news & class schedule - Columbia-Greene Community College

C-GCCFALL NEWSkand classscheduleCOLUMBIA-GREENE COMMUNITY COLLEGE CREDIT AND NONCREDIT CLASSES • FALL 2007Tamesha Scott – One in a SUNY Millionf Tamesha Scott — the millionth SUNY community collegegraduate representing Columbia-Greene Community College — has herway, she’ll return to C-GCC’s serene campus someday to teachnursing. L “Tamesha really is one in a million,” said college PresidentJames Campion. “She is the quintessential community college successIstory — a returning adult student who has established a significantTamesha Scott — the millionth SUNY community collegegraduate representing Columbia-Greene CommunityCollege at graduation ceremonies on campus on May 15.ety. Scott, who graduated with a 3.38 grade pointaverage, was recently a recipient of the college’sMustapha Diversity Award.Following her graduation in May 2007, Scott willattend Russell Sage College on a full scholarship. Shewill study nursing and plans to complete their M.S.program and go on for a Ph.D. in the field as well.“I’m going to miss Columbia-GreeneCommunity College terribly,” said Scott, musing onher future plans. “It was a wonderful experience as areturning adult student.“The institution was so supportive and generousto me. It’s definitely an asset to the community. If Ihadn’t gone to C-GCC, I never would haveobtained my scholarship to Russell Sage.”The Hudson native is also the mother of two. ■Retired C-GCC Couple Keepsin Step with Studentspathway to success.”A symbolic degree was awarded to Scott at C-GCC’s commencement May 15 as part of a specialSUNY celebration. SUNY has determined that itscommunity college’s will surpass the 1-million markfor degrees granted over the course of spring andsummer 2007.A graduate of Hudson High School, Scott beganher C-GCC career as an early admit student in1992. She studied elsewhere for a time, but returnedto C-GCC full-time in 2002, first majoring in prenursingand later individual studies.Scott, 32, was a peer tutor at C-GCC, where shewas on the President’s List twice. She also workedin the college bursar’s office and was a member ofSigma Delta Mu, the national Spanish honors soci-When the dancing started spontaneouslyin the remote Irish pub, thePagnanis weren’t about to let inappropriatefootwear stop them.“We’d been hiking all day andweren’t exactly dressed for set dancing,” said Bob,retired professor emeritus of criminal justice atColumbia-Greene Community College. “So we didthe sets in our hiking boots.”That would come as no surprise to the Pagnanis’friends and students. Bob and his wife, Betty, areabsolutely passionate about this fast, exuberant formof Irish dance — so much so that they now offernoncredit classes in set dancing at Columbia-Greene.Pretty good for a fellow who didn’t want to learndancing at all.“Betty had to drag me to set dancing,” he remembered.“When I first went, I couldn’t do any of it.Gradually, I learned and got better, and now it’s avery important part of my life.”To “set” the record straight, set dancing is oftenconfused with step dancing a la “Riverdance.”However, it is quite distinct.Set dancing involves four couples,arranged in a square, who dance a series ofintricate moves and steps called figures.One set, consisting of three to six figures,can last anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes.Importantly, set dancing is all aboutcamaraderie.“We’ve met some wonderful peoplethrough set dancing — very caring andgenerous, from all walks of life,” Bob said.“We’ve not only danced with them, buttaken vacations with them as well.”Both Pagnanis have dance as part oftheir heritage. Bob’s mother was a professional,dancing tap and acrobatic numbersin clubs during the Depression and wellbeyond. Betty grew up in Belfast, wherelearning ballroom dancing and other stepswas de rigueur.“Dancing was our major source of recreation inNorthern Ireland,” she recalled. “Every Saturdaynight there was a dance, and the boys were not at allshy about it as they are here. My mother was a setdancer, but sets were losing popularity back then, soI focused on ballroom.”Set dancing has enjoyed a revival since Betty’syouth, and the Pagnanis are spreading the joy intheir Columbia-Greene classes, which are offeredthrough the Community Services Office. They easetheir students into the dance’s rhythms, startingwith the basic triple step and adding simple figureseach week.Both teachers and students enjoy the classes. “It’sfun to watch the students,” Bob said. “When themusic stops and they’ve done it right, they all cheer.”Teaching, of course, comes naturally to Bob, whotaught at the community college level for more than30 years. When he started, criminal justice was abrand new field of study; a friend in California —the dean of a community college — knew of Bob’sbackground as an MP and probation officer andasked him to teach.— CONTINUED ON PAGE 10C-GCC professor emeritus Bob Pagnani, center, observes students inthe Irish set-dancing class he teaches with his wife, Betty, left, in thenoncredit program at the Greenport campus.Virginia Tech ObservanceC-GCC President James Campion reads the names of thevictims from the Virginia Tech tragedy, during an observanceheld April 19 at the Greenport campus, which wasattended by students, faculty, staff and the public.FALL REGISTRATIONINFORMATIONCREDIT CLASSESRegistration Days — Will be held August 16, 21,27 from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Anyone may registerat this time. Advisors will be available.However, there are no appointments. The registrationprocess will be on a first-come, firstservedbasis. Consequently, it may take morethan two hours to complete your registration.Daily Registration (In-Person & Telephone) —Non-matriculated students may register at anytime until the beginning of classes. You may stopin the registration office Monday throughThursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to complete yourregistration form. Non-matriculated studentsmay also register by telephone — (518) 828-4181, ext. 5514 — using MasterCard, Visa orAmerican Express.)Completing the Registration Process — Allstudents are required to submit a certificate ofresidence. Residents of Columbia and Greenecounties can show proof of residency at theBursar’s Office, and in some instances may berequired to go to their County Treasurer’s Office.