Siblings with deep ties to the Auburn Fire Department will remember the department’s stories and heroes in an upcoming presentation at Cayuga Community College.

Kathy DeJoy-Genkos and Scott DeJoy, the authors of “Hometown Heroes: The History of the Auburn Fire Department,” will discuss the department’s founding, its evolution over more than 120 years and stories of fearless firefighters in Cayuga’s Cultural Speaker Series. The presentation is 4-5 p.m. on March 9, 2020, in the student lounge on the College’s Auburn Campus.

Emily Cameron, Cayuga’s Assistant Director of Community Education and Workforce Development, said recognizing the department’s history fits perfectly with the College’s locally-focused speaker series.

“Our series is devoted to casting a spotlight on local history, and the Auburn Fire Department’s history is filled with innovation, bravery and great stories,” said Cameron. “Kathy and Scott have deep roots with the department and an appreciation for its role in our community. We’re excited to have them join us and to remember all the contributions of our local firefighters.”

Kathy and Scott’s ties to the department started with their father, Frank DeJoy, a line firefighter who served more than three decades. After his passing in 2013, Kathy and Scott realized the stories of their father and other firefighters from previous generations were disappearing.

It was a problem they couldn’t accept, said Kathy.

“After he passed, people told us stories about him we’d never heard. We were stunned, but at the same time we realized other people must have stories about their family members who were firefighters as well. We thought we should compile something that delved into the department’s history and appreciated all the great things they did as people,” she said. “We wanted to make sure the department’s history didn’t die as the older members passed away.”

Working together over the course of a year, they wrote “Hometown Heroes.” Published in 2016, the book starts with the department’s founding and collects stories and photos as the department grew from using horse-drawn equipment to the present day.

The book is both a history of the department and a tribute to its members, they said.

“We love this department. The more you read about it, the more you can’t help but be amazed at what they accomplished and how innovative they were,” said Scott, himself a retired assistant chief after 21 years with the department. “It’s an incredible story that shows their commitment to Auburn.”

Along with tracing the department’s history, the presentation will include stories and opportunities for audience members to share their own remembrances.

The admission fee for the presentation, which includes refreshments, is $5. There is no admission fee for Cayuga students. Questions can be directed to the Cayuga Office of Community Education and Workforce Development at 315-294-8841.

To register for the presentation, visit https://registration.xenegrade.com/Cayuga/courseDisplay.cfm?schID=7187.

Prominent members of the Cayuga County business community will sit down and swap ideas and suggestions this week with students in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!) at Cayuga Community College.

Designed to help the middle and high school students in YEA! learn from successful local business leaders, the CEO Roundtable promises to provide students with essential advice and experience. The students, all hailing from local school districts, are preparing to start their own businesses in the spring as part of the 30-week entrepreneurial academy.

The CEO Roundtable, which is open to the public, is 5:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5, 2020, in the Student Lounge on Cayuga’s Auburn Campus. LOCATE Finger Lakes, which provided full $1,000 scholarships for the students, organized the event.

“The greater Cayuga County business community is filled with bright, successful leaders with plenty of experience, and we appreciate our CEOs meeting with the YEA! students,” said former New York State Senator and Chairman of the LOCATE Finger Lakes Board of Directors Mike Nozzolio. “I applaud Cayuga Community College President Dr. Brian Durant for his vision in recognizing the incredible potential of YEA!, and I thank Lyons National Bank Chairman of the Board and CEO Bob Schick for sponsoring our YEA! program.”

“We thank Senator Mike Nozzolio and LOCATE Finger Lakes for sponsoring our YEA! students, and we deeply appreciate the local business leaders who are taking the time to meet with our students this week,” said Dr. Durant. “I’m sure their wisdom and advice will help our students as they launch their first businesses.”

Business leaders joining the YEA! students for the roundtable are:

• Emcee is Bruce Sherman, Director of Development for Sessler Wrecking Inc., who previously served as Economic Development Specialist for the Cayuga County Development Agency;
• Paul Lattimore Jr., President of the Paul L. Lattimore Jr. Agency and a local business leader for more than 50 years;
• Joseph Calarco, Regional Sales Coordinator for AFLAC Insurance and an active community member;
• Jerry Goodenough, Vice President of Development for Heorot Power;
• Richard Ward, a Certified Public Accountant with Cuddy & Ward.

The business panel will exchange ideas with students who have worked since October to research and start their own business through the YEA! program. This spring students will pitch their ideas to potential investors for start-up funding and formally launch their own enterprises.

Since 2004 YEA! has helped students build entrepreneurial skills by working with instructors and local business leaders. Students design their own proposal, conduct market research, write a business plan and present the plan to investors for potential funding.

YEA! graduates have launched more than 6,000 enterprises, and have been featured in The New York Times, CNN, USA TODAY and the business TV show “Shark Tank.”

For more information about YEA! at Cayuga, contact Program Manager Pam Heleen at Pamela.Heleen@cayuga-cc.edu.

Fulton Campus Student Government President Maura Botsford discusses the best part about attending Cayuga and how Student Government has increased student engagement over the past year.

High School: G. Ray Bodley High School (Fulton)

Major: Criminal Justice: Police

Career Goal: Attorney

Favorite Class: Constitutional Law

What about Cayuga made you decide to attend the College?

Because Cayuga is a smaller college, there’s a strong sense of community. I felt like advisors and faculty will be more attentive to helping me reach my goals and be successful with my education. I came to an open house and attended some college fairs when I was in high school, and I got a sense of the campus. I talked to some friends who attended here, and I heard them discuss the environment too.

What’s the best part about Cayuga and being a Criminal Justice major?

Definitely the faculty. The outside experience they had before they were professors is incredible. There’s textbooks in the curriculum, but having the faculty’s perspective and experience is really helpful with understanding how things operate in criminal justice rather than memorizing how things should be.

You’ve also been very active on campus in Student Government. Why did you decide to get involved with Student Government?

Last spring, one of my friends said she was going to run for student government, and I didn’t know there was one. That seemed like a major problem to me. My biggest goal was to boost engagement and let them know there are opportunities on campus for them to be involved. We’re a commuter campus, but we wanted to build chances for people to make friends and be involved. So we’ve been doing lots of events in the foyer and Student Center. We’re trying to get students more engaged.

What are your plans after commencement? Are you looking to continue your education, or start your career?

My major school to transfer to is Georgetown University. The location was a big factor — in Washington, D.C., there are many internship opportunities. I’ve been working for three months on the application. I want to transfer for political science, and after I earn my bachelor’s degree I’m going to apply to their law school.

The New Perspectives Theatre Company (NPTC), under the direction of Cayuga alum Melody Brooks, will perform “Oh My, Goodness,” “Our Lady of Broad Street,” and “Suffragists from the Stage” at Cayuga’s Irene A. Bisgrove Theatre in Auburn. The dramas merge serious topics and historical facts to create entertaining plays addressing past and current social issues.

Performances of “Oh My, Goodness” and “Our Lady of Broad Street” will begin at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28, 2020, and the airing of “Suffragists from the Stage” is 7:30 p.m. Feb. 29, 2020.

“I am delighted to be bringing this work to my hometown and to Cayuga Community College, where then-Professor Dan Labeille inspired me to pursue a professional career in the theatre. It’s especially exciting to be presenting a piece on Theatre Women in the Suffrage Movement so near to Seneca Falls,” said Brooks.

Conversations about performing the plays at the College’s Bisgrove Theatre started in 2019, when Brooks returned to campus to work with students and Cayuga’s Harlequin Productions Director Bob Frame. The Cayuga County Community College Foundation’s Cultural Enrichment Fund agreed to sponsor the performances late the same year.

“The College Foundation is delighted to be able to create this opportunity for our students to attend these performances without cost and for our greater community to be able to join us, especially since Cayuga County played such a significant role in the suffragette movement,” said Guy Thomas Cosentino, the Executive Director of the Cayuga County Community College Foundation.

The three plays feature a variety of topics and techniques. “Oh My, Goodness,” by Cayenne Douglass, is based on a real event about a random connection tying two strangers together in a life-or-death struggle despite them being thousands of miles apart. “Our Lady of Broad Street,” by Jane Denitz Smith, tells how the Virgin of Guadalupe begins appearing to a New York architect after she restores a historic hotel.

The final show, “Suffragists from the Stage,” originally created by Mari Lyn Henry and further developed by Brooks, details the Women’s Suffrage Movement and the role Theatre Women played in women earning the right to vote. The performance will use the words of prominent suffragists to tell the story.

Saturday’s show also includes presentations on the Seneca Falls Convention and other historical events, plus trivia and fun facts about the Suffrage Movement.

There is limited seating for the performances. Single-show general admission tickets are $20, with $14 senior admission. Dual general admission tickets for the Friday and Saturday performances can be purchased for the reduced combined rate of $30, or $21 for senior admission. All admission is free for Cayuga students. All tickets are available at the door.

For more information about NPTC, visit https://www.nptnyc.org.

An Oswego High School graduate majoring in criminal justice at Cayuga Community College has been named a recipient of a New York State Sheriffs’ Institute scholarship.

Hoping for a career in local law enforcement and eventually U.S. Customs & Border Patrol, Miranda Miller received the scholarship for her academic performance and commitment to a career in criminal justice. Oswego County Sheriff Don Hilton presented Miller with the scholarship at the College’s Fulton Campus.

“Congratulations to Miranda Miller. It is my pleasure to award her this award for her hard work and dedication,” said Sheriff Hilton.

Miller thanked Cayuga’s staff and faculty for their support and for preparing her for a future career in criminal justice.

“I’m very proud and excited to receive this award. I’ve always wanted a career where I did something for the community, and I believe my time at Cayuga solidified that my career will be in criminal justice,” said Miller. “At this point, I can’t see myself doing anything else.”

Professor John Lamphere, who nominated Miller for the scholarship, said Miller earned the award for her academic success and dedication as a Fulton Campus Student Patrol Officer.

“When she was first in my class, Miranda told me she intended to be one of our most outstanding criminal justice students. Since that time, she has demonstrated that she is able to back up her words with actions,” said Lamphere. “She has an outstanding grade point average, demonstrates daily that she is a class leader, and is well-received by her peers. She definitely deserves this award.”

Miller enrolled at Cayuga in 2018 with the goal of pursuing a career that gave her an opportunity to support her community. That goal, combined with having several family members who are police officers, led her to declare criminal justice as her major. She is scheduled to graduate in December 2020.

In 2019 Miller joined Cayuga’s Student Safety Patrol, which performs essential campus safety tasks and supports the Campus Public Safety Department.

Only students studying criminal justice or related fields at New York’s community colleges are eligible to receive the New York State Sheriffs’ Institute scholarship, and one scholarship is awarded at each community college.

The scholarship is awarded based on academic performance, commitment to community service and an intent to pursue a career in law enforcement.

For more information on Cayuga’s Criminal Justice Program, visit https://www.cayuga-cc.edu/academics/schools/social-sciences-and-education/criminal-justice/.

Marking the culmination of almost two decades of work, Dr. Daniel Schultz’s “The Political Lives of James K. McGuire” and “Tarnished Hero” detail the political and lawless exploits of McGuire and fellow politician James Mark Sullivan. Both were complicated figures dedicated to Irish nationalism whose tenures as politicians, lobbyists, and journalists were frequently overshadowed by scandals and their ties to the German government during World War I.

That complexity is why both McGuire and Sullivan deserve comprehensive reviews of their lives and careers, said Schultz.

“They were both associated with leaders of Irish nationalism, which at that time had a lot of its financial support in America,” said Schultz. “The reason they don’t get the attention they deserve — for good or bad — is they didn’t climb too high into American politics because of their financial scandals and their heavy connections to the German government during World War I.”

Schultz taught at Cayuga for 47 years and received the SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Scholarship before retiring in 2013. He thanked the library staff at Cayuga’s Auburn Campus for their “invaluable work” helping him delve deep into personal and government records to tell the stories of both men.

McGuire and Sullivan had diverse paths through the political world of the early 1900s. A three-term mayor of Syracuse, newspaper owner and lobbyist, McGuire was indicted several times for financial crimes but was never brought to trial. Sullivan started as a journalist before becoming an attorney, and later served as American ambassador to the country known today as the Dominican Republic.

While serving as ambassador, Sullivan was engaged in treasonable correspondence with the German government, which has received scant attention until now, said Schultz.

But it was their devotion to Tammany Hall politics and Irish nationalism where their stories most often intertwine. Firm allies of Irish independence and the German government during World War I because of its support for a free Ireland, McGuire and Sullivan each tried to help Ireland breakaway from England.

“McGuire tried to run guns to Ireland but ultimately rejected the cause due to the conflict’s violence, and Sullivan ran a successful film company that celebrated Irish culture and resistance to British rule,” said Schultz. “They’re always going to be linked by their faith in Irish nationalism, and how they tried to support that cause, even if in their own time their efforts weren’t successful.”

Schultz’s books explore their commitment to Irish nationalism, but also the various scandals that hounded the careers of McGuire and Sullivan. 

McGuire was tied to allegedly corrupt asphalt contracts while he was a lobbyist, plus benefited from bid rigging and other practices while he was mayor. Sullivan, meanwhile, helped suborn perjury during the infamous 1912 Becker-Rosenthal capital murder trial in New York City.

Both figures led fascinating lives but were ultimately corrupted by power and financial opportunity — and it’s important that all sides to the two men are known, said Schultz.

“It’s important when we’re writing about or trying to understand our history as a country that we don’t whitewash anything. We need to know and understand the mistakes of those in the past, and James McGuire and James Sullivan made plenty of mistakes, but they also had plenty of contributions as well,” said Schultz. “I think that’s what makes them so interesting.”

First-year student Allie McLeod discusses her favorite part about Cayuga and her experience in Harlequin Productions' fall show.

High School: Auburn High School

Major: Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities and Social Sciences

Career goal: Actress

Favorite Class: Introduction to Theatre

What’s your favorite part about being a student at Cayuga?

The diversity. There are a lot of different types of people at Cayuga, lots of different majors, and lots of people in your classes who are so far from your major, but they’re still in the same class as you. It’s a chance to interact with lots of people whose interests are different from mine.

You had a prominent part in the fall performances by Harlequin Productions. What was your experience in Harlequin in your first semester, and what do you enjoy the most about acting?

There was a lot of energy in our shows. A lot of bouncing back and forth between different roles and different plays. It was a good experience. I definitely learned patience. As far as why I enjoy acting, I think it’s being able to escape from your life, by getting a new name and new shoes and new costumes. Becoming a different person for a night. It’s very liberating. It’s like being in a helicopter and looking down, and it makes it seem like your problems are small.

What’s your favorite part about Cayuga?

The stage in the Bisgrove Theatre. I love that room. The space and the history in the room, the plays that were performed before I started at Cayuga, and the audiences that passed through. It’s intimidating, but in a good way. It makes me want to live up to the other plays that have been performed on that stage.

VIQTORY, a veteran-owned business supporting the military community, released its 2020-2021 Military Friendly Schools list this week, with Cayuga again earning a place on the list. Cayuga has consistently looked to expand its services for veterans, including offering instructional sessions on services available at the College and in the community.

“Veterans and their families are such an important part of our campus community. We strive to provide an environment for our student-veteran population that makes them feel welcomed and supported, so it’s an honor to receive this designation in recognition of our efforts,” said Emily Cameron, Cayuga’s Assistant Director of Community Education and Workforce Development.

This marks the third consecutive year Cayuga has been named to the Military Friendly Schools list. Along with VIQTORY, KMI Media Group’s Military Advanced Education has also previously recognized Cayuga’s support for veterans and their families with several special designations.

Now a decade old, VIQTORY’s annual Military Friendly Schools list is determined by public data and survey responses from participating schools. Colleges volunteer to participate in the evaluation, and are assessed based on student retention, graduation rates, job placement and other categories.

In its evaluation, Cayuga met the Military Friendly standard in academic policies and compliance, culture and commitment, admission and orientation, and financial aid and assistance.

Cayuga offers a wide array of veterans services. College campuses in Auburn and Fulton hold monthly workshops open to veterans, their spouses and dependents that feature guest speakers outlining services and benefits available at the College or in the community.

A Student Veterans Support Team, comprised of members from college departments, works to determine how Cayuga can meet the needs of veterans and their families. The College has also instituted a Veterans Appreciation Week the week of Veterans Day that features educational and social events for veterans and their families.

Cayuga also offers trained staff to assist veterans with their educational benefits, a Veterans Club, new student-veteran orientation, a veterans lounge, and laptop and textbook loan programs for student veterans.

For more information about Cayuga’s veterans services, visit https://www.cayuga-cc.edu/students/services/veterans/.

Michael Reiff, joined by Tubman’s great-great-grandniece Pauline Copes Johnson, will present “Harriet Tubman: Her Life and Legacy,” this month as part of Cayuga’s Cultural Speaker Series. The presentation is Feb. 17, 2020, from 4-5 p.m. in the Student Lounge on Cayuga’s Auburn Campus.

Cayuga Community College is hosting a presentation about Harriet Tubman from 4-5 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 17, 2020, in the Student Lounge on the College’s Auburn Campus.

“Michael Reiff teaches a popular film course through Cayuga, and he suggested a presentation about Harriet Tubman and her legacy. And since we’re so lucky to have Pauline as a great member of our community, we thought it was a natural fit to invite her to be an integral part of the presentation,” said Emily Cameron, Cayuga’s Assistant Director of Community Education and Workforce Development. “We’re very excited to have the chance to remember and learn more about Harriet’s amazing legacy.”

An English teacher whose research encompasses history, literature and film, Reiff said he became aware of the complexity of Tubman’s life while studying her contributions before, during and after the Civil War.

While Reiff will discuss the better-known parts of Tubman’s life, he also plans on devoting time in his presentation to her work in the women’s suffrage movement and helping others in the Auburn community.

That time in her life, the “Auburn perspective” as he calls it, isn’t as well-known but richly deserves rediscovery, said Reiff.

“I think more and more we’re realizing the enormity of what she accomplished. Some of it is already very well-known. Other parts, like the Combahee River Raid and her work in the suffrage movement or her efforts to help the poor and elderly in Auburn, aren’t as well-known,” said Reiff. “Sometimes people don’t know what she did after the war, and it’s important to keep pushing those accomplishments and all she stood for in the Auburn community.”

Copes Johnson said she was excited to see the passion for learning more about Tubman’s life was still strong in the Auburn community.

“She was the woman who helped change the outcome of these United States of America,” said Copes Johnson.

SUNY Empire State College President Jim Malatras and Cayuga Community College President Dr. Brian Durant signed the agreement, which will seamlessly transfer as many as all 60 credits from Cayuga Community College toward a 124-credit bachelor’s degree at SUNY Empire. 

In addition to traditional transfer credit for courses completed at Cayuga, SUNY Empire also offers the opportunity for students to earn as many as 19 credits for work and life experience through its Prior Learning Assessment evaluation, which will help to reduce the overall cost of the bachelor’s degree. This could include military training, independent study, or volunteer work.

As Cayuga Community College invests in workforce development in the region, the new partnership helps the people of Cayuga County and Central New York reap the benefits of affordable bachelor’s and graduate degrees without needing to relocate. In addition to SUNY Empire’s local learning hub, all courses can be completed online.

“Having SUNY Empire on the Cayuga Community College campus will provide a one-stop, seamless process for Cayuga students to continue their bachelor’s and master’s without leaving,” said SUNY Empire State College President Jim Malatras. “Thank you to President Durant, and to the faculty and staff who are committed to helping students continue their SUNY education.”

“This new agreement creates a fantastic opportunity for graduates of Cayuga Community College to seamlessly continue their education in the strong academic programs offered at SUNY Empire State College,” said Cayuga Community College President Dr. Brian Durant. “We’re proud to partner with SUNY Empire to create this opportunity that is beneficial to our students and both our institutions.”

Under the partnership, SUNY Empire will waive the registration fee for applicants, and provide a $100 Presidential Scholarship to all transfer students. The agreement also extends to Cayuga employees, and helps lower the cost and time needed to complete a degree by awarding college credit for professional experience.

Students at the Fulton City School District are the latest high schoolers in Oswego County to earn a national work readiness credential through Cayuga Community College’s Work Ready Oswego NY initiative.

A total of 17 students from the Fulton district’s G. Ray Bodley High School earned the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC), a portable credential certifying essential skills required for workplace success.  Led by the school’s Work-based Learning Coordinator, Angela Ferlito, and housed in their Career Exploration Center, G. Ray Bodley is the first high school in Oswego County to become an ACT WorkKeys Satellite Site under Work Ready Oswego NY. The school offers a comprehensive program of on-site preparation and testing for the ACT WorkKeys NCRC credential.

“We are very proud of our Fulton City School District students who worked so hard to earn their National Career Readiness Certificate,” said Carla DeShaw, Cayuga’s Executive Dean of Community Education and Workforce Development. “This initiative is a highly-researched, comprehensive effort that aligns the skills of our local workforce with those in demand by employers. We’re excited to see these students succeed using the skills they developed in our Work Ready Oswego NY initiative.”

“The NCRC credential will allow our students to show our employers that they are ‘work-ready’ and also gives these students a ‘first in line’ preference from employers who are recommending this credential and supporting our Work Ready Oswego NY Initiative,” said Ferlito.  

Working with community and industry partners, Cayuga launched Work Ready Oswego NY in early 2019 with an eye on closing the skills gap to help the local workforce and employers. The initiative will produce a talented workforce ready to meet the demands of current and future jobs.

The NCRC certifies that students from the initiative have work-ready skills in workplace documents, applied math and graphic literacy. If a sufficient percentage of the Oswego County workforce earns the credential, the entire county can be designated as a Work Ready Community, which could help draw the interest of new businesses looking for a skilled workforce.

G. Ray Bodley High School students who received a Platinum NCRC were Brandi Carr, Nolan Gardenier and Jacob Summerville. Students who earned a Gold NCRC were Anna Marroquin Aguilar, Bryce Carroll, Dawson Curtis, Kadin Davis, Brayden McGraw, Samantha Perkins and Alyssa Robinson.

Students earning a Silver NCRC were Autumn Beechner, Patrice Clary, Christopher Cross, Lilly Dumas, Ryan Markarian, Katelyn Perkins and Autumn Stoltz.

For more information on this program, call the program’s administrator, Paula Hayes, at the Center for Career and Community Education at 315-593-9471 or email her at phayes@cayuga-cc.edu. To follow Oswego’s county-wide work-ready initiative, visit https://www.workreadycommunities.org/NY/075.

More than a dozen local middle and high school students are already taking steps to launch their first businesses in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy at Cayuga Community College.

Students from school districts across Cayuga County are enrolled in the Young Entrepreneurs Academy (YEA!), a 30-week program guiding students through developing, launching and operating their own business or non-profit agency. The program culminates with students graduating as full-fledged business owners who are ready to independently continue their enterprises.

LOCATE Finger Lakes, an economic development initiative assisting on collaborative efforts between communities and businesses, is providing full $1,000 tuition scholarships for students enrolled in YEA! Weekly courses at the College’s Auburn Campus are led by members of Cayuga’s faculty.
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“We’re very excited to see the ideas and businesses that come out of our YEA! class. The students’ enthusiasm is inspirational, and it’s incredible to see them take ownership of their projects and dedicate themselves to launching a business at such young ages. I have no doubt they will be successful as business owners and in other future endeavors,” said Cayuga President Dr. Brian Durant. “We appreciate the opportunity to work with a great community partner like LOCATE Finger Lakes, who has generously stepped forward to make sure there is no cost for these students to enroll in the YEA! program.”

“LOCATE Finger Lakes is proud to partner with Cayuga Community College to provide the nationally recognized YEA! program, a proven unique career building opportunity for young students. The Finger Lakes region is very fortunate to have the tremendous resource of Cayuga Community College, its excellent staff and great leadership of President Dr. Brian Durant. We look forward to working with the Cayuga Community College team to enhance young students’ creativity, entrepreneurship, and appreciation of the free enterprise system,” said former New York State Senator and Chairman of the LOCATE Finger Lakes Board of Directors Mike Nozzolio.

Classes for the 2019-2020 program started in October, and students are already developing their business plans, delving into market research and discussing their proposals with local business leaders. Proposed businesses range from baking jarred layer cakes to graphic design and Finger Lakes essential oil bracelets.

Along with support from LOCATE Finger Lakes, YEA! at Cayuga has received assistance from local businesses and government officials. Owners of Owasco Paddles, Doug’s Fish Fry and Niche Marketing, attorney David Contiguglia and Cayuga County Deputy Treasurer Mary Beth Leeson all met with students to discuss aspects of owning and operating a business.

Students will continue developing their business proposals over the coming months and will eventually pitch their idea to potential investors for start-up funding.

Launched in 2004, YEA! helps students build entrepreneurial skills developed by working with instructors and local business leaders. Students design their own proposal, conduct market research, write a business plan and present the plan to investors for potential funding.

Since its inception, YEA! graduates have launched more than 6,000 enterprises, and have been featured in The New York Times, CNN, USA TODAY and the business TV show “Shark Tank.”

For more information about YEA! at Cayuga, contact Program Manager Pam Heleen at Pamela.Heleen@cayuga-cc.edu.

Heather McCoy ‘19 didn’t have time for a break.

One day she’s earning her Cayuga business degree. The next day she’s designing an application for the City of Fulton for New York State’s Downtown Revitalization Initiative (DRI), an annual contest Fulton had fallen just short in three times.

One week. Sixty-four pages to design. To help her home city earn $10 million in economic development funding.

Pressure? No question. Panic? Not a chance.

“Over the years I think I’ve become proficient at what I do, so I knew I could do it in one week. But let me tell you, that was one tough week,” McCoy said with a laugh. “I was hopeful and confident when I was done, because I thought the application looked good. But I was nervous too. That’s a lot of pressure, to design the DRI application for your home city. I was so happy when Governor Cuomo announced they won. And relieved, of course!”

Heather McCoy

It might seem incredible that the person who designed a $10 million award-winning application has only been in business for five years. But then again, McCoy has been devising logos, crafting social media campaigns, burnishing branding strategies and designing websites for much longer.

In fact, she’s specialized in design for years. It’s only since 2014 that her passion formally became her career when she started her business, 315 Designs.

“I think I’ve always known that this is what I wanted to do. I like taking something from scratch and creating something that’s new. For whatever reason, I’ve always been able to picture the design in my head. How the design should look has always made sense to me, and the design has always helped to tell a story,” she said.

But while she’s always enjoyed designing in all its forms, she wasn’t always sure it would end up being her career.

Before she launched 315 Designs, McCoy helped businesses with social media platforms, website design and basic graphics work. She started working with Chirello Advertising as the company’s creative director, and she credits owner Steve Chirello with encouraging her to pursue design as a career.

It was when she designed her first logo as a freelance designer, though, that she realized her passion and business interests could merge into one pursuit.

“I was doing a lot of design, and realized it was a valued service. It took me a long time to realize that, but when I did I started my own business. We started off with web design and graphic design services, but it’s grown fast since then,” she said.

Somewhere — somehow — between running her own business and being a parent, McCoy found time to finish something she’d started more than two decades previously. It might not have been how she first imagined it, but it was time to get that college degree.

A self-described “rebel without a cause” when she first enrolled at Cayuga in 1991, she initially stopped going to college after starting her family. She returned to Cayuga in 2005, only to see a career change again force her to put down the textbooks.

As her family grew and she launched 315 Designs in 2014, her available time to finish college was slim. Still, earning that degree never slipped off her to-do list.

In 2018, she decided it was time.

“I felt like this was something that had always bothered me, that I hadn’t finished my degree,” she said. “I kept my nose to the books over the winter, and tortured myself finishing those final five classes while working. It wasn’t easy, but it was something I needed to do.”

In 1991, she started studying business at Cayuga, and in 2019 she graduated with an Associate of Applied Sciences Degree in Business Administration. That background in business served her well before she started 315 Designs, and has paid dividends since.

“When I started my business, I hadn’t finished my degree yet but the skills I learned in those early classes still helped me, regardless of what job I had at the time,” she said. “The information those classes gave me, plus the people skills and business etiquette sense that they stressed, really help you in any career you go into.”

As her business grew, so did her community footprint. Volunteer designs and community projects are key for McCoy, who prides herself on helping the Fulton community she calls home.

Before the DRI application, McCoy worked with Fulton’s Community Development Agency to launch “I Love Fulton NY,” a website dedicated to promoting positive events in the city. Her work has also included projects for the Fulton Public Library and the Fulton Block Builders, a community organization that supports exterior home improvements in city neighborhoods.

Those community projects are among her most rewarding work, she said.

“It’s very satisfying to work with people and agencies who are working to bring that sense of pride back in the City of Fulton and improve the environment and business community,” said McCoy.

Those previous community projects built up to the DRI application. Taking content from Fulton DRI Committee officials, McCoy dedicated a week to designing pages and merging photos, colors and text to put the city’s application in the best possible light.

The sheer amount of content made the assignment a challenge, but when she was done she was confident it looked appealing.

“I chose a color palette that made things pop, and looked for colors that speak to people without words,” she said. “Fortunately, people on the city’s committee liked the design, and I guess the state did as well.”

The design drew raves from committee members. Fulton Community Development Agency Executive Director Joseph Fiumara, who served on the city’s DRI committee, said one of the primary goals was to have a stronger design for the proposal than in past years.

The cover of the Fulton DRI application designed by Heather McCoy.

In particular, the committee was looking for a strong visual sense to enhance the application. They found it with McCoy’s approach, said Fiumara.

“She brought a style of graphic design and images that really made the application user-friendly, visually appealing and community-friendly,” he said. “Heather made sure the layout and content flowed together, and was really able to capture the community spirit of our application. We’ve seen other plans, done by large corporations, and Heather’s design was just as good, if not better.”

For McCoy, the DRI application is something she’s proud of, but she’s equally proud of having helped her community win the annual competition. She was front-and-center on Aug. 14, 2019, when the governor made the announcement in Fulton, and it’s a day and a project that she won’t forget.

But even after designing an award-winning project, McCoy’s not resting on her laurels. She’s looking at furthering her web design skills, maybe doing more consulting, maybe adding employees so 315 Designs can keep growing.

And who knows? Maybe the future holds something completely different.

“Maybe I’d try teaching in the future? I think with my design experience I could handle teaching, but I know I’d need to go back to school for that,” she said. “I think that’s something I would enjoy, though.”

An engineering course in Cayuga’s Mechanical Technology program has students electronically mapping 3D designs of the Auburn Campus, and at the same time helping them build foundational skills for future careers.

The course, Engineering 125, emphasizes a combination of field experience — in this case, measuring an existing structure — and utilization of a computer program called Revit to start the 3D electronic design. The program allows them to include everything from pillars and walls to adding color and trees.

But the project pays dividends beyond measuring distances and using computer software, said Adjunct Instructor Keith Reich.

The course culminates in a juried review presentation, with the jury comprised of professionals unfamiliar with the project, building the students’ public speaking skills. The students’ final product is something they can feature in a portfolio for job applications, where they can show an employer a professional-caliber design.

That demands a high level of professionalism, a challenge Reich said the students have met each semester the class is offered.

“The students take ownership of this project. As they were working on it, the buildings they’re mapping and designing aren’t college-owned buildings anymore. For the students, it’s their auditorium, their nursing wing, their rotunda. That level of involvement makes this project come alive even more,” said Reich.

Initially, the course included mapping the Advanced Manufacturing Institute, and then designing a theoretical expansion of the AMI. However, Reich didn’t want students to always have the same project year-after-year, so he expanded the project to the entire campus in 2012.

Since then, students have mapped about 90 percent of the Auburn Campus, with Reich keeping a master model that’s comprised of the best student work.

Above is an example of the digital designs of the Auburn Campus by students in the Mechanical Technology program.

“We’ve revisited some parts that maybe didn’t get addressed as well as they could have. It’s an opportunity for students to design the best rotunda or the best library, and there’s one model that floats to the top,” he said. “That top version goes into the master model. The master model isn’t complete, and it never will be, because there’s always something that can be improved.”

Students receive their assignments based on a lottery system. No cherry-picking of the easier parts of the campus, said Reich. Then the students grab the measuring tape and head out for their part of campus.

Measuring an as-built structure is standard for architects, said Reich.

“A lot of times there might not be existing drawings. The students measure their section of the campus, and it helps open their eyes to this process,” said Reich. “They try to map what they see and make some assumptions about some things they can’t see. That typically involves repeating the measurement process. You miss things, so you have to go back. It’s not a one-time thing.”

The trick, according to second-year student Stephen Dahl, is getting started. First you identify a concrete pillar, and measure the distance to the second pillar. Then measure the distance between the second and third pillars. Are they the same distance? If so, guess what?

Measure the distance between the third and the fourth pillars.

That continues until you’re confident the distances are consistent between the pillars for the entire hallway. The space between the pillars often contain walls that follow the gridlines, in Mechanical Technology parlance, of the room or hallway you’ve been measuring.

However, it’s not always that simple, said Dahl, who mapped a lengthy section of the Main Building. The nursing wing, for instance, is in a hallway that’s dry-walled. All of a sudden, finding those pillars and mapping the walls — excuse me, gridlines — isn’t that easy.

“Things got more complicated in that hallway. All that dry wall, you just don’t know where the gridlines are supposed to be. I probably went back seven, eight times, just to make sure I was correct in the measurements,” he said.

The end of the nursing wing connected with the area adjacent to the Irene A. Bisgrove Theatre, the section mapped by second-year student Ryan Logan. The two had to make sure their pillars and gridlines were synchronized so the designs were compatible. If they weren’t…back to the hallways, the measuring tape and Revit.

If dry wall poses problems, the theatre — with its curves, arches, sloped floor and slanting walls — is a terror for mapping and designing in Revit.

What makes it confusing is that the theatre is far more complicated than just being a single building, said Logan.

“It’s not just a building. It’s three different renovations that have been built into one. When I first started counting the bricks and getting the layout, I thought I had a really good idea of the space. But when I started using Revit, I realized certain things weren’t adding up,” he said. “I had to go back through, and that’s when I realized it had been renovated several times, kind of piecemeal. There were more false walls than I had first thought. But the shape is definitely difficult.”

Each of the sections of the campus presented their own challenges. Logan pointed out that while the theatre has a unique shape, the hallway Dahl mapped was complicated by classrooms and office space. The library, with multiple floors, is also another difficult assignment.

There’s no doubt, though, that for the students the assignment is worth the challenge. It helps with their career training, and if the designs are strong enough Reich keeps them as part of the master model.

The program could also help the Facilities or Public Safety departments. The designs from Revit can be used to create a virtual model for walk-thrus or fly-thrus of the campus.

The interface isn’t quite right yet for the model to be truly beneficial for Facilities or Public Safety, said Reich, but it’s close.

“We’re on the cusp,” said Reich. “But right now, you could take the model, put it in a different program that takes the information and facilitates a more intuitive interface that would make the fly-thrus more detailed and user-friendly.”

For Dahl and Logan, digitally mapping sections of the campus might be experiences that last a lifetime.

Logan, who is an engineering assistant at a local company, said he’s wanted to design buildings using software for years. He’s already put the experience to use, helping his brother with a construction project.

“It’s what I wanted to learn from the get-go. It helped me evaluate materials and sites, what’s usable, what’s realistic for specific property types and sizes, and how to form a project plan to get something accomplished,” said Logan. “It’s not just point and click and make pretty pictures. There’s a lot going on.”

Dahl is looking to continue his education in a related field at SUNY Canton or the University of Buffalo. While he’s still considering long-term plans, in the short-term he’s noticed a side effect of the mapping project.

It’s something that won’t leave him alone. Fortunately, it sounds like a good problem for someone interested in architecture and design.

“The first thing I notice now when I walk into the building are the concrete pillars in the walls. Then I’m establishing the gridlines,” he said with a laugh. “I can’t get it out of my head now.”

Sometimes the best ideas come from planning. Hours and days of planning, meetings and discussions. Research. Patience. Time.

Other times, the best ideas are drawn up on restaurant napkins.

Both methods work for Lucy Nicandri, who took her Cayuga degree to South Florida after she graduated in 1982 and climbed her way through the business and non-profit community before landing at Suncoast Charities for Children in Sarasota.

She started as Executive Director 12 years ago at Suncoast Charities, which organizes events to support special needs children and adults. It’s work that has an impact each day on people’s lives, said Nicandri.

Lucy Nicandri has spent more than a decade working with Suncoast Charities, where she helps raise funds to support organizations who provide programs and services for special needs children and adults. Photo courtesy of Tim Britt.

Lucy Nicandri has spent more than a decade working with Suncoast Charities, where she helps raise funds to support organizations who provide programs and services for special needs children and adults. Photo courtesy of Tim Britt.
“To see the impact that our fundraising has on the local nonprofits who serve special needs clients, that’s easily the most rewarding part of my job,” she said. “I’ll have someone come up to me, and they’ll say ‘you’re the lady who runs the Grand Prix. My son or daughter receives services from one of the agencies Suncoast Charities supports, thanks for everything you are doing.’ Sometimes it is hard to imagine how my job impacts others. If that doesn’t melt your heart, what will?”

Her work with special events and Suncoast Charities is perhaps the culmination of years spent planning and organizing functions in Florida. From her first job in the Sunshine State as a bank administrative assistant to her current position, planning special events has been Nicandri’s calling.

“During the early part of my career, I was always organizing the events at the bank. Whether it was the March of Dimes, the Relay for Life, I was always the one organizing on behalf of our employees,” she said. “It started that way, and then I realized I enjoyed it and I was doing well with it, and I was fortunate enough to end up doing this as a career. At this point I’ve organized everything from black tie to barbecue.”

Event planning wasn’t always in the cards for Nicandri. She finished high school unsure of her future plans. Her parents instilled in her an appreciation for hard work, and the need to get at least a two-year degree.

So as an Auburn High School graduate, and as someone who understood the financial commitment of college, she decided to stay local.

“If it wasn’t for Cayuga, I don’t think I really would have had a college degree of any kind. I knew — before it was as prominent a topic as it is today — I knew I didn’t want to live in student debt for the rest of my life,” she said. “I’m glad, so glad, I made that decision. It was an incredible opportunity to have a great education at an affordable price.”

After considering a nursing degree, Nicandri ended up graduating with an Associate of Applied Sciences Degree in Secretarial Science. As she was finishing her final semester, there was no doubt about her next plan: South Florida.

A high school vacation had convinced her that South Florida was where she wanted to live and start her career.

She just wasn’t sure what that career would be.

After her father helped find her a place to rent from one of his former co-workers, Nicandri started working as an administrative assistant at a bank less than two weeks after reaching Sarasota.

“I think of it now, I was just determined to be in that area, and was going to do whatever it took,” she said. “I was very lucky to get a job that early. I credit the College and what I learned there — short-hand and other basic secretarial skills that barely exist now. The degree I earned carried weight.”

Twenty-seven years later, after working at a local bank, the United Way and the Florida Center for Early Childhood, she became the executive director of Suncoast Charities. The organization relies exclusively on special events to raise funds for the Suncoast Foundation, which in turn awards financial grants to five local non-profit agencies that provide vital programs and services to children, teens, and adults with special needs. Suncoast Charities’ fundraising supports a diverse set of agencies, including the Sarasota County Special Olympics, Children First, Loveland, The Florida Center for Early Childhood, and The Haven.

The 35th annual Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix. Photo courtesy of Pete Boden.

The 35th annual Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix. Photo courtesy of Pete Boden.
Suncoast Charities’ two largest events are the Sarasota Powerboat Grand Prix and Thunder By the Bay, a three-day festival of continuous live music and revving motorcycles that Nicandri came up with on a paper napkin.

Each event includes those agencies and the special needs individuals they serve. So whether it’s a chance to go fishing on Sarasota Bay thanks to some volunteer boat captains, a front row concert seat or a short motorcycle ride, the day is always memorable for the special needs children and adults, she said.

“Everyone’s a winner. We get law enforcement and several other local governmental agencies involved, volunteer fishing captains and motorcycle groups. The whole community is involved in helping these agencies and supporting their clients. Any time we can have the integration and connect the dots about why we’re doing what we’re doing and who it benefits, that’s what it’s all about,” said Nicandri.

Much of the funding Nicandri raises through these and other special events goes for infrastructure expenses to support local agencies. Without these contributions, she said, many agencies would be forced to divert funding for programs to cover infrastructure costs. It’s work that has become even more urgent over the past few years.

“Many of the clients for the charities we support are getting older, and they’re outliving their parents and the people who help them. They need a safe place to go, and if it wasn’t for the work we do at Suncoast, I’m not sure some of the special needs children and adults would find a facility that could help them, keep them safe and make them happy,” she said.

The responsibility of fundraising for essential local agencies, though, hasn’t made her forget Auburn and Cayuga. In fact, as someone who didn’t earn another degree after graduating from Cayuga, Nicandri has a deep appreciation for the value of a two-year degree and the skills students learn at community colleges. For her, she found an emphasis on discipline at Cayuga that paid dividends throughout her career.

“I think the discipline, and being able to sort out where I wanted to go for my career, is the biggest thing the college did for me. I have a short attention span. I’m a doer. I couldn’t wait until I was 16 years old so I could work and start saving money to purchase a new Chevy Camaro,” said Nicandri with a laugh. “My parents and Cayuga reminded me that that work ethic was great, but you need a degree and a skillset behind you.”

One of the greatest opportunities a two-year college offers, said Nicandri, is a chance to learn about yourself, particularly what you want and whether you want to continue your education.

For her, two years in college was enough to start her on her career path. For other people, finding their way might mean more years in college.

Both options are fine, she said, but a two-year college is a great way to find out which answer works best for you.

“Some people are cut out to be perfect students, stay in school for years and years, earn straight A’s. Some people are wired that way. Some people aren’t. I wasn’t. It doesn’t mean you’re not as smart as the next person or qualified for a position,” she said. “It’s the skills you learn along the way — work ethic, communication, honesty. Those are the skills that can lead you in any direction.”