Newsmakers for the week of April 16, 2001
Newsmakers for the week of
April 16, 2001

Senior Denise F. VanHouten of Buffalo Road in Churchville was among the 18 SUNY College at Brockport undergraduate students named this spring to the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society, Beta Tau Chapter. To be eligible, students must demonstrate significant achievement, including maintaining an overall grade point average of 3.00 (out of 4.00) or better.

Junior James E. Rappleye of Nicole Drive in Spencerport was among the 18 SUNY College at Brockport undergraduate students named this spring to the Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society, Beta Tau Chapter. To be eligible, students must demonstrate significant achievement, including maintaining an overall grade point average of 3.00 (out of 4.00) or better.

Hillary Bruton, a senior majoring in history at the University of Rochester, has been named to the dean's list for academic achievement for the fall 2000 semester.

Bruton, a graduate of Universal High School in Iowa City, Iowa, is a resident of Spencerport.

Four Monroe Community College professors have received national recognition for outstanding contributions to teaching and learning from the National Institute for Staff and Organization Development (NISOD). This year's MCC faculty recipients are Susan J. Belair, assistant professor, anthropology/history/political science/sociology, Clarkson; Richard Connett, professor and department chair, biology, Brighton; Kathleen Farrell, assistant professor, visual and performing arts, Greece; and Renee Rigoni, assistant professor, business administration/ economics, Spencerport. Criteria for the NISOD award includes the use of creative strategies in teaching coupled with a history of professional excellence based on student evaluations, measurable results in achieving student success, and incorporating innovative educational technology into the classroom.

Ryanne Fullerton of Spencerport, a math/pre-K-6 major at Niagara University, was inducted into the Sigma Alpha Sigma Honor Society. This is the president's undergraduate honor society of the university.

For the past couple of months, qualified Ithaca College students have offered local taxpayers free income tax preparation and advice through the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program. During its 30 years of service to the American public, more than 50,000 VITA volunteers have assisted some 2 million taxpayers at 8,300 sites, offering free tax help to people who can't afford paid professional assistance including persons with disabilities, non-English speaking residents, and the elderly. Tracy Pointon of Spencerport was a volunteer. A graduate of Spencerport High School, Pointon is an accounting major.

The Spencerport Soccer Club's Girls' Under-17 team, coached by Tom Pointon and Mark Turley, won the President's Day Indoor Soccer Tournament held at Salmon Creek Country Club. They competed with teams from Greece, Holley and Brockport. Players include: Danielle Bopp, Lisa Eberhart, Kathleen Finucane, Maggie Kinsky, Megan O'Brien, Melissa Parkhurst, Gabrielle Plucknette, Jamie Pointon, Megan Reising, Jessica Schiffhauer, Melissa Skolny and Beth Turley.

Local students named to the fall 2000 dean's list at SUNY Fredonia are: from Brockport - Maria Anzalone, Rory Coyna, Theresa Miller, Angela Nicolia and Maria Rota; from Churchville - Jonathan Hansford and Jason Swain; from Hamlin - Shawn Quinn; from Hilton - Jill Acito, Brian Clark, Laura Hundley, Charles Ingham, Amy Kiehl, Matthew Nordhausen, Erin Smith, Sarita Viloria-Weren, Jeffrey Arnold, Aaron Schmerbeck and Pamela Patrie; from North Chili - Vanessa McOmber and Elizabeth Ricci; from Spencerport - Kristi Baleno, Philip Conjerti, Rosanne Mattia, Colleen Putnam, Shane Rothenburgh, and Jamie Wojtowicz.

Air Force Airman Michael J. Schroeck has graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. During the six weeks of training, the airman studied the Air Force mission, organization, and customs and received special training in human relations. In addition, airmen who complete basic training earn credits toward an associate degree through the Community College of the Air Force. He is the son of Dennis and Diane Schroeck of Churchville and a 2000 graduate of Churchville Chili High School.

Marine Corps Reserve Pfc. Andrew A. Ulrich, a 2000 graduate of Spencerport High School, recently completed basic training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Ulrich successfully completed 12 weeks of training designed to challenge new Marine recruits both physically and mentally. He is the son of Herbert A. and Monica J. Ulrich of Spencerport.