Newsmakers for the week of
March 28, 2004

Chris Steinkirchner, of Talamora Trail, Brockport, has been named to the dean's list for the winter quarter at Rochester Institute of Technology. A third-year student in RIT's College of Science, Steinkirchner is studying computational mathematics. The son of Pam and Jim Steinkirchner, he is a 2001 graduate of Brockport High School.

Karl Alexander, of Hamlin, a Nazareth College student, earned awards at the recent New York/West-Central Regional Conference of Phi Alpha Theta, the national History honor society. The local Nazareth chapter, Alpha-Kappa-Gamma, sponsored the conference at Nazareth College on March 6.

Alexander, a senior history major, presented his paper, "Personality Development and the Drive Towards Religious Reform: Erasmus of Rotterdam and Martin Luther." He was the winner of the Religious History and Historical Revision session, and he was also the winner of the best paper in the conference.

Sondra Fraleigh, SUNY Brockport professor emerita, has been selected to receive the Outstanding Service to Dance Research award from the Congress on Research in Dance. The award honors those who have demonstrated recognizable excellence in leadership, service and publication.

Fraleigh is a valued teacher and mentor to graduate dance students and professional performers throughout the United States and abroad. A member of the SUNY Brockport Department of Dance faculty since 1973, Fraleigh has authored several books, her most recent Dancing Identity: Metaphysics in Motion, is scheduled for release fall 2004.

An internationally recognized leader in the field of dance and somatics, Fraleigh teaches programs in somatics and dance at universities in Europe and Asia, and is Founding Director of Eastwest Somatics for Dance and Movement Therapy, which offers programs in New York, California, Hawaii, Louisiana, England and Japan.

Ryan Thomas, a junior at Nazareth College, was named to the dean's list for the fall 2003 semester.

A music education major, he is the son of David and Sue Thomas of Churchville and a 2001 graduate of Churchville-Chili High School.

Students named to the dean's list at St. Bonaventure University for the fall 2003 semester include the following area residents:

  • Kelly E. Smith, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Richard A. Smith of Spencerport, a senior elementary education/special education major.
  • Bridget A. Quinn, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Quinn, of Brockport, a senior elementary education/special education major.
  • Katherine E. Petit, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William A. Petit of Spencerport, a senior sociology major.
  • Sara E. Maurer, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. George Maurer of North Chili, a sophomore journalism-mass communication major.
  • Lindsay A. Ardella, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Ardella of Hamlin, a senior majoring in sociology.
  • Shannon M. Young, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Todd G. Young of Kendall, a senior majoring in education.
  • Holly M. Volkmuth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Volkmuth, of Spencerport, a senior majoring in elementary education/special education.

A student must achieve a grade point average of at least 3.25 in order to qualify.

Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth G. Juergens will be promoted to Colonel on April 1. He was recently selected to command a Brigade in Germany.

LTC Juergens is an army officer and a 1978 Hilton Central High School graduate. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, he was commissioned in 1982 as a regular active duty U.S. Army officer. His present assignment is at Fort Meade where he is a Deputy Brigade Commander. He and his family will move to Germany this summer.

LTC Juergens is the son of the late Harold Juergens and Emma Juergens of Hilton. His decorations include a Defense Meritorious Service Medal, five Army Meritorious Service Metals, a Joint Accommodation Medal, Army Accommodation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and two Overseas Ribbons.