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Dec 20
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Niagara Falls Culinary Institute

NFCI plans active shooter drill for Tuesday, January 7, 2020

By News Archive

December 20, 2019

An active shooter response drill will be conducted at the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute (NFCI) on Tuesday, January 7, 2020.  Under the direction of the Niagara Falls Police Department, staging will begin at 8:00 a.m. and the drill is scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m. The event is closed to the public.

The drill is being conducted to test the emergency phone notification system (RAVE system) as well as the response from the SUNY Niagara Public Safety Department.  As part of the drill, the College will be collaborating with other first responders, including the Niagara Falls Police Department and the Niagara Falls Fire Department.  A debriefing session will take place following the drill to assess the response from all participants.

This event is part of continuing training to improve safety on campus.  A similar drill was conducted on the Sanborn campus of SUNY Niagara on Friday, July 26, 2019.

Dec 18
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Patrice Elnicki

Elnicki named Interim VP of Finance at SUNY Niagara

By News Archive

December 18, 2019

SUNY Niagara has appointed Patrice Elnicki of Sanborn, NY as Interim Vice President of Finance and Information Technology. Elnicki assumed this post-effective Monday, December 9, 2019, and will continue in the interim position until a permanent replacement has been named. She has been with SUNY Niagara since 2005, most recently serving as Director of Financial Accounting and Reporting.

Elnicki is a Certified Public Accountant in New York State and received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Valparaiso University in Indiana. She is a member of the New York State Community College Business Officers’ Association.

Dec 17
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SUNY Niagara Opening Weekend 2019

SUNY Niagara First Ever Day of Giving a Big Success

By News Archive

December 17, 2019

SUNY Niagara participated in its first-ever “Day of Giving” on Tuesday, December 3, 2019.  Thunderwolves from all over – faculty, staff, students, alumni, and friends – came together to raise $6,620. Their donations will go towards programs that continue to support students and further SUNY Niagara’s mission.

One of the programs includes the SUNY Niagara Poetry on the Edge reading series which brings the best local and national poets to campus for readings, workshops, and classroom visits. In addition, programs such as SUNY Niagara Honors and the SUNY Niagara Student Showcase received donations to help fund yearly awards to students for their academic achievements.

Gifts both large and small poured in during this fundraising marathon and we are proud and grateful for all those who came together to make this day a success.

Although SUNY Niagara’s Day of Giving is over, the Foundation Office continues to support the mission of the College year-round.  For more information on the SUNY Niagara Foundation, please visit the website niagaracc.suny.edu/foundation/  or call 716-614-5911.

Dec 16
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Group of Elementary Pupils Outside Classroom

NYS Liberty Partnerships Program launches new website

By News Archive

December 16, 2019

The Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) launched its new website and brand on November 18, 2019, with an intentional focus on the deep and positive impact their work has on supporting NYS students who are at risk of dropping out of school.

The website heavily features the success stories of LPP alumni who have benefitted from its social-emotional, academic, family, and professional development services and gone on to either complete higher education or find meaningful employment. Additionally, the site highlights the enormous growth of the program as it has developed over the past 30 years of service to New York State. Now with 46 sites in partner schools across 10 regions of the State, LPP supports more than 15,000 students per year.

“As we embarked on the website rebranding project,” says Amy Humphrey, LPP Marketing Committee Co-Chair “we knew we wanted the attention to be on our students and alumni. Their hard work and continued engagement in LPP is what drives us forward and inspires the work we do every day.”

Founded in 1988 with the first cohort starting in 1989, LPP supports students through a broad range of programming and one-on-one sessions focused on social-emotional, academic, and personal/professional development to encourage retention. It aims to engage students holistically, giving them the tools they need to succeed and supporting them in all aspects of life, including family dynamics. With the ultimate goal of helping them graduate from high school and either pursue higher education or join the workforce, LPP is using its new website to focus on program outcomes, highlight select alumni accomplishments, and focus on the strengths of its current participants.

Along with the new web presence, Liberty Partnerships Program is proud to announce the 30 for 30 campaign that encourages alumni to share their stories with the public and inspire investments in the future of students. The organization is asking potential donors to contribute in increments of $30 in recognition of 30 years of service to students throughout New York State. LPP seeks to demonstrate the significant impact their services have, not only on individual students, but on the NYS educational landscape and society as a whole. All funds donated will go to Friends of Liberty, a 501c3 dedicated to supporting NYS LPP’s mission.

“We continue to see an increased number of students in need of these services to help make it to graduation,” says Lisa Kulka, President of the Friends of Liberty “By raising both funding and awareness of the need, we are investing in the next 30 years of students’ social-emotional, academic, and professional growth.”

The Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP) was established in 1988 under Section 612, Subdivision 6 of the Education Law to address the significantly elevated, high school dropout rate among New York’s youth. The authorizing legislation stated, “the failure of many young New Yorkers to complete their secondary education limited their opportunity for a life of fulfillment, prevents them from advancing into postsecondary education and hinders the State’s efforts to provide a well-trained workforce for business and industry in New York.”
The Program is included in the New York State Education Department’s Statewide Plan for Higher Education as part of its strategy to maximize the successful transition of middle and high school students who are at risk of dropping out of school into graduates who are fully prepared for the rigors of higher education and the competitive demands of the workplace.

For more information on Liberty Partnerships Programs, contact Lisa Kulka at lkulka@buffalo.edu or visit their new website at https://libertypartnerships.com/.

Dec 12
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Girl Power Volleyball Tournament Held at SUNY Niagara

Girl Power Volleyball Tournament Held at SUNY Niagara

By News Archive

December 12, 2019

SUNY Niagara hosted a “Girl Power” youth volleyball tournament on December 11, 2019 for over one hundred girls from Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda intermediate schools as part of a $400,000 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.  The three-year grant supports a youth sport/leadership program between SUNY Niagara and the Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda School districts. The Wilson Foundation is currently driving the “Project Play: Western New York” initiative aimed at getting and keeping more youth in sports. The three schools participating this semester are North Tonawanda Intermediate, Cataract, and Hyde Park Middle Schools in Niagara Falls.  The participants are girls ages 11-12 from each of the school’s fifth-grade classes.

For the past several weeks, the girls have participated in a series of youth volleyball training programs that included leadership instruction in support of the principles outlined in the “State of Play: Western New York” report.  Participants concluded their training yesterday with a “friendship tournament” held at the SUNY Niagara Sanborn campus.

School representatives from the middle schools said the participants’ attendance improved on the days that they had volleyball because they did not want to miss the practice.   Katie Smith, from North Tonawanda Intermediate School, said, “There are so many great things about this program. In addition to having an opportunity for physical fitness, the girls formed friendships with each other and nurturing relationships with the coach/mentors.”

“College students from the SUNY Niagara Physical Education, Childhood Education, Recreation Studies and Sports Management programs have received training as coaches which support the College’s mission to provide experiential learning and enrich and strengthen the educational experience for all students involved,” said Dr. William Murabito, SUNY Niagara President. “These students can then possibly obtain future employment as coaches; provide community outreach and instill a lifelong appreciation of sports and physical fitness that will result in healthy life choices for the participants.”

Two new schools will participate in the Girl Power program in the spring – 79th Street School and Harry F. Abate School.  In addition, organizers plan to offer a Girl Power summer camp and expand programming to include talks on nutrition and opportunities in STEM.  For more information on the Girl Power program: http://niagaracc.suny.edu/girl-power/

About the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation:

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is a grantmaking organization dedicated primarily to sustained investment in the quality of life of the people of Southeast Michigan and Western New York. The two areas reflect Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.’s devotion to his hometown of Detroit and greater Buffalo, home of his Buffalo Bills franchise. Prior to his passing in 2014, Mr. Wilson requested that a significant share of his estate be used to continue a life-long generosity of spirit by funding the Foundation that bears his name. The Foundation has a grantmaking capacity of $1.2 billion over a 20-year period, which expires January 8, 2035. This structure is consistent with Mr. Wilson’s desire for the Foundation’s impact to be immediate, substantial, measurable and overseen by those who knew him best. For more information visit www.rcwjrf.org

About SUNY Niagara:

SUNY Niagara is one of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York, the largest public university system in the country. The College provides more than 50 academic programs to over 5,000 students and is funded by the Niagara County Legislature, the State University of New York, and student tuition. For more information visit niagaracc.suny.edu

Nov 27
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Dr. William J. Murabito as the seventh President of SUNY Niagara

Murabito Praised as Permanent SUNY Niagara President

By News Archive

November 27, 2019

Dr. William J. Murabito is set to become the seventh president of SUNY Niagara and one of the final steps was the approval of his contract by the SUNY Niagara Board of Trustees at the meeting held last night.  The State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees announced the appointment of Dr.  Murabito as president on November 20 at their SUNY Trustee meeting in Albany, effective December 1, 2019.

For the past two years, Dr. Murabito has served as interim president of SUNY Niagara.

Dr. Murabito, whose educational career spans more than 50 years, was selected following a national search that began in September.

“Throughout the search process, there was a focus on collaboration and finding a candidate who could move the college forward,” said Trustee Gina Virtuoso, SUNY Niagara Finance Chair and Co-Chair of the Presidential Search Committee. “With Dr. Murabito’s background and experience, he has already accomplished so much.  I am excited to see what the future will bring for SUNY Niagara.”

Other community leaders commented on Dr. Murabito’s appointment:

Assemblyman Angelo J. Morinello (R, C, I, Ref-Niagara Falls) praised Dr. Murabito’ s appointment as President of SUNY Niagara, “Dr. Murabito’ s dedication and experience cultivating community partnerships will prove invaluable at addressing the workforce challenges facing our region.”

Wm. Keith McNall, Chairman of the Niagara County Legislature, commented, “I believe Dr. Murabito will provide a dedicated commitment in bringing state of the art educational opportunities to SUNY Niagara and as such will broaden curriculum and increase enrollment.”  “The implementation of the STEM Center project that Dr. Murabito brought to the Niagara County Legislature for review and consideration would be a great move forward for SUNY Niagara, for future students, and for the residents of Niagara County.”

“Dr. Murabito is recognized as a collaborative and inspiring leader and these skills are precisely what we need in the next president of SUNY Niagara,” said Paul A. Dyster, Mayor of Niagara Falls, NY.  “He brings a depth and breadth of experience in higher education to lead SUNY Niagara into the future.”

Town of Cambria Supervisor Wright H. Ellis said Dr. Murabito plays a vital role in facilitating support for the STEM Center Project at SUNY Niagara in Niagara County and in Albany.  “Additionally, his tenure as Interim President has enriched the citizens of Niagara County and the Town of Cambria, as well as the SUNY Niagara family.” “I look forward to him continuing his exemplary contribution to our community life,” Ellis said.”

Nov 21
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Female volleyball team exercising indoors on volleyball court

SUNY Niagara Receives $400,000 grant from Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation to support Youth Volleyball Program

By News Archive

November 21, 2019

The SUNY Niagara Foundation announces that they are the recipient of a $400,000 grant from the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation.  This three-year grant supports a youth sport/leadership program between SUNY Niagara and the Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda School Districts. The Wilson Foundation is currently driving the “Project Play: Western New York” initiative aimed at getting and keeping more youth in sports. The initiative is rooted in the knowledge that sports can not only seed lifelong healthy habits in kids but also build character, social skills and improve educational outcomes.

Girls from each of the eight Niagara Falls elementary schools along with girls from the North Tonawanda intermediate school will participate in a series of youth volleyball training programs that will include leadership instruction that support the principles outlined in the “State of Play: Western New York” report.  Participants will culminate their training programs with a “friendship tournament” that will be held at the SUNY Niagara Sanborn campus. By adhering to the principles outlined in the report, this project will introduce the sport of volleyball to youth participants, striving to instill an appreciation for free play. In addition, the collaboration planned with local agencies that include the local Recreation Departments, Boys and Girls Club, Athletic Departments, and local volleyball clubs, will allow the opportunity for continued participation throughout their developmental years.

Students from the SUNY Niagara Physical Education Teacher Preparation, Childhood Education, Recreation Studies, and Sports Management program will receive training to serve as the on-site coaches for this program.   This will provide the SUNY Niagara students with applied learning that supports and enhances their college educational experience.  The Niagara Falls and North Tonawanda varsity players will also serve as coaches to facilitate a seamless transition for the youth participants to eventually transition into mentor coaches.

“This youth volleyball program is a great example of creative collaboration in a community that will not only introduce more girls to a new sports experience but will also help to grow the next generation of female coaches in the region,” said Jim Boyle, vice president of programs & communications, Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation. “We hope this type of model can be replicated with other sports and programs across our communities.”

Information on registering for the program can be found on the Girl Power website: http://niagaracc.suny.edu/girl-power/
A press conference will be held at the friendship tournament on Wednesday, December 11, 2019, at 3:30 p.m. in the Main Gym at SUNY Niagara, 3111 Saunders Settlement Road, Sanborn, NY.

 

About the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation:

The Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. Foundation is a grantmaking organization dedicated primarily to sustained investment in the quality of life of the people of Southeast Michigan and Western New York. The two areas reflect Ralph C. Wilson, Jr.’s devotion to his hometown of Detroit and greater Buffalo, home of his Buffalo Bills franchise. Prior to his passing in 2014, Mr. Wilson requested that a significant share of his estate be used to continue a life-long generosity of spirit by funding the Foundation that bears his name. The Foundation has a grantmaking capacity of $1.2 billion over a 20-year period, which expires January 8, 2035. This structure is consistent with Mr. Wilson’s desire for the Foundation’s impact to be immediate, substantial, measurable and overseen by those who knew him best. For more information visit www.rcwjrf.org

About SUNY Niagara:

SUNY Niagarais one of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York, the largest public university system in the country. The College provides more than 50 academic programs to over 5,000 students and is funded by the Niagara County Legislature, the State University of New York, and student tuition. For more information visit niagaracc.suny.edu

Nov 20
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Dr. William J. Murabito as the seventh President of SUNY Niagara

SUNY Niagara Names New President

By News Archive

November 20, 2019

The State University of New York Board of Trustees in conjunction with the Board of Trustees of SUNY Niagara today announced the appointment of Dr. William J. Murabito as the seventh President of the institution.

For the past two years, Dr. Murabito has served as interim president for SUNY Niagara. In his capacity as interim, Dr. Murabito developed and executed an action plan for the campus including successful regional accreditation from Middle States and program accreditation for nursing and surgical technology.

SUNY Niagara Board of Trustees Chairman William L. Ross said the SUNY Niagara Board of Trustees looks forward to continuing working with Dr. Murabito.  “Since the beginning of his interim role as president in fall 2017, Dr. Murabito brought stability to the SUNY Niagara campus by negotiating a contract for faculty, redesigning the role of the College Association, and the laying the foundation for the STEM Center funding,”  Ross said.  “Dr. Murabito has proven to be a collaborative, strategic leader and we are confident that he will continue to provide strong leadership to SUNY Niagara going forward.”

Dr. Murabito’s appointment is effective December 1, 2019.

About Dr. William J. Murabito

Dr. Murabito served several SUNY institutions as interim president including SUNY Morrisville, SUNY Sullivan, SUNY Cobleskill, as well as leading as chief executive office and officer in charge for Rockland Community College. He also held positions as vice president for student affairs and enrollment management and director of admissions at SUNYIT (now SUNY Polytechnic Institute); director of counseling services at Alfred State College; director of development at Parkland College in Illinois, and director of financial aid at Mohawk Valley Community College.

Dr. Murabito earned his doctorate in Philosophy in Higher Education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in Champaign, IL; a Master of Science in Student Personnel and Guidance from the University at Albany; and a earned his bachelor’s degree from Buffalo State College.

Nov 19
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Students from SUNY Niagara’s Future Leaders

SUNY Niagara Future Leaders engage in community service

By News Archive

November 19, 2019

As part of the Liberty Partnerships Future Leaders program at SUNY Niagara, students from Lockport High School and North Park Junior High School will be focusing their community service efforts on environmental improvements this year.  The high school students kicked off the yearlong project on October 21 with a community clean up.  Liberty Partnerships Students identified the overall need as well as a few key areas that would benefit from their efforts.  In addition to picking up litter, the project has prompted them to spread awareness about recycling and empower others to put garbage in its place.

As part of this project, students researched some alarming statistics:

  • Paper products make up 22% of the liter that is currently in the world
  • More than 250 million tons of trash is produced each year
  • An estimated 1.4 billion pounds of litter winds up in the oceans each year
  • Over 100,000 marine animals die every year from plastic entanglement and ingestion
  • New York produces about 14 million tons of trash a week
  • On average a New Yorker throws away about 25 pounds of trash a week

North Park Jr. High School students teamed up with Niagara Region Park Interpretive Program.  The Niagara Park Program identified the need for more bat boxes throughout the region.  A guest speaker attended the Liberty after school program on November 7 to introduce the students to the benefits of bats, facts surrounding the declining bat population, and what students can do to help.  Many residents do not realize that increasing the bat population will reduce the mosquito population and promote plant pollination.  Students will assemble bat boxes of their own to be installed at specific locations in Niagara County.

Future Leaders Liberty Partnerships Program at SUNY Niagara is sponsored by a New York State Department of Education Grant and currently serves over 300 students throughout Western New York.  The program supports youth throughout Niagara County with college and career pathway planning.  Liberty Partnerships assists students with life and social skills, mentoring, leadership, service learning, community service, wellness, and social/emotional development.

For more information on how your child can be a participant in the SUNY Niagara Future Leaders Liberty Partnerships Program, contact Jamie Reid jreid@niagaracc.suny.edu or 716-614-6891

Nov 12
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Gingerbread Wonderland

NFCI presents sweet holiday tradition of Gingerbread Wonderland for 8th year

By News Archive

November 12, 2019

The talented students and chefs of the baking and pastry arts program at the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute (NFCI) have been working for months now planning and now building the life-size gingerbread village that is a part of Gingerbread Wonderland.  This colorful, edible masterpiece takes approximately 3,000 man-hours to complete and is comprised of 1,200 pounds of gingerbread, 2,400 pounds of royal icing, 400 pounds of edible decorations and tiles, and 100 pounds of fondant.  Last year’s creation was featured in Food and Wine’s list of “7 Magical Gingerbread Houses to See This Season” and this year promises to impress with a new design for guests to enjoy.

As if a giant gingerbread house wasn’t sweet enough, NFCI also offers a variety of holiday-themed activities for the whole family to enjoy.  Starting Saturday, November 30th through Sunday, December 22, visitors can experience live entertainment, face painting, cookie decorating, crafts, and even visits with Santa Claus himself!  The hours are Fridays, from 5 to 8 p.m.; Saturdays, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Sundays, from Noon to 4 p.m.

For those who wish to view a variety of smaller gingerbread houses, entries in the annual competition sponsored by Delaware North can be viewed from Thursday, December 5th through Tuesday, December 10.  Those interested in other activities might enjoy an ice carving demonstration on Old Falls Street on Saturday, December 7 at 12:00 p.m. or the train show featured on Saturday, December 14-Sunday, December 15.  One of the final special events of the season at NFCI will be a magic show on Saturday, December 21 at 2:00 p.m.

The Niagara Falls Culinary Institute is located at 28 Old Falls Street, Niagara Falls, NY.  For more information on the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute’s Gingerbread Wonderland, visit www.nfculinary.org/gingerbread.