Newsmakers for the week of November 11, 2007

Samantha Zelent, social worker for the Holley School District, was recognized by the Genesee/Orleans Council on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse (GCASA) for her work to reduce the incidence and prevalence of substance abuse in the community. Zelent was presented with the School Recognition Award at the eighth annual GCASA awards dinner, "Working Together for a Healthy Community," on October 20.

Zelent was nominated by GCASA Prevention Educators Sherry Bensley and Jacquie Webster-Snook and selected to receive the award by a committee of GCASA board members. In their nomination, Bensley and Webster-Snook gave examples of Zelent's efforts to reduce substance abuse in Holley, including taking the initiative to bring a Children of Addicts and Alcoholics group to the Middle School/High School. Zelent has been with the Holley School District since 2005.

Robin Elizabeth Whittington has been elected WebMaster of the Alpha Iota Upsilon Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. Phi Theta Kappa membership is based on academic achievement, and members are also provided opportunities for growth and development in scholarship, leadership, service and fellowship.

Whittington, from Churchville, is the daughter of Joseph and Jeanne Proctor of North Chili, and is married to Eric Whittington. She is majoring in art at Genesee Community College.

Sarah Berner, a resident of Spencerport, earned her associate degree in baking and pastry arts from The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) on August 17. She is a 2005 graduate of Spencerport High School.

Nadine Beres was named to the Mercyhurst College dean's list for outstanding academic achievement during the 2006-2007 academic year.

The Mercyhurst College dean's list is computed annually after summer term which marks the end of the academic year. It is based on the completion of a minimum of 24 credits with a cumulative index of at least 3.6 out of a possible 4.0.

She is an elementary/special education major with a minor in art therapy at Mercyhurst College and a graduate of Kendall Jr./Sr. High School in 2006. She is the daughter of John and Georgeann Beres of Hamlin. Beres is the recipient of the Monroe 2-Orleans BOCES Foundation Scholarship, the Margaret McGrath Foundation Scholarship, the J.P. Jazeman Scholarship, the AmeriCorps Scholarship and the Good Citizen Scholarship for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She is a member of the Honors Program, a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society, a Mercyhurst Ambassador, a member of Kappa Delta Pi and a member of Sigma Alpha Pi Leadership Certification Program.

Melissa Guck, in ninth grade at Hilton High, took fourth place at the JV MCCI on Friday, October 26 at Webster Aquatics. Her parents are Dawn and George Guck and her sister is Andrea Guck.

Benjamin Rossi has joined the staff of the National Kidney Foundation as fundraising manager. Rossi, of Hilton, earned his bachelor of arts in mathematics in 2004 from SUNY Geneseo. He is a 1998 graduate of Hilton High School. Rossi's duties will include coordinating fund raising events, such as the Kidney Walk, Kidney Golf Classics, the Touch-a-Thon and the Annual Appeal.

Jerry A. Kozlowski, dean of The BEST Center and Campus Centers at Genesee Community College, has been named to a three-year term on the Genesee County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. He was the recipient of the State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Professional Service for academic year 2005-2006.

Kozlowski began his tenure at Genesee Community College in 2000 when he came on board as a faculty member in the business department. In 2002, he helped develop, found, and continues to serve as dean of the BEST Center.

In 2004, Kozlowski assumed the managerial role of Genesee's network of campus centers, which included the construction and opening of a sixth location in Medina.

Private Max Elliott Peck, 19-year-old son of Larry and Rita Peck of Adams Basin, graduated Marine Corps Recruit training at Parris Island, South Carolina on November 2. Peck will continue his training in Security Forces at Camp Geiger, North Carolina.

He is a 2007 graduate of Brockport High School.

On Friday, November 2 on Parris Island, South Carolina, Private First Class Brennan Penders graduated from the United State Marine Corps bootcamp.

Penders, a 2007 graduate of Brockport High School, is the son of Scott and Rhonda Penders of Adams Basin. After a brief leave, Penders will continue on to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for eight more weeks of training before returning home to be a Marine Reserve while he attends SUNY Brockport as part of his career goal of becoming a USMC officer.

Air Force Airman Grant R. Barney graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. Barney earned distinction as an honor graduate. He is the son of Brian and Beth Barney of Brockport. The airman is a 2007 graduate of Brockport High School.

Marine Corps Pfc. Tanner J. Bauer, son of Barbara A. and Dennis J. Bauer of Hamlin, completed basic training with honors at Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Parris Island, South Carolina. Bauer successfully completed 12 weeks of training designed to challenge new Marine recruits both physically and mentally.

Bauer is a 2007 graduate of Kendall High School of Kendall.