SUNY Potsdam Names Dr. Rebekah C. Covell an Honorary Alumna

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From left, SUNY Potsdam President Kristin Esterberg, honorary alumna Rebekah Covell and Alumni Association President Amy Kellogg ’99.

POTSDAM, NY (07/23/2015)(readMedia)-- The SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association recently honored Dr. Rebekah C. Covell with Honorary Lifetime Membership.

Honorary Lifetime Membership is presented to non-alums who have made exceptional contributions to the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association and/or the College.

Covell was recognized for her pioneering spirit, and the impact and legacy of her 25-year teaching career at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music.

Rebekah C. Covell is a trailblazer in every sense of the word. In 1971, Covell joined the SUNY Potsdam faculty to direct the College's Green Band. Not only was she the first female band conductor in Potsdam's history, she was the first woman to conduct a band anywhere in the nation.

Covell led what was eventually known as the Crane Symphonic Band, and they performed their first concert in the newly built Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall when it opened in 1973, even though curtains had not yet been installed.

Perhaps the proudest moment of her career came in 1980, when as a member of the College's Olympic Organization Committee, she led the Crane Symphonic Band during the nightly awards ceremonies at the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, N.Y. Covell led the band through 14 performances over 14 days, often having less than an hour to rehearse an anthem before a performance in freezing temperatures. She also proudly led the Crane band as Team USA hockey was presented with their gold medal after their defeat of Finland.

Covell is extremely proud of becoming a part of Crane's tradition of excellence. During her tenure, she served as conductor of the Crane Symphonic Band, and taught conducting, basic musicianship, theory and sight singing. Additionally, she designed and developed the music business program. For her remarkable efforts, she received a President's Award for Excellence in Academic Advising in 1993.

In May 2013, Covell was honored with an invitation to return to the College and conduct both the Crane Concert Band and Crane Symphonic Band.

As faculty emerita and a Potsdam College Foundation board member, Covell attends and has hosted the Alumni Association's annual Florida alumni gatherings in and around the Clearwater/Sarasota area. She continues to support the College by serving as a member of the Foundation Board and generously provides financial support to the band program and the Crane facility, as well as assisting current students to purchase sheet music.

For more information about the SUNY Potsdam Alumni Association, visit www.potsdam.edu/alumni.

Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,300 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts. Empowered by a culture of creativity, the campus community recently launched Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, which aims to raise $32 million by the College's bicentennial in 2016.

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