SUNY Potsdam to Honor Philanthropist Allan P. Newell with Honorary Degree at Commencement

Related Media

Community philanthropist Allan P. Newell will be presented with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the SUNY Potsdam Bachelor’s Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 17.

POTSDAM, NY (05/07/2015)(readMedia)-- SUNY Potsdam will honor the many achievements and long legacy of community philanthropist Allan P. Newell during its Commencement celebrations next week. Newell will be presented with an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree during the Bachelor's Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 17.

With his deep roots in the North Country, Newell represents the fifth generation of his family to reside in St. Lawrence County. His commitment to giving back continues his family's legacy of generosity, preserving and enhancing the quality of life in Northern New York through investments in education, the arts, historical preservation and the environment.

Founded in 1903 in Ogdensburg, N.Y., the Newell Company began as a manufacturer of curtain rods and over the years has grown to become Newell Rubbermaid, Inc., a global marketer of consumer and commercial products. The S&P 500 company's portfolio of brands includes Rubbermaid, Sharpie, Paper Mate, Lenox, Levolor, Calphalon, Goody and Graco, among others.

Newell served in the U.S. Navy for four years and is a member of the Newell Rubbermaid Board of Directors. In addition to being a private investor, Newell is the co-founder and president of the Sweetgrass Foundation.

Through the Sweetgrass Foundation, Newell and his family have provided grants to a number of North Country organizations, including the Norwood Village Green Concert Series, the Ogdensburg Command Performance Series, the Orchestra of Northern New York, the Friends of Higley Flow, the Wild Center in Tupper Lake, the Thompson Park Zoo in Watertown and the Wilderness Health Care facility in Star Lake. The foundation also offered a challenge grant to restore the historic Pickens Hall in Heuvelton. The Sweetgrass Foundation has also supported The Art Museum at SUNY Potsdam and its Roland Gibson Gallery, and for Community Performance Series and its Meet the Arts outreach program.

Newell also provides leadership and support for Traditional Arts of Upstate New York, where he serves as a charter member of the board, as well as the Frederic Remington Art Museum, where he is a member of the international advisory board. He is a trustee for the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, and has served on the boards of the St. Lawrence County Historical Association, North Country Public Radio and the Potsdam College Foundation. Newell has also served as a trustee for St. Lawrence University and has generously supported scholarships, programs and facilities both there and at SUNY Canton.

In memory of family members who attended the Potsdam Normal School from the 1870s to 1944, including his mother, Jean Smith Newell '39, Newell endowed a generous scholarship fund at SUNY Potsdam. This endowment supports scholarships for 10 students from the North Country who exhibit leadership and are involved in student activities each year. To date, more than 200 students have benefited from this program, including many for whom a college education would have been out of reach had they not received this support.

Newell's commitment to preserving the North Country's pristine environment runs deep. He is a founding member of Save the River, a non-profit, member-supported environmental organization dedicated to protecting the ecological integrity of the Upper St. Lawrence River. He has also been involved in safeguarding the regional landscape through his work with the Thousand Islands Land Trust, where he served as a board member for 10 years.

During Commencement weekend, SUNY Potsdam will recognize the more than 1,100 students have who either completed their degree or were eligible to graduate between December 2014 and December 2015.

The 2015 Bachelor's Commencement Ceremony will take place on Sunday, May 17 at 10:15 a.m. in the Academic Quad. Nearly 700 undergraduates are expected to turn their tassels and earn their bachelor's degrees at the ceremony.

Stephanie Blythe '92, an internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano and opera star, will address the bachelor's graduates.

To learn more about Commencement at SUNY Potsdam, visit www.potsdam.edu/commencement.

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.

###