Honors Convocation Named For Retired SUNY Canton Professor Sheldon Katz

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SUNY Canton Professor Emeritus Sheldon Katz is the college's 2016 Honors Convocation namesake. Photo by Dimitri Fotos of Photos by Fotos.

CANTON, NY (04/12/2016)(readMedia)-- SUNY Canton Provost Douglas M. Scheidt has announced that the college's 2016 Honors Convocation has been named in honor of Professor Emeritus Sheldon Katz.

"Professor Katz is one of the premiere examples of an extraordinary SUNY Canton educator," Scheidt said. "He used his professional experience as a professional engineer to enhance his students learning opportunities. He embodies the hands-on spirit we infuse in our courses."

More than 150 students will receive academic awards at Honors Convocation this year. The event will be held at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, in Roos House Convocation, Athletic and Recreation Center.

Katz began his 28-year career at SUNY Canton in 1969 as an Assistant Professor in Mechanical Technology. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 1972, and Professor in 1975. He retired from SUNY Canton in 1997.

Michael J. Newtown, interim dean of the Canino School of Engineering Technology was one of Katz's students.

"Sheldon demanded high standards from his students without ever saying a single word about why we should strive for success," Newtown said. "His lessons made me successful throughout my life. I try to instill the same sense of responsibility in my students."

During his time at the College, Katz was chair of the Mechanical Engineering Technology department and was the advisor to the Delta Kappa Sigma fraternity from 1981 to 1992. He participated in the faculty exchange program with Norwich City College in England in 1995. He was an actor for Music Theatre North and a regular participant and board member of the Grasse River Players.

After retirement, Katz moved to Maryland with his wife, Barbara. He briefly tutored at Chesapeake College in Wye Mills, Md. He is a member of North Country Public Radio, the Annapolis Traditional Dance Society, the Dover, Del., English Country Dancers and the Folklore Society of Greater Washington. He participates in the Acoustic Jam in Laurel, Md.

"This was certainly an unexpected honor," Katz said. "I loved my time at SUNY Canton and I loved working with the students. It's always a pleasure to come back and I'm looking forward to sharing a day with the top students at the college."

Prior to his celebrated career at SUNY Canton, Katz served in the US Army, active duty, from 1955 to 1957, and in reserve duty from 1957 to 1963. He graduated with his Bachelor degree in Mechanical Engineering from City College of New York in 1963, and his Masters in Engineering Technology from Rochester Institute of Technology in 1970. In college, he was a member of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers, the engineering honor society Tau Beta Pi, and president of Pi Tau Sigma mechanical engineering honor society.

Katz was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers with professional experience as a Senior Engineer at General Dynamics in the Electronics Division and as a Project Engineer at Esso Research and Engineering Co.

About SUNY Canton

SUNY Canton is Northern New York's premier college for career-driven bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and professional certificate programs. The college delivers quality hands-on programs in engineering technology, health, management and public service and recently received number one rankings in library resources, library services and tutoring services in the SUNY Student Opinion Survey. The college's faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses as well as ten exclusively online bachelor's degrees. The college's 15 athletic teams compete as members of the NCAA Division III.

-www.canton.edu-