Alfred State Team Wins Inaugural Jon Shay Memorial Golf Tournament
Alfred State College (ASC) proudly participated in the inaugural Jon Shay Memorial Golf Tournament on June 25 at Brae Burn Golf Course in Dansville, and even ended up coming away with the victory.
The event was held in memory of Jon Shay, who passed away on Jan. 19, 2021, and was sponsored by the Dansville Lion’s Club to support Noyes Hospital in Dansville through the Foundation for Noyes Health. The hospital is raising $1.1 to renovate Noyes’ inpatient care unit on the hospital’s third floor.
In a “best-ball” format, the ASC team shot a blistering 11-under-par 58 to win the tournament by one stroke. Team members included Bret Llewellyn, ’80, business technology; Lew Rice, ’62, business technology; Major Gifts Officer J. Joseph Wilder, ’77 industrial technology; and Director of Athletics Jason Doviak.
Reflecting on the win, Wilder said, “There is no doubt that when the sun peeked through the clouds and the winds favored some or our shots, that Jon Shay was smiling down today on our Alfred State team. Jon was always giving back throughout the area and he showed by example how interconnected community organizations are. It was great to see how the Lions, Noyes Health, Alfred State, family members, and so many of Jon’s friends are working to commemorate his legacy.”
Jon Shay, Wilder, and Doviak had worked closely with others to build and dedicate The Shay Family Athletic Hall of Fame in the Orvis Activities Center at Alfred State College in July 2020.
At that time, then-Alfred State President Dr. Skip Sullivan commented, "We are humbled and honored to be able to recognize the Shay Family for their support of Alfred State College and their lifetime support of the community. We are blessed to know and have the Shay family as friends of Alfred State College."
Shay’s gift was in support of Alfred State College’s Major Gifts Campaign.
ASC is the No. 1 SUNY and No. 6 for All Northern Regional Colleges
Alfred State College (ASC) continues to reign as a top choice for prospective students, including the No. 1 ranking among SUNY regional colleges.
The 2022 US News & World Report Best Colleges list of northern regional colleges also shows ASC tied for No. 5 in the Top Public Schools. When compared to all public and private colleges in the 11-state northern region, Alfred State is No. 6, up three spots from last year.
“A school’s graduation rate carries the most weight of any scoring metric in the US News rankings and Alfred State is highly regarded for this measure of student outcomes,” said Dr. John Anderson, Officer-in-Charge at Alfred State. “We have a significant number of Pell Grant recipients due to lower family income. While students from this background sometimes struggle to earn a degree, US News reports that ASC has an impressive 71 percent six-year graduation rate for students receiving federal aid. This is only possible due to our strong support for student success.”
This is the 15th straight year ASC is highly ranked by the publication. The US News definition of a regional college is one that focuses on undergraduate education with less than 50 percent of the degrees in liberal arts disciplines. This makes for a more career-focused graduate.
Alfred State is large enough to offer a vibrant college experience and a variety of 80 different majors. While at the same time, ASC offers a tight-knit and caring community to help students succeed. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 17:1, US News reports 61 percent of all classes on campus have fewer than 20 students.
In the north, US News is very selective in only awarding a numeric ranking to 49 northern regional colleges for the 2022 list. Top 10 honors for Alfred State include:
- No. 1 SUNY among regional colleges
- No. 1 SUNY Best for Veterans among regional colleges
- No. 1 SUNY Best Value School among regional colleges
- No. 1 SUNY for Social Mobility among regional colleges
- No. 1 SUNY for Least Debt among regional colleges
- No. 1 with 2,000+ enrollment among public and private northern regional colleges
- No. 1 New York’s Best for Veterans among public and private regional colleges
- No. 2 Best for Veterans among public and private northern colleges
- No. 2 Best Value School among northern public colleges
- No. 3 New York’s Best among public and private regional colleges
- No. 3 Northern College with out-of-state tuition under $15,000 both public and private
- No. 4 New York’s Best Value School among public and private regional colleges
- No. 5 Top Public School among northern regional colleges
- No. 5 in Economic Diversity among Top 25 northern colleges
- No. 6 (tie) among public and private northern regional colleges
- No. 7 Best Value School among public and private northern regional colleges
- No. 7 for Least Debt among public and private northern regional colleges
- No. 7 New York’s Best for Social Mobility among public and private regional colleges
US News & World Report’s Best Colleges list is one of the most sought-after rankings among colleges and universities across the nation. The rankings include data from more than 1,400 colleges with schools ranked in 17 areas related to academic excellence.
At 40 percent, Student Outcomes have the largest influence on US News rankings. Expert Opinions from peer institutions and Faculty Resources both account for 20 percent of the score. Financial Resources for the school provide 10 percent. Student Excellence accounts for 7 percent and Alumni Giving makes up the final 3 percent of the score.
Memories Made at ASC Homecoming 2021
Current and past Pioneers converged on campus to celebrate the return of homecoming at Alfred State College (ASC). Memories were made at a wide variety of events around campus.
The grand opening of “The Underground” highlighted Thursday’s events. “The Underground” is the new multi-purpose gaming arena located on the lower floor of Pioneer Center. It features nine 75” widescreen televisions. It is primarily a gaming arena but will also be a great venue for televised sports, comedy shows, and educational events.
Friday featured food trucks, a bonfire, and fireworks before the popular Alfred’s Got Talent show in the Cappadonia Auditorium. Ten acts, featuring singers, bands, and dancers, took the stage to the delight of the audience.
Wet weather did not slow down the Pioneer spirit on Saturday. The Alfred State Rock Band entertained in the tailgate tent while the Greek Chili Cook-off took place. Alfred Voices sang the national anthem with the Alfred ROTC presenting colors prior to the kickoff of football. A post-game chicken barbecue and carnival was popular in the tailgate tent and Mike Super delighted an audience with his magic and illusions. The day concluded with a pair of competitive soccer matches at Pioneer Stadium.
Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs and Homecoming Chair Spencer Peavey was excited to have Homecoming return. “We had fun events with great crowds. It was great to see people back on campus enjoying the activities that our committee put together. I am already excited to start planning for next year.”
“The Underground” Opens to the Delight of ASC Gamers
An expansive and new multi-purpose gaming arena called “The Underground” opened recently and is already a favorite hangout for Alfred State College (ASC) student gamers.
“The Underground,” located on the lower floor of Pioneer Center, features nine 75” widescreen televisions. A variety of gaming consoles and comfortable seating options are available for students. The arena is enhanced by a performance stage, convenient kitchenette, and ample table space for board games. It is primarily a gaming arena but will also be a great venue for televised sports, comedy shows, and educational events.
Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs Spencer Peavey is enthusiastic about opening the new space and looks forward to many exciting student-centered activities. “This space allows our students, who have been gaming in their rooms, to gather here and enjoy an amazing experience together. The arena is available for a variety of events, and I can’t wait to see the scope and creativity of activities that will be held here.”
Student club Games Nation President Alexandria Indovina echoed Peavey’s comments. “Alfred is our second home, and this space will be our third home. It provides a comfortable and safe space for myself and my fellow members.”
“There were a lot of people who pitched-in and made this concept a reality”, commented Director of Student Engagement Cody Herman. “We are thankful for our colleagues and students who supported this effort.”
At the grand opening event, Games Nation collaborated with the Alagille Syndrome Alliance (ALGSA) and hosted a Retro Gaming Night. To commemorate the grand opening, Games Nation is selling Tetris themed shirts with proceeds donated to ALGSA.
The Alagille Syndrome Alliance is an international support and advocacy network for people with ALGSA and their families. Alagille syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that can affect multiple organ systems of the body including the liver, heart, skeleton, eyes, and kidneys.
“The Underground” is open weekdays for student use. Tournaments are hosted on weekends. More information is available online for the ASC student club.
New Multipurpose Courts Opened at Alfred State
Alfred State College (ASC) students have enjoyed a new place to get exercise and gather with friends this semester. New multipurpose athletic courts have opened right outside the Orvis Activities Center.
The multipurpose courts are lined with two full and two half basketball courts. Basketball, street hockey, soccer, and dodgeball have already taken place on the courts. Plans are in place to add lights to the complex.
Coordinator of Campus Recreation Brooke Scianna is excited about the student’s reaction to the courts and the opportunities it provides. “The courts are versatile, creating an escape from the student workload where students can be themselves and enjoy the outdoors. I can’t wait to add more opportunities at the courts for badminton, tennis, and volleyball in the spring.”
A 3x3 basketball tournament “Keys to the Court” was held recently to highlight the opening of the complex. The tournament featured a live DJ, strong competition, and prizes.