2016 President's Civic Engagement Awards Honor Nazareth Students & Faculty and their Commitment to Service
Nazareth College celebrates the value of service and the many ways in which our students, faculty, staff, as well as community partners, make a difference in their own world and the world around them.
We gather to share our service stories, and honor and celebrate the vibrant organizations with whom we serve. We also gather to celebrate the commitments that Nazareth students, faculty and staff make towards leading a civically engaged life, volunteering time and talents to our community, and inspiring others to become caring, active and informed members of our society.
Photo at right: Lisa Durant-Jones, Ph.D., Professor/Graduate Program Director in Communication Sciences and Disorders, received a Martin Luther King, Jr. Award
The following individuals and organizations will be recognized at this celebration:
Community Service Awards for Students
The Community Service Award recognizes students who have demonstrated a commitment to service, either to our own Nazareth College community or the greater community at large.
Ipek Akcali, ‘16, Music Therapy
Kristina Back, ‘17, Sociology and Inclusive Childhood Education
Kelsi Barnholt, ‘18, Occupational Therapy
Toni Battista, ‘19, Biology/English
Ashley Cohen, ‘18, Communication Sciences and Disorders
Meaghan E. Connors, ‘16, Biology
Samuel Cooperman, ‘18, Nursing
Lauren Devine, ‘16, Occupational Therapy
Victoria E. Gac, ‘16, Music Therapy
Monica Grisdale, ’18, Occupational Therapy
Sabata V. Harley, ‘17, International Studies
Jocelyn Hellested, ‘17, Art History/Spanish
Alyssa Henry, ‘17, Community Youth Development
Tim Jacobs, ‘16, Social Work
Elayna Johnson, ‘18, Occupational Therapy
Juliana Joyce, ‘19, Music Therapy
Cassandra Matalavage, ‘17, Spanish/Inclusive Childhood Ed.
Kyla Marie Partridge, ‘16, International Relations/Chinese
Meaghan Porter, ‘16, Physical Therapy/Psychology
Bethany K. Shaw, ‘19, Environmental Science and Sustainability
Rebecca Silliman, ‘16, Sociology
Claire Sobraske, ‘16, Biochemistry
Angela Tona, ‘17, Social Work
Kole Tondryk, ‘17, Social Work
Sophie Valenti, ‘17, Occupational Therapy
Jenny Wess, ‘18, Social Work
Community Service Awards for Faculty, Staff, and Community Partner
The Community Service Award also recognizes faculty, staff, and community partner recipients who have made outstanding efforts providing service to our Nazareth community and the larger community to which we belong.
Faculty: Ellen Contopidis, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Inclusive Childhood Education; Director of Graduate Inclusive Childhood Education
Faculty: Nancy Strelau, Associate Professor of Professional Practice of Music
Staff: Kathleen Hansen, Assistant Director for Overseas Studies & Exchanges, Center for International Education
Community Partner: The Community Place of Greater Rochester, Received by Roslyn Mosley and Tarlon Gibson
Newman Civic Fellows Award
The Newman Civic Fellows Award is given to one deserving college student per institution and honors a student leader who has demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country: Jenny Wess, ‘18, Social Work.
Partners for Learning Award
The Partners for Learning Award is given to one senior from the Partners for Learning Program selected on the basis of exemplary commitment to the program, outstanding leadership, and contributions to the vision and excellence of Partners for Learning: Lauren Devine, ‘16, Occupational Therapy.
Jessica Shackelton Maclay Partners for Serving Award
Jessica Shackelton Maclay was a Nazareth graduate from the Social Work Department who, as an Alumna, went on to serve as an AmeriCorps VISTA, and was one of the founding coordinators of Partners for Serving and co-founder of Homework Help. Tragically, Jessica passed away in 2011. The “Jessica Shackelton Maclay Partners for Serving Award” was created to honor Jessica’s life and community service legacy, and is awarded to one senior from the Partners for Service Program: Ipek Akcali, ‘16, Music Therapy.
Service-Learning Champion Awards
The Service-Learning Champion Awards recognize faculty, staff, and community partners who create learning experiences for Nazareth College students that are based on strong reciprocal partnerships, where the needs of the community are addressed while students develop knowledge and skills connected to their academic course objectives.
Faculty: Otieno Kisiara, Ph.D., Professor of Anthropology, Director of Multicultural Studies
Staff: Alicia Collins, Data Management Specialist, Academic Affairs
Community Partner: LifePrep@Naz, Received by LifePrep staff from the Arc of Monroe and Victor Central School District
Community Partner: Monroe Correctional Facility, Received by Sabra (Ms. Twig) Hicka
Center for Spirituality Award
The Center for Spirituality Award is given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the spiritual values of our campus community: hospitality, diversity, inclusion, respect, acceptance, and service: Alexis Scangas, ‘16, Music Education.
Emerging Leader Certificates
The Emerging Leader Certificates are awarded to students who complete the Leadership program, which helps students deconstruct and rebuild their definition of leadership while gaining personal empowerment skills, preparing to become more engaged, and take on leadership roles.
Janee Greenidge, ‘19, Legal Studies
Kaitlyn Kinney, ‘19, Inclusive Childhood Education
Niquesha Mendoza, ‘19, Business Management
Carlton Patterson, ’19, Clinical Laboratory Sciences
Sophia Qureshi, ‘19, Biochemistry
LGBTQ Advocacy Awards
The LGBTQ Advocacy Awards are given to those who have had a positive impact on the LGBTQ community on campus through commitment to diversity of sexuality, gender expression, and gender presentation by their actions, and by providing educational programs and policies that center on LGBTQ matters:
Student: Sarah Jackson, ’16, Music Business.
Staff: Jamie Fazio, Catholic Chaplain, Center for Spirituality
Office: Social Work Department, Received by Carol A. Brownstein-Evans, Associate Professor/Chairperson/Co-Director of the MSW Program
Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Awards are given to those who demonstrate commitment to the moral and spiritual values of non-violence, commitment to peace and justice, commitment to promote campus diversity and acceptance, commitment to the poor in making sure that the dream lives on through speaking out against violence of word or deed, passing on the teaching of the dream, emulating his spirit of forgiveness, and carrying forth his legacy of unconditional love:
Student: Omonike Oyelola, ‘17, Social Work.
Faculty: Lisa Durant-Jones, Ph.D., Professor/Graduate Program Director in Communication Sciences and Disorders
Faculty/Staff: Shirley Sommers, Ph.D., Associate Professor/Director of the Frontier Center for Urban Education
Ms. Gaynelle Wethers Award
This award is in honor of Ms. Gaynelle Wethers who was the founding and only director of the Office of Multicultural Affairs at Nazareth College. Ms. Wethers was instrumental in increasing racial diversity at Nazareth while establishing close ties between Nazareth and the larger Rochester community. The Ms. Gaynelle Wethers Award is given to a person who has worked toward enhancing racial diversity at the College while developing and maintaining a close relationship with the greater Rochester community.
Faculty: David Anderson, Ph.D., Lecturer in History and Political Science
Nazareth University is an inclusive community of inspired learners, educators, and changemakers who for nearly 100 years have been driven by a bold commitment to action, empathy, equity, and leading innovation for the common good. Impact experiences are at the heart of a Nazareth education, preparing each student to discover within themselves the potential to cultivate positive change in their life's work, in any career field, and in a world that is constantly evolving and infinitely interconnected.
Our broad academic offerings present a range of study options typical of larger universities, yet achieved in our supportive campus culture. Nearly 2,100 undergrad and 600 graduate students enroll in degree and certificate programs and engage in collaborative, transformative learning experiences, preparing for the professions and society of today and tomorrow. In a learning community that purposefully integrates liberal arts and professional programs, Nazareth University graduates are able to launch a lifetime of impactful leadership in communities and workplaces near and far.
