DELHI, NY (04/29/2017) (readMedia)-- SUNY Delhi has commissioned a new presidential medallion in honor of the college's 10th president, Dr. Michael R. Laliberte.
The custom-made medallion features a SUNY Delhi seal, the first official college seal in more than 25 years. The seal features laurel, a symbol of SUNY Delhi's agricultural roots. Its design highlights scholarship, leadership, and service, which form the foundation of a Delhi education.
"It is a beautiful design that is distinctive and timeless, said SUNY Delhi President Michael Laliberte. "I am particularly pleased that it captures the college's heritage and evokes our institutional values."
The seal was designed by Christine Smith, owner of Warfield Smith Design in Syracuse, who worked with SUNY Delhi staff to draw inspiration from the college archives. When she saw the stalks of laurel on page one of the first college yearbook, she said she felt like she had "hit gold." "I wanted something modern but timeless," Smith said. "A college seal has gravity and meaning. It has to represent the history and traditions and mission of the school, and I think this does all that."
By working with historic imagery, the seal "doesn't look like something we just created," Smith said. "It looks like Delhi has had this for years."
Importantly, it will also be something that will represent the college has for many years into the future. Of all the work that Smith has done - including working on the launch of Lexus vehicles - she said the Delhi seal will stand near the top of her list.
Dr. Michael R. Laliberte will be inaugurated on May 5 at 1 p.m. at the Clark Field House in a ceremony led by SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher.