GCC Foundation Board Member Receives Prestigious Award

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Norbert (Norb) J. Fuest, NYCCT Benefactor Vision for Tomorrow Award Recipient

BATAVIA, NY (08/21/2013)(readMedia)-- Amazing fundraiser, tireless advocate, effective recruiter, passionate leader and highly effective facilitator; all of these describe Norbert (Norb) J. Fuest, a member of the Genesee Community College Foundation Board of Directors since 1995. In recognition of all he has given GCC, the College's Board of Trustees recently nominated Mr. Fuest for the highest award given by the New York Community College Trustees (NYCCT) organization to benefactors for their commitment to their local community college. NYCCT selected Norb to receive the Benefactor Vision for Tomorrow Award. He will be recognized at the organization's fall conference.

Norb's commitment to GCC is nothing short of amazing. He joined the Foundation Board of Directors in 1995 and has been one of the most active members in his service. He served as first vice president and then president of the Foundation Board. Since 2003, Mr. Fuest has also been a member of the Foundation's Housing Services Corporation and has served as its president since 2006. He has served as a volunteer, team leader or division chair in nearly all of the annual fund raising campaigns and events and for two capital initiatives that resulted in construction of GCC's technology building and student union. He also served on the College's Presidential Search Advisory Committee in 2011-12.

Mr. Fuest's extraordinary support has significantly enhanced the College's student scholarship program, which has grown during his tenure from awarding approximately 200 scholarships annually to 550. The scholarship budget now exceeds $350,000, nearly three times what it was when Norb started.

He has also been instrumental in the growth of student housing programs at College Village. During his tenure on the board of the Foundation Housing Services Corporation, two new residence halls have been built, others have undergone extensive renovation, new programs have been developed and more students are being served.

Mr. Fuest's volunteer work is not limited to the College. He has served many other organizations in the area including Genesee Area Personnel Association, Wyoming County United Way, and New York State Workforce Investment Board. He was also a member of the Attica Central School Board for 18 years. He has received the Boy Scouts Distinguished Citizen Award, the Business Education Council Outstanding Partner in Education Award, and the Leadership Wyoming Leaders Award.

For 28 years Mr. Fuest has been the Human Resources Manager for Morton Salt, Inc. in Silver Springs, NY. He and his wife Marilyn have been married for 41 years and have four children and three grandchildren. They reside in Darien Center, New York.

"We can never thank Norb enough for all he's done for Genesee Community College," said Rick Ensman, director of Development and External Affairs. "He truly 'walks the walk and talks the talk' of a community member who works to foster good citizenship among its residents. He is an outstanding role model for others in this area."

The Benefactor Vision of Tomorrow Award is given based on level of involvement, how the involvement has improved the quality of education and/or services at the community college, and the benefactor's vision and motivation for being involved.

For more information, contact Marketing Communications Associate Director Donna Rae Sutherland at (585) 343-0055 ext. 6616, or via email: dsutherland@genesee.edu.

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Editor's Note:

A photograph of Mr. Fuest is available at:

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