News

‘Assessing Community Needs, Priorities and Trends’ at Sept. 26 TMR

United wayThe Sept. 26 session of Thursday Morning Roundtable will feature Frank Lazarski, president of the United Way. TMR meets from 8:15-9:15 a.m. at Drumlins, 800 Nottingham Rd.

As president of the United Way of Central New York, Lazarski coordinates the largest annual fund drive to raise money for human service programs in Syracuse and Onondaga County, as well as coordinates volunteer programs and a variety of community initiatives, such as Success By 6. Previous to this appointment, Lazarski served as executive director of SYRACUSE 20/20, Inc. He is a part-time instructor at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School.

Lazarski received a master’ degree in public administration from SU, and a bachelor of arts degree from Stonehill College.

TMR is a community program of University College of Syracuse University. For further information, contact Sandra Barrett, director of community programs, 315- 443-4846, email cps@syr.edu, or visit www.uc.syr.edu/community/tmr.  The TMR program is broadcast on WCNY-FM, 91.3 on Sundays at 8 p.m. and at www.wcny.org/radio/thursday-morning-roundtable.

Kirst Shares Stories of CNY at Sept. 19 Session of IRP

The Sept. 19 session of the Institute for Retired People will feature Post Standard/Syracuse Media Group columnist Sean Kirst.

Kirst will talk about “Before and After Digital: Stories that Matter.” Kirst joined the Post-Standard’s Oswego County bureau in October 1988, later becoming a Syracuse city reporter. In 1991, he was named a sports columnist, and in 1996, a metropolitan columnist, which provided an outlet for his award-winning human interest pieces.

IRP runs from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Syracuse, 5833 East Seneca Turnpike, Jamesville. Guests are welcome to attend.

For more information, visit http://uc.syr.edu/irp, call 315-443-4846 or e-mail cmkarlho@syr.edu.

 

Student Veterans Organization Raises $1,000 For Honor Flight Syracuse

salute

The Syracuse University Student Veterans Organization is donating $1,000 to Honor Flight Syracuse, which will send 65 World War II veterans to Washington, D.C., on Oct. 5.

The organization held a raffle in the spring to raise money to help fund the trip. Local businesses, including Saving Face Barber Shop and the Blarney Stone restaurant, assisted with selling raffle tickets. Prizes included a new 32GB iPad Mini, two iPod Nanos and a Syracuse University-themed gift basket, including two tickets to a home football game this season.

The SU Veterans Organization is composed of student veterans who have completed their terms of military service and chose to pursue the educational opportunity afforded by the post-9/11 GI Bill at Syracuse University.

Honor Flight Syracuse is a national, nonprofit organization that sends veterans to Washington, D.C., for a day-long, all-expense-paid flight to see the memorials, visit Arlington National Cemetery and reflect upon their service to the nation.

“The SU student veterans wanted to support a veteran organization that we have previously worked with,” says Anthony Keach, president of the SU Student Veterans Club. “World War II veterans are passing away every day and we wanted to participate in honoring the profound sacrifices made by that generation of veterans.”

Keach says that the veterans at SU felt privileged to assist in this mission that allows World War II veterans the opportunity to visit the recently erected WWII memorial, as well as other national monuments and Arlington National Cemetery. “It’s our way of showing our respect to those who may otherwise not been able to visit during their lifetime.” he says.

In addition to fundraising for the Honor Flight Syracuse program, the SU Veterans Organization sponsored a unit currently deployed to Afghanistan. They have also worked with Habitat for Humanity Veterans Build, which resulted in the organization receiving the Chancellor’s Award for Public Recognition and Scholarship in March 2012.

 

 

 

Bea González Named President-Elect of UPCEA

Bea González
Bea González

The University Professional & Continuing Education Association (UPCEA), the Washington D.C.-based leading association for universities engaged in professional, continuing and online education, has elected Bethaida “Bea” González to serve as the 2013-14 UPCEA president-elect. She will serve as president in 2014-15. She is the third administrator from Syracuse University to be elected to the position. She follows D. Walter Morton, who served as president in 1937-38, and Alex N. Charters, who served in 1965-66.

González has more than 30 years of experience in continuing education as well as a distinguished record of public service.  She joined University College in 1984 as an academic advisor and quickly rose through the ranks.  After serving as associate dean at UC, she was appointed interim dean in 2004 and as dean in 2007.

In addition to being recognized with numerous awards and honors for outstanding leadership in public and community service, González has been elected to public office three times.  In fall 2001, González was the first Latina to be elected president of the Common Council for the City of Syracuse.

As dean of University College, González directly supervises quality programing in continuing education and summer programs.  She works closely with the vice chancellor’s office, academic deans and faculty on a variety of program development initiatives directly related to the University’s effort to provide distance education, research and consultative services to employers and government agencies.

González has served on and is a member of several professional organizations, including the Association of University Summer Sessions; the Education Commission of the States, New York State Representative; and the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO). As a longstanding member of the UPCEA, González has been asked to present at many conferences/workshops, including UPCEA’s 95th Conference in San Francisco in 2009, the UPCEA Executive Committee on Diversity in Toronto in 2011 and UPCEA conferences in Harrisburg, Pa., and Vancouver, B.C.

Students in Summer Youth Program Design Games to Assist in Learning

Twenty-five students, ages 14-17, will spend the day at the Milton J. RubensteinMuseum of Science and Technology (MOST) at 500 South Franklin St., Syracuse, on Thursday, Aug. 29, to explore the world of science and technology through game creation and design. The students participated in the CNY Works Summer Youth Program. At five exhibitions throughout the museum, teams facilitated by a Game Designer’s Guild volunteer will create non-digital, game-based experiences, learning 21st-century skills in the process. Science and technology-based information about the exhibition will be provided by MOST subject matter experts throughout the day.

Scott Nicholson, associate professor at the School of Information Studies (iSchool), and the director of Because Play Matters game lab, will lead the event. Nicholson says the pressure of creating a game in a short time frame forces participants to develop communication and teamwork skills while using a rapid prototyping and redevelopment model that is valuable for many careers.

“In order to create a game, participants will have to combine creativity, design, art and storytelling with logistical thinking, technical writing, probability and the development of resource management systems,” he says. “For game experiences in the MOST, participants will also have to take into account the constraints of creating a game that can be learned quickly and completed in a short period of time while also being meaningful and scientifically sound.”

The project is the initial pilot program in a larger strategic plan to encourage educational and career attainment through game development and game play. “The goal of the game jam is to positively impact the participants’ interest in science and science careers by actively engaging them in this innovative and constructive event,” says Karen DeJarnette, director of Syracuse University’s Talent and Education Development Center.

Larry Leatherman, president of the MOST, adds, “Piloting this program supports the mission of the MOST and helps to build interest in science in our region’s youth. We are excited to bring this program to our venue.”

Information about the MOSTGame and teams’ progress will be posted in the museum so visitors can learn about the process. During the award ceremony at the end of the day, groups will present their games to participants, staff and visitors who can play the games that were created.

The MOSTGame is collaboration between the MOST, the Game Designers’ Guild, the iSchool and the Talent and Education Development Center of University College. The program was funded by a grant from CNYWorks.

For additional information about the program, contact DeJarnette at ksdejarn@syr.edu or 315-559-6634.