| BROOME ALUMNI |
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| Awards |
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Each year, the BCC Alumni Association recognizes
outstanding alumni at the Awards Dinner during Homecoming
Day in October. The Distinguished Alumni Awards are based
on the following criteria: for the Alumni Acheivement Award:
outstanding success in professional life- success is defined
as going beyond ordinary career responsibilities and demonstratiing
leadership and excellence.The Alumni Service Award:
for service to the community clearly setting the nominee apart
through either one outstanding action or event, or a series
of volunteer activities.
Alumni nominations for the awards should
be submitted by May 1 for the October Homecoming.
Nomination guidelines will appear
on the alumni website in January.
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| 2004
Winners of the Distinguished Alumni Award - Presented
October 1, 2004 |
| James L. Antonakos |
Class of 1981
James is Professor of Computer Studies and Electrical
Engineering Technology at Broome Community College where
he has been teaching since 1984. He has compiled an impressive
list of industrial and consulting experience and publications
and received the State University of New York Chancellor’s
Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2002. He wrote or
co-authored 40 college textbooks on a wide variety of
engineering topics including microprocessors, programming,
electronics, computer operating systems and networks,
and introduction to computers. He has been active in the
community in many different ways including coaching youth
tee-ball and soccer, serving as an instructor at Hidy
Ochiai’s Karate School and upgrading computer software
at the Jewish Community Center preschool classrooms.
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| Frank Berrish |
Class of 1966
Frank is president/CEO of Visions Federal Credit Union.
In the 27 years that he has been president, he has grown
the Credit Union from a $24 million credit union to a
$1.5 billion organization. He is a member of the Credit
Union Hall of Fame as chosen by the Credit Union Executive
Society, and was selected one of the 100 Best Credit Union
CEOs in the nation by his peers. He also holds positions
on a number of local not-for-profit executive boards:
The Roberson Museum and Science Center, the Boy Scouts
of America: Baden-Powell Council, and the Broome County
Chamber of Commerce. |
| John Butchko |
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Class of 1968
John retired last spring from 36 years at Broome Community
College. He started working as a technical assistant
in the audio visual department, and in 1981 began teaching
classes in audio and video theory and production - the
first of their kind at BCC. He joined the teaching faculty
in 1986 and began the first year of the Communication
and Media Arts program. He has been instrumental in
building up the program and served as coordinator of
the department until he retired. He started the Communications
Club and established a BCC Communications Scholarship
in memory of his son Joseph. He has worked as a freelance
videographer for all the major local stations and ESPN
and MSG.
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| William D. Paradis |
Class of 1977
Bill worked his way through BCC while working full-time
in the fencing industry and became the first evening student
to be inducted into Phi Theta Kappa. In spite of the declining
population and economic development in the Broome County
area, Bill was challenged to be an entrepreneur. He is
the president and founder of PARACO Corporation DBA Budget
Fence of America, Heritage Flag & Supply, Paraco Specialties
and Paradis Fence & Supply and employs 14 people.
He is a supporter of many local organizations including
the BC Jets, now known as the Southern Tier Green Machine,
the Endicott Performing Arts Center and the Binghamton
Mets.
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| George E. Totten |
Class of 1970
Prior to owning his own business, George was employed
by Union Carbide Corporation for 32 years, retiring as
a senior research scientist. During his career, George
received many honors and is a world leader in heat treatment
and surface engineering of metals and hydraulic lubrication,
where he has published broadly and served in numerous
leadership capacities in the industry. He has coauthored
or edited approximately 20 books and conference proceedings.
In addition to running his own company, George is currently
working with the Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Department at Portland State University on the development
of the Northwest Center for Thermal Processing. |
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| 2003
Winners of the Distinguished Alumni Award - Presented
at the Awards Dinner at Homecoming 2003. |
| Alumni Achievement
Award |
Francis Battisti, R-CSW, BCD
Class of 1968
Francis is the CEO of Battisti Network, a multi-discipline
consulting firm specializing in individual and organizational
transformation. He is Professor of Psychology and Human
Services at BCC, where he was the recipient of the SUNY
Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. He
is also a clinical consultant with Nutrition Network,
Inc. His national reputation in the field of conflict
disposition has positioned him to work with major organizations,
a congressional committee and corporations, and as a seminar
presenter and keynoter to Fortune 500 companies. |
| John Birchall |
Class of 1977
John is vice President/ General Manager of WIVT-TV (Newschannel
34) and WBGH-TV (NBC-5). He has spent the last 24 years
working in the local television market. He is also on
the Board of Directors of the Broome County Chamber of
Commerce, the Spiedie Fest and Balloon Rally and on the
marketing committee of the American Red Cross. He volunteers
as a youth basketball coach. |
| Lt. Paul Tomanek |
Class of 1977
Lt Tomanek is the most decorated police officer in the
151-member police department in the city of Clifton, NJ.
He has received 6 honorable service medals for courageous
acts and going beyond the call of duty. He earned the
medals for saving tenants from a high rise building fire,
catching armed robbers, negotiating with a knife-wielding
person, stopping an emotionally disturbed person from
using firearms, and pursuing and apprehending burglars
in his own car while off-duty. |
| Jeffrey Kraham |
Class of 1971
Broome County Executive Jeffrey Kraham is currently serving
his second term having won re-election in November 2000.
He was a member of the Broome County Legislature from
1977-1990, and from 1981-1986 he served as Broome County’s
and New York State’s youngest County Legislative
Chairman. While in office, he has initiated and completed
many local projects including: a new terminal at the Greater
Binghamton Airport, a new public library, a new County
Justice Building, and three new Senior Citizen Centers. |
| Thomas Kubala,
Ed.D |
Class of 1958
Dr. Kubala is Professor of Higher Education at the University
of Central Florida where he has been since 1995. He was
President of Delaware Technical and Community College
from 1992—1995, and also Deputy to the University
Chancellor — Head of the Office of Community Colleges
for SUNY from 1986—1992. Before that he served as
President of Thomas Nelson Community College in Virginia,
Dean of Anne Arundel Community College in Maryland and
Associate Professor at BCC. |
| Claire Ligeikis
Clayton, Ed.D |
Class of 1976
Claire has been the Chairperson of the Nursing Department
at BCC since 1990. She received the SUNY Chancellor’s
Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1994 and was twice
honored by the New York State District #5 Nurses Association.
Serving on a number of local, statewide and national boards,
she advocates changes in the health care delivery system
and works tirelessly to support the profession of nursing.
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| Alumni Service
Award - Rosemary West |
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Class of 1991
Rosemary has a strong commitment to her community and
volunteers extensively at many local organizations,
despite a permanent injury to her leg and arthritis
due to an accident 7 years ago. She serves in many volunteer
roles for the Arthritis Foundation, as a Mediator for
ACCORD, a volunteer for the Office for Aging, Special
Olympics, Alzheimer's Association, Action for Older
Persons, First Night and the American Cancer Society.
She works as a reporter for Masthead Publications.
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