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Foundation Board Member
Highlight
Heather Johnson joined the JCC
Foundation Board in September
2013 representing Car-Freshner
Corporation. Heather is originally from
Silver Creek, NY. She graduated from
Wheaton College in Norton, MA with
a double major in mathematics and
economics. From Wheaton, she went
on to attend the University of Virginia in
Charlottesville, VA where she graduated
with a master’s degree in economics.
Heather worked for John Hancock Financial Services in Boston,
MA as a financial analyst for four years before moving back to
the Western New York area to be closer to family. For the next
four years she worked as an adjunct professor at SUNY Fredonia,
teaching mathematics, economics and computer programming.
She and her family relocated once again to the New England area
where Heather began working for Tom’s of Maine in Kennebunk,
ME. She started with the company as a market analyst, but quickly
moved into brand marketing where she found her passion. When
the opportunity arose seven years later to come back to New York
State and work as a brand manager for Car-Freshner Corporation,
Heather jumped at the chance. She has been with Car-Freshner
now for three years and absolutely loves her job. Heather lives with
her husband and three children in Henderson Harbor, NY and they
love the Northern New York area and all that it has to offer.
When Heather was asked by Car-Freshner to consider representing
the company on the JCC Foundation Board, she was more
than happy to do so. She has always felt strongly about higher
education and admires the SUNY system of schools. Her father
was an English teacher at Erie Community College South Campus
in Orchard Park, NY for over 35 years before retiring just a few
years ago, so she has known community college life for as long as
she can remember. She believes in the power of knowledge and
education and that it should be something available to anyone
that is looking to learn and better their life. She is proud to serve
Car-Freshner and JCC as an active board member and writes, “It is a
privilege to help cultivate relationships, develop donors and raise
funds to support the amazing students that attend JCC and further
the goals of the College.”
Scholarship Donor
Highlight
By: Dawn Robinson
Robinson Family Scholarship
I am originally from Rochester, NY
and coming to Jefferson was the first
experience I had as a college student.
Being on a college campus was a challenging
yet inspiring experience. I am a
1997 graduate of Jefferson. I give much
credit to my success to the faculty and
staff that supported and assisted me in
finding my passion for teaching (Cherie
Ditch and Courtney Bauer). I didn’t start out knowing that I wanted
to become a teacher. I began at Jefferson as a math/science major
who wanted to become an environmental conservation officer.
(That didn’t work out so well!) I then transferred to the business
division where I became a Retail Business Management AAS student.
By the time I finished at Jefferson I had found my passion for
instruction and upon completion of my degree, I continued onto
Nazareth College to pursue my bachelor’s degree in business and
distributive education. I finished at Nazareth and couldn’t wait to
return to the North Country to continue my education at Potsdam
and to begin my career. I taught for nine years at Watertown
High School. After losing my position due to budget constraints, I
received the amazing opportunity to join the Jefferson family not
as a student but as a faculty member. I am thankful each semester
for the opportunities I have received.
As a faculty alumnus, I felt it was important to give back to the
institution that gave me my start. I felt a great connection to Jefferson
and its potential students. With rising high school budget
constraints, students are unable to experience some of the elective
classes that I was able to take as a student that prepared me for the
rigor of the college experience.
I heard of a high school senior who had taken all of the college
credit-bearing EDGE classes available to her at her home school.
She has been accepted to Coastal Carolina University and will be
pursuing a business degree with a concentration in marketing. She
wanted the experience of attending a face-to-face college class prior
to beginning her program in the fall. The student, because she is
considered a high school student, did not qualify for any financial
aid, and she was not able to apply for any scholarships. High school
students have a greater financial need than the average student
because they hold part-time jobs at best. Many high school seniors
would choose an easy schedule for their last semester and coast
to graduation. This student chose to seek a challenging schedule
of attending class three days a week and returning to her home
school where she carries a full load of classes, participates in
extracurricular activities such as the school musical, volunteers in
her community, is an active member in Stage Notes, a local drama
organization that not only performs but raises funds for the Urban
Mission. She is also a leader on the softball team. Watching this
student’s dedication to her community and her learning inspired
me. I established a scholarship for her and others who are seeking
the challenge of taking a class at Jefferson while still in high
school. I hope they may begin to realize “There really is more here”
at Jefferson!
Upcoming Sessions at Jefferson
• Fall late session (8-week) classes start
October 21
• Winterim (4-week) classes start
December 23 online and December 28 on
campus
• Spring semester classes begin
January 25, 2016
Jefferson Insider - Volume 13 • 20