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NCCC Distinguished Alumni Award
The NCCC Distinguished Alumni Award, first given in 1988, is presented each year to graduates of NCCC who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in their life, career, and volunteer activities. The award is one of the highest honors that the College bestows to those who can point to NCCC as the place where they obtained their start. Recipients are selected based on professional and personal accomplishments, community service, and unique background.
Nomination Criteria
- The nominated individual must have completed 50 or more credit hours at NCCC to be considered for this award. It is strongly recommended they are a graduate.
- Nominees must have graduated or transferred from NCCC 10 or more years ago.
- Nominees cannot be current NCCC, NCCC Foundation, NCCC Alumni Association, NCCC College Association, or Housing Board employees or Board members.
- Nominees are to be retired from the entities mentioned above for two years prior to September 1 of the nominating year.
- Persons running for political office will not be considered during the campaign period.
- Nominees must be nominated by someone other than themselves.
Guidelines & Procedures
- Complete & submit the Distinguished Alumni application brochure.
- Answer all questions in a 1-page narrative.
- Include a resume. A bio can be submitted if a resume isn’t available. If you submit a bio, please include why there is no resume. A resume or bio is not considered a replacement for the 1-page narrative.
- Completed nominations must be submitted to the Alumni Office by Wednesday, May 4, 2022.
Applications can be submitted online using the button below or you can mail in a copy of the award form along with the 1-page narrative and resume.
Mailing Address for Printed Applications:
NCCC Alumni Office, 3111 Saunders Settlement Rd., Sanborn, NY 14132
2021 Distinguished Alumni Recipients
Muriel Anderson graduated from Niagara County Community College in 1983 with her Associate’s Degree in Accounting. She then continued on her education receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in 1987 and Master’s Degree in 2000 in Accounting from the University at Buffalo.
While earning her degrees, Muriel worked as the Vice President and Deputy Auditor for M&T Bank. In 2000, Muriel joined UB as a Faculty member dividing her time between the School of Management Departments of Accounting & Law and Organization & Human Resources. Her teaching experience at UB includes both undergraduate and graduate coursework in the principles of accounting, principles of business, human resource management, career management, and leadership. Muriel has also served as the Faculty Co-Director of UB’s MBA Leader CORE program from 2010-2013 and served as a Coach in the program from 2014-2017.
In 2014, Muriel joined NCCC’s Accounting Program Advisory Committee. Muriel’s experience provided the Committee with important information to help NCCC students transfer and continue their education at UB in Accounting or Finance. She has also served on NCCC’s Program Excellence Evaluation Review (PEER) Committee in 2015 and will be doing so again in 2020.
In addition to her dedication to education, Muriel has written and been published in a number of publications and book reviews. She has also participated in numerous professional development series as well as managing her own business, Muriel T. Anderson, CPA in which she provides tax and account services to approximately 50 clients.
She has been recognized for her excellence in teaching and in her field as the recipient of the Arjang A. Assad Excellence in Teacher Award, the UB School of Management Outstanding Contributions in Teaching Award, the UB School of Management Undergraduate teacher of the Year Award five times, and several student service awards. Beyond the SUNY system, Muriel volunteers her time as the treasurer for Hope for Sisi’s Kids, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and education of children in a rural area of Ghana, Africa.
While earning her degrees, Muriel worked as the Vice President and Deputy Auditor for M&T Bank. In 2000, Muriel joined UB as a Faculty member dividing her time between the School of Management Departments of Accounting & Law and Organization & Human Resources. Her teaching experience at UB includes both undergraduate and graduate coursework in the principles of accounting, principles of business, human resource management, career management, and leadership. Muriel has also served as the Faculty Co-Director of UB’s MBA Leader CORE program from 2010-2013 and served as a Coach in the program from 2014-2017.
In 2014, Muriel joined NCCC’s Accounting Program Advisory Committee. Muriel’s experience provided the Committee with important information to help NCCC students transfer and continue their education at UB in Accounting or Finance. She has also served on NCCC’s Program Excellence Evaluation Review (PEER) Committee in 2015 and will be doing so again in 2020.
In addition to her dedication to education, Muriel has written and been published in a number of publications and book reviews. She has also participated in numerous professional development series as well as managing her own business, Muriel T. Anderson, CPA in which she provides tax and account services to approximately 50 clients.
She has been recognized for her excellence in teaching and in her field as the recipient of the Arjang A. Assad Excellence in Teacher Award, the UB School of Management Outstanding Contributions in Teaching Award, the UB School of Management Undergraduate teacher of the Year Award five times, and several student service awards. Beyond the SUNY system, Muriel volunteers her time as the treasurer for Hope for Sisi’s Kids, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health and education of children in a rural area of Ghana, Africa.
JoAnn Pellegrino graduated from Niagara County Community College in 1997 with her Associate’s Degree in Nursing. Upon graduation, JoAnn continued her education at Roberts Wesleyan College receiving her Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing and her Master’s Degree in Nursing Education.
While earning her degrees, JoAnn worked as an ICU nurse at Medina Hospital and Lakeside Memorial Hospital. She was promoted at Lakeside Memorial Hospital to Director of Nursing Surgical Services in the Maternity and Central Sterile Processing unit. After many years of applying her education in hands-on nursing roles, JoAnn went on to inspire other generations of nurses as an Adjunct Nursing Instructor at Niagara University and Roberts Wesleyan College.
In addition to educating students, JoAnn also makes strong contributions to Niagara County through her role as Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. In this position, JoAnn has led the hospital through rigorous processing to attain the nation’s highest medical accreditations which allows nurses to focus more on improving treatment, helping patients avoid readmission or emergency visits, and look at nurse retention and satisfaction levels.
Throughout this time, JoAnn has never forgotten her connection with NCCC. She continues to remain involved with the College by attending the annual NCCC Foundation Scholarship Gala and Leadership Luncheon. She has also served as the keynote speaker for the Nursing and Allied Health graduation ceremony in 2018 and is a current member of the NCCC Nursing Advisory Board.
JoAnn has been recognized for her excellence in nursing and serves on several additional boards including, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, NYS Nurses Association, and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. All of these actions show her true commitment to improving the quality of lives and health in Niagara County all while continuing to give back to NCCC to ensure a bright future for the next generation of students and alumni.
While earning her degrees, JoAnn worked as an ICU nurse at Medina Hospital and Lakeside Memorial Hospital. She was promoted at Lakeside Memorial Hospital to Director of Nursing Surgical Services in the Maternity and Central Sterile Processing unit. After many years of applying her education in hands-on nursing roles, JoAnn went on to inspire other generations of nurses as an Adjunct Nursing Instructor at Niagara University and Roberts Wesleyan College.
In addition to educating students, JoAnn also makes strong contributions to Niagara County through her role as Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center. In this position, JoAnn has led the hospital through rigorous processing to attain the nation’s highest medical accreditations which allows nurses to focus more on improving treatment, helping patients avoid readmission or emergency visits, and look at nurse retention and satisfaction levels.
Throughout this time, JoAnn has never forgotten her connection with NCCC. She continues to remain involved with the College by attending the annual NCCC Foundation Scholarship Gala and Leadership Luncheon. She has also served as the keynote speaker for the Nursing and Allied Health graduation ceremony in 2018 and is a current member of the NCCC Nursing Advisory Board.
JoAnn has been recognized for her excellence in nursing and serves on several additional boards including, the Association of periOperative Registered Nurses, Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, NYS Nurses Association, and the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology. All of these actions show her true commitment to improving the quality of lives and health in Niagara County all while continuing to give back to NCCC to ensure a bright future for the next generation of students and alumni.
Previous Distinguished Alumni Recipients
Check out the complete list of our previous Distinguished Alumni Award recipients with biographies and photos from the time of their induction. Search and explore by using their first or last name, their induction year, or the year they graduated!
Contact
NCCC Foundation, Inc.
Deborah Brewer, Director
3111 Saunders Settlement Rd.
Sanborn, NY 14132
Phone: 716-614-5911
Cell: 716-438-6388
Fax: 716-614-5913
Email: dbrewer@niagaracc.suny.edu
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