SUNY Canton Recognizes Faculty, Staff and Dignitaries at Commencement

CANTON, NY (05/04/2015)(readMedia)-- SUNY Canton is set to hold its 107th Commencement Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 9, in the Roos House Convocation, Athletic and Recreation Center. The college will be presenting special awards to honorees who have influenced education in the North Country and the state.

"Commencement allows us the chance to recognize the quality and achievement of our faculty, staff, community members and supporters alongside our graduating class," said SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran. "I add my congratulations and want to thank all of the individuals who have made a lasting mark on the college."

The Keynote speaker for commencement will be retired Congressman William L. "Bill" Owens, representative for New York's 21st Congressional District. Owens spent his time in office supporting higher education, prioritizing job creation and boosting the North Country Economy.

The college has benefited significantly from his efforts. Congressman Owens helped improve the overall economic viability of the region, which helped the college attract prospective students, employers, faculty members and regional businesses.

Owens will be receiving a SUNY Honorary Doctorate of Laws degree in recognition of his advocacy for the North Country and his devoted support of SUNY Canton.

Other notable commencement highlights include:

• Jill L. Martin will be recognized for receiving the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Adjunct Teaching. Martin has been an adjunct instructor teaching English at SUNY Canton since 2000 and started an initiative to incorporate volunteer service components into her courses. Martin previously taught at General Brown, West Hill and Canton High Schools.
• Pamela P. Quinn, the founding faculty member for SUNY Canton's two-year Dental Hygiene program, is being recognized for receiving the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence in Faculty Service. She is an assistant professor and Dental Hygiene curriculum coordinator who helped the college launch the program in 2006 through a partnership with Mohawk Valley Community College.
• Stephen Frempong, program coordinator for the college's four-year Electrical Engineering Technology Program and Chair of the Electrical Technology and Engineering Science Department will be recognized with the SUNY Chancellor's Award in Scholarship and Creative Activities. Frempong developed the bachelor's degree program as an extension of the successful career-driven program of the same name.
• Johanna M. Lee will be recognized by the SUNY Canton student body with the 2015 Northstar Award for her ongoing support of students' academic and personal success. Lee is the college's director of tutoring services and a 1997 graduate of SUNY Canton. Lee helped international students adjust to life in Canton, helped students overcome setbacks and graduate on time and otherwise aided students to become successful.

Other awards will be announced before and after Commencement. For more information about SUNY Canton's Commencement Ceremony, or the awards given, please contact the SUNY Canton Public Relations Department by phone, (315) 386-7300 or email pr@canton.edu.

About SUNY Canton

SUNY Canton is Northern New York's premier college for career-driven bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and certificate programs. The college delivers quality hands-on programs in engineering technology, health, management and public service. 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 10 exclusively online bachelor's degrees. The college's 14 athletic teams compete as provisional members of the NCAA Division III and the USCAA.

-www.canton.edu-