Alumni Encouraged to "Get Back" to GCC

Homecoming 2014 Offers Walk Down Alumni (Abbey) Road

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A promotional poster for Alumni Road featuring Ron Spiotta as George, Cliff Scutella as Paul, Mike Crittenden as Ringo and Rick Dudkowski as John

BATAVIA, NY (08/05/2014)(readMedia)-- Celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Beatles arrival in America, GCC welcomes alumni to "Get Back" to campus this fall for Homecoming Weekend, September 26-27, 2014. Borrowing from The Beatles "Abbey Road" album, Homecoming will be a walk down "Alumni Road." Promotional artwork for the event features GCC's own "Beatles," long-time faculty and staff who took on the roles of George, Paul, Ringo and John for the College's Alumni Road album cover.

"I thought I'd made it to the top rank when I became a full professor. I didn't realize I could be promoted from there to Beatle," said Physics Professor Michael Crittenden, who portrays Ringo Star. Crittenden is the longest serving full-time faculty member at the College. He arrived on campus in 1981, and is a huge fan not only of the original Fab Four, but also of GCC's own quartet as well. "They're all good guys. GCC is fortunate to have a lot of exceptional people."

Crittenden wasn't the only GCC Beatle to join the College staff in 1981. Athletics Assistant Ron Spiotta also started work on campus that year. Spiotta, aka George Harrison, recalls his days at GCC as a student in the early '70s when he spent "an inordinate amount of time in the game room." Spoofing the Fab Four was a treat. "I enjoy the Beatles music as it literally shaped my youth."

Professor Rick Dudkowski stands out in a white suit, just like his Beatle John Lennon wore on the Abbey Road cover. Dudkowski joined GCC in 1984 and has grown the Fashion Business program into one of the College's signature programs. He has received a number of honors, most recently being recognized with the 2014 Northeast Region Faculty Member Award from the Association of Community College Trustees. Doing the Alumni Road photo shoot "reminded me about how much fun we have at GCC."

Student Activities Director Cliff Scutella came to GCC in 1990 from Monroe Community College. "This was so much fun to do," he said of portraying Paul McCartney. Cliff remains a Beatles fan, and retains ownership of a 45 RPM record that has two of his favorite songs "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and "I Saw Her Standing There." Cliff speaks highly of his fellow GCC Beatles. "I think we all did a great job projecting what they would look like now, but Rick nailed the outfit. Go figure!"

GCC alumni from all years, as well as the public in general are all invited to Homecoming 2014, Alumni Road. The two-day event kicks off with track one, the "Come Together" Happier Hour in the lobby of the Stuart Steiner Theatre on Friday evening, and continues through Saturday with more than ten fun events. The newest event, entitled "The Long and Winding Road" is the "Fun" Raising Our Future 5K Run (or walk) scheduled on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 10 a.m. Participants pay just $20 (by Sept. 24) to walk or run the designated course that encircles GCC's Batavia Campus. Proceeds support GCC's student scholarships. To register go to: www.gccfoundation.kintera.org/5K

Other new events still in development are the first ever Alumni Baseball Game for all former players and coaches, and also a 9-hole, two person scramble golf tournament held at Batavia Country Club. Ron Spiotta encourages any interested participants to contact him for details by calling 585-343-0055 x 6406.

"The idea for Alumni Road featuring GCC's own Fab Four started with our fun-loving Homecoming Planning Committee and then the College's Marketing Communications staff ran with the concept. It wasn't hard convincing our faculty and staff to join the fun," Jackie Christenson, alumni coordinator said. "We are excited about the coming events and invite the whole community to enjoy the festive weekend. Coming together, indeed!"

A full schedule of Homecoming activities is available online at www.genesee.edu/alumni/homecoming.

For more information, contact Alumni Coordinator Jackie Christenson at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6265, or via email: jkchristenson@genesee.edu.

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Editor's Note:

A PDF of the promotional poster for Alumni Road featuring Ron Spiotta as George, Cliff Scutella as Paul, Mike Crittenden as Ringo and Rick Dudkowski as John, is available here:

http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/Homecoming2014_Poster1.jpg

A group photo of GCC's Fab Four inside the College's new Roz Steiner Art Gallery is available at:

http://marketing.genesee.edu/images/GCCs_Fab _Four.jpg