Scene Spring 2012 - SUNY Rockland Community College

Scene SPRING
2012
For Friends and Alumni of Rockland Community College
GREENING of RCC
Rockland Community College, winner of the Green Council Award
from the Rockland Business Association in 2011, continues to pioneer
ways to protect the environment and to achieve a zero carbon footprint.
The latest campus initiatives include the installation of solar panels and
a hydration station.
SOLAR PANELS
Fully integrated solar panels were installed in the field behind Academic
II, generating electricity connected to the power grid. The total output
from the installation is 1800 KWH per year, enough to power the average
home for about 2.5 months. Students will monitor the real-time
power output of each system over the Internet. Future plans include
applying the generated solar energy for a compost aeration system to
recycle organic and biodegradable materials from the cafeteria.
HYDRATION STATION
To reduce the use of disposable water bottles on campus, students receive
refillable water bottles, which they can fill at a newly installed Brita
Hydration Station in Academic II, thanks to the efforts of the student
Mug Action Club.
DRAMATIC RECYCLING RESULTS
In 2011, 46.95 tons of paper and cardboard were recycled, as well as 15.85
tons of mixed containers (glass, metal, plastic). Since 2000, RCC has recycled
774 tons of material, resulting in $57,000 in avoided disposal costs
and $15,500 in rebates. Since 2005, through RCC’s Reusable Office
Supply Exchange (ROSE), the College has saved more than $26,000.
GREEN CAMPUS FEATURES
RCC practices xeriscape landscaping, planting native species, which
don’t require irrigation, thus saving water.
RCC is a non-smoking campus, both inside and outside.
The Technology Center, constructed in 2006 as the first green building
constructed by Rockland County, was awarded Silver Certification as a
LEEDS Green Building by the US Green Building Council.
Students created a National Wildlife Foundation Certified Habitat in a
wooded area on campus, planting native species to attract new wildlife.
Yasuyo Tatebe, president of the Mug Action Club, demonstrates the
Brita Hydration Station installed in Academic II.
Contractor Howard Aschoff and Brian Plotnick, who recently completed a course
in geothermal installation, set up solar panels behind Academic II.
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Students who join the Organic Garden Club learn methods of growing
a sustainable, healthy food supply.
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Environmentally-oriented programs include an AS in Environmental
Science, an AAS in Green Building Maintenance and Management,
and several non-credit certificate courses in green technologies
through the Center for Personal and Professional Development.
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RCC is a member of the Clean Energy Technology Training
LEARNING EXPERIENCES
Consortium (CETT), a three-year effort to increase renewable
energy installation training in the Hudson Valley.
_ _ In 2007, President Cliff L. Wood signed the American College
and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, requiring RCC
to become carbon neutral. The College’s Board of Trustees adopted
a Sustainability Mission Statement, outlining its position on
global warming, resource consumption and carbon emissions. The
Statement is included in the Student Handbook.

Around Campus
THEN & NOW
Service (ETS) as an independent commission
to investigate and advise on the nature
and use of educational testing in the 21st
century. It is chaired by Dr. Edmund W.
Gordon, Scholar-in-Residence at Rockland
Community College. The Commission’s
three-fold mission is to:
EE
Study the best of current educational
assessment policies, practices and
technologies.
Mary Ann Walsh (on top in photo at left) from the 1968 RCC yearbook,
“Vanguard,” and today (above) as Rockland’s Commissioner of Mental Health.
See Alumni Spotlight on page 7
COLLEGE HOLDS PUBLIC FORUMS
ON THE FUTURE OF EDUCATIONAL
ASSESSMENT
Parents, educators and students interested
in the future of educational assessment
were invited to share their thoughts during
a series of public forums featuring members
of the Gordon Commission on the future of
assessment in education. The commission
was established by the Educational Testing
EE
Consider how education will change in
the future and what it will need from
educational measurement during the
21st century.
EE
Generate recommendations for the
design of models for educational assessment
that support the demands of
anticipated educational needs through
the next quarter century and beyond.
For more information about the work of the
Gordon Commission visit
www.gordoncommission.org.
Dr. Levent Kurt of Baruch College and Kingsborough
Community College, CUNY, lectured
on “Spacetime Physics and Special Relativity”
during the RCC Science Lecture Series.
SCENE
Editor: Tzipora Reitman,
Director of Communications
Staff Writers: Maralin Roffino,
Lisa Saunders
Photography: Collette Fournier
Design: Ginny Apostolides
zreitman@sunyrockland.edu
845-574-4595
www.sunyrockland.edu
www.facebook.com/sunyrcc
Siniria Nathalie Paulino, president of the
Democracy Through the Eyes of Women
Club, shares her work during a Poetry Slam.
2
Clarke Osborn, Suffern Police Chief and adjunct
faculty, Criminal Justice, and NY State
Corrections Capt. Ron Brereton of Sing Sing
Prison, share their thoughts with students during
Criminal Justice Career Mosaic Day.

Foundation Luncheon
“RCC MADE US THE MEN WE ARE TODAY”
The following alumni shared their personal
stories at the RCC Foundation Luncheon, each
ending his presentation with the statement,
“RCC made me the man I am today.”
Chad Agrawal ’09, MTS Honors Program,
came to RCC as an Early Admit student and
earned his Eagle Scout badge with a campus
beautification project. He served as the student
member of the Board of Trustees. He is a 2011
graduate of the Stern School of Business at
New York University.
James Birnbaum ’94, MTS Honors Program,
earned a degree in history from the University
of Pennsylvania with a concentration in diplomacy.
He earned a JD from Boston University
Law School and is currently a partner at Cornell
& Cornell, LLP in New City. He is also a musician
and member of the board of directors of
the Rockland Conservatory of Music, Rockland
County Bar Association and Hi-Tor Animal
Care Center.
James’ brother Rick Birnbaum, ‘96 MTS
Honors Program, received a bachelor’s from
Amherst College and a master’s from Harvard
University in Human Development and
Psychology. He lives in Cambridge, MA where
he is a researcher at the Center for Applied
Special Technology.
Robert Chapklin Jr. ’09, MTS Honors
Program, will graduate this May from
Georgetown University, majoring in Marketing
and Management. Thanks to discovering
his career passion when he interned with the
Washington Wizards, he is pursuing a master’s
degree in Sports Business from New York
University.
Jesse Cifuni ’08, came to RCC as an adult
student, unsure he was prepared to earn a
college degree. He credits the supportive
faculty and staff for helping him succeed and
enabling him to earn the SUNY Chancellor’s
Award for Student Excellence. He transferred
to SUNY Purchase, earning his BS in Biology
with a minor in Chemistry and a concentration
in Biochemistry. He will begin medical school at
the NY College of Osteopathic Medicine in the
fall, and he hopes to pursue endocrinology.
Christopher Day ’05, MTS Honors Program,
earned his bachelor’s in Political Science from
Yale University and was commissioned as a
Lieutenant in the US Army Infantry. While
in the military, he earned a Bronze Star and
achieved the rank of Captain, serving in both
Iraq and Afghanistan. He is now pursuing an
MBA at Columbia Business School.
Louis Falco ’05 was elected in November to
serve as Sheriff of Rockland County.
Wen Zhang ’02, MTS Honors Program, earned
a bachelor’s in Nutritional Science from Cornell
University and a PhD in Molecular Metabolism
and Nutrition from the University of Chicago.
He chose to pursue a career that combined his
life science training with English, and became a
developmental editor at John Wiley & Sons in
Hoboken, NJ.
Back row l to r: Dr. Wen Zhang, Christopher Day, Sheriff Lou Falco, Jesse Cifuni and Chad
Agrawal. Seated: Robert Chaplkin Jr., Dr. Cliff L. Wood, President, and Rick Birnbaum.
Honorary Luncheon co-chairs, Paul Adler (seated)
and Jerry Donnellan (right) with Dr. Cliff L. Wood.
Bill Longhi, President of Orange & Rockland
Utilities, Business Honoree, accepts the award .
3

Chancellor’s Awards
SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Student Excellence
Rene Midouin, AS
Liberal Arts and
Science, Mathematics
and Science, came to
RCC in 2010 as an
international student
after graduating from
high school in Haiti,
seeking an education
towards his goal of
becoming an electrical engineer. He had always
excelled at mathematics, and helping other
students in his first Math course at RCC showed
him that, “True happiness comes from helping
others.” A Spring Valley resident, he began
volunteering for projects at RCC and the
community. He continues to tutor Math,
volunteers with Habitat for Humanity, served as
a Student Ambassador and Senator for SGA
and treasurer of Sigma Chi Eta. As VP of
Leadership with Phi Theta Kappa, he was
instrumental in developing more volunteer
programs and growing the chapter’s membership
significantly. His long-range goals are to
earn advanced degrees in math or physics; to
utilize his education to help communities in
Haiti to develop ecologically sustainable power
solutions; to build an orphanage and to help his
family.
Lisa Newmark, AS
Liberal Arts and
Sciences: Childhood
Education, graduated
from Suffern HS and
continued at RCC
towards her life-long
goal of becoming a
teacher. She served as
vice president of the
Student Government Association, president of
the Teachers of Tomorrow Club and student
representative to the Board of the Campus Fun
and Learn Child Development Center. She is
transferring to SUNY New Paltz in a program
towards earning a master’s in Childhood
Education. Her volunteer activities at RCC
included an instrumental role in this semester’s
very successful blood drive.
Alex Ojeda, AS Liberal
Arts and Science
- Mathematics and
Science, was born in
Ecuador, and came to
the US as a teen. His
lack of English skills
made graduating from
Spring Valley HS a
struggle, but Alex knew
he needed to continue his education to attain a
better life. He also knew he had exceptional
mathematical abilities, and started RCC in 2010.
After one semester of working hard and
educating himself with Khan Academy YouTube
videos, and with supportive faculty like
Professor Peter Arvanites, Alex gained permission
to enroll in Honors calculus. He eventually
became a full Honors student and maintained a
perfect 4.0 GPA for his first year.
In addition to the Chancellor’s Award, Ojeda
was named to the Phi Theta Kappa 2012 New
York All American Academic Team and the
All-New York First Team, and will be recognized
at Commencement for being an All American
Medallion winner. He received a $1,000 scholarship
from Coca-Cola as one of the 150 top
scholars in the national All American Team. He
also won the John Vadney President’s Award
($1,000) by the New York State Mathematics
Association of Two-Year Colleges.
In addition to his academic achievements,
Ojeda served as a Student Government senator
and vice president of Phi Theta Kappa. His goal
is to work towards advanced graduate degrees
in Computer Science and Mathematics.
4
Abraham Taub ‘11 of
Spring Valley, A.S.,
Liberal Arts, Math &
Science, a 24-year-old
married father of two,
has come a long way
since earning his GED
through BOCES in
2010. As a volunteer
EMT, he was inspired to seek a career in
medicine. Overcoming the academic disadvantages
resulting from English being his second
language, he earned his first associate’s degree
at RCC in Emergency Medical Services in 2011.
He earned a 4.0 GPA and was named valedictorian
in his program. “Helping patients in life
and death situations as an EMT volunteer gave
me the will to advance as a Paramedic.”
Currently employed as a New York City
paramedic, Taub is now earning his second
associate’s degree, and hopes to transfer to
a four-year college to pursue a bachelor’s in
Biology. “As the sole provider for my family,
I’m still undecided whether I can take on the
time-consuming challenge of medical school, or
if I should pursue a master’s degree in Physician
Assistant.”
Marwan Zaid, AS,
Liberal Arts and Science
- Mathematics and
Science, a New City
resident, grew up in
Yemen, where he and his
friends dreamed of
studying in America,
calling it “Golden Hill.”
As an RCC international
student, he has achieved that dream, remaining
true to his passion for community service, while
beginning to realize his full academic potential
in the MTS Honors program. As president of
RCC’s Phi Theta Kappa chapter, Zaid increased
the honor society’s participation in community
service and increased their membership while
gaining leadership and team-building
experience.
Zaid served as VP of the Peer Mentoring Club,
treasurer and VP of the Transfer Club, was a
Student Ambassador and a member of the
Robotics, Chess, and International Clubs at
RCC. Zaid’s study interest is engineering and
nanotechnology. His long-range goals are to
earn an advanced degree and to pursue a career
in biomedical engineering.

Awards-Appointments
Phi Theta Kappa
Awards
Two RCC students are among 64 statewide
to receive awards from Phi Theta Kappa,
the national honor society for community
college students. They received their
awards from SUNY Chancellor Nancy L.
Zimpher in Albany on April 4.
Sean Rugys and Alex Ojeda, both studying
Liberal Arts, Math and Science, were
named to the 2012 New York All American
Academic Team and the All-New York First
Team.
Alex Ojeda (see writeup under
Chancellor’s Awards)
Sean Rugys of
Nyack enrolled in
Rockland
Community
College in 2010
as an Early
Admit student
during his senior
year at Nyack
High School.
Achieving a 4.0
GPA in RCC’s MTS Honors program last
semester, Rugys served as an editor for
“First Inkling,” a magazine based at RCC
and committed to publishing the best
college student writing in English. He was
also a member of the Jewish Heritage
Month committee. Off campus, he is
engaged in botanical research at the New
York Botanical Garden, with the goal of
publishing the findings in a scientific
journal. Interested in scientific exploration,
he attends events at the renowned
Explorers Club in New York City, where
he participates in discussions with noted
explorers and professionals to learn more
about conducting in-field research. Rugys
recently visited Israel, where he plans to
pursue advanced Judaic studies. His central
desire is to synthesize a thorough knowledge
of modern science with that of Jewish
law and tradition.
Appointments
Monica Jackson,
Director of Disability
Services, previously
served as Assistant
Director. Prior to
joining RCC, she
was Program
Director at the
Office of Disability
Services for Mercy
College in Dobbs
Ferry, NY. “I’m
excited about expanding postsecondary
options for students with disabilities and
building the team: faculty, staff and students
working together,” she said.
She earned a BA in Sociology from SUNY
College at Old Westbury and an MS in
Counseling from Mercy College. She
is a New York State Certified Guidance
Counselor, with several other professional
certifications, including Vocational
Rehabilitation, Child Abuse and Sexual
Abuse Awareness, and Non-Violent Physical
Crisis Intervention.
Jackson is active in her sorority, Zeta Phi
Beta, volunteering with several of their community
service groups and serving on their
local and state executive boards.
STEM CONFERENCE
Janice Moore has
joined the staff at
the Student
Development
Center as Faculty
Counselor/
Instructor. She will
be helping students
as a licensed
counselor, qualified
in personal and crisis
counseling. She
earned her master’s degree in Social Work
from New York University in 2005, and a
bachelor’s degree from Mercy College in
2004. Moore worked as a Clinical Social
Worker at Mercy College from 2008 to 2010,
before taking time off to focus on family. She
is excited to be working in a community
college environment with a diverse student
population and with students representing
such a broad range of life experiences and
varied academic and personal goals. She
looks forward to helping fine-tune the
Student Development Center services to
meet students’ needs. Moore lives in Pearl
River with her husband and two young sons.
Nahed Salama, PhD, Professor of Biology, demonstrates how to dissect a sheep eye to
Ramapo HS junior Julia Furlipa during a conference at RCC focusing on science, technology,
math and engineering (STEM). The event, sponsored by a grant from AT&T, was designed to
help 450 area Girl Scouts and high school girls become interested in STEM fields and careers.
5

Alumni Spotlight
ALUMNI NOTES
Stacey Colon ‘05 received the “Rookie of the Year” award from Child
Care Resources of Rockland (April 25, Nyack). As an Americorp participant,
she helps Spanish-speaking families find resources to meet their
needs. She works as director of the after-school program at the Nanuet
Family Resource Center, and also coaches cheerleading. Stacey is working
towards her bachelor’s degree in Education from Mercy College.
Stephanie Dolce ’03, who fell victim to social media cyber-bullying,
became an anti-bullying advocate with The Bully Police.org. She also
founded Strike Out Bullying, based in Rockland, to bring awareness
of the effects of bullying and how to prevent it. She published a book,
“Victim No More,” which describes how social media has changed our
lives and offers tips on how to end cyber-bullying and other pitfalls of
social media. Find out more at www.stephaniedolce.com
Eileen MacAvery Kane ‘83, adjunct faculty, Art Department, published
a handbook, “Ethics: A Graphic Designer’s Field Guide,” comprised of
three sections: legalities, integrity and morality.
Andrew Newmark ‘10, a senior at Pace University, is assisting the
Director of Pace’s Center for Literacy Enrichment, Sr. St. John Delany,
PhD, associate professor at the School of Education, with research investigating
how male and female brains function differently.
Kennedy Ogoye ’10, a native of Kenya and senior at Cornell University,
founded JUST SAVE ONE, a team of students committed to solving
real-world problems, in the summer of 2011. Their first successful project,
buying water tanks for Mbaka Oromo Primary School in Kenya, resulted
in an invitation to attend the Clinton Global Initiative University 2012
(Mar. 30 - Apr. 1, Washington DC).
Other RCC alumni on the team are: Saima Ahmed ’11, Cornell
University ’13; James Borchers ’10, University of Miami ’12; Wilkenson
J. Francois ’12, model at Hollister Co.; Sholom Gable ’11, Binghamton
University ’13; Tavien Kimbrough, University of Maryland; Ali Rizvi ’11,
Fordham University ’13; Carm Sandre R. Saint Fort ’10, Baruch College
Zicklin School of Business ’13; Kuldip Singh ’11, Cornell University ’13.
FIVE ALUMNI INDUCTED
INTO SPORTS HALL OF FAME
Five former RCC student athletes were inducted into the RCC Sports
Hall of Fame (January 21, West Haverstraw).
Lucia Lopez-Patterson ’93 was a two-sport standout at RCC, excelling
in softball and soccer. She attended Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, FL
on a softball scholarship and now works for the Michigan State Police.
Tom McNamara ’85 was an All-Conference baseball player at RCC, and
later played at Dominican College and briefly for the Seattle Mariners
organization. He is now the Director of Amateur Scouting for the
Mariners.
Kurt A. Palmer ’96 helped RCC’s soccer team to a 1993 regional
championship and garnered a spot on the All-Mid Hudson Conference
First Team. After playing varsity soccer at St. John’s University, he began
a career in coaching that included stints at RCC and St. Francis College
in Brooklyn. He now works as Assistant Men’s Soccer Coach at Adelphi
University.
Joe Romano ’64 coached soccer at Goshen High School for many
years and became one of New York State’s most successful boy’s soccer
coaches, with an incredible 11—10-2 record. He was a member of the
RCC soccer team in the early 1960s. He is enjoying retirement in North
Carolina.
Dr. Jack Watson ’90 is Professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology and
Chair of the Department of Sport Sciences at West Virginia University.
At RCC, he was a member of the Golf Team and qualified for the
NJCAA National Championship twice, and earned All-America honors.
At the Sports Hall of Fame induction, Clarke Osborn ‘92, Chief of
the Suffern Police Department, received the Dr. Cliff L. Wood Service
Award for outstanding community service.
Ogoye was also chosen to participate in One Young World 2012, where
he will be mentored by a world leader at the third annual One Young
World Summit (October 18-22, Pittsburgh, PA), to find solutions to the
problems facing the next generation. In addition, Ogoye was nominated
Scholar Laureate by Phi Theta Kappa for the International Scholar
Laureate Program, which will give him the opportunity to study medicine
in Australia this summer. His hope is to become a Clinical Pathologist.
Mark Svensson ’10, now at Georgetown University, was featured on
the White House Office of Public Engagement blog for his response
to the President’s call for youth roundtables. Svensson co-founded the
Rockland Roundtable Initiative, which led to the establishment of a number
of programs including mentoring young people at risk of dropping
out of high school and book drives for disadvantaged children.
Send Us Your News!
alumni@sunyrockland.edu 845-574-4576 www.sunyrockland.edu
Seung Yoon Son ‘11, an international student from Korea,
worked as a volunteer for the American Association of University
Women (AAUW) until returning to Korea in January to continue
her studies in Nursing at Seoul National University.
6

Alumna Gives Hope to Emotional Pain Sufferers
Mary Ann Walsh-Tozer ’69, Commissioner of
Mental Health for
Rockland County,
is passionate
about giving hope
to those who
suffer from
emotional pain.
“The understanding
of mental
illness has
changed dramatically
since the
beginning of my career. While there’s not
necessarily a cure, there is an avenue for cure.”
Research now recognizes that mental illness is
organically based; the problem is in the brain
chemistry. Mental illness is now considered a
disease, like diabetes or cancer. “The mentally
ill used to be institutionalized for most of their
life. Now they can get stabilized and go on to
live their life. When I was trained in the early
1970s, treatment consisted primarily of psychotherapists
trying to understand the root of the
problem, frequently focusing on an individual’s
parenting, particularly the mother. That could
make it very hard on a mother whose child
needed help.”
Walsh-Tozer first became interested in her field
because of her friendship with her mentally
disabled uncle. “I had rheumatic fever as a
child and had to stay in bed for a long time.
My uncle, who lived downstairs with my aunt,
became my constant companion. He was one
of my favorite people. I recall there was very
little understanding of people like him. When
we would go out for a walk, people made fun of
him. I wanted to make a difference.”
The Tappan Zee High School graduate went
to RCC, an economical choice for the oldest
of five children. Walsh-Tozer earned her BS in
Psychology at Kent State University, Ohio, and
Master of Arts in Social Work at SUNY Albany.
She has been a New York State Certified Social
Worker since 1975 and Commissioner of Mental
Health for Rockland County since 1994.
A resident of Tappan, she started out in private
practice but missed interacting with colleagues.
“I found private practice very isolating. I realized
I was better suited to managing people and
coordinating care.”
Walsh-Tozer is delighted by the work RCC is
doing to help students in emotional pain though
such programs as biannual depression screening
workshops, which attracted 90 students in
March. Where appropriate, referrals were made
to the Student Development Center and/or
outside agencies such as the Rockland Mental
Health Department.
Currently, Ms. Walsh-Tozer’s major concerns for
the public are bullying and the alarming trend of
people abusing prescription drugs. “Bullying is
such a painful experience. It hurts self-esteem,
making it difficult to study, learn, and have a
social life, and it can be fatal if the student turns
to suicide or revenge.”
The Rockland Mental Health Department
primarily oversees and plans the development
of services for people who have mental health
needs, chemical dependence, and developmental
disabilities, working with 45 programs and
agencies such as Jawonio. In addition to coordinating
services for individuals through Rockland
agencies, it also provides services to one of the
most ethnically diverse counties in the state.
NURSING STUDENT “PAYS IT FORWARD”
Michelle Lange (nurse)
Fifty-eight year old Nursing student, Michelle
Bernadette Lange ’12, is excited about the
options open to her after graduation in May. “I
have always wanted to become an RN, but
being a single mother, I never had the time or
money to attend nursing school.” Thanks in part
to the scholarships she received to attend RCC,
she is about to realize her dream.
Now Lange wants to “pay it forward” so other
returning adult students can find a way to
finance their education. “I am grateful for the
scholarship help I received, so now I want to
give back.”
To that end, Lange established a $500 nursing
scholarship in memory of her “little brown-eyed
sister,” Elizabeth Anne Poirier, who needed
years of nursing care before her death at the
age of 52 in August 2010.
When Poirier’s health began to fail in her
40s, she was thankful for any kindness and care
offered to her. Lange said, “She really looked
forward to seeing her visiting nurse. I’m sure
Elizabeth would agree that paying it forward
is just the right thing to do. Wherever her free
spirit now roams, it is my hope that this scholarship
lets us both pause and smile.”
Lange, currently a Nursing Assistant at the
Orange Regional Medical Center, began
caring for others at the age of 15 as a Nursing
Assistant. Relocating from Buffalo to Orange
County in 2006, Lange’s prior experience
includes years as an EMT (Emergency Medical
Technician), EMT instructor, and working in
multiple hospital departments.
Lange was the recipient of three scholarships:
Tau Phi Chapter scholarship ($500); Suffern Jr.
Women’s Club (tuition for 3 credits); and the
David Beard scholarship ($500).
To be considered for the Elizabeth Anne Poirier
Memorial Nursing Scholarship, the applicant
must be a returning adult student enrolled in
the RCC Nursing program, have successfully
completed courses NUR 111 and NUR 113, and
have a GPA of 3.0 or higher.
For more information about the scholarship,
contact the RCC Foundation, at 845-574-4576
or dcairns@sunyrockland.edu.
7

Achievements
STUDENT EXCELLENCE
Work by seven RCC art students was selected for the 2012 Spring SUNY
Student Exhibit, presented at the State University Plaza Art Gallery
(Feb. 15 - May 16, 2012, Albany). They are: Photography--Katherine
Brockschmidt, Tara Kearsing, Adarkys Lopez, Albert Molina, and
Diana Yusti; Sculpture--Briana Deegan and Madeline Krause. Judges
will select works to be included in The Best of SUNY summer show, held
later at the NY State Museum in Albany, and scholarships are competitively
awarded.
Devonte Gilchrist, Liberal Arts, Math & Science, won first place in
the annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Oratory Contest (Nyack Center,
February 11) and a $1,000 scholarship for his passionately delivered,
memorized rendition of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, “Where Do
We Go From Here?”
NEW SGA OFFICERS
The following students were elected to the Student Government
Association Executive Board, beginning June 1, 2012: President: Navid
Safaie; Vice President: Angelina Shymon; Treasurer: Tamoy Fuller;
Secretary: Andry Silverio. Student Representative to the Board of
Trustees: Segundo Angel Guallpa.
Employee Recognition
OUTLOOK AWARDS
The student newspaper, Outlook, and its writers and editors,
received several Region I Mark of Excellence awards by The Society
of Professional Journalists, the nation’s most broad-based journalism
organization:
EE
EE
EE
Best All Around Newspaper (Editors and Staff)
General News Reporting (Rebecca Gross, for her story on
tuition increases at RCC and SUNY generally)
Feature Reporting (Anna Berent, for her story on Rockland
County “ghost” haunts and sites)
Outlook Editors: Sari Ugell, Editor in Chief; Elizabeth Maze, Managing
Editor; Vanessa Pastorelli, Production Manager; Sara Beitch, Features
Editor; Monica Powell, Science and Health Editor; Louie Gaitan, Photo
Editor; Kristen Loretoni, Opinions Editor; David Strinkovsky, Sports
Editor; Elan Weinberger, News Editor. Rob Fuentes, Instructor of
English, is the Outlook advisor. Outlook received its awards at the SPJ
conference at Stony Brook University (March 23-24).
FIRST INKLING
Roxy Moskowitz and Sarra Schwarz, student associate editors, selected
“By Being Written, They Would Disappear,” by Lauren Fath of the
University of Missouri, for inclusion in the first edition of First Inkling, a
national publication that was founded and is based at RCC and is dedicated
to the best student work in English. Fath’s essay, which appeared
in print for the first time in First Inkling, has now been nominated for a
prestigious Pushcart Prize. The essay was edited by Dr. Cliff Garner,
Professor of English, and Ian Blake Newhem, Associate Professor of
English.
VP Deer Delivers Keynote
IN FOR THE LONG HAUL
RCC recently held ceremonies to recognize employees for years of services.
The longest serving employee from each of the three College divisions
were Rochelle Mezoff, Student Services, with 34 years of service
and from Academic Affairs, Dan Masterson, Professor of English, 48
years, shown here with President Cliff L. Wood (center). Not pictured,
from Finance & Administrative Services: Murray Wiener, 38 years.
Susan Deer (center), PhD, Vice President of Academic Affairs,
served as keynote speaker at the New York State ACE Network for
Women Leaders in Higher Education, presenting, “Blending Leadership
Strategies in Achieving Success” (March 9, RCC). She is shown
here with Joanne Steele, CIO/Vice-Provost for Information Technology,
Iona College, and Irene Buckley, Chief of Staff, Mercy College.
8

Faculty Achievements
Angelo Parra, adjunct
faculty, Art, with his book
“Playwriting for Dummies.”
Angelo Parra The publishers of the
popular “Dummies” how-to guides
asked Angelo Parra, adjunct faculty,
Performing Arts, to write a book, and in
August 2011, they published, “Playwriting
for Dummies.”
This has been a busy and exciting time
for Parra, who teaches playwriting at
RCC while writing and developing
his own theater projects. He recently
received a grant from the Arts Council
of Rockland to write a play based on the
letters between renowned composer Kurt
Weill and his accomplished wife, stage
and screen actor Lotte Lenya. The letters
offer a fascinating insight into the times
they lived and their own lives, much of it
in Rockland County where they settled in 1935 after leaving their native
Germany to escape the Nazi regime.
Public readings of the work-in-progress, titled Passing in the Night,
were held in December and January, performed in conjunction with the
Arts Council of Rockland, the Penguin Rep Theatre (Stony Point), and
Rockland Center for the Arts.
In addition, Parra’s play, The Devil’s Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie
Smith, is currently running Off-Broadway at the St. Luke’s Theatre in
NYC. The musical highlights the life of the legendary American Blues
singing artist, Bessie Smith 1894- 1937, who was commonly referred to as
the Empress of the Blues and was thought to be the highest paid black
entertainer in the nation through the 1920s. The play has been invited
to perform at the renowned Montreal Jazz Festival this year, and will
appear for six performances during the first week of July. The critically
acclaimed show was also recently nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award for
Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway in the category of Solo Show.
[j\
Maire Liberace, Professor of Philosophy and Speech, was invited to sing
in the Vatican on the occasion of the elevation of Archbishop Dolan of
New York and Archbishop O’Brien to the Office of Cardinal. Her group,
the New York Archdiocesan Festival Chorale, joined the Choir of the
Cathedral of St. Patrick, to perform at Saint Peter’s Basilica. Liberace has
been singing with the Chorale at the St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers
since its inception in 1986.
[j\
“Conversations in Blue: David Maxwell & Otis Spann,” a recording
produced by Richard Connolly, Chair, Communication Media Arts, was
released by Circumstantial Productions in October ’11 and nominated
in December ‘11 for three Blues Music Awards by the Blues Foundation.
Another Connolly production, “POEMJAZZ,” featuring renowned poet
Robert Pinsky, is a conversation between the sounds of poetry and music,
and was released in February by Circumstantial Productions.
RCC OFFERS SUMMER STAGEFIGHT WORKSHOP
Christopher Plummer, adjunct
faculty, Performing Arts, prepares
for a Sword Fighting workshop.
Did you ever wonder
how actors gain
the skills needed to
perform incredibly
realistic fight scenes
without getting hurt?
Welcome to the world
of professional stage
fighting, with eight
categories of weaponry
and technique,
including: Unarmed
Combat, Broadsword,
and Rapier & Dagger.
The Society of
American Fight
Directors (SAFD) has been qualifying actors, directors, and others in the
theater and film world since 1977. Only 19 people nationally have achieved
certification as American Fight Master, and for the past five years,
one has been coming to RCC to lead an intensive two-week summer
workshop.
This unique opportunity to study with a certified Fight Master and learn
the specialized skills necessary for qualification (and safe swashbuckling!)
will be offered again this summer, led by SAFD Fight Master and
Hollywood Fight Director Richard Ryan. Ryan has choreographed hundreds
of fights throughout his extensive career, most recently, Sherlock
Holmes 2 with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law; TROY with Brad Pitt
and Orlando Bloom; and The Dark Knight with Christian Bale and Heath
Ledger.
The preparatory Stage & Film Actor-Combatant qualification in professional
stage combat workshop costs $750, and runs August 6-18 (August
1 is the application deadline). Enrollment is limited to provide a high
degree of personal instruction, and you must be at least 18 years old to
attend. Each of last year’s 12 attendees passed their proficiency test in
Smallsword. This year, the focus is Broadsword for stage or screen. So, en
garde! (If there should arise a scheduling conflict for Ryan, the course will
be led by SAFD Fight Master J. David Brimmer.)
Matthew Masiello, who has attended three of RCC’s Fight Master
Workshops, says, “It’s an incredible opportunity to work with high- caliber
industry professionals. I gained a great amount of knowledge and experience,
and made myself more marketable as an actor. I highly recommend
this workshop to aspiring actors, or anyone who has an interest in theatrical
combat.”
The course is offered through RCC’s Performing Arts Department and
the Rockland Shakespeare Company. For further information, contact
the Performing Arts Department at 845-574-4471. To learn more about
SAFD please visit www.safd.org.
9

Passings
College Loses Beloved Performing Arts Professor
Stanley Ralph, EdD, retired
Professor of Performing Arts,
died April 8 at the age of 81
after a long battle with cancer. A
distinguished educator, Dr.
Ralph was also a musician,
singer, choir director, composer
and community leader. An
upbeat man who always tried to
comfort others, he was fond of
saying, “I am too blessed to be
stressed.”
Dr. Ralph, of West Hempstead,
NY, began at the College in
1991 and retired in 2011. In
addition to serving on the
faculty, he also served for a short time as Assistant Dean of
Instructional and Community Services.
Dr. Cliff L. Wood, RCC President, said, “Mrs. Ralph called me when
Stanley was in his final hours to say that he wanted me to know how
much he loved RCC. He was a very talented professor who will be
missed by many.”
Dr. Ralph composed an RCC Alma Mater and created the course,
Pluralism and Diversity in American Music. Patty Maloney-Titland,
chair of Performing Arts, said, “Stanley was passionate about music,
teaching and mentoring. He helped popularize the applied music
program, for which he taught singing and piano. He treated his
students like professionals and expected them to think of themselves
in the same way.”
Dr. Ralph helped plan RCC’s African American History Month
activities such as the Gospel Concert and discussions on confronting
discrimination.
Dr. Ralph was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, on March 12, 1931,
when according to his daughter, actress Sheryl Lee Ralph, “Music
was hot and the bands were big.”
Musically gifted, Dr. Ralph started performing publicly at age 15
in the Waterbury Junior Symphony Orchestra. He earned a BA in
Music and Music Education at Howard University, MA at New York
University, and EdD at the University of Sarasota.
Dr. Ralph was the first black teacher to integrate the Waterbury
school system. He holds the distinction of composing the
Connecticut State Cantata, “The Nutmeg.”
Dr. Ralph leaves his wife, Ivy, of 57 years; four children, Sheryl Lee,
Stanley Jr., Timmy and Michael Ralph, and nine grandchildren.
Memorial donations can be made to the Dr. Stanley Ralph
Scholarship Fund through the RCC Foundation.
Barbara Hawkins Butzgy ’79 passed away July 11, 2011 at the age
of 69 in Hope Mills, North Carolina. She worked for many years
as a paralegal and certified legal assistant in Fayettville, NC, and is
survived by her husband of fifty years, Charles Butzgy. She was greatly
influenced by Professor Dan Masterson and became an avid poet and
writer.
Antonia (Toni) Caramico-Marotta, adjunct faculty, English, passed
away on January 1, surrounded by her family. Caramico-Marotta
of New City, wife, mother of four, and grandmother, was born in
Brooklyn and received both her undergraduate and master’s degree
in medieval literature from the University of Rochester. Beginning
January 2008, she was an adjunct faculty member in the RCC
English Department, where she developed the course, Environmental
Literature, and taught English Composition.
Michael LoPresti ’78 died March 13 in St. Augustine, FL at the age
of 91. Afer RCC, he attended New York University. He served in the
Army during World War II, achieving the rank of Master Sergeant,
and served as Sergeant Major of the 1st Coast Artillery Regiment in
the Panama Canal. He then returned home to a 35-year career at the
U.S. Military Academy in West Point, where he served as Chief of the
Management and Manpower Division for the Comptroller’s Office.
After retirement, he worked as a cost accountant, and then returned
to West Point to work for several years as a budget analyst. He lived
most of his life in Highland Falls, NY, until moving to Florida in 2009.
Florence Marie Mason (Conrad), retired Professor Emerita, passed
away at her home in South Carolina on March 25 at the age of 86.
Born in Syracuse, NY, she served in the field of education until she
retired from RCC as a Counselor in Student Services in 1981. After
retiring to Aiken, South Carolina, she met her late husband, Alex
Conrad.
Tyler C. Rush ’08 died in a motorcycle accident on March 22 at the
age of 24. A graduate of Archbishop Stepinac High School, Rush
earned an associate’s degree in automotive technology at RCC. He
was employed by the Village of Elmsford Water Department and
served as a firefighter at the Live Oak Engine Company.
10
10

Heritage Celebrations
AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH
WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH
The Ramapo HS Jazz Band performs under the direction of Michael Smith.
Antoinette Montague and Sam Waymon perform songs from the Civil Rights
era in “Changemakers: Songs and Images of the Civil Rights Movement,” a program
presented by the African American Historical Society of Rockland County,
African American History Month Committee and Performing Arts Department.
Barbara Dana presents “An Afternoon with Emily Dickinson,”
during Women’s History Month.
ASIAN-PACIFIC ISLANDER MONTH
JEWISH HERITAGE MONTH
Rachel Schlesinger ‘06 and her daughter Talia, 12 dress up for RCC’s Purim
celebration. Rachel is now studying Psychology at Columbia University.
Achock Rinpoche,
a Tibetan monk and
spiritual guide, lectures
on Buddhist principles
and practice.
11

145 College Road, Suffern, NY 10901
Address Service Requested
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10952
Permit No. 302
JUNE
4..............Summer Session II begins
9-10.........Relay for Life
10............Debi’s Dance
16.............Dance Theater of NJ
27.............Town of Ramapo Fireworks
Summer
JULY
2...............Summer Session III begins
My first choice:
^
Earn up to 12 college credits this summer!
• Only $158/credit (NYS residents)
• Transfer your credits to another school
• Learn anywhere, anytime with online classes
Session I: May 29 - June 28 (5 weeks)
Session II: June 4 - July 26 (8 weeks)
Session III: July 2 - August 2 (5 weeks)
REGISTER
NOW!
AUGUST
2...............Classes End
8..............New Student Orientation
12.............Opening, JCC Maccabi Games
21.............RCC Foundation Golf Outing
23............New Student Orientation
28............New Student Orientation
For details, check calendar of events online at
www.sunyrockland.edu or call 845-574-4032.
www.facebook.com/sunyrcc LIKE
27th Annual
Scholarship Golf Outing
Tuesday, August 21
Spook Rock Golf Course
Shotgun start at 12:30 pm
(7:00 am alternate start)
ALL COLLEGE STUDENTS AND RECENT HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES WELCOME
Registration information
and course availability:
www.sunyrockland.edu/go/summer
1-800-RCC-SOON
For more information please contact
The Foundation Office at 845-574-4576