of Dewittville were among 51 students from the State University and City University of New York placed on the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society 2009 All-New York Academic Team for Community Colleges.

The students were honored at a recent luncheon in Albany for their academic achievements, leadership, and service to their colleges and communities.

The All-New York Academic Team for Community Colleges recognizes achievements of students enrolled in community, technical and junior colleges who a 3.5 grade point average or better and have a history of outstanding community service. Nine students were chosen for the first academic team, 20 for the second academic team, and 22 students were chosen for the third team.

Gail O. Mellow, Charles C. Nazzaro, Carol L. O'Connell, and Glenn H. Utter have been selected to receive the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus Award during JCC’s commencement ceremonies.

Presented by the JCC Alumni Association, the award recognizes graduates who have distinguished themselves in their careers and/or in service to their communities.

Jamestown Campus award recipients
Dr. Mellow, Dr. Utter, and Nazzaro will be honored at the Jamestown Campus ceremony on May 16, which begins at 10 a.m. in the Physical Education Complex.

Dr. Mellow received an Associate in Arts degree from JCC in 1973, a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Albany, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and master’s and doctoral degrees from The George Washington University.

JCC will host “Understanding Islam & Muslims,” a public presentation by Sam Qadri at 7 p.m. on May 5 in the Lenna Teleconference Theatre of Hultquist Library on the Jamestown Campus.

Qadri serves as the community outreach and public relations officer for the Jamestown Islamic Society. His talk will highlight common misconceptions about Muslims in today’s world, as well as some of the core teachings of the Islamic faith.

The presentation, free and open to the public, is sponsored by the Katharine Jackson Carnahan Endowment for the Humanities at JCC.
 

The George Bataitis Open Golf Tournament will be held at Chautauqua Golf Club on May 9.

The GBO, a fundraiser for JCC athletics scholarships, celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union is the major sponsor for the tournament for the next three years.

The JCC chorus, concert band, vocal jazz ensemble, and jazz ensemble will showcase a variety of music styles during a combined performance on May 5. The JCC rock ensembles perform on May 7.

Both concerts will be performed in JCC’s Scharmann Theatre. Admission to each concert is $4, general public; $3, area students and senior citizens; and $2, JCC Faculty Student Association members. Tickets can be purchased by calling the JCC box office, 716.338.1187, or at the theatre door prior to a performance.

The May 5 concert, which begins at 7:30 p.m., will feature the chorus, directed by Brian A. Bogey. Selections include excerpts from Schubert’s “Mass in G” and Copeland’s “Ching-a-Ring-Ching-Chaw.” “Once Upon a Dream,” “That Great Getting Up Mornin’,” “Shut de Do,” “You Will Be My Music,” and a medley from West Side Story will also be performed.

JCC’s Cattaraugus County Campus will present the annual Scrabble Challenge from 1:30 to 4 p.m. on May 31 in the Magnano Reception Room.

JCC is again partnering with Literacy Volunteers of Cattaraugus County, the Olean Family YMCA, the Newspapers in Education program of the Olean Times Herald, and St. Bonaventure University to provide an afternoon of Scrabble games played by teams of six individuals vying to be tournament champions.

The registration fee is $25 per person or $125 per team. Prizes are awarded to the winning team members.

Refreshments will be served throughout the afternoon and all players will receive a gift bag. Gift basket raffles and door prizes are also featured.

If interested in joining or sponsoring a team, contact the Olean Public Library, 716.372.8627.
 

Documentarian Kevin Annett will discuss his film, Unrepentant, about the abuse of Native children in Canadian boarding schools, beginning at 6:30 p.m. on May 3.

The program, sponsored by JCC’s college program committee, will be held in the Lenna Teleconference Theatre in Hultquist Library. The event is free and open to the public.

In his documentary, Annett, a former minister of the United Church of Canada, explores the abuses within the residential schools, many of which were run by churches. The film won the 2006 award for 'Best Director' at the New York International Independent Film & Video Festival.

Annett is also the author of Hidden from History: The Canadian Holocaust and Love and Death in the Valley.
 

Entries are being accepted for the 17th annual JCC Scholarship Classic Golf Tournament that will be held at Bartlett Country Club in Olean on May 20. Registration begins at noon with a shotgun start at 1 p.m.

The tournament, sponsored by the JCC Foundation and the Cattaraugus County Campus athletic department, attracts over 100 golfers and is followed by an awards presentation and dinner.

According to JCC’s athletic director Ben Lindquist, “This year’s tournament will once again feature a four-person scramble format. Last year’s event attracted 102 golfers, despite chilly conditions.” All tournament proceeds benefit the campus’ athletic programs by providing basketball scholarships and equipment and uniforms for all sports.

Gail O. Mellow, president of LaGuardia Community College, will deliver the 2009 commencement address at JCC’s Cattaraugus County and Jamestown campuses.

The Cattaraugus County Campus ceremony on May 15 begins at 7 p.m. in the Olean YMCA/JCC Physical Education Center on Wayne St. in Olean. The commencement program in Jamestown begins at 10 a.m. on May 16 in the Physical Education Complex.

Dr. Mellow received an Associate in Arts degree from JCC in 1973, a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Albany, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa, and master’s and doctoral degrees from The George Washington University.

JCC students and faculty are celebrating April as Occupational Therapy Month with an open house from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on April 27 in the OTA lab in the Arts & Sciences Center on JCC’s Jamestown Campus.

JCC offers an Associate in Applied Science degree for students wishing to become occupational therapy assistants as well as an Associate in Science degree for students who wish to transfer to continue their studies and become occupational therapists. JCC maintains articulation agreements with several colleges and universities to facilitate transfer of credits.

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, occupational therapy enables people of all ages live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, prevent -- or live better with -- injury, illness, or disability.

For additional information, call 716.338.1160.
 

A tree planting in recognition of JCC’s effort to earn the Tree Campus USA designation by the Arbor Day Foundation, will be held at 4:30 p.m. on April 22.

The event, held in conjunction with Earthfest, JCC’s annual Earth Day celebration, is being coordinated by the college’s sustainability committee and will include a proclamation by JCC President Gregory T. DeCinque. The public is invited to attend.

JCC began the Tree Campus USA application process for its Jamestown and Cattaraugus County campuses and North County Center several months ago. The Tree Campus USA program recognizes colleges and universities that effectively manage their campus trees and develop outreach through service learning opportunities and programs to foster healthy, urban forests in the broader community.

Five JCC honors students have been working on a tree inventory and management plan with Lori Brockelbank, a certified arborist at Forecon.