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Newsmakers for the week of
August 7, 2005 Christine Walker of Sweden Hill Road, Brockport, has achieved the dean's list at SUNY College at Brockport for both the fall 2004 and spring 2005 semesters. A 2004 graduate of Brockport High School, she is the daughter of William and Eleanor Walker. Walker's other accomplishments include the Katharine M. Reichel Award, Gladys W. Queen Future Teacher Award, Dorothy E. Foster Award, Dean's Scholars in Residence Scholarship and Wegmans Scholarship. Jeffery Plummer, a lawn care professional at One Step Tree & Lawn Care in North Chili, earned the Certified Turfgrass Professional-Cool Season Lawns (CTP-CSL) designation. Plummer passed the Virginia-based Professional Landcare Network's intensive course of study including two proctored exams. Plummer has been with One Step for seven years. He began as a lawn care representative and has been a Trainer for the Lawn Care Division for the past two years. Kerry M. McKee, a 2005 graduate of Spencerport High School, has been named a "Monarch Scholar," at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. As a Monarch Scholar, she will receive a $5,000 scholarship. McKee will enroll in August as a "Freshman with Distinction." Amber Mansfield, of Hilton, has been named a 2005 faculty Scholar at SUNY Brockport. This award for transfer students requires a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.75 and junior status. The scholarship is valued at $1,000. Brockport High School Art Teacher Pat Groves was recently elected Vice President of the New York State Art Teachers' Association (NYSATA). Groves has been serving an interim vice president since last July and has been a member of the association for 25 years. During her two-year term as vice president, which began July 1, Groves will attend Board of Trustee meetings four times a year and be a liaison between regional representatives and the executive board, serve on a budget committee and help develop policy and procedure manuals. She will remain active at the local level by assisting the Region 2 chairs with their activities. Groves will also continue to perform duties as State Conference Registration chair, helping to organize the annual conference held in Saratoga Springs this year for over 500 art teachers. Groves has been an art teacher at Brockport High School for 19 years and is currently the K-12 Art Department Chairperson. She has been an adjunct professor for SUNY Brockport, Rochester Institute of Technology and Genesee Community College. Groves has her master's degree in art education from Nazareth College. The American Legion Jewell Buckman Post 529 in Holley awarded its annual scholarships to the following students: Andrew Gudonis and Christine Gannett, both of Kendall. Tricia DeFilipps of Holley received the Charles H. Strong Memorial Scholarship. The following local residents received degrees from Paul Smith's College, located in the Adirondack Mountains of upstate New York: Christine L. Cosman of Brockport earned an associate degree in hotel restaurant management. Cosman also earned the distinction of magna cum laude. Alan J. Snyder of Hilton earned an associate degree in surveying technology. Four Spencerport High School students were among the outstanding high school students recognized by SUNY College at Brockport Interim President John Clark. He congratulated the 3-1-3 Program students for having achieved a college grade point average of 3.25 or higher. Those students are: Clair Fortin, Katelin O'Connor, Tracy Vence and Stephanie Wahba. Ten Brockport High School students were among the outstanding high school students recognized by SUNY College at Brockport. Those students are: Gabrielle Boley, Patrice Conway, Bradley Hamling, Kayleigh Hartz, Eden Hoben, Amy Lomondo, Patrick Mosher, Stephanie Peckham, Preethi Rao and Tresa Westcott. Four Kendall High School students recognized are: Pamela Barchet, Karl Driesel, Andrew Gudonis and Cody Rath. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class Michael A. Castrechino, son of Gina M. Barkley of Hilton, and his shipmates made a port visit to Zagreb, Croatia during a scheduled deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom while assigned to the rescue and salvage ship USS Grasp, homeported in Little Creek, Virginia. Castrechino is a 2003 graduate of Hilton High School of Hilton and joined the Navy in July 2003. SSgt. David G. Colucci, Special Forces Green Beret, Greece native and graduate of Spencerport High School, was awarded the Silver Star for his unwavering bravery during an ambush in Afghanistan June 25, 2004. He was serving as the senior engineer sergeant. The Valor Awards Ceremony was held June 28, 2005 at United States Army Special Operations Command at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. SSgt. Colucci is also the recipient of a Purple Heart. While conducting a recovery operation of an improvised explosive device, Colucci's convoy came under attack. Although he suffered a severe gunshot wound to his abdomen, Colucci maneuvered his vehicle into a protective position and pulled security for his fellow soldiers until reinforcements arrived. He then manned the door gunner machine gun while his element moved into a secure area to wait for medical evacuation. The Silver Star, the Army's 3rd highest award, is awarded to a person who, while serving in any capacity with the U.S. Army, is cited for gallantry in action against an enemy of the United States while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party. The required gallantry must have been performed with marked distinction. Brian Henner, a 2002 graduate of Brockport High School and a U.S. Marine, received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, the Corps' sixth highest award. In addition to the fulfillment of his job requirements, Henner, a military photographer who has documented the war in Iraq, was recognized for his efforts beyond his job by volunteering for security posts, driving convoys, helping search and clear buildings. In a recent email to his father, Mike, the serviceman noted the high temperature of the day - 117 degrees. Henner is expected home on leave August 10. |