The Odessa File: Schools of Schuyler County

EC receives Foundation grant

Elmira College recently received a generous grant for a third consecutive year from The Mildred Faulkner Truman Foundation. The $15,000 grant-in-aid has been distributed to selected Tioga County, New York students who have demonstrated financial need for the 2015-2016 academic year.

Stephanie Carrigg, Grant Advisor for The Mildred Faulkner Truman Foundation, stated, “The Foundation is proud to support a standard of excellence in the field of education that Elmira College has to offer to its students.”

Valerie Rosplock, Director of Grants at Elmira College, stated, “The Mildred Faulkner Truman Foundation’s continued commitment to the financial needs of Elmira College’s Tioga County students is a significant investment in their success and growth. The College is honored to receive this generous support.”

About The Mildred Faulkner Truman Foundation

Mildred Faulkner Truman was a lifelong resident of the Village of Owego and became a successful investor. Upon her passing in 1983, she provided that the residuary of her estate be used to establish a foundation to fund grants to qualified tax-exempt organizations whose worthwhile projects benefit the residents of Owego and Tioga County.

Dr. Champagne steps down as president of Elmira College

ELMIRA, Sept. 16, 2015 -- The Elmira College Board of Trustees announced today that Dr. Ronald Champagne would step down as President of Elmira College, after serving as the College’s chief executive officer since July 1, 2012.

“Ron Champagne has made enormous contributions to Elmira College in his three years at the helm. The Board of Trustees thanks Ron and his wife Ruth for their service to the College,” said Chairman of the Board Robert Morris. “His focus on new academic program development and collegiality has made a lasting effect on the College community, including work to bring the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine to campus.”

During Dr. Champagne’s tenure the College completed more than $9 million in renovations to its classrooms and laboratories, created a new finance trading room, constructed the Cowles Hall Health Sciences Center in support of the College’s nursing program, acquired a new facilities management center, installed a new Jenzabar enterprise system, and began renovation of the dining services in the Campus Center.

Trustees have named Dr. Norman Smith to serve as Interim President. Dr. Smith has successfully served as president of Wagner College, Richmond; The American International University in London; Dowling College, and Suffolk University. He was also the Founding Chancellor of Alamein University in Egypt.

“Dr. Smith has a long track record of success. We are fortunate to have him joining us,” said Morris. “The future is bright at Elmira College.”

The College will begin a national search for a permanent president.

About Elmira College

Elmira College is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college founded in 1855, located in Elmira, New York. The College has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 1,200 full-time students, of which 13 percent are valedictorians or salutatorians of their high schools or preparatory schools. Students come from 35 states and more than 20 countries.

Elmira College’s mission is to offer its students both liberal and professional education of sufficient breadth and depth to enable them to pursue successful, rewarding careers. The College blends academic rigor, distinctive programs, and theory and practice beyond the classroom to prepare students to be tomorrow’s leaders. Academic programs are steeped in the arts, humanities, social and natural sciences, with special attention given to the refinement of communication skills and the exploration of world cultures.

2015-16 Theatre Season starts

ELMIRA, Sept. 10, 2015 -- Elmira College’s theatre season gets off to an early start with Closer Than Ever, the hit musical revue by Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire.

Filled to the brim with the brilliance for which these musical theatre giants are known, the show “is a nonstop exploration of everyday struggles in the "modern world." Topics ranging from unrequited adoration, to aging, to Muzak are tackled with resounding sincerity and precisely placed hilarity. Each song is a unique story told by a new character taking audiences not only into the songbook of Mr. Maltby and Mr. Shire, but into the minds of the individuals facing these completely relatable challenges.” Critics called Closer Than Ever “an enchanted evening,” “polished, witty, and tuneful,” “with instantly memorable melodies and smartly crafted lyrics.”

Featured in the Elmira College production are Nathan Edwards ’18, Josh Filson ’16, Allii Fontaine ’15, Sarah Kaschalk ’17, Cat Langley ’16, Trevor Stone ’18, Dallas Winchell ’18, and Alli Woodard ’18, with special guest appearances nightly. Musical direction is by Judy Harriman-Carlson. The production is directed and designed by John J. Kelly.

Performances are scheduled for September 17th, 18th, and 19th at 8:00 p.m. with a matinee on Sunday, September 20th at 2:00 p.m. All performances are held in the college’s Watson Arena. Seating is limited. Doors open 30 minutes before curtain.

Tickets can be purchased (cash only) from the Campus Center Information Desk Monday through Friday, from 7:45 a.m. to midnight, and Saturday and Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to midnight. The Elmira College Box Office number is (607) 735-1853.

The full schedule for the 2015-16 Elmira College theatre season may be found online: http://www.elmira.edu/academics/programs/Majors_Minors/Theatre/2015-16_season.html

About Elmira College

Elmira College is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college founded in 1855, located in Elmira, New York. The College has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 1,200 full-time students, of which thirteen percent are valedictorians or salutatorians of their high schools or preparatory schools. Students come from 35 states and more than 20 countries.

EC welcomes its students

ELMIRA, Sept. 8, 2015 -- Elmira College welcomed new and returning students and their families to campus for Fall Orientation at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, September 3rd. The Elmira College Class of 2019 moved into Anderson, Columbia, and Perry residence halls. Classes began for the fall term on Monday, September 7th.

New students arriving on campus number more than 330 and hail from 19 states and 11 countries, including Australia, France, Japan, Nigeria, Peru, and Saudi Arabia. Eighteen students in this class are valedictorians or salutatorians of their secondary school classes. Nearly 40 percent of the incoming class will participate in athletics at Elmira College. Approximately 30 new students are winners of the prestigious Elmira College Key Award, presented by the Elmira College Alumni Association for the past 80 years to outstanding young men and women at the end of their junior year of secondary school.

Fall Orientation at Elmira College included a number of events that reflect the College’s history of enduring traditions.

During the President’s Welcome Ceremony, new students received their Elmira College beanies and were officially welcomed to the Elmira College community. The President’s Welcome Ceremony took place on Thursday, September 3rd.

The Candlelight Ceremony is an event that honors and celebrates the bond of community for the incoming freshman class. New students gather around ‘the puddle’ holding candles and singing songs that have been sung for generations by Elmira College alumni across the nation and around the world. The Class of 2019 gathered again, as seniors in 2019, to participate in the Candlelight Ceremony just prior to Commencement. The Candlelight Ceremony took place on Friday, September 4th. around ‘the puddle’ adjacent to Cowles Hall.

About Elmira College

Elmira College is a private, coeducational, liberal arts college founded in 1855, located in Elmira, New York. The College has an undergraduate enrollment of approximately 1,200 full-time students, of which thirteen percent are valedictorians or salutatorians of their high schools or preparatory schools. Students come from 35 states and more than 20 countries.

ELMIRA, NY, June 4 – On Sunday, May 31, Elmira College held its 157th Commencement exercises. The College conferred more than 290 undergraduate degrees and more than 50 graduate degrees. Environmental pioneer Margaret “Meg” D. Lowman, Ph.D., delivered the Commencement Address and received an honorary Doctorate in Science.

The ceremony began at 11:00 a.m. at the First Arena at 155 North Main Street in Elmira.

--The Class of 2015 was comprised of students representing 30 different majors and 15 different minors.
--Twenty-five percent of graduates are currently enrolled in graduate or professional schools.
--Fifty-six percent of graduates plan to attend graduate school in the future.
--A total of 216 graduates were from New York, 27, from Pennsylvania, 15 from Massachusetts, 12 from Connecticut, 12 from Maine, nine from New Jersey and seven from New Hampshire.
--International students from the Bahamas, Canada, China, Germany, Ireland, Japan, Bolivia, and Vietnam also received degrees.
--Twenty-two graduates were valedictorians in their graduating high school class, and 11 were salutatorians.
--Thirty-nine students graduated Summa Cum Laude.
--Forty-nine students graduated Magna Cum Laude.
--Forty-three students graduated Cum Laude.

About Margaret “Meg” D. Lowman, Ph.D.
Nicknamed the “real-life Lorax” by National Geographic and “Einstein of the treetops” by the Wall Street Journal, Meg Lowman pioneered the science of canopy ecology. For more than 30 years, she has designed hot-air balloons and walkways for treetop exploration to solve mysteries in the world’s forests, especially insect pests and ecosystem health. Meg is affectionately called the mother of canopy research as one of the first scientists to explore this eighth continent. She relentlessly works to map the canopy for biodiversity and to champion forest conservation around the world. Her international network and passion for science have led her into leadership roles where she seeks best practices to solve environmental challenges and serves as a role model to women and minorities in science.

Formerly a professor at North Carolina State University (NCSU) and the founding director of North Carolina’s innovative Nature Research Center (NRC) at the Museum of Natural Sciences, Meg oversaw the creation, construction, staffing, and programming of this research wing in partnership with NCSU. She was subsequently hired by the California Academy of Sciences to lead their 21st century strategy that integrates research with sustainability initiatives both local and global. As the external voice for the Academy’s collections and research, she promotes its mission to groups ranging from elementary classes to corporate executives to international conferences. Lowman’s academic leadership has included Vice President of the Ecological Society of America; Treasurer of the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation; founder of the TREE Foundation; Board of Directors for The Explorers Club and Earthwatch; and Climate Change Adviser to Alex Sink, former CFO of the Florida cabinet. Previously, she served as Director of Environmental Initiatives at New College of Florida, CEO of The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, and Professor of Biology & Environmental Studies at Williams College.

Lowman’s academic training includes Williams College (B.A., Biology); Aberdeen University (M.Sc., Ecology); Sydney University (Ph.D., Botany); and Tuck School of Business (Executive Management). Her numerous awards include the Margaret Douglas Medal for Excellence in Conservation Education from the Garden Club of America, Girls Inc. Visionary Award, the Mendel Medal for achievements in science and spirit, the Lowell Thomas Medal for canopy exploration, Kilby Laureate and Aldo Leopold Leadership Fellow. She has authored more than 125 peer-reviewed scientific publications, and her first book, Life in the Treetops, received a cover review in the New York Times Sunday Book Review. Working tirelessly on sustainability initiatives at home and abroad, “Canopy Meg” was a Fulbright Senior Specialist Scholar to both India and Ethiopia, and National Geographic funds her conservation work on Ethiopian church forests. She is the proud mother of sons Edward and James, both science majors from Princeton University.

ELMIRA, Jan. 18 -- An economic analysis by the Center for Governmental Research (CGR) released by the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) reveals that Elmira College generated an estimated total of $124,450,000 in economic activity in the Southern Tier region in 2013.

The amount reflects direct institutional impact in the region of $110,650,000 and student and visitor impact of $13,800,000. The analysis shows a total economic impact of $74.3 billion from independent colleges and universities across New York State. It breaks down the total impact into 10 regions in the state of New York that align directly with the Regional Economic Development Councils of New York State.

“New York State continues to depend on its higher education institutions to educate our next generation of leaders, as well as contribute to our future economic growth,” said CICU president Laura L. Anglin. “Playing the role of anchor tenants with communities around the state, the Independent Sector educates hundreds of thousands of students while also providing jobs and significant fiscal impact for the communities where they are located. Throughout the state, our campuses are significant contributors to both the economy and community. They are customers for local and state vendors, especially when it comes to construction.”

CICU is a statewide association representing the public policy interests of the chief executives of more than 100 independent colleges and universities in New York State. Founded in 1956 by a small group of private, not-for-profit college and university presidents, the Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU) now represents 100+ independent campuses across New York State. CICU is an educational corporation formed under the New York State Regents. Its mission is to develop consensus among a diverse membership and to advance higher education public policy. (www.cicu.org)