Tuesday, May 23, 2017

[Elmira College] Alumni Link May 2017 Edition for Tuesday, 23 May 2017 Elmira College in Elmira, New York, United States

Where Are They Now: Tyler Tarnowicz ’16

It has been nearly a year since the Legendary Class of 2016 crossed the Commencement stage. In the new series, “Where Are They Now,” we catch up with these young alumni to see how they are doing. Tyler Tarnowicz ’16 is preparing to walk the Commencement stage once again - this time at Harvard University. [Read More]

Where Are They Now: Tyler Tarnowicz '16
Category: Alumni

As commencement season approaches, we are kicking off a new series, titled, “Where Are They Now?” We are catching up with alumni from the Class of 2016, finding out what they are doing today, and sharing their advice for the graduating class, just one year after walking across the stage themselves.

The series begins with Tyler Tarnowicz '16 who is currently attending the Harvard University Graduate School of Education.

Let’s head to Boston and learn more from Tyler…

Almost exactly a year to the day that I graduated from Elmira College, I will be graduating once again – this time from Harvard University. It is so hard to believe it has already been a year since leaving Elmira and coming to the Boston area to pursue a master’s degree in education.

During that time, I have had the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds in education as well as be exposed to a community with a wide variety of perspectives and lived experiences. At this moment, I am looking to finally enter the field and put everything I have learned at both Elmira and Harvard into practice. Although I am not quite sure where these next few months will take me, I am confident that my experiences up until this point have provided me a strong foundation for which I will build the rest of my life.

I believe one of the most significant lessons I have learned during my time since graduating Elmira has been in being patient and “going with the flow.” I always laughed at my professors, parents, and other adults that would tell me the clichés that we all hear about “if it’s meant to be, it will be” or “patience is a virtue, ” but the truth is, that they are common sayings for a reason. It is so easy to leave college optimistic and thinking that everything fits perfectly into line, I know I sure felt that way. I am sorry to burst your bubble, but this is not the case at all. In fact, very rarely does everything line up perfectly and come naturally. It is hard, it takes patience, and it takes failure.

Life after graduation is by no means glamorous. The beauty in that, though, is that once you accept these realities, you give yourself the freedom to loosen up control and simply go where your experiences take you.

So that is my advice to the graduating class – give yourself the freedom to loosen up some control, be prepared to work harder than you’ve ever worked in your life, and make it a point to do things that you are truly passionate about.

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Katie Knott DePrimo ’08 Completes Marathon

Alumna Katie Knott DePrimo ’08 lost her father to cancer when she was 15 years old. Fifteen years later, Katie joined a team of survivors, children, parents, siblings, and loved ones of cancer patients and ran the 2017 Boston Marathon in his memory. [Read More]

Alumna Helps Raise $5 Million for Cancer Research

May 11 2017
Category: Alumni

Community service is a cornerstone of the Elmira College experience. Recently, alumna Katie Knott DePrimo '08, an anthropology and sociology graduate, demonstrated that this innate spirit of service and giving does not stop at commencement.

As a charity runner in the 2017 Boston Marathon, Katie and her team helped raise more than $5 million for cancer research.

The Office of Alumni Relations recently caught up with Katie and she gave us the details…

Katie Knott DePrimo '08 (right) with her friend and teammate.

What organization did you run and fundraise for? I ran with the Dana-Farber Marathon Challenge Team, a team of over 500 individuals, who have all, in one way or another, been affected by cancer. We're a team of survivors, children, parents, siblings, and loved ones of cancer patients.

Not only did this team train and run Boston, but we also raised money for the Claudia Adams Barr Program at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston which supports innovative, basic cancer research; research that without individual philanthropic dollars would not be funded.

Why did you run?
I ran in memory of my father, Ed Knott, who lost his 18-month battle with brain cancer 15 years ago, when I was only 15 years old. Although my dad was not treated at Dana-Farber, the research they do has immense, positive impacts on every cancer patient and family around the world.

How did you train for this 26.2 mile run?
I logged over 500 training miles from early December through April. The DFMC team had group runs in the Boston area every Saturday beginning in mid-December. We ran in snow, sleet, rain, sun and even one 65 degree day about a month before the marathon.

How was your race day experience?
On Monday, April 17, on the hottest day of the year thus far, myself and the DFMC team ran the Boston Marathon with my dad, and countless other friends, family members and loved ones in our hearts, guiding us along the 26.2 mile route from Hopkinton to Boston.

I raised over $10,600 dollars for cancer research, and as a team, we raised over $5 million dollars and counting. We reached our finish line in 2017, but we still have yet to reach the ultimate finish line…a world without cancer.

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After graduating in 2008, Katie continued her education at Elmira College earning a Master of Science degree while working as a graduate assistant in the Office of Alumni Relations. Currently, she is the associate director of annual giving at Wentworth Institute of Technology in Boston.

Congratulations to Katie and her team!

Share your community service or volunteering stories with us using #ElmiraProud.

ISM Finger Lakes Region, Inc. Endows Prize

Institute for Supply Management Finger Lakes Region, Inc. has long supported education and Elmira College students through its regional college prize . Recently, the chapter presented Elmira College with funds to establish the ISM Finger Lakes Endowed Prize. [Read More]

ISM Finger Lakes Region, Inc. Endows Prize at Elmira College

Category: Academics

Image of ISM representative and Chuck Lindsay

ISM Finger Lakes, local affiliate of the Institute for Supply Management, recently presented Elmira College with funds to endow an annual prize for a student or students studying business and economics at the College.

"I'm pleased to present these funds to Elmira College for the establishment of the ISM Finger Lakes Endowed Prize," said Eric Watson, president of ISM Finger Lakes Region, Inc. "We've had a great relationship with the College and it's good to know that ISM Finger Lakes will continue to foster education while enhancing the profession of supply chain management in the years to come."
For more than sixty years, ISM Finger Lakes Region, Inc. has been the local go-to organization for education, training, professional certification, and sharing of best practices among professionals in procurement, transportation, and supply chain management careers. As part of its educational mission, ISM Finger Lakes, Inc. conducted an annual scholarship program for regional college students who majored in Business Administration, awarding more than $40,000 to support studies. Funds for the scholarship program were raised through the annual Buy-Sell Golf Outing and picnic.
Given declining membership, the board of directors, with the support of the local membership, voted to dissolve ISM Finger Lakes Region, Inc. in December 2016. The board approved the donation of remaining assets to Elmira College to support the establishment of the ISM Finger Lakes Endowed Prize. The prize will be disbursed annually by faculty within the business and economics programs in the name of ISM Finger Lakes Region, Inc.
“We are very honored that ISM Finger Lakes chose to create this endowed prize,” said Charles Lindsay, provost and president-designate at Elmira College. “It’s through this type of financial planning that we are able to establish funds to recognize and support students in achieving academic excellence."

Laura Hurd ’05 EC's First Inductee to ECAC Hall of Fame

The late Laura Hurd ’05 dominated the NCAA Division III hockey world from 2001-05, while helping the Soaring Eagles capture a pair of national titles in 2002 and 2003. Described by the Eastern College Athletic Conference as “one of the most prolific players of all time in Division III,” Hurd became the first Elmira College player to be inducted into the ECAC Hall of Fame on April 28, 2017. Watch highlights from the event.

Alumni Spotlight: Stephanie Jackson ’12

From upstate New York to the Kyrgyz Republic in Russia, Stephanie Jackson ’12 has remained vigilant in her desire to teach. Now, three years after completing her undergraduate and graduate work at Elmira, Stephanie is fulfilling that desire with a new position in a new country. [Read More]

Stephanie Jackson ’12

Teacher-Trainer Volunteer with the Peace Corps

“Try new things, talk to people you would not have talked to in high school and just put yourself out there in a way you weren’t before. It is worth it.”

Stephanie Jackson ’12, from her small town roots in Tully, New York, has nurtured a blossoming global career in education. As a teacher-trainer volunteer with the Peace Corps in the Kyrgyz Republic, Russia, located on the northwestern border of China, she is teaching English and educating young women on gender equality.

Years before her journey to the Kyrgyz Republic, Stephanie always knew she wanted to be a teacher and toured several colleges as part of her search for the right place to pursue that aspiration. Once she saw Elmira College from her family vehicle, she immediately knew the purple-and-gold campus was the place for her.

Stephanie majored in education and social studies, and participated in a variety of teams and clubs, such as the JV volleyball team, Student Activities Board, Student Athletic-Advisory Board, and Student Alumni Council. She was also a resident advisor at EC.

Throughout her studies, her advisor Dr. Charlie Mitchell and professor Robin O’Brian had a significant influence on her success in and out of the classroom, supporting her and introducing her to sociology, anthropology, and critical thinking.
After finishing her bachelor’s degree, Stephanie continued her education at Elmira College in the master of education program. As a graduate assistant in the Office of Information Technology, she worked as the coordinator of multimedia services. After completing her graduate work, Stephanie worked for Chase Bank before embarking on her position with the Peace Corps.

Today, as a teacher-trainer volunteer Stephanie teaches English and works with young women on gender equality. In the summer, Stephanie runs a camp called GLOW (Girls Leading Our World), which focuses on educating girls on women’s health, empowerment, self-confidence, public speaking, volunteerism, bride kidnapping, and human trafficking. Stephanie also gives free trainings to teachers in the area, focusing on methodologies, lesson planning, activities, and technology.

Stephanie’s experience working with the Peace Corps constantly inspires her and encourages her to be open to new experiences that make her more creative and driven. As the field of education is constantly changing and evolving, this experience also pushes Stephanie to keep learning.

In the next few months, once Stephanie’s Peace Corps service ends, she plans to spend some time back home in Tully. Then, she returns to the Kyrgyz Republic to begin a new position as a teacher at ESCA - Bishkek International School, a European international school in the capital city of Bishkek.

Learn more about Elmira College's Education and Social Studies programs

Student Spotlight: Vanessa Bauch ’17

Vanessa Bauch ’17, a double major in international studies and foreign languages, drew upon her love of languages and willingness to go outside her comfort zone to complete an internship that provided international experience and cultural learning and immersion, without ever leaving the region. [Read More]

Regional Internship Explores International Relations
Category: Academics

Photo of Vanessa Bauch with young student

This week’s #SoaringToSuccess story features Vanessa Bauch '17, a double major in international studies and foreign languages. Vanessa’s love of languages and her willingness to go outside her comfort zone led to an international experience, full of cultural learning and immersion, right here in the Finger Lakes.

Let’s learn more about this unique experience from Vanessa….

The ability to create close relationships with professors is one of the many advantages of going to Elmira College. My sophomore year I attended events held by CUSLAR (Committee on United States and Latin American Relations) at Cornell University with my Spanish Professor Lauren Shaw. She noticed how much I enjoyed these events and helped guide me in the right direction to apply to be an intern, and by the end of my junior year I successfully obtained an internship at CUSLAR.

CUSLAR is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting awareness of Latin American issues by hosting speakers, educational events, holding interviews, researching issues, and publishing a semi-annual paper newsletter that is distributed to hundreds of subscribers across the globe, and uploading a digital version viewed by several thousand. This internship is quite different than most; CUSLAR emphasizes education and awareness rather than accomplishing multiple tasks throughout the day, and every day is different than the next.

In my first few weeks at CUSLAR, another intern and I were responsible for uploading and archiving our newsletters dated back to the seventies so that they are accessible on our website for anyone to read. As I was archiving, I got to read articles published by other interns from over forty years ago discussing issues that I learn about in class today. It was intriguing to see how issues change over time and how I am able to be a part of something greater than myself.

I also got to speak to Natives of Mexico, who came to speak about issues in Oaxaca in Spanish. It puts my Spanish to practice and creates new global relationships. Odilia Romero was one of the speakers I befriended last semester, and I published my article on her speech at Cornell about indigenous rights in Los Angeles.

This semester I was able to design our poster for an event that is happening this March, and distribute it across campus and social media. Like I said, every task I get to do at my internship is different every time and I have learned a few new skill sets. I am so pleased with the internship I have and feel as though I would not have made it here if I did not attend events with my professor who asked us to come. I took a leap out of my comfort zone and ended up having an awesome internship experience that I can build upon for my professional career in the future.

Alumni Efforts Boost Enrollment

The Offices of Admissions and Financial Aid are busy finalizing recruitment and enrollment of the Elmira College Class of 2021. And alumni efforts are having a positive impact on that process.

“We are grateful for all the work you do to recruit students to your alma mater,” says Chris Coons, vice president of enrollment management. “Alumni are key in the recruitment and enrollment of new students. Whether through the Alumni Admissions Volunteer Program (AAVP), our Refer a Student Program, or through casual conversations with prospective students and their families, we cannot thank you enough for all that you do. There are great things happening at Elmira and we look forward to working with you to enroll the next generation of Elmira College students.”

SAC Hosts JDRF OneWalk, Raises More Than $45,000

The Student Alumni Council continued its philanthropic efforts in May by teaming with JDRF Rochester on the annual JDRF OneWalk on Sunday, May 7. Despite dreary weather, the students and community rallied together for a successful walk, raising more than $45,000 for diabetes research. [Read More]

SAC Hosts JDRF OneWalk, Raises More Than $45,000
Category: Campus Life

This past weekend, students and community members braved rainy weather to participate in the annual JDRF (formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) OneWalk hosted by Elmira College and held on campus.
The event raised more than $45,000 in support of research to cure, prevent, and treat Type 1 diabetes and its complications. The Elmira College Student Alumni Council (SAC) coordinated the logisitics of the walk and decorations.
Before heading out on the three-mile, one-and-half-mile, and one-mile walking routes, participants heard from a local mother whose child is living with Type 1 diabetes, as well as Congressman Thomas Reed, the U.S. representative for New York’s 23^rd District, and his wife. Reed spoke about his son who is also impacted by juvenile diabetes and underscored the importance of JDRF and Type 1 diabetes research.
This type of diabetes, previously known as juvenile diabetes, is estimated to affect as many as three million Americans, more than 80% of which are adults, according to JDRF.

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Campus Celebrates May Days

After a one-week inclement weather postponement, May Days 2017 was held Saturday, May 13 from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. in front of Campus Center. The traditional event included food, fun and music for the entire campus community.

Reunion: Registration Now Open

Reunion 2017 is next month! This wonderful weekend of fun, reconnecting with old friends, and making new memories includes a full line-up of activities featuring a lecture by Dr. Matthew Seybold on Mark Twain and his earliest visits to Elmira and a lecture by Dr. Thomas Fiala who will share insights on the College’s graduates from the first one hundred years. Visit Alumni Relations online for full details and registration.