| July 15, 2009 | Vol 10. No. 13 |
Annual Fund Exceeds Goal
Robert W. Wunsch ’76, chair of the Annual Fund Campaign Cabinet (right) presents a check to Rev. Vincent M. Cooke, S.J., president of Canisius College.
The Canisius College 2008-2009 Annual Fund Campaign raised $2.646 million in pledges, gifts and gifts-in-kind, which represents an increase of more than $256,000 from last year. Canisius alumni, students, parents, faculty and staff, friends and businesses contributed to the fund. Three hundred and twelve faculty and staff gave a total of $86,335.
As one of the priorities of A Legacy of Leadership: The Campaign for Canisius College, the annual fund has a fundraising goal of $17 million by 2010.
“We are very grateful for the positive response we received from our donors, especially amid a challenging economic climate,” said Kirsten L. Reppert MS ’07, director of the annual fund. “From gifts of a few dollars to substantial commitments, every gift is important to Canisius College. It takes thousands of people, contributing what they can, to build a strong annual fund.”
The 2009-2010 Annual Fund Campaign is underway with a goal of $2.70 million and will conclude on May 31, 2010. The annual fund plays a critical role in the college’s success. Gifts to Canisius strengthen academic resources, build scholarships and create a vibrant learning atmosphere.
Honeywell Continues Support of Chemistry Olympiad
(left to right) Dianna Civello, director of development for major gifts, Canisius College; Alex Mickle, Buffalo site human resource manager, Honeywell; Mariusz Kozik, PhD, chair and professor of chemistry & biochemistry, Canisius College and Chemistry Olympiad Coordinator; David Nalewajek, PhD, senior principal scientist, Honeywell; and Jay Kelly, Buffalo site leader, Honeywell.
The Honeywell Corporation awarded Mariusz M. Kozik, PhD, chair and professor of chemistry and biochemistry, a $16,000 grant extension for continued support of the Western New York (WNY) Chemistry Olympiad. Kozik is the coordinator of the local Olympiad, which is sponsored by the American Chemical Society at Canisius and part of an international chemistry competition aimed at identifying the best high school chemistry students in the world. Since 2000, the Honeywell Corporation has awarded more than $150,000 to Kozik, in support of the WNY Chemistry Olympiad. A significant portion of the grant is used to fund summer research projects by high school students who work with Canisius College Chemistry Department faculty members.
For more information, click here.
National Science Foundation Sponsors REU Program at Canisius College
From left to right: Andrew Reynolds ’10 (UCLA); Stratos Prassidis, PhD, professor of mathematics & statistics; Robert Abramovich ’11(Johns Hopkins University); Jonathan Jaquette ’11 (Swarthmore College); Mollie Stein ’10 (Barnard College); Ann Johnston ’11 (Harvey Mudd College); Amelia Wallace ’10 (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill); Laura Janssen ’10 (University of Nebraska); and Byung-Jay Kahng, PhD, associate professor of mathematics & statistics. Missing from photo: Terrence P. Bisson, PhD, professor mathematics & statistics (sabbatical ’09).
The Canisius Department of Mathematics & Statistics conducts a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program at the college. Sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) since 2005, the eight-week long summer program promotes undergraduate research in mathematics or related sciences. The total NSF grant for the three-year period (2008-2010) is $233,361.
During the program, eight students recruited from around the country conduct original research under the supervision of program directors Terrence P. Bisson, PhD, professor mathematics & statistics (sabbatical ’09); Byung-Jay Kahng, PhD, associate professor of mathematics & statistics and Stratos Prassidis, PhD, professor of mathematics & statistics. Students also receive a stipend for their participation and their accommodations are provided by the college.
The research produced by the participants appears in peer-reviewed mathematics journals and is presented at regional and national conferences. The preliminary results and summary of past results of the research appears in a wiki page: http://wiki.canisiusmath.net.
“The program encourages students to pursue careers in mathematics and related sciences,” said Prassidis. “In addition, students are introduced to Canisius College and the Buffalo area.”
Video Institute Receives Multiple Awards
(left to right) Cassandra Eldred (COM ’09); Barbara J. Irwin, PhD, chair and professor of communications and director of the Canisius College Video Institute and Sarah Zamer (COM ’10). Missing from photo: Ashley Carrow (COM ’08)
Five Canisius College Video Institute productions recently earned accolades from two different organizations.
Three videos produced by The Canisius College Video Institute won Excalibur Awards from the Buffalo/Niagara chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). The awards were presented at the chapter’s 20th annual awards dinner at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens on June 18.
“Habitat for Humanity,” produced by Ashley Carrow (COM ’08), Cassandra Eldred (COM ’09) and Sarah Zamer (COM ’10) received a Gold Excalibur award; “Carvings for a Cause,” produced by Jesse Koch (DMA ’08), Lauren Mariacher (COM ’08), and Shannon McCabe (COM ’09) received a Silver Excalibur Award; and “Child and Family Services,” produced by Erin Bagwell (DMA ’09), received a Bronze Excalibur Award.
In addition, two productions of the Canisius College Video Institute were honored with 2009 Communicator Awards.
The documentary “Southern India: A Collision of Cultures,” produced by Jennifer Eberhart (COM ’08) and Scott Richardson (DMA ’09), was awarded two Gold Awards of Excellence in the categories of “Student Production” and “Documentary.” A video promoting the Canisius College Study Abroad program, produced by Erin Bagwell (DMA ’09), was awarded a Gold Award of Excellence in the category of “Educational Institutions.” The video produced for Carvings for a Cause earned a Silver Award of Distinction in the “Charitable/Non-Profit” category.
The Communicator Awards is the largest and most competitive awards program honoring the creative excellence for communications professionals in the U.S. and around the world.
All projects were produced under the direction of Barbara Irwin, PhD, director of the Video Institute and professor and chair of communication studies.
To learn more about the Canisius College Video Institute, click here.
Hutton Recognized for SIFE Advancement, Canisius SIFE Wins Capital Markets Competition
Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) USA honored Patricia A. Hutton, PhD, professor of economics and Canisius College SIFE faculty advisor, with its Jack Kahl Entrepreneurial Leadership Award. Hutton accepted her award at the SIFE USA National Exposition held at the Philadelphia Convention Center on May 10, 2009. As part of her award, Hutton received a fully-paid trip to the SIFE World Cup 2009 in Berlin where she will accompany Canisius SIFE student representatives.
The award recognizes an individual who advanced the SIFE organization during an academic year, and who made outstanding contributions to SIFE students and teams on his or her campus. This past year, she led the 57-member organization to implement 24 service projects, which created economic opportunities in the community.
Canisius SIFE was one of five winning SIFE teams from the United States of the 2008-2009 SIFE Capital Markets Program. Canisius SIFE was selected as a U.S. winner on the basis of its R.O.Y. (Return on Youth) Fund project which taught high school seniors at St. Joseph’s Collegiate and Sacred Heart Academy the fundamentals of how macroeconomic factors influence the financial world on a daily basis.
For more information, click here.
Wanzer Named Eastern Communication Teaching Fellow
Melissa B. Wanzer, EdD, professor of communication studies, is the recipient of an Eastern Communication Association’s Teaching Fellowship. The teaching fellows program recognizes individuals who have a distinguished career of teaching excellence in the field of communication as well as active and continuous service to ECA. The award was presented at the association’s annual meeting held in April in Philadelphia.