& Albany County Post - The Altamont Enterprise

22 The Altamont Enterprise – Thursday, May 17, 2012Student NewsObituariesPassing the tech torch: Larry Reisigl, right, an alumnus of theBoard of Cooperative Educational Services’ Career & TechnicalSchool who now works as a National Grid manager of fleet services,teaches two current Career & Tech students — Heather Pickett,left, from Duanesburg High School, and Michael Wilson, center, aBerne-Knox-Westerlo student — about compressed natural gas ashe fuels a CNG vehicle at National Grid’s station in Albany.Awards andachievementsThese local students haverecently distinguished themselves:— Dana Ames, a first-yearveterinary student was honoredrecently at the University of IllinoisCollege of Veterinary Medicine’sannual awards program.Ames is the daughter of Tom andTheo Ames of East Berne.Ames was a recipient of theFrances Grolock RecruitmentScholarship for being a topstudent entering her first yearof study. The Frances GrolockEndowment Fund sponsoredthe award.Ames graduated from Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School in2007. She then attended ElmiraCollege, earning a bachelor of sciencedegree in biology in 2011;— Robert Spain of Guilderlandwas among 18 Hudson ValleyCommunity College studentsfrom the Civil Engineering Technology,Construction Technologyand Architectural Technologyprograms who participated in theRegional Student Steel Bridgeand Concrete Canoe competitionin Potsdam in April, sponsoredby the American Society of CivilEngineers.Spain worked with classmatesto design and construct a 20-footlong concrete canoe and a modelsteel bridge capable of supporting2,500 pounds;— Kimberly LaMora ofGuilderland, a student at theState University of New YorkCollege at Oneonta was one of78 undergraduates honored witha 2011-12 Best and Brightestaward. The awards recognizestudents who demonstrate outstandingacademic engagement,co-curricular engagement, andservice to the college or local community.Students are nominatedfor the awards each semester byfaculty and staff;— Danielle Willsey of EastBerne, a student at the StateUniversity of New York Collegeat Oneonta was one of 78undergraduates honored witha 2011-12 Best and Brightestaward. The awards recognizestudents who demonstrate outstandingacademic engagement,co-curricular engagement, andservice to the college or local community.Students are nominatedfor the awards each semester byfaculty and staff;— Luke Berte of Voorheesville,a junior majoring in financialinformation and analysis atClarkson University, receivedthe James L. Dohr AccountingScholarship and Award, createdin 1983 by Mrs. James Dohrto recognize and reward financialinformation and analysisstudents with an interest inaccounting or an accountingcareer. The recipients, throughacademic achievement, demonstrateleadership potential andthe ability to make significantcontributions in either the field ofpublic accounting or managerialaccounting.The scholarship and awardwere named in honor of JamesL. Dohr, former chair of theAccounting and Business LawDepartment at Columbia University.The award is presented to ajunior financial information andanalysis major and will receivea monetary award;— Karen Dawson of Voorheesville,a senior at ClarksonUniversity majoring in environmentalengineering, received theKeith M. Russ Civil and EnvironmentalEngineering Awardpresented annually to studentsexhibiting outstanding academicperformance with additionalconsideration for service to theDepartment of Civil and EnvironmentalEngineering, the universityor the community. RussAwardees receive $500 each fromthe fellowship endowment;Dean’s listThese local students werenamed to the dean’s list orreceived a similar honor fromtheir college or university for thespring 2012 semester:— Kameron Conner ofSchenectady, majoring in computerinformation science onthe honors list at the State Universityof New York Institute ofTechnology at Utica/Rome;— Delaney Corbitt ofSchenectady, majoring in businessadministration on the honorslist at the State University ofNew York Institute of Technologyat Utica/Rome;— Tyler Waterhouse of Altamont,majoring in mechanicalengineering technology, has beennamed to the president’s list atthe State University of New YorkInstitute of Technology at Utica/Rome;GradsThese local students have recentlyearned diplomas:— Margaret Ronan McKeegraduated from the State Universityof New York College ofEnvironmental Sciences andForestry with a major in forestand natural resources managementand a minor in businessfrom Syracuse University. Shewas the recipient of the Craig J.Davis Scholarship.McKee was a member of theQuiz Bowl team representingSUNY ESF at the Society ofAmerican Foresters annualconvention in Albuquerque,N.M. finishing in the “EliteEight.” In celebration of her accomplishments,she climbed Mt.Katahdin, the northern mostpoint of the Appalachian Trailin July 2011.McKee has joined her fatherin his light construction business,Kevin’s Co., and plans oncompleting the Northville-LakePlacid Trail this fall.She is the daughter of Kevinand Deb McKee of Altamont, andthe granddaughter of NewtonRonan, also of Altamont, andJack and Irene McKee of Rotterdam;— John A. Heller of Altamontearned a bachelor of science degreein civil engineering with aproject management minor fromClarkson University;— Russell C. Diedrich ofSchenectady earned a bachelor ofscience degree in mechanical engineeringwith great distinctionfrom Clarkson University;— David C. Hondro ofSchenectady, earned a bachelorof science degree in mechanicalengineering from ClarksonUniversity;— Sean Quirk of Altamontgraduated from Champlain Collegein Vermont with a bachelorof science degree in criminaljustice;New Paltz gradsThe State University of NewYork at New Paltz will holdthe May 2012 undergraduatecommencement ceremony onSunday, May 20, at 10 a.m. Thisyear, there are more than 1,900undergraduate degrees beingconferred.These local students will receivediplomas:— Kristin Wood, of Altamont,will receive a bachelor of sciencedegree in marketing;— Ethan Willsie, of EastBerne, will receive a bachelor ofarts degree in history;— Arielle Brooks, of Guilderland,will receive a bachelor ofarts degree in psychology;— Philip Atwood , o fSchenectady, will receive abachelor of arts degree in chemistry;— Fiona Hickey , o fSchenectady, will receive abachelor of arts degree in psychology;— Robert Tubbs , o fSchenectady, will receive abachelor of arts degree in English;and— Simone Yingling, of Voorheesville,will receive a bachelorof arts degree in psychology.Florence Hoagland“Hoagy” WalkerALTAMONT — Florence Hoagland “Hoagy” Walker, a devoted nurseand mother, died peacefully in her sleep on Monday, May 14, 2012,after a long battle with congestive heart failure. She was 79.Mrs. Walker was born on July 1, 1932, in Nyack, N.Y., the daughterof Harvey Henry Hoagland and Angeline Doersch Hoagland.She grew up in Rutland, Vt.; Oswego; and Skaneatles; she excelledin her studies and in divingevents in high school.She was also the class wit,wrote her family in a tribute.She graduated as a registerednurse from St. Luke’s HospitalSchool of Nursing in New YorkCity in 1953 and worked asthe supervisor of eye-ear-noseand-throatSpecial Services atSt. Luke’s Hospital for over ayear, before becoming an earnose-and-throatnurse in theoffices of Drs. Victor & DuncanMcCraig on Madison Avenue inNew York City.She married F. WilliamWalker on Nov. 5, 1955, in AllAngels Episcopal Church inNew York City. They lived inAugusta, Ga., and she workedat the University Hospital inAugusta before she selflesslyFlorence Hoaglandsupported her husband whilehe attended graduate school atCarnegie Institute of Technol-Walkerogy in Pittsburgh, Pa., wrote her family.She worked as an office nurse in immunology, at heart stations ofMontefiore Hospital, and at Children’s Hospital at the University ofPittsburgh in post-operative care for open-heart surgery.After her husband finished his graduate studies, the couple movedto Schenectady, where he joined General Electric at Knolls AtomicPower Lab as a radio chemist.She worked as a staff medical surgical nurse at Ellis Hospital forfour years, before starting her family.“She approached her family duties the same way she did hernursing career, and devoted herself to the raising and care of herthree children,” her family wrote.After raising her children, she joined the Nutrition Program forthe Elderly of Catholic Family Services as a site manager at the“She approached her family duties the same way shedid her nursing career, and devoted herself to theraising and care of her three children.”St. Stephen’s Meal Site, and also as a volunteer driver and visitorfor Meals on Wheels.Her service was at Sunnyview Hospital as a second-shift teamleader and medication relief supervisor. She then worked for sevenyears as an office nurse for Dr. Chen in Scotia.She was an active advocate for better working conditions for nursesat Sunnyview and volunteered for duty at local bloodmobiles.She was active in St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Schenectadyfor many years, and was a member of the care team and variouscommittees.She was also active in the local schools’ Parent Teacher Associationsand an advocate of better programs in the middle schools.Mrs. Walker enjoyed her second home on Lieutenant Island andhad many friends on Cape Cod. She enjoyed reunions with St. Luke’sclassmates at various locations over the years.She was a devoted New York Times crossword puzzle addictand, “her wit enlivened her conversations with people,” her familywrote.“She was a wonderful mother, wife, and devoted friend to manypeople,” wrote her family. “She will be sorely missed and muchremembered.”****Mrs. Walker is survived by her husband, F. William “Bill” Walker;her children, Leslie McAlister, and her husband, Robert, FrederickHobart “Hobey” Walker, and his wife, Leanne, and Guy HoaglandWalker, and his wife, Susan; her grandchildren, Blake McAlister,Caitlin Walker, and Sadie and Harrison Walker; her brother, GeorgeHoagland; her nephews, Michael Hoagland, and his wife, Lisa, andMatthew Hoagland; and her niece, Margaret Hoagland.The family would like to thank Drs. David C. Armenia, CatherineSmitas, and Thomas L. Goodman for the empathetic care of Mrs.Walker, as well as the Community Hospice of Albany County team,including registered nurse Sheila and aide Loretta.Friends may call at the New Comer Cannon Funeral Home, at 343New Karner Road, Colonie, on Friday, May 18, from 5 to 7 p.m.Mrs. Walker will be laid to rest during a private ceremony atMemory Gardens’ “Island of Tranquility” in Colonie.Memorial contributions may be made to St. Stephen’s Church onThe Plaza in Schenectady, the American Heart Association, or theEpiscopal Relief and Development Charity.