Summer 2005
FEATURES
New Alumni Convocation Preps Graduates for Commencement
By Mary E. McCrank
Farewell addresses, presentation of awards, sunshine over the picturesque Genesee Valley and a champagne toast marked the College’s seventh annual New Alumni Convocation, held the afternoon before Commencement exercises.
After the ceremony in the commencement stadium, students walked across campus, through the Fraser arch — where a new banner proclaiming “Welcome Alumni!” greeted them. They made their way to the MacVittie College Union patio to meet 42 faculty and staff members selected by the class of 2005, and seven Alumni Board members, who poured champagne for the students on the eve of their last day at Geneseo as students. The next day, the young women and men would officially become graduates — alumni, in fact, of Geneseo.
Janelle Feuz, senior class president,delivered the senior address at the convocation. After reading from “Oh, the Places You’ll Go!” by Dr. Suess, Feuz told her classmates that their graduation is a “bittersweet moment.”
“While we are looking forward, we must remember that everything we have experienced, learned and observed will remain with us and affect our actions throughout the rest of our lives. For the past four years of our education, we have been on a journey, a journey full of experiences, challenges and accomplishments,” she said. “It hasn’t always been what we expected and certainly not easy. But as we progressed down the road, we stretched ourselves to reach across barriers and found ourselves in new and expanding roles. We were given the opportunity to explore our interests and discover what really excites us.”
Feuz remembered a few moments and activities that marked the class of 2005’s time at Geneseo. Among them are: 9/11 occurring just few weeks into their first year, late-night pizza runs to Mama Mia’s Pizzeria, playing broomball all hours of the night, sharing one bathroom between eight girls in Erie Hall, playing on Geneseo Knights athletic teams, internships, senior events and having best friends by their sides.
Geneseo President Christopher C. Dahl congratulated the students.
“On behalf of all of us — faculty, staff, alumni and members of the community — congratulations to each and every one of you,” said Dahl, to applause and cheers from the students. “What a great run that you have had as the magnificent class of 2005.
“As all of us who work at the College reach the end of another academic year and we see you sitting out there, we know that we’re going to miss you,” he said. “This is a happy event for us, commencement, but we also look at it with a touch of sadness.”
“This is one of those moments where you should savor the moment, be ready as you go off to commencement and off into life and out from this place,” he said.
Alumni Association President Patricia Malet Fennell ’65 told the students that they join 45,000 other Geneseo graduates as alumni of the College.
“As of tomorrow, when you move up and on and out, you will be even stronger,” said Fennell.
“Every dawn brings a new promise,” she said. “When your new dawn comes tomorrow, I’d like you to make a promise to yourself. Please promise to be an active Geneseo alum and a strong alumni supporter.”
Patricia Hamilton-Rodgers ’85, associate director of alumni and parent relations, told the students they would be Geneseo alumni for a lifetime.
In addition, several awards were presented to students during the New Alumni Convocation. The Student Association President’s Cup was presented to Philip Perrin of Cuba, N.Y., for his exemplary service, dedication and leadership to the Student Association and its organizations. The Alumni Student Leadership Award was presented to Sean Gavin of Chatham, N.Y., for his exemplary leadership in college activities directed at advancing the quality of student life at Geneseo and promoting greater awareness for lifelong associations with the College. The Edward ’73 and Elaine ’73 Pettinella Senior Leadership Awards were presented to Kathryn Foradori of Oswego, N.Y., Devin Van Riper of Delmar, N.Y, and Lindsey Bauer of West Seneca, N.Y. Foradori and Van Riper, students in the Jones School of Business, will receive $2,500 apiece. Bauer, a student in the Shear School of Education, will receive $5,000.
Amy DeVincentis, coordinator of the senior challenge campaign, thanked her classmates for contributing to the campaign. More than 400 members of the class of 2005 contributed $16,683.85.
Jennifer Sisbarro, who opened the ceremony with the alma mater, also closed it with a symbolic toast.
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Patricia Hamilton-Rodgers ’85 tells the students they will be alumni for a lifetime. |
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President Christopher C. Dahl says everyone at the College will miss the class of 2005. |
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Janelle Feuz, senior class president, delivers the senior address. |
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Patricia Malet Fennell ’65, president of the Alumni Association, asks the students to remember their alma mater. |
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Kate Pistey, Amy DeVincentis and David Rose thank their classmates for contributing to the senior challenge campaign. Pistey and Rose served as co-chairs, while DeVincentis served as coordinator of the campaign. |
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Angie Blair, incoming president of the Student Association, presented the Student Association President’s Cup Award. |
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Jennifer Sisbarro makes a symbolic toast to end the ceremony. |
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This new banner — proclaiming Welcome Alumni! — greets the graduates as they head for the reception. |
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Another new banner, stating the date the College was founded — 1871 — hangs across the front of Sturges Hall. |
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| Stephen West, Distinguished Teaching Professor of mathematics and chair of the math department, pours champagne for some students. |
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| Patricia Malet Fennell pours some champagne for new alumni. |
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Provost Katherine Conway-Turner chats with students. |
Photos By: Ron Pretzer |
