On Wednesday, Dec. 8 a holiday pottery sale will be held in the Multipurpose Room of the Williams Center from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. to benefit the Criminal Justice Scholarship Fund. Local potters will be selling their handcrafted mugs, trays, bowls, and jewelry and also donating a portion of their proceeds to benefit the Criminal Justice Scholarship Fund (CJSF). The pottery sale is a yearly event held to generate revenue for the CJSF started by the University Police Department.
Potters include SUNY Fredonia staff members Dr. Sally Turner, Counseling Center Director; Biology Associate Professor Dr. Ted Lee, School of Music Director of Facility and Special Events Marc Levy and University Police Chief Ann Burns. Other potters who will be selling their works are Michele Ballachino, Vicky Parks, Carol Samuelson, and Cynthia Fitzgerald.
CJSF was started in July 2009 by Lieutenant Clifton Wheeler. He recognized a 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 $10,000 endowment reward to present to a deserving criminal justice student.
Ann Burns noted that, “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.” This is considered an important contribution and act of dedication by UPD employees, especially during the tough economic times and unstable economy in the past few years.
In addition to the pottery sale and personal donations by employees, the UPD 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 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.
