On Wednesday, Dec. 10, the Annual Pottery Show and Sale will be held in the Williams Center Multipurpose Room from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to benefit the University Police Criminal Justice Scholarship Fund (CJSF). Local potters will be selling their handcrafted mugs, trays, bowls and jewelry and will be donating a portion of their proceeds to benefit the scholarship fund established in the Fredonia College Foundation.
Potters include Fredonia faculty and staff members Dr. Ted Lee, Biology; Dr. David Rudge and Marc Levy, School of Music; and University Police Chief Ann Burns. Other local potters who will be selling their works include Michele Ballachino, Carol Samuelson and Cynthia Fitzgerald.
Speaking on University Police’s involvement in raising funds for CJSF, Chief Burns noted, “The University Police Department has almost 100 percent giving from their employees to the CJSF. Each person takes a certain amount out of their paycheck every two weeks to give to the scholarship.” She added that this is considered an important contribution and act of dedication by University Police employees, especially during the tough economic times and unstable economy of the past few years.
In addition to the pottery sale and personal donations by employees, the University Police Department also hosts a yearly golf tournament as a fundraising opportunity to support the CJSF.
“We all understand the need to help young people,” explained Burns.
All of the potters involved in the show created their works on the pottery wheels at Mudslingers, a pottery studio in downtown Fredonia owned and operated by Fredonia alumnus Ron Nasca, who is a strong supporter and teacher of the potters.
CJSF was started in July 2009 by Lieutenant Clifton Wheeler. He recognized the need for more scholarship opportunities for Criminal Justice majors other than just the one scholarship available at that time. Each year, the fund strives for a significant scholarship to present to a deserving Criminal Justice student.
