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FREDONIA, N.Y.-- A Dunkirk native will be honored when the Educational Development Program (EDP) at SUNY Fredonia hold its 25th annual awards ceremony Wednesday, March 14 at 4 p.m. in Café G of the Williams Center. Ana Brignoni-Waliczek, who graduated from Dunkirk High School and SUNY Fredonia, will receive the 2007 Distinguished Alumnus Award.
Also at the ceremony, the EDP program will distribute awards to top students from across New York State, and induct new members into the Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society. The event is open to the public. Attendance is free, but reservations are required by March 7 at the EDP office at 716-673-3317 or by e-mailing EDP Secretary Barbara Yochym.
Ms. Brignoni-Waliczek is a court interpreter with the New York State Unified Court System, working for the Eighth Judicial District in Buffalo. She began her tenure with the judicial system in 2001 as a part-time English-Spanish court interpreter with the Dunkirk City Court. She worked her way up and now conducts a variety of interpreting responsibilities for all eight counties in Western New York. Also a member of the Diversity Steering Committee for the court, she visits area schools to inform students about career options in the legal system. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Spanish from SUNY Fredonia in 1996 and credits the EDP staff with providing her with tools for success. “EDP and Fredonia taught me to be ambitious; that the sky is the limit,” Ms. Brignoni-Waliczek said. “There are no barriers. Language, education, finances—you can overcome all of them.”
EDP Director Kathleen Bonds also announced that numerous students would be singled out for their academic success. “Public recognition of our students’ achievements in the classroom not only encourages them to continue to excel, but also challenges other students in the program to strive for their own measures of success,” she said. “These awards also give the staff of EDP the opportunity to thank the campus and community, with whom we work closely throughout the year, for their assistance in realizing our mission to serve the students in this program.”
Students who will receive awards this year are Terrill Ocona, sophomore sociology major from Brooklyn (Director’s Award); Sara Schelling, senior middle childhood-math major from Fredonia (Outstanding EDP Tutor of the Year); and Timothy Lupo, senior marketing major from Ithaca (Gregory Antonio Memorial Award). The Arthur O. Eve Scholarship will be presented to Edward Fourcell (junior music business major from New York City), Harrison Santiago (junior audio/radio major from the Bronx), and Allen Thomas (senior childhood education-social studies major from Dunkirk). A total of 12 EDP students will be honored with the EDP Community Service Award: Glendalys Arrendell (junior management major from the Bronx), Erika Brooks (sophomore early childhood education-English major from Brooklyn), Lauren Byrd (junior music business major from Buffalo), Nathan Cogar (sophomore TV/digital film major from Middleport), Francis Cuello (sophomore marketing major from New York City), Elvira Gonzalez (junior finance major from the Bronx), Brittney Jones (sophomore acting major from Syracuse), Antoinetta Ratleff (sophomore marketing major from Syracuse), Isela Rodriguez (sophomore economics major from Long Island), Jacob Valla (sophomore liberal arts major from Rochester), Lauren Williams (sophomore liberal arts major from Syracuse), and Danielle Zamboroski (junior business major from West Seneca).
Staff members at the Fredonia College Foundation and the University Advancement Division will receive the program’s Exemplary Service Award.
In addition, 23 EDP students who earned a 3.3 grade-point average or better while completing 12 or more credit hours during the Spring 2006 and Fall 2006 semesters will receive a gold academic certificate. A total of 43 EDP students who earned a 2.7-3.29 grade-point average will receive a silver certificate.
Prior to the awards ceremony, 16 students will be inducted into the Alpha Mu chapter of Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society (XAE). Inductees include EDP and Full Opportunity Program students who achieved a cumulative 3.0 grade-point average or higher for two consecutive semesters while attending SUNY Fredonia full time.
