Outstanding Associate Grad Awarded with Scholarship Sponsor

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Kale C. Hitchman, Hannawa Falls, is SUNY Canton's 2010 associate level recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Award.

CANTON, NY (05/11/2010)(readMedia)-- An engineering science student will be honored with the alumnus who sponsored his scholarship at SUNY Canton's 102nd Commencement Ceremony.

Kale C. Hitchman of Hannawa Falls is the College's 2010 recipient of the Outstanding Graduate Award at the associate level. He received the John L. Halford, Sr. Endowed Scholarship in 2008, and Halford is this year's recipient of the College's Distinguished Alumnus Award. Hitchman is one of nine North Country students who have benefited from Halford's generosity.

Hitchman and Halford are among the honorees and award recipients who will be recognized during Commencement at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 22, in an outdoor ceremony adjacent to the Richard W. Miller Campus Center.

Described as "the single most impressive student, classmate, and person" by one of his nominees for the accolade, Hitchman has spent considerable time working with his peers. In his first year, he worked for the Office of Accommodative Services and was a note taker for two students with disabilities. He has also been a math tutor and a teaching assistant for a professor in the engineering department.

"Kale Hitchman is a hard-working, extremely motivated, and ambitious young man," said Feng Hong, associate professor of physics and 2010 Distinguished Faculty Award recipient. "He has an outgoing personality and enthusiasm for helping others. He is a leader among his peers."

Hitchman recently completed an advanced course in materials testing with Michael J. Newtown, an associate professor in the Canino School of Engineering Technology. He was studying the strength of materials used in construction of bridges and buildings in preparation for his future career as a civil engineer.

"Kale was able to process very advanced topics and projects independently," Newtown said. "He is the kind of student that you want to have in class. He's prepared with advanced questions and challenges himself to take his work to the next level."

Hitchman, who juggled academics and a part-time job throughout his two years at the College, was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa national honor society in his first year. The same year, he joined the Institution of Electronics and Electrical Engineers (IEEE) and served as secretary. He served as president of IEEE as a senior.

A previous recipient of the Merriman Scholarship Award, Hitchman was also awarded the Clarkson University Leadership Award and will be attending Clarkson in the fall. He will spend the summer interning with Barrett Paving.

SUNY Canton offers a wide variety of career-driven bachelor's, associate, and certificate programs. Most of SUNY Canton's new four-year programs are designed so students can take them on-campus, online, or both. SUNY Canton OnLine features more than 150 courses online each semester. The College's athletic teams belong to the NAIA's Sunrise Conference, enabling students to compete in their respective sports for four years. Construction is now underway for the College's new Convocation, Athletic, and Recreation Center nicknamed Roos House.

-www.canton.edu-