SUNY Canton’s North Country Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Program helped bring air medical transportation back to the North Country.
Air Methods Corporation announced that it would begin operating two medical helicopters in Jefferson and St. Lawrence County beginning this June at a press conference held the morning of Wednesday, March 14, at Samaritan Medical Center.
The announcement came after nearly five years of meetings and negotiations with area medical agencies, hospitals, first responders and medical flight services, according to Ann M. Smith, director of the North Country EMS Program.
“This is a big win for us and our area’s first responders,” Smith said. “It’s an even larger win for North Country residents who will benefit from the life-saving services provided by Air Methods.”
The helicopters will extend air ambulance service to more communities and add faster medical response for critically ill or injured patients in need of specialized treatment. The first of the two helicopters will be located in Watertown, and the second will be stationed in Potsdam.
Smith explained patients previously would need to be stabilized locally and transported by ground to advanced specialty facilities outside of the area. “In cases like a heart attack or a stroke, each minute increases the chance of survival,” she said.
In 2007, the Military Assistance to Safety and Traffic (MAST) was removed from service and stopped providing this much-needed service in the area. The Fort Drum Regional Health Planning Organization worked with agencies to begin replacing the service. The Organization’s research indicated in 2010 more than 500 emergencies at hospitals in the Fort Drum region met the criteria for air medical transport.
The endeavor to re-establish medical flights received backing from Senator Patty Ritchie, Assemblyman Ken Blankenbush, and Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell.
The North Country EMS Program will continue to work with area hospitals and first responders to expedite the process and aid Air Methods Corporation as they begin to provide airlift services. Smith said they would share office space at SUNY Canton with personnel from the company if necessary.
Smith and her staff help facilitate emergency medical services and provide technical support to area volunteer and paid support agencies. The EMS Program also serves as the credentialing agency for advanced life-support personnel in the tri-county area.
Media inquiries should be directed to Gregory Kie, Media Relations Manager, or call 315/386-7527.
The locally produced movie “Dissection of an Olive” will be airing at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, in the SUNY Canton Richard W. Miller Campus Center’s Kingston Theater.
The showing will be free and open to the public and will be the first time the movie has been shown locally since it played at the Roxy Theater in Potsdam as part of the Cinema 10 series last fall.
Several SUNY Canton students and faculty members contributed their talents to the movie, which was written and directed by former Potsdam resident Summer Dorr.
Kamal A. Turner, an instructional support assistant in the College’s Graphic and Multimedia Design program served as the assistant director and acted in the evolving story.
“I saw my parts in the movie as a way to be involved with a really large creative project right here in the North Country,” Turner said. “I contacted all of the students I knew who were interested in making movies so they could take advantage of the opportunity to get hands-on experience in a real production.”
SUNY Canton Graphic and Multimedia Design Instructional Support Assistant Kamal A. Turner and GMMD Student Daniel H. Grant (both far left) operate the boom microphone during a scene of “Dissection of an Olive.”
Additionally, Jesse L. Clark-Stone, a mathematics faculty member, served as the executive producer for the production. Graphic and Multimedia Design students Daniel H. Grant of Miller Place and Towfiq Akhtar of Queens both played roles in making the movie.
For more about the production and the official movie trailer, visit: http://www.dissectionofanolive.com/.
North Country students used a course project to earn national recognition for innovation.
A SUNY Canton group project led to more national recognition for three recent Canino School of Engineering Technology graduates.
Joel R. Landry of Malone, Kyle C. Szelestey of Salisbury Mills, and Brandon M. Trimboli of Norwood (2011 graduates) are featured in the March edition of ATV 4-Wheel Action magazine for their reverse-engineered prototype ATV shock. The magazine is now available on newsstands.
“These three students demonstrated exceptional innovation and enthusiasm with their coursework,” said SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy. “Our scholars have limitless potential within their class projects, coupled with the wisdom and experience of our faculty. Kyle, Joel and Brandon’s creativity is an inspiration to current and prospective students.”
Greg Hall, the magazine’s technical editor, wrote “How College Kids made their Own ATV Parts” following an interview with all three students. The two-page spread includes photos of the students in the SUNY Canton Mechanical Engineering Technology Lab with their prototype shock and computer renderings of their design.
Hall also offers readers a detailed description of the state-of-the art Dimension printer the students used to create each individual piece of their prototype.
Pictured are (l to r) mechanical engineering technology students Joel R. Landry of Malone, Brandon M. Trimboli of Norwood, and Kyle C. Szelestey of Salisbury Mills.
“The team previously displayed their project in the College’s Scholarly Activities Celebration and were top-10 finalists in a national competition sponsored by Dimension Printers,” said Daniel J. Miller, an assistant professor and mechanical engineering technology program director. “The Dimension Printer is ideal for students to prototype their unique designs and avoid costly and time-consuming production. It gives our students a clear advantage when they move from design to production.”
The project took shape in 2010 in a computer-assisted design (CAD) course as part of their mechanical engineering technology program. One of their friends brought a broken Honda 400EX shock to class, and the team saw it as a chance to advance the overall design of the broken part. They took the class project beyond the design phase and printed a three-dimensional scale reproduction in plastic to make a working model of the innovative shock.
All three students benefitted from this project, past the national recognition of their invention. Szelestey and Trimboli are continuing their studies at RIT. Landry started a career making CAD product designs, similar to the ones used to create the prototype shock.
Prior to the ATV 4-Wheel Action article, the team of future engineers and the College’s Dimension Printer were highlighted in The Watertown Daily Times.
SUNY Canton will welcome Gym Class Heroes later this spring for one of the North Country’s largest musical performances of the year.
Amp Entertainment and the SUNY Canton Student Activities Office will be presenting the concert, with doors opening at 6:30 p.m. Friday, May 4, in the Field House area of the College’s new Athletic Center. It will be the first large concert to be held in the Roos House. The building was opened in 2011.
“Amp Entertainment has done a wonderful job providing the bands our students want to see,” said Michael J. Perry, SUNY Canton College Association executive director who oversees the Student Activities Office. “Last semester they helped us bring the nationally known band Red Jumpsuit Apparatus and local favorites Tyrade to campus for a full evening of non-stop rock. This semester they’re working with us to bring Gym Class Heroes to our largest venue.”
Gym Class Heroes began performing in Geneva, N.Y., in 1997 and is noted for combining elements of rap, rock, R&B, and funk. The quartet uses live instruments rather than looped samples. MC Travis “Schleprok” McCoy and drummer Matt McGinley became friends during high school gym class, leading to the band’s name. McCoy has said previously their popular music was hard to pin down to one style or genre. “Musically, it’s just all over the place,” he said.
The band has recorded three albums with Fueled by Ramen and Decaydance Records. Some of their hit songs include Cookie Jar, Cupid’s Chokehold, Stereo Hearts and The Queen and I. Cupid’s Chokehold hit number four on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart and received many plays on the radio and MTV in 2007.
Previously the band has played at the South by Southwest Music Conference and Festival (SXSW), Bamboozle, Warped Tour festivals, and the pregame show of the NBA All-Star Game. They’ve worked with other musical artists including Lil Wayne, Busta Rhymes and Daryl Hall.
Tickets are $25 for SUNY Canton students and $35 for the public and are available in advance at the College’s Student Activities Office in the Richard W. Miller Campus Center, at Josie’s Pizzeria in downtown Canton and at Northern Music and Video in downtown Potsdam. For more information about the concert, please contact 315-386-7315.
Media inquiries should be directed to Gregory Kie, Media Relations Manager, or call 315/386-7527.
The SUNY Canton Small Business Development Center has resumed operations in their permanent offices in Wicks Hall at SUNY Canton.
The SBDC briefly relocated their operations at the St. Lawrence County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) until buildings were reopened following the Feb. 10 fire in Cook Hall.
“We express the most sincere thanks to the IDA for accommodating our staff during our displacement,” said SBDC Director Dale Rice. “It is because of their generosity and support that the SBDC was able to continue serving small businesses in the county without interruption.”
The SUNY Canton SBDC provides free, individual advisement and counseling services for new and existing small businesses in areas such as business planning, financial analysis, marketing, human resources, government contracting, and much more. To learn more about the SBDC’s services, visit http://www.canton.edu/sbdc/ or call (315) 386-7312.
SUNY Canton added 25 remarkable individuals to the College’s Hall of Fame at an induction ceremony on Friday, Feb 24 in the College’s Chaney Dining Center.
“Our College would not be where it is today without the hard work, dedication and thoughtfulness of these wonderful people,” said SUNY Canton President Dr. Joseph L. Kennedy. “They laid the foundation for our many successes and we’re looking forward to celebrating their numerous contributions and accomplishments.”
Those eligible for induction into the Hall of Fame include, but are not limited to, alumni, founders, community members, and retired faculty and staff members. The recent inductees also include past presidents, distinguished faculty members, and numerous individuals who have significantly impacted SUNY Canton and the North Country.
The class is the second installment of the Hall of Fame’s Century Club, which will include the College’s first 100 inductees. The first class was inducted during SUNY Canton’s Alumni Weekend in June 2011.
“So many people have impacted our College in significant ways, but we could not appropriately induct them all at once,” Kennedy noted. “We wanted to make sure we took the time to honor each individual in the way they deserve to be recognized and thank them for all they have done for SUNY Canton and our students.”
The second installment of the Hall of Fame Century Club includes:
Dr. Adelord S. and Sylvia H. Blanchard – Dr. Adelord “Doc” Blanchard was a driving force in the secretarial science department for 22 years. He was admired as a professional who was deeply committed to his work and dedicated to his students. To perpetuate the high standards of excellence for which he was known, the Dr. Adelord S. Blanchard Endowment was established by the Student Cooperative Alliance and enlarged by Doc’s colleagues and friends. Sylvia H. Blanchard taught secretarial science and business at SUNY Canton for 25 years, from 1970 until her retirement in 1995. She was past president of ATC Women and a member of the Canton-Potsdam Zonta Club. Following her death in 1999, her family requested that this endowment fund be renamed to recognize her outstanding contributions to the College and thus the Dr. Adelord S. and Sylvia H. Blanchard Memorial Endowed Scholarship was named in honor of nearly fifty years of their combined service to the college.
Joel M. Canino ’59 – After graduating from SUNY Canton in 1959, Joel M. Canino worked as an industrial purchasing agent for Inland Supply Company in Syracuse. A year later he was offered a position at the Syracuse construction contracting firm of H.H. and F.E. Bean, Inc., where he eventually became executive vice president. In 1973, he moved to Orlando, Florida to work for the Pittsburgh-based mechanical contracting firm of Sauer Industries, where he served as president of various subsidiaries. In 1984, he became president of C.N.F. Industries in Meriden, Connecticut. Mr. Canino and his partner began Gemma Power Systems, one of the largest design/construct power plant builders in New England and one of the best in the nation, in 1997. His passion for the College was evident in his many gifts, which totaled more than $3 million and included the largest gift in SUNY Canton’s history. The College dedicated its School of Engineering Technology in his honor and renamed it the Canino School of Engineering Technology in 2005.
Mary Adele Chaney – A former professor of domestic science and academic subjects, Mary Adele Chaney was among the first group of women to graduate from the Agriculture School in 1910. After furthering her education at institutions such as Columbia University, Simmons College, Connecticut and later Providence, Ms. Chaney returned to teach at her alma mater in 1914 where she was hired as second assistant in domestic science and eventually became first assistant. Two years later she became the head of the domestic science program. For over two decades, she graced the institution with her youthful spirit, understanding, and patience, propelling her adaptation to changing times during her devoted time to higher education. She was also instrumental in starting the Pi Nu Epsilon, the first sorority for women. The Chaney Dining Center is named in her honor.
D. Edgar Cloce ’59 – D. Edgar Cloce is a 1959 graduate of the automotive technology program and is president of T.J. Toyota in Potsdam, one of the most successful automotive dealerships in the North Country. He was the 2009 recipient of the College’s Distinguished Alumni Award. In 1989, he and his wife, Clare, established the Ed and Clara Cloce Scholarship. He is a member of the Canton College Foundation Board of Directors and SUNY Canton’s Automotive Technology Advisory Committee and is also a regular supporter of the SUNY Canton College Foundation.
Dr. Solomon Cook –Dr. Solomon Cook was named to the SUNY Canton College Council by then-Governor Hugh Carey in December 1978 and served in that capacity until retiring in February 1989. In the later years of his Council term, he served as a Council representative on the Canton College Foundation Board of Directors. As chief of the tribal council, he played a crucial role in helping his community recover from a period of unrest. Dr. Cook dedicated his skills to improve the quality of life in his community. He served in the U.S. Navy in World War II; was elected chief of the St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Council; served as president of his church parish council and as an officer of the Knights of Columbus; is active in Farm Bureau and the 4-H Advisory Committee in program development; and donated land for a library in Hogansburg.
Henry and Macy Davis – In the 1930s and 40s, Henry and Macy Davis worked in a greenhouse at the College for more than a dozen years. Mr. Davis started working in the greenhouse as a newlywed with Macy. Mr. Davis began taking evening classes in 1941, which served as preparation for World War II and eventually led to his career in electrical construction. After he retired, he left $250,000 to the College but wanted no attention surrounding the gift until after he passed away.
William D. Demo ’57 – William D. Demo owned the Demo Auctioneering and Appraisal Service and retired from the St. Lawrence Central School after teaching for 27 years. Mr. Demo is a member of the Canton College Foundation Board of Directors and has been a volunteer fireman for 58 years and town councilman for 51 years. He has been a generous benefactor to the College Foundation creating the Bill and Kathleen Demo and Family Endowed Scholarship. Mr. Demo is a leader in St. Lawrence County and is a behind the scenes supporter for many significant projects at the College.
Dr. Robert Fraser – Dr. Robert Fraser served as vice president of academic affairs at the College. He arrived at Canton in 1973 as dean of instruction and was appointed to his vice presidential role in 1976, which he served until retiring in 1991. Dr. Fraser also served as the interim president between Dr. Earl W. MacArthur and Dr. Kennedy. During his 18-year tenure, he was a member of the New York State Association of Junior Colleges and the SUNY Association of Two-Year College Academic Officers, and took part in several local organizations.
Dr. Albert E. French – Dr. Albert E. French became the sixth director and the first President of the College in April 1948. Along with his arrival came the name change of the College for the third time, it became the State University of New York Agricultural and Technical Institute. During his 24 years of service, Dr. French was involved with two major building projects, including the College’s move across the village of Canton. French Hall was the administrative building during the years that Dr. French and Dr. MacArthur served as president. The Albert E. French Scholarship was established in 1972 by the Canton Alumni Association and was endowed and enlarged in 1989 by alumni and the French family in honor of, and in tribute to, Dr. French.
Walter Kingston – Walter Kingston taught at the College from 1946 through 1979. After graduating high school, he served as Chief in the Canadian Navy prior to teaching at SUNY Canton. He subsequently obtained his bachelor’s and master’s degrees after more than 20 years of summer school and night school. Mr. Kingston began teaching industrial technology in 1946 and started the automotive technology department in 1949 and served as director until 1977. An endowment was established in his honor by his son Dr. William Kingston and his wife, Dr. Anne Moss. The scholarship is awarded annually to an incoming freshman who has been accepted into the automotive technology program.
Ernest C. Krag – Ernest C. Krag was a beloved professor of sociology and founder of the College’s Native American Club. He was a member of the Board of Directors of College Association, Inc. and played a critical role in the advising of the Pi Nu Epsilon sorority at SUNY Canton. He was appointed to the faculty at the College in 1965 and became a full professor in 1972. Mr. Krag was the recipient of the College’s Distinguished Faculty Award in 1980. He dedicated his professional and personal life to the College and was known for his high standards of honesty and unselfish service to students, the College and the community. The Ernest C. Krag Scholarship was established in 1991 on the occasion of his retirement as a tribute to him and the impact he had on students, faculty, staff and the College.
Edson A. Martin – Edson A. Martin donated the land that SUNY Canton was built upon. When talks surfaced of the possibility of moving the College out of Canton, Martin gave the farm property in the northwest edge of the village to ensure the College didn’t leave the community. His gift provided the space for the campus to evolve into a leading college in the North Country and assured its future. He was one of the original members of the College Council, which came together for the first time in 1954. Mr. Martin was the recipient of SUNY Canton’s first ever Distinguished Citizen Award in 1976 and he was recognized again in 1991 when the College named the athletic fields in his honor.
Catherine Newell – Catherine Barnett Newell represents the fifth generation of her family to make her home in St. Lawrence County. She was an elementary school teacher and founding member of the environmental organization Save the River, North Country Citizens for Responsible Land Use, and the Hammond History and Folk Art Museum. She is also a former board member of the St. Lawrence Aquarium and Ecological Center, Ogdensburg Command Performances, and North Country Public Radio’s Community Advisory Board. She has also served in various other leadership roles throughout the North Country. Ms. Newell co-founded the Sweetgrass Foundation, a private charitable institution which provides financial support to local non-profit organizations, with an ultimate mission to improve the quality of life in Northern New York. Her efforts resulted in the College’s Newell Veterinary Technology Center, a much-needed space on campus as the veterinary technology programs have grown significantly in recent years.
Allan Newell – Allan Newell represents the fifth generation of his family to reside in St. Lawrence County. He served in the U.S. Navy for four years and on the Newell Rubbermaid Inc. Board of Directors. As co-founder of the Sweetgrass Foundation, Mr. Newell has served as its President and Treasurer. Hundreds of grants have been awarded to numerous regional organizations, including the private funding required to secure the matching state funds for the construction of SUNY Canton’s Newell Veterinary Technology Center. At the time, the gift was the largest in SUNY Canton’s history. Many North Country students also continue to benefit from the Allan P. and Catherine B. Newell Endowed Scholarship established by them with a personal gift to the College in 2003. Catherine Newell and Allan Newell were awarded the College’s Distinguished Citizen award in 2007.
John P. Ouderkirk – A Malone native, Mr. Ouderkirk graduated from SUNY Canton in 1952 and from St. Lawrence University in 1958. He served in the Army from 1953 to 1955. Mr. Ouderkirk taught Physics at SUNY Canton from 1958 until his death in 1987. A truly outstanding teacher, he was known on campus and throughout SUNY for his contributions to the field. Mr. Ouderkirk was a gifted lecturer, a wise mentor, a caring counselor, and a quietly inspiring taskmaster. The prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Award particularly recognized his skills for Excellence in Teaching in 1975. While he insisted on high standards, he gave unselfishly of his time to anyone who needed it; he gave students opportunities to develop their full potentials; and he always gave students the benefit of the doubt.
Ronald M. O’Neill ’63 – Ronald O’Neill, class of 1963, began serving on the College Council in 1984 and was appointed as chair in 1992 by former New York State Governor Mario M. Cuomo. Mr. O’Neill continued to serve as a board member until 1999 and was reappointed as Chair of the SUNY Canton College Council by former Governor David A. Paterson in 2008 and is currently serving in that role. He was named to the State University of New York’s Alumni Honor Roll in 2000 because of his extensive contributions to the community and SUNY Canton. That same year, he received the SUNY Canton Distinguished Alumnus Award. O’Neill was the youngest Democratic Chairman for the Town of Canton, was a Morley Library Trustee and was a member of the Morley Volunteer Fire Company. While working for the Social Security Administration, he was also an alternate and on-site union representative for the American Federation of Government Employees.
James M. Payson – Dr. James Payson served the College for 22 years and was one of the most beloved figures from the School of Agriculture. Many referred to him as a “founding father,” prolific educator, and an amicable friend. He documented the early years of the School of Agriculture in a typescript work entitled, “A Brief History of the State School of Agriculture.” For over two decades of conscientious work, Dr. Payson shaped many lives and was a strong advocate for the school he took pride great in, as he was dedicated to providing a promising future to his students and the College.
Gerald Roselle – A dedicated educator and benefactor of the College for over 24 years, Gerald Roselle was a member of the English department where he served as chair from 1977 until 1982. In 1992, he established a significant bequest to the Foundation that funds scholarships and paid assistantships. One of the scholarships is presented annually to a freshman humanities student. The College’s academic plaza is named in his honor and is located between Cook Hall and Southworth Library and marked by a plaque.
Dr. Edwin Smith – Dr. Edwin Smith created the veterinary science technology curriculum at SUNY Canton and was named the College’s 2003 Distinguished Citizen. He was known for his enthusiasm and professionalism while serving as a faculty member and his colleagues were impressed with his ability to educate as well as motivate and support students. He invented lab facilities and equipment that helped students learn the necessary techniques required in the field. The veterinary science technology program has evolved into one of the most successful in the state, with the addition of bachelor’s degrees and the Newell Veterinary Technology Center. Dr. Smith had his own veterinary practice in Canton that served many community members and was an outstanding addition to the North Country.
William Stalder – Former College Council Chair and member and former chairman of the Canton College Council since 1962, William Stalder was a charter member and past chairman of the Association of College Trustees (ACT). He is one of the few College Council chairmen to have been appointed by both Republican and Democratic governors of New York State. He retired in 1991 as the managing partner of Witherbee and Whalen, Inc.
Jay F. Stone ’62 – Jay Stone graduated from the Air Conditioning program in 1962 and owns Hyde-Stone Mechanical Contractors, Inc., which has one of two offices in Potsdam. Mr. Stone has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Canton College Foundation, Inc. since 1989, and is a member of the college’s Air Conditioning Engineering Technology Curricular Advisory Committee. The Jay F. Stone Scholarship was established in 1996 by his wife and children to honor his dedication and service. The scholarship is awarded annually to an entering freshman student who enrolls in the Air Conditioning Engineering Technology curriculum.
Josephine P. Swift – Josephine P. Swift was the first recipient of Dr. Joseph L. Kennedy’s President’s Meritorious Award, one of the most coveted awards presented to a faculty or staff member each year at the College’s Recognition Day. She worked at the College for more than 25 years and was the coordinator of conference services and director of continuing education and community service before becoming assistant to the president. She was the founder of many of the College’s institutional traditions, and chaired committees of major events such as the Honor’s Convocation, the President’s Gala, Commencement and Recognition Day, among others. She authored a book, “Academic Protocol: Doing it Right,” that assisted the College in its future coordination of events following her departure. She played a key role in keeping the College open in the 1990s through reaching out to community members and political personnel that she had gotten to know through her involvement with the Republican Party.
Dr. Rollo E. Wicks – Wicks Hall was named after Dr. Rollo E. Wicks, who led the general education department for many years. Dr. Wicks was a graduate of Syracuse University with a Ph.D. from Cornell. He had a long experience as a secondary school teacher and administrator before joining the College’s faculty. As chairman of the Division of General Education, he helped significantly expand and broaden the liberal arts offerings of the College. He served as the College’s representative in State and National Junior College organizations. Dr. Wicks also authored a textbook and was on several committees on campus that worked to ensure the College’s accreditation.
Ronald L. ’59 & Blanche K. ’06 Woodcock – Ronald L. Woodcock is a benefactor from the class of 1959. In 1990, the Woodcocks established the Woodcock Family Scholarship Endowment. Mr. and Mrs. Woodcock co-chaired the Canton College Foundation’s Centennial Campaign alongside his wife, Blanche. A group of rooms in the Richard W. Miller Campus Center are named in honor of him and his wife. Mr. Woodcock was recognized by SUNY Canton as the 1989 Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient and in 1990 was the recipient of the New York State Alumni Confederation Distinguished Alumni Service Award. Mrs. Woodcock oversaw the renovations at the College’s Alumni House located at 8 Stillman Drive, Canton, and the home is named in her honor. She was also the 2006 recipient of the College’s prestigious Honorary Alumna award.
Glenn E. Wright – A North Country native, Glenn E. Wright joined the College faculty as an instructor of social science and part-time administrative officer and eventually became a professor in 1948. As the College grew, Mr. Wright’s role moved from out of the classroom and served in a more administrative role, including serving as acting director in Dr. Albert E. French’s eighteen month absence from the College. During that period, Mr. Wright secured the gift from fellow inductee Edson A. Martin that moved the College to its current location. Mr. Wright and Dr. French worked closely together, as Wright served as acting director and president several more times during French’s 24-year tenure. He also served as vice president for student affairs and was a vice president during part of Dr. Earl W. MacArthur’s presidency. He resigned in 1976 after 28 years of service that included administrative duties that dealt with student affairs and admissions, among others.
View the entire ceremony:
The College is seeking nominations for future classes of the college-wide Hall of Fame. Information on criteria for induction and the nomination form can be found at http://www.canton.edu/hof/nomination.html.
Time machine adventures and bringing robotic creatures to life are just two of the projects students will embark on this summer during Camp Invention.
SUNY Canton will host the week-long day camp and site organizers have added an additional week to this year’s program due to the popularity of last year’s event. The first week will be held July 23 through July 27, while the second week will begin July 30 and conclude Aug. 3. The camp will be held in the College’s Richard W. Miller Campus Center.
The curriculum for this year is brand new and participants can register for either week or both weeks. Each session will feature different modules and will be capped at 60 students. Students entering grades one through six are eligible to participate.
Camp Invention, a program of Invent Now, provides participants with the opportunity to help cultivate the ideas critical to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) by encouraging exploration and curiosity through innovative projects and collaborative hands-on activities.
Each five-day session includes four themed modules where participants will work in teams and explore, discover and creatively solve problems. Children will have a chance to present their findings and inventions to family and friends at the Inventors’ Showcase at the end of the week.
Ronald J. Tavernier, Jr., assistant professor of biology at SUNY Canton, and Mary E. Graham, a faculty member from Clarkson University, are the site organizers again this year.
“The feedback we received last year was entirely positive,” Tavernier said. “We had parents tell us they had been searching for a fun, engaging educational camp for their kids and we look forward to bringing that opportunity to more North Country students again this year.”
Last year, more than 80 children from across New York State let their creative sides run wild during the camp. Participants came from at least 12 local school districts including Canton, Clifton-Fine, Gouverneur, Hermon-DeKalb, Heuvelton, Lisbon, Madrid-Waddington, Norwood-Norfolk, Parishville-Hopkinton, Ogdensburg, Massena, and Potsdam. Students traveled from as far away as Buffalo to take part in the program.
Both Tavernier and Graham are working with local business owners to raise money that will help students who may not be able to pay the entire cost of the program.
“Last year, we had five students with financial need who were able to attend the camp because of the generosity of local community members and the St. Lawrence County American Association of University Women,” Tavernier said. “We’re hopeful that local business owners will give money towards these scholarships so anyone who wants to participate in Camp Invention has the ability to do so.”
Local certified teachers and educators also have the opportunity to engage in the program. Tavernier and Graham are currently accepting applications for instructors. They will also be accepting applications for counselor positions. Those interested in any position should apply no later than Friday, Mar. 30.
Camper registration is open and has already begun filling up. The cost of the program is approximately $200 per child for one week and participants can sign up for both weeks. The registration fee is discounted by $25 until March 30 and families enrolling three or more children will receive $50 off, per child. The early bird discount and family discount cannot be combined.
There are three ways to register: on-line at www.campinvention.org, by fax or mail or by telephone at 1-800-968-4332. The application form is also available by emailing Tavernier at tavernier@canton.edu or here.
For more information regarding the program, applying for a position or making a contribution, please contact Tavernier by email or at (315) 386-7986. Parents who are interested in volunteering with the camp should contact Graham at graham@clarkson.edu.
SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy announced today the re-opening timeline for nearly all campus buildings that were closed as a precaution following last Friday’s fire in Cook Hall.
The New York State Department of Health has released air, swipe and field test results on the buildings that confirm they are safe to re-occupy. Cook Hall is the only building that will not re-open next week.
“Throughout this process, we have been exceedingly cautious in order to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff,” said President Kennedy. “Although there was only one building that actually sustained fire damage, we wanted to make sure the others did not sustain any smoke damage or have any air quality concerns. There has been a barrage of tests to confirm that there are no health concerns, problems or safety concerns in any of those buildings.”
Students will be allowed to return to campus on Sunday (Feb. 19) and all classes will resume Monday (Feb. 20). Individual courses may be subject to time and location changes, particularly the science labs normally conducted in Cook Hall that have been relocated to St. Lawrence University.
The following buildings will re-open at 9 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 19:
Heritage Residence Hall
Rushton Residence Hall
The following buildings will re-open at 7 a.m. Monday, Feb. 20:
Payson Hall
Wicks Hall
Faculty Office Building (FOB)
Richard W. Miller Campus Center
“Each of these buildings is safe and secure,” confirmed Kennedy. “Students will be allowed access to their rooms and belongings when the return on Sunday. With the exception of the Cook Hall offices, faculty and staff will be allowed access to their offices as well.”
Cook Hall will remain unavailable. A time for allowing access to the building has not yet been determined. Faculty members with offices in Cook Hall have been relocated. Classes scheduled in Cook Hall have also been relocated.
“There are an incredible number of people we would like to thank for assisting us in getting back on our feet so quickly,” said Kennedy. “Without their outstanding efforts and dedication, we would not be announcing the re-opening of our campus today. There are many individuals who have not seen their families for a week, and we can’t thank them enough.”
The priest who brought Campus Ministry to SUNY Canton has passed away.
Father Harry E. Giroux died Monday, February 13, 2012 at the Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center in Ogdensburg. He was 61 years old.
“Father Harry was truly a friend of the students,” said SUNY Canton President Joseph L. Kennedy. “He saw his mission as working directly with students and was the main force behind establishing a campus ministry at SUNY Canton. We’re grateful for the years he served our campus and the impact he had on our community.”
Giroux arrived in Canton in June 1985 as the Pastor of St. Thomas More Campus Parish. In addition to his work at the College, he also served St. Lawrence University students. During his tenure, he taught college courses, facilitated the Big Brother Big Sisters Program, helped establish local ‘Make A Difference’ days as well as other fall and spring clean ups, served as the advisor to several fraternities and assisted with a variety of programs on both campuses.
Giroux was born on April 14, 1950 in Massena, a twin son of the late Harry E. Sr. and Patricia Munson Giroux. Following high school, Giroux graduated from Wadhams Hall Seminary-College in 1972. He soon began theological studies and seminary formation at St. Mary’s Seminary and University in Baltimore, Maryland, where he was awarded a Master of Divinity degree in 1976.
That same year, Giroux was ordained a Catholic priest, alongside twin brother Father Garry B. Giroux by Bishop Stanislaus J. Brzana at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Ogdensburg. Before beginning his work at SUNY Canton, he was assigned to Our Lady of Victory Church in Plattsburgh, Holy Family Church in Watertown where he also served as the Campus Ministry chaplain at Jefferson Community College, and St. Alexander’s Church in Morrisonville. During his time in Morrisonville, he pursued and received his master’s degree in psychology from SUNY Plattsburgh.
Giroux was transferred from his work in Canton to St. Joseph’s Church in West Chazy in 2000, where he served until illness forced him to resign his pastorate in 2006. He spent the remaining years of his life alongside his brother and sister before entering St. Joseph’s Nursing Home in 2009.
He served as the Diocesan Director of Campus Ministry and the Diocesan Director of Young Adult Ministry. Giroux was a member of the Knights of Columbus, where he was currently a member of the Watertown Assembly #259 and the 4th Degree Knights, Plattsburgh Assembly #706.
“I’m relieved the investigation has revealed no indication of an intentional or criminal act, and I applaud all of the agencies involved in the investigation. They have worked diligently and thoroughly to get these answers to us as quickly as possible, and we can’t thank them enough.”
“We are all still anxious for the College to return to normalcy. Currently, we are still awaiting lab results to determine how quickly we will be allowed to re-open the buildings surrounding Cook Hall. We continue to follow the Office of Emergency Management, the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, Office of Fire Prevention and Control, the Department of Health, the Office of General Services, the State University of New York, and the many other agencies that provided experts for the situation. In the mean time, we’ve begun to tentatively schedule some classes in alternate venues with hopes of minimally interrupting the Spring 2012 Semester.”
Canton Fire Department Press Release
LOCATION: SUNY CANTON‐COOK HALL 34 Cornell Drive Canton NY 13617
INCIDENT DATE: FEBRUARY 10 2012
Over the past four days the following agencies participated in a comprehensive investigation into the origin and cause of
the fire on campus in Cook Hall late Friday morning, including the St. Lawrence County Bureau of Fire Investigation, SUNY Canton Police Department, NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services Office of Fire Prevention and Control.
The origin of the fire was determined to be in a Chemistry Prep/Storage room, located on the north end, second floor of
Cook Hall. This area was used in the preparation of chemistry laboratory student activities of various College programs.
Through the course of a thorough investigation, investigators were able to determine the following:
Preliminary reports of an explosion and the presence of individuals in the room at the time of the incident were
determined to be unfounded.
Use of smoking materials, utilities, including electricity, heating, air conditioning, and electric appliances in the
room of origin were eliminated as sources of ignition.
The fire spread rapidly from the incipient stage to free burning stage which is consistent with a fire which
originates from a chemical reaction.
Chemicals and substances stored in this area are known to increase fire intensity.
At this time the investigation has revealed no indication, that the fire was the result of an intentional or criminal act.
Due to the scope and magnitude of the incident and the presence of hazardous materials on the scene the following agencies provided
assistance and support:
10 Fire Departments from St. Lawrence County assisted Village of Canton Fire Department
St. Lawrence County Hazardous Materials
Village of Canton Police Department
Village of Potsdam Police Department
David E. Sullivan Police Academy
NYS Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services ‐ Office of Emergency Management
NYS Department of Health
NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
NYS Police Aviation Unit
NYS Department of Labor
St. Lawrence County Office of Emergency Management
