27th Annual Honors Convocation

Alfred State College student academic achievement was celebrated recently during the 27^th annual Honors Convocation.ASC President Dr. John M. Anderson welcomed the gathered students, families, faculty, and friends and congratulated them on their achievements. Vice President for Academic Affairs, Dr. Stephen Havlovic presided.

Andy Glanzman, president and CEO of Northern Lights Candles, Wellsville, served as key note speaker at the event. Among his advice for these student achievers, Glanzman urged them to follow a “recipe” of four ingredients for success: “1) Set a goal and a (time) target for achieving it, for without a target, you can’t hit the bull’s eye; 2) find mentors and advisers; 3) work hard and work smart and ask a lot of questions, for those who ask the most questions find out the most answers; and 4) never, ever give up.”

Additionally, Glanzman urged them to have “courage, resolve, and tenacity as you work toward your goals, because once you throw in the towel, you have lost the game.”

Finally, he advised the student scholars to continue to replicate their success-generating actions, tweaking them along the way. “Strive to surpass earlier achievements and be worthy of your own approval.”

Glanzman, with his wife Tina, founded Northern Lights Candles in 1978 with a $500 bank loan collateralized by a 1950 John Deere tractor. By 1989 Inc. Magazine named Northern Lights Candles one of the 500 fastest-growing companies in America. Northern Lights, a home decorative design and manufacturing company, sells its diversified product line through multiple market channels throughout the United States and abroad.

For many years Andy and Tina have been ardent supporters of the arts as well as a wide variety of community projects. Their latest endeavor was the creation of the Wellsville Creative Arts Center, a cultural epicenter located in Wellsville, whose mission is to “Enhance the quality of life through art and education.”

Andy, throughout his career, has shown what is possible when using his own recipe for success combined with vision, hard work, enthusiasm, and creativity.

Another facet of the ceremony was the presentation of the State University of New York (SUNY) 2011 Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence to winners Andrew Catlin, Webster, and Lydia Moore, Wolcott, who were honored at a reception in Albany where they received commemorative certificates and medallions suitable to be worn at commencement and other special events.

The Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence was created 14 years ago to recognize students who have best demonstrated, and been recognized for, the integration of academic excellence with accomplishments in the areas of leadership, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, or career achievement. The average grade point average (GPA) for all recipients this year is 3.8.

In addition to honoring ASC students, this year’s Honors Convocation honored Professors Terry Morgan, English and Humanities, and Mike Ronan, Automotive Trades, with the Freshman Advocate Award, presented by Dr. Steven J. Tyrell, vice president for student affairs at the College.The Award, sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs, is given to the employee at Alfred State who had a most positive influence on a student's freshman year at the College. Nominators may be students or faculty/staff members.

In the nomination, Morgan was characterized by an international student as a faculty member who was “always willing to listen, and he taught me a lot of things that were helpful to me as an international student. He was always willing to help me improve my English which was not something he had to do.” Ronan, nominated by a peer, was called “very helpful with a situation with one of our freshman who was having some personal issues with finances for his family. Mr. Ronan made it possible for this student and his family to obtain food and resources. This was something Mr. Ronan did not have to do but demonstrates the compassion he has for all students.”

Pictured here, members of the stage party prepare for the ceremony: l-r: Dr. Steven J. Tyrell, vice president for Student Affairs; Lawrence “Ed” Burns, ASC class of 1965, SUNY Distinguished Teaching Professor, Mathematics and Physics Department, and ceremony grand marshal; Dr. Stephen Havlovic, vice president for Academic Affairs, who presided over the ceremony; Andy Glanzman, president and CEO, Northern Lights Candles, Wellsville, who gave the key note address; Dr. John M. Anderson, president, Alfred State College; Robert Donius, vice president for university ministries, St. Bonaventure University, who gave the invocation and benediction; and Patricia K. Fogarty, chair, Alfred State College Council.