Whether they call it “State,” or “Potsdam College,” alumni are giving back to their alma mater in a big way.

The number of Potsdam alumni who made a gift to the College ranked 12th in the nation among public master’s granting institutions out of the 154 reporting institutions surveyed by the Council for Aid to Education according to their 2005 Voluntary Support of Education Survey findings. In addition, Potsdam ranked second in SUNY among peer institutions for alumni participation and third for the size of its endowment.

A total of 14 percent of Potsdam alumni financially supported the College in 2005, more than double the national average of 6.7 percent for public master’s granting institutions and greater than the 13.1 percent average for private master’s degree granting institutions. If one out of every three alums made a gift of any size, Potsdam would be number one in the nation! 2006 Reunion had record attendance with over 500 family and friends.

2006 Reunion had record attendance with over 500 family and friends.

Potsdam welcomes a very academically talented incoming class this year. The College has met its undergraduate admissions goals with approximately 770 incoming freshmen and approximately 370 transfer students. The academic profile of the first-year students is an 88 grade point average, an SAT score of 1090 and an ACT score of 23.

The Class of 2010 is one of the College’s most diverse. The students are not only ethnically diverse, but also hail from several different countries, including Canada, Nepal, India, Uganda, Estonia, Germany, Sweden and China, and many rural and urban locations within New York state and throughout the country.

Potsdam’s auxiliary service provider, PACES, is helping the campus “go green” this year. By installing new environmentally friendly washers and driers on campus, PACES Maytag machines will consume 33 percent less water and reduce electricity costs by decreasing the drying time. The Maytag washers and dryers are energy star efficient and will be located in the basement of each dorm.

PACES Dining Services continues to be a model in the SUNY system for many of its green practices, including providing recycled used trans-fat free frying oil to a local farmer for use as diesel fuel.

In addition to its “green” effort, PACES supports local farmers by purchasing goods such as maple syrup, honey, in-season produce and specialty breads.

Potsdam students can now take advantage of newly created business internships in Mexico in areas such as humanities, business and engineering. Through a partnership with the Universidad de la Laguna de Monterey in Torreon, Mexico, students will have the opportunity to take two courses at the university and complete 20 hours of internship a week.

SUNY Potsdam recently received more than $32,800 in funding and will contribute an additional $6,250 to increase alcohol awareness and prevention education for the entire first-year class and other high-risk groups using an online class called AlcoholEdu produced by Outside The Classroom.

In tandem with implementation of AlcoholEdu, SUNY Potsdam will develop a public service announcement for the entire region. Funding for these efforts was donated to SUNY by The Century Council, the New York State Department of Alcohol and Substance Abuse, and The Michael Andretti Foundation and Jim Beam Brands, Inc.

William H. Flynn ’70 has committed $25,000 to establish a scholarship to award $1,000 each year to an Ogdensburg Free Academy graduate who plans to attend Potsdam for teacher education.

The scholarship, known as the William H. Flynn Teacher Preparation Scholarship, was awarded this year to Elizabeth Lacomb of Ogdensburg, the daughter of Michael and Mary Lacomb ’86.

Since graduating from Potsdam with a bachelor’s degree in English literature in 1970 and a Master of Science degree in English education in 1972, Flynn spent his entire 36-year career with the Ogdensburg City School District.

Thanks to the generosity of a 1955 alumna and long-time teacher, Corning East High School students who are interested in attending SUNY Potsdam are eligible for a $1,000 per year scholarship.

Gloria Baz Misnick of Corning (pictured with Caylynn Loft, scholarship recipient) has established the Gloria Baz Misnick Scholarship in 2006 to support a Corning East High School student with financial need who wishes to attend SUNY Potsdam and major in education.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
SUNY Potsdam Students Aid In Hurricane Relief Efforts

Nearly 100 students took part in SUNY Potsdam’s fund-raising event at Market Lanes Bowling Alley in Potsdam that raised more than $495 for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. Showing off their bowling skills were (l to r, front) Brooke Swarthout of Kingston, ON; Meaghan Manor of Massena, NY; Sarina Lavin of Fort Ann, NY; (back) Michael Nichols of Plattsburgh, NY; Erin Chapin of Norwood, NY; Residence Hall Director Brian Hentz of Gouverneur, NY; and Cristin Perth of Potsdam.

Two SUNY Potsdam students, Danielle Hall of Springfield Center, NY and Adriane Steves of Mohawk, NY performed their original dance work at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., in May after being selected as finalists from the 2006 Northeast Regional American College Dance Festival Conference, held at Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ.

This was the first time SUNY Potsdam was represented at the biennial national festival, which showcased 27 of the strongest works chosen from 10 separate regional conferences across the country.

ALUMNI NEWS
Saranac Lake Scholarship

Dr. Thomas Wallace ’58 attended the spring awards ceremony at Saranac Lake High School to present the Wallace Saranac Lake Scholarship to Robert Lyon, who entered SUNY Potsdam as a freshman this fall. Dr. Wallace, a former Saranac Lake resident and graduate of Saranac Lake High School, established the scholarship in 2000 to “give something back to the community” that meant so much to him and his family. Lyon is the second recipient of the scholarship, which provides $4,000 a year for four years.

As the first official act as president of SUNY Potsdam, Dr. John F. Schwaller and his wife, Anne, maketheir first of many donations to the College, accepted by Vicki Templeton-Cornell, vice president of college advancement. They recognize the importance of giving and their responsibility to lead by example.

Dr. Michael Bryner (right) of Midlothian, VA, has established the Lorraine Mader Bryner Memorial Scholarship Fund in memory of his wife, a devoted teacher of children and adults with special needs. The scholarship is the first for students in Potsdam’s master’s degree program studying special education. Mrs. Bryner earned her bachelor’s degree in secondary education and English literature from Potsdam in 1967 and, after raising four children, taught special-needs children in several schools in the Richmond, VA, area. She passed away in 2004. Pictured with Dr. Bryner is President John F. Schwaller, who announced the gift at a special reception for President’s Club donors during Reunion Weekend in July.

Dr. William H. Cullen ’39, Professor of Education Emeritus (right), has endowed two generous funds in memory of his wife, Margaret “Peg” Cullen: a scholarship endowment for students enrolled in a teacher-preparation program as well as an endowment in support of the Rebecca V. Sheard Literacy Center. The Cullen Family previously endowed the Helen Woods Cullen 1898 Scholarship for a Crane student, in memory of Dr. Cullen’s mother, who graduated from Crane in 1898. Dr. Cullen is pictured with Dr. William J. Amoriell, dean of Education and Professional Studies.

GRANTS AND AWARDS
$50,000 Grant Awarded to Support Geophysics and Seismology

Representatives from the New York Power Authority (NYPA) recently awarded SUNY Potsdam a $50,000 grant in support of a new geophysics and seismology on campus. The new lab, located in Timerman Hall, will be named in honor of NYPA and Dr. Frank Revetta, distinguished service professor, who has taught geology at Potsdam for 43 years.

PARTNERSHIPS
SUNY Potsdam and Clarkson Partner in Math Research

As many college students were returning home for summer break to work at a summer job or just take some time off, 15 math-loving students from all over the country were gearing up to attend the eight-week Clarkson University and SUNY Potsdam Mathematics Departments’ Undergraduate Research Experience that kicked off in June.

Using the facilities at SUNY Potsdam with the resources of Clarkson University also available, the students got to experience math research first hand. They worked on an original problem, wrote up results and spoke about their conclusions informally and formally to the other students, as well as at national mathematics meetings.

“The writing and speaking experience is invaluable for all of the students, no matter what profession they go into,” said SUNY Potsdam’s Dr. Joel Foisy, director of the Undergraduate Research Experience program. “Of course, if they are going to pursue their doctorates in mathematics, this gives them a taste of what research is like. They also make connections with other future mathematicians.”

For their research work, the participants receive a stipend of $3,200 and free housing in an on-campus apartment. The program is funded by the colleges and grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Security Agency.

The Undergraduate Research Experience program has attracted students from around the country, including Oregon, California, Utah, Southern Alabama, Arkansas and Texas.

The application process for this prestigious research program is very competitive and includes a letter of intent, a transcript, an application and two references. Approximately 175 students apply for the program each year. There were 15 positions available this year, which were filled with five SUNY Potsdam students and 10 students from other universities.

Acclaimed Los Angeles-based artist Albert Contreras recently donated one of his unique ensemble paintings to Potsdam for display. The work, consisting of 24 individual acrylic gel paint 12-by 14-inch squares, now graces the wall of the Potsdam Presidential Boardroom. The ensemble painting is valued at $36,000.

GRANTS AND AWARDS
Faculty Member Granted Fulbright

Kimberley Bouchard, associate professor and co-chair of SUNY Potsdam’s Department of Dance and Drama, recently was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to lecture at the University of Rovira and Virgili in Tarragona, Catalan, Spain during the 2006-2007 academic year. While in Spain, Bouchard will present two seminars on the influence of Hispanic American playwrights and plays on late 20th-century American dramatic literature and contemporary American culture.

NEW RELEASE
New Release from Potsdam College Press

The newly established Potsdam College Press has just released “A North Country Quartet.” It features the poetry of four women who have ties to and write about the Adirondacks or the North Country: Alice Gilborn, Lorraine Wilson, Linda Batt and Randy Lewis. Copies are available for $10 or for free with a three-year subscription to “Blueline” ($25). Contact Rick Henry, editor, Department of English and Communication, henryrm@potsdam.edu, for more information.

Shannon Dillabough ’91 was named the first full-time women’s softball coach at SUNY Potsdam in July. He was previously named the adjunct women’s softball head coach in 2005 after serving several years as the Bears assistant softball coach. In addition to coaching softball at SUNY Potsdam, Dillabough will also teach physical education.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Women Lacrosse Players Named All-SUNYAC

Alicia Schaad, now a sophomore at SUNY Potsdam from Central Square, NY, has been named the 2006 Women’s Lacrosse Rookie of the Year by the State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC). Teammate Alexandra Brown, then a senior defensive player from Morrisonville, NY, also joins Schaad as a member of 2006 All-Conference Women’s Lacrosse Second Team.

For the eighth consecutive year, SUNY Potsdam is ranked among the top public and private regional universities in the northern United States in the University-Master’s category.

POTSDAM PEOPLE
Tim Moody Named Women’s Soccer Coach

Tim Moody was hired over the summer as the Bears new women’s soccer coach. He was formerly the head women’s soccer and lacrosse coach at Keuka College, where he was named the NEAC Women’s Soccer Coach of the Year in both 2003 and 2004 and his teams advanced to the championship game in both years. Moody is a native of Southampton, England and a 1994 graduate of West London’s Brunel University College. He played semi-pro soccer in London and Oxford. He holds both European and U.S. soccer coaching credentials and is a USSF certified referee.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Three Laxmen Named All-SUNYAC

Three SUNY Potsdam athletes were named to the 2006 All- SUNYAC Men’s Lacrosse Team. Attack players Harrison Rogers of Grand Island, NY, and Travis Holmes of Dewitt, NY, and defensemen James Mulligan of Carthage, NY, were each recognized by the conference. The Bears finished fifth in the SUNYAC Conference.

STUDENT LIFE
SUNY Potsdam Students Build Labyrinth

SUNY Potsdam students participating in the “Self and Community” class during the spring semester built a permanent meditative labyrinth in the campus’s VanHousen Hall.

Instructors Dr. Victoria Levitt of the Department of English and Communication and Jeffery Lazovik, Julia Rapczynski and Susan Thomas of the Counseling Center taught the class, which met once per week to explore the history of labyrinths and learn the process of meditation involved in labyrinths.

“More and more, people are being drawn to the power and magnetism of labyrinths. They have become a sought after healing tool for today’s hectic times,” Thomas said.

RESEARCH
Threatened Blandings Turtle Researched by SUNY Potsdam

Through a link with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Dr. Glenn Johnson, department chair and associate professor of biology, has led continuing investigation and tracking of the Blandings Turtle in St. Lawrence County with the help of SUNY Potsdam students.

The New York Power Authority significantly funds Dr. Johnson’s research in the Coles Creek and Wilson Hill areas. As NYPA observes its 75th anniversary, one of its goals has been to change public perception regarding wetlands. Rather than “swamps, bogs and marshes seen as off-limits to a growing America,” the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has declared wetland areas to be “nurseries of life, providing habitat for thousands of species of aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals…turtles, frogs, snakes, waterfowl, fish and mammals.”

ALUMNI NEWS
New Officers to Lead the Alumni Board

In July, SUNY Potsdam alumni approved a new slate of officers to lead the Alumni Board of Trustees.

Deborah Diefendorf Hind ’75,
President

George Arnold ’92,
Vice President

Lansing Laraway ’69,
2nd Vice President

Amelia Hershman Amoriell ’71,
3rd Vice President

Lance Evans ’83,
Secretary

Peter Brouwer ’79,
Treasurer

Dale Zurbrick ’69,
Past President

The Alumni Board of Trustees works very closely with the College to ensure that programs and services are being offered that will allow alumni to stay connected to each other… and Potsdam.

STUDENT SPOTLIGHT
Rogers Repeats as Chancellor’s Scholar-Athlete

Harrison Rogers, a senior last semester from Grand Island, NY, has been named the recipient of The State University of New York Athletic Conference (SUNYAC) 2006 Spring Chancellor’s Scholar-Athlete Award for Men’s Lacrosse. The award is given annually in each sport to the All-Conference team member with the highest grade-point average. Rogers, an attack player, was both a 2006 and also a 2005 All-SUNYAC team member.

COLLEGE NEWS
SUNY Launches SUNY CONNECT: Potsdam Students and Faculty to Benefit

SUNY recently launched SUNYConnect, a system that enables students and faculty from 60 SUNY campuses across New York, including SUNY Potsdam, to access a shared online library. SUNYConnect allows Potsdam students and faculty to have access to more than 18 million volumes and thousands of electronic resources and digital images all online, which enhance and improve teaching and learning.