SUNY Delhi Will Honor Graduates at "Alumni Weekend"

DELHI, NY (05/28/2011)(readMedia)-- The SUNY Delhi Alumni Association will recognize outstanding alumni and friends as part of its "Alumni Weekend" festivities Friday, June 3, at 7:30 p.m. in the Farrell Student and Community Center on the Delhi campus.

President Candace S. Vancko will join alumni, friends, faculty and staff in dedicating the new Alumni Lounge in the Farrell Center, followed by the Alumni Awards ceremony. The ceremony will highlight the 50th anniversary of the college's Veterinary Science Technology program and will recognize Boehringer Ingelheim, one of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies in the world, for its years of supporting the program and Delhi students.

Sandra Quackenbush, a 1975 veterinary science technology graduate, will receive the SUNY Delhi Alumni Association's highest honor, the Alumni of Distinction Award. This award honors those who, since graduation, have made dedicated, continued and outstanding contributions to their field of endeavor, as well as to their community. Quackenbush currently serves as associate department head for graduate education for the Colorado State University's Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology, where she mentors undergraduate and graduate students and postdoctoral fellows. She has received grants from the National Institutes of Health, the American Cancer Society and the United States Department of Agriculture to support her research in the biomedical field. Quackenbush has published numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters and abstracts and leads Quackenbush Lab Research, which focuses on the study of cancer-causing, viral agents.

Douglas Tinklepaugh, a 1986 graduate of building construction technology, will receive the Alumni of Merit Award, which recognizes a Delhi alumnus who is a rising star in his or her field. With over 20 years of experience in the construction industry, Tinklepaugh is the founder of Pinnacle Constructors, LLC, in Fort Lauderdale, Fl., and has managed projects for Wegmans Food Markets, Burlington Coat Factory, Doral Country Club and the Royal Plaza Hotel in Kissimmee. He is committed to serving his community and has donated considerable time and support to the American Lung Association, AIDS Community Services in Buffalo, American Diabetes Association, Starlight Association, South Florida Symphony, and the Children's Diagnostic and Treatment Center in Fort Lauderdale. Tinklepaugh also serves as a mentor for the University of Buffalo's Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership.

John Ford, dining service director for the College Association at Delhi, Inc. (CADI), will receive the Exemplary Service Award from the Alumni Association. This new award recognizes SUNY Delhi faculty and staff members who significantly support the Alumni Association and its activities. Ford earned a food services position with CADI immediately following his graduation from Delhi's Restaurant and Foodservice Management program in 1991. He moved up through the ranks and was promoted to his current position as Dining Services Director. Ford is one of the most generous donors to Delhi's faculty/staff campaign and has generated the most contributions while serving on the campaign committee. Throughout his tenure, Ford has generated significant support from outside sources for important college projects, such as the construction of the Maines Arena, CADI Fitness Center, and high profile events such as the college's Employee Appreciation Day, Alumni Weekend, and as honorary chair of the Golf Education Tournament.

In addition, Alumni Weekend will include the induction of four new members into the Athletic Hall of Fame. The Induction Ceremony will be held Saturday, June 4, at 3 p.m. in the Clark Field House.

George Kent was captain of Delhi's basketball and baseball teams during the 1958-1959 season under Coach Robert Brown. In 1959, Kent became the first baseball player from Delhi to be named an NJCAA All-American. He served active duty in the U.S. Army, started his own landscaping business and raised a family after graduating from the Business program at Delhi.

Jocintha Gordon-Reece will be honored as SUNY Delhi's first individual female national champion in any sport when, in 1995, she earned All-Conference, All Region III honors and NJCAA Division III First Team All-American honors in Cross Country. In indoor track, she broke SUNY Delhi records at 500 meters and 1,000 meters. After Delhi, Gordon-Reece earned a scholarship to St. John's University where she set an all-time record in the 4 x 800 meter relay, a record that stands today.

Barry Cole was a first team NJCAA Region III All Star selection in Baseball in 1966 and 1967. Cole captained the baseball team during the 1967 season, leading his team to a 7-1 record in conference play and a tie with Monroe Community College for the Conference Championship. After graduating from Delhi, Cole received a baseball scholarship to Kent State University where he played with Thurman Munson and Steve Stone, both of whom went on to become major league baseball stars.

Mark Cody was a three-time All-American wrestler during his career at SUNY Delhi and the University of Missouri. Cody played a key role in helping the Bronco Wrestling Team set the national record for consecutive dual meet wins. He was also a member of the NJCAA Region III Championship teams in 1981 and 1982 and a 198 lbs. finalist at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials. Cody has gone on to excel as a coach on the collegiate level and was recently named Head Wrestling Coach at the University of Oklahoma.

To attend SUNY Delhi's Alumni Weekend, or for more information about activities, call the Alumni Office at (607) 746-4600.