State Senator Patty Ritchie to be Honored at SUNY Canton Commencement

CANTON, NY (05/18/2012)(readMedia)-- SUNY Canton will be honoring State Senator Patricia A. Ritchie with its Honorary Alumna Award at its 104th Commencement Ceremony.

Commencement will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Saturday, May 19) in the field house portion of the Convocation Athletic and Recreation Center, nicknamed Roos House. The Senator will be honored alongside the more than 900 students eligible to participate in the ceremony.

"Senator Ritchie has promoted SUNY Canton and the mission to provide career-driven educational options to the benefit of both its students and the greater North Country Community," said Vice President for Advancement David M. Gerlach. "Her involvement and support will aid in our overall success and future growth."

She received bipartisan endorsement from those who nominated her for the award.

Last year, Ritchie assisted SUNY Canton by backing its newest four-year program in the School of Business and Liberal Arts. The much-anticipated Bachelor of Science in Applied Psychology will help provide qualified graduates for high-needs positions in local human services related careers.

Senator Ritchie, a lifelong resident of Upstate New York, was raised in DePeyster, graduated from Heuvelton Central School, Mater Dei College, and SUNY Potsdam.

She was elected to the State Senate in 2010, following a campaign that focused on the need to strengthen Central and Northern New York economies, create jobs, lower taxes and decrease overregulation. Prior to her election, she served as County Clerk for more than a decade. During her time in that position, she rallied her fellow Clerks to halt a plan requiring new license plates for every vehicle in New York, successfully saving area families more than $7 million.

Senator Ritchie lives in the Town of Oswegatchie with her husband, Tom. The couple has three adult children, and in 2010, welcomed their first grandchild.

SUNY Canton offers 22 career-driven bachelor's degrees in addition to its associate and certificate programs. SUNY Canton OnLine features more than 190 courses online each semester. The College's athletic teams belong to the United States Collegiate Athletic Association. The College is home to a brand-new athletic facility, nicknamed Roos House, and the Grasse River Suites, offering students single rooms in apartment-style settings while they live on campus.

-www.canton.edu-