Newsmakers for the week of July 8, 2007

Mark Garofalo, of Kristin Drive, Ogden, has achieved dean's list with honors with a GPA of 3.93 at SUNY Brockport for the spring of 2007.

Garofolo was also inducted into Alpha Phi Sigma, (the national criminal justice honor society) and is a member of Epsilon Pi.

Donald G. Lamirande of Laurelcrest Drive, Spencerport, has been named to the dean's list for the spring quarter at Rochester Institute of Technology. A fourth year student in RIT's College of Applied Science and Technology, Lamirande is studying mechanical engineering technology. Lamirande is the husband of Karen and father of Rachel and Holly. He is a 1976 graduate of Spencerport Central Schools.

Jamie Snook, daughter of James and Karen Snook of Spencerport, has been named to the dean's list at Keuka College in Keuka Park, N.Y.

Snook, a senior, is studying unified childhood/special education.

A Keuka College student must have earned at least a 3.50 grade point average for each block of at least 12 semester credit hours to be eligible for the dean's list.

The SUNY Brockport Alumni Association announced its 2007-08 Alumni Scholarship awards.

Elliott Keller of Hamlin received the four-year scholarship award of $1,000 per year.
Michelle Burke of Spencerport received the generation scholarship worth $2,000.

A scholarship of $2,000 was also awarded to Benjamin Levine of Brockport. A scholarship of $1,000 was awarded to Mary Alice Blasioli of Spencerport.

The SUNY Brockport Alumni Association annually awards $13,000 in scholarship money to deserving student applicants. Applications are available in November with an early-February application deadline.

Janel Marie Stepanek graduated magna cum laude from Niagara University on May 20, 2007 with a bachelor of arts degree from the College of Education in childhood education and special education 1-6. She was awarded the Niagara University Honors Award, completing a special program of courses and a research thesis.

While at Niagara, Stepanek was an active member and captain of the Niagara swim team, the St. Vincent DePaul/Niagara Community Action Program, Kappa Delta Pi Education Honor Society, and was inducted into Pi Lambda Theta, an International Honor Society and Professional Association in Education.

Stepanek is a 2004 Brockport High School graduate and the daughter of Linda and Jeff Stepanek of Brockport. She will begin her teaching experience in Oahu, Hawaii on July 30.

Jessica M. Derleth of Holley graduated high school at Rochester School for the Deaf (RSD).

Derleth started at RSD as a two-year old child. Today, her teachers and student peers recognize her as a shy and kind young woman, who has blossomed into a talented artist.

Derleth's most recent accomplishment was having a vendor booth to sell her artworks at the 2007 RSD Spring Festival. When she entered Gallaudet University's National Art Contest, she won the Readers' Choice Award for her artwork, "Rainbow."

Derleth has been accepted into PRIDE, the supported employment program at RSD, where she will be focusing on finding competitive employment and becoming independent.

Gregory David Strabel, son of David and Leisa Strabel of Brockport, was named to the dean's list for the spring semester at the College of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University.

Keriann DeLorme of Spencerport, a sophomore majoring in aerospace engineering in the L. C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science at Syracuse University, received the American Veterans Award at the University's Army and Air Force Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) Chancellor's Review and Awards Ceremony recently.

The American Veterans Award is presented to an outstanding Army and Air Force cadet with strong academics in ROTC and University course work and a positive attitude toward ROTC. The award consists of a pendant and ribbon.

Andrew Kless of Rochester, a junior majoring in history in The College of Arts and Sciences at SU, received the Association of the United States Army Military History Award at the ceremony.

The Association of the United States Army Military History Award is presented to an outstanding cadet who contributes, through leadership, to the ROTC programs; and who is a military history student in the Army Corps of Cadets. The award consists of a volume of the U.S. Army official history series and a certificate.

Erin Corbett of Brockport has achieved the dean's list with honors with a GPA of 3.70-3.99 at SUNY College at Brockport for spring of 2007. She is the daughter of Laurie Streb of Brockport and John Corbett of Midlothian, Virginia.

Sara R. Tully of Rochester has been selected for the dean's list for academic achievement during the spring semester at St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York. To be eligible for the dean's list at St. Lawrence University, a student must have completed at least four semester units and have an academic average of 3.6 (based on a perfect 4.0 scale) for the semester.

Tully graduated from Spencerport High School. She is majoring in psychology. Psi Chi (Psychology) is among the activities in which she has participated on campus.

Maryalice Blasioli of Spencerport has achieved dean's list with honors with a GPA of 3.70-3.99 at SUNY College at Brockport for spring 2007. She is a 2004 graduate of Spencerport High School and is the daughter of Jean Blasioli. She received an Alumni Scholarship from the Alumni Association at SUNY Brockport.

Jonas Locke, son of Stephen and Annette Locke of Brockport, graduated from the University of Buffalo summa cum laude with dual bachelor degrees in chemistry and history.

While at the University of Buffalo, he was president of the Student Affiliates of the American Chemistry Society and president and founder of UB College Bowl. He was also awarded the Chemistry Alumni scholarship, inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, received the Grace W. Capen award for academic excellence and the I.M. Kolthoff Award for Undergraduate Research in Analytical Chemistry from the American Chemistry Society. While an undergraduate student he conducted original research in the field of environmental chemistry that is pending publication.

Locke has been accepted to the PhD program in chemistry at the University of Michigan for the fall.

Northeastern University recognized Hilton resident Aaron G. Dobson, a Northeastern University student majoring in computer engineering. He was named to the university's dean's list for the spring semester 2007.

To achieve the dean's list distinction, students must carry a full program of at least four courses, have a quality point average of 3.25 or greater out of a possible 4.0 and carry no single grade lower than a C during the course of their college career.

The following local residents were named to the dean's list at the State University of New York at New Paltz for the spring 2007 semester: Stacey Lascala of Brockport, a sophomore majoring in English; and Amy Mintonye of Hilton, a sophomore majoring in visual arts.

Dean's list designation is preserved for students who excel academically and earn at least a 3.3 grade point average in a semester with a full-time course load.

Pamela J. Harris of Hamlin received a bachelor of science in nursing, magna cum laude, from the College of Nursing at Seton Hall University on May 7, 2007.

Timothy M. Beairsto of Brockport has achieved the dean's list with honors with a GPA of 3.78 at SUNY College at Brockport for spring 2007. He is a 2003 graduate of Brockport High School and is the son of Bill and Monica Beairsto. He is a SUNYAC All-Academic Team Fall 2006 for football. He was inducted into Rho Phi Lambda Honor Society in May.

Nicholas M. Minunni of Spencerport graduated from SUNY Geneseo May 12 with a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry. He has accepted a position as an environmental chemist at the Monroe County Department of Environmental Services. He is the son of Mark and Cindy Minunni of Spencerport.

The following students were named to the president's list for the spring 2007 semester at Genesee Community College, including all six campus locations in Batavia, Albion, Arcade, Dansville, Lakeville and Warsaw.

Students honored on the president's list have maintained full-time enrollment and earned a quality point index of 3.75 (roughly equivalent to an A) or better.

from Bergen: Alyson M. Capone, Nicholas E. D'Ambrosio, Wendy L. Schneider, Sara R. Thayer.
from Brockport: Erica M. Abram, Dawn-Marie Ehrhardt, Jenna M. Wright.
from Churchville: Amber L. McGrath, Robin E. Whittington.
from Hamlin: Yvonne M. Haka, Andrew D. Rinere.
from Hilton: John C. Prorok.
from Holley: Kimberly A. Blanchard, Jayme L. Bopp, Jeffrey Garnier, Erin M. Hart, Laura J. Kingdollar, Nicole Lebeck, Lucas J. Miller, Jonathan M. Morris, Kimberly A. Pickett, Brennan J. Strimple, Laura M. Testa, Lauren M. Tipton.
from Kendall: Jolene M. Ames, Mark T. Doty, Karen M. Fouts, Katheryn M. Sommer.
from Kent: Anthony J. Harper
from North Chili: Jennifer L. Quayle, Kathleen J. Reina.
from Spencerport: Nicole M. Verdile.
from Rochester: Niki L. Doyle.

Nearly 800 four- and two-year degree candidates received diplomas from Alfred State College.

The students from this area receiving degrees in the Class of 2007 are:

Brockport - Peter Conrow, Nick Hardie and Thomas Hildreth;
Churchville - Matthew Paine and Robert Racicot;
Hamlin - Joseph Brightly and Cody Rath;
Hilton - Jamie Bucci, Brett DeHollander and Gary Ladd;
Holley - Daniel MacDonald;
Spencerport - Joshua Kelly and Kellie Ricker.

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute announced the names of students who made the institute's dean's list for the spring 2007 semester. The dean's list recognizes full-time students who maintain grade-point averages of a minimum of 3.0 out of a possible 4.0 and have no grades below "C." They are: Matthew. J. Balys of Rochester; Benamin R. Barton of Adams Basin; Laura R. Byrnes of Rochester; Daniel W. Clifford of Hilton; Andrew J. Diehl of Spencerport; Kaitlyn M. Fitzgerald of Rochester and Danielle L. LeBeau of Spencerport.

Christina Koziol of Spencerport has achieved the dean's list at SUNY College at Brockport for spring 2007. She is a 2004 graduate of Spencerport High School and is the daughter of Mary and Joe Koziol. Christina also graduated magna cum laude and was a member of the National Communication Honor Society. Christina will attend Nazareth College in the fall for her master's degree in management.

Geneva College has named Allison Davis of Bergen, a graduate of Brockport Central School, to the dean's list for the spring 2007 semester. Davis is a senior majoring in biblical studies.

Dean's list status is awarded to those students who have achieved a 3.6 GPA or higher throughout the semester.

Laurie Farnsworth of Ogden has been named to the dean's list for the spring quarter at Rochester Institute of Technology's National Technical Institute for the Deaf. Farnsworth is majoring in sign language interpretation.

The dean's list recognizes the academic achievement of students earning a 3.4 grade point average (GPA) or better. Farnsworth had a 4.0.

Jaime Lucas of Spencerport has been named to the dean's list for the spring quarter at Rochester Institute of Technology. A second-year student in RIT's School For American Crafts, Lucas is studying metal. Jaime's parents are Robert and Barbara Lucas of Spencerport.

Seth Musselman, of Brockport, has been placed on the dean's list for the spring 2007 semester at the State University of New York College at Cortland.

His parents are Scott and MaryPat Musselman.

Evan C. Maffett of Churchville has received a $1,000 Merit Award as a new transfer student at SUNY Oswego. Maffett has reserved a place for the fall semester at Oswego as a transfer student. Classes will begin August 30. He last attended Monroe Community College.

The following students have been promoted by Kyoshi Mark A. Caparco of Caparco Martial Arts in the art of Karate: Tim Page, fifth degree, title of Shihan; Justin Cody, fourth degree, title of Master; Kelsey Egan, third degree and Mandy Madigan, first degree. Promotions in the art of Aiki Jujutsu: Vicki and Grover Preston, fourth degree, title of Master, Dylan Bissonnette and Richard McKeown, second degree.

Pvt. Andrew J. Gilfilian graduated from United States Marine Corps recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina on June 22. He is a graduate of Brockport High School. His parents are Mike and Kim Gilfilian of Hamlin. Gilfilian is headed for Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for Marine Combat Training, then will start training for an assignment in the administrative field.