By Tony Astran

With the current global economy experiencing unprecedented struggles, the job market is likewise suffering. Many college students—particularly those preparing to graduate—may feel pessimistic about employment prospects. But Buffalo State’s Career Development Center gives students an advantage in any job market.

The CDC is gearing up for its third annual Job Fair on Thursday, March 12, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall. Judging by the significant increase in visitors to the CDC office this academic year, organizers anticipate a record attendance in excess of 500 students.

“It’s an employers’ market right now,” said Stephanie Zuckerman-Aviles, director of the CDC. “With the economy the way it is, students have to triple their efforts. We’re covering everything, starting with the basics—how to dress and how to be proactive about approaching employers.”

“It’s not about who you know; it’s about who knows you,” added Lisa August, associate director of the CDC. “Students need to have an edge. First impressions and experience through volunteering, service-learning, part-time jobs and/or internships are key. The goal for students is to get the employers to believe in their potential.”

As bad as things may seem, August said, there is hope. All 40 or so organizations that will attend the Job Fair are hiring; some are looking for interesting skill combinations—which Buffalo State students often have as a result of their liberal arts education.

Zuckerman-Aviles said that many students have recently benefited from mock interviews offered by CDC counselors. This is just one of a full range of services that the CDC provides. The center also reviews résumés and cover letters, connects students with alumni mentors, and provides interest and personality assessments and literature to help students determine career paths. Staff members maintain an online database of local and national full-time, part-time, summer, volunteer, and internship vacancies called ORCA—the Online Resource for Career Advancement. They offer workshops on site and in class, and house the Volunteer and Service-Learning Center.

CDC staff members also organize additional events throughout the year—such as Teacher Recruitment Days and the Human Services Fair. They speak at dozens of classes and student events, and teach two 1-credit sections of UNC 111: Career Planning in Theory and Practice each semester. They organize campus visits from employers seeking to meet and potentially hire Buffalo State students.

“We’re working harder than ever before, taking every phone call and trying to turn over every stone for job opportunities,” Zuckerman-Aviles said. “It’s our job to convince organizations to visit Buffalo State. At the same time, we try to teach students about the ‘hidden’ job market—knowing how to find employers that may not readily list their job opportunities online.”

The CDC isn’t just for seniors. Zuckerman-Aviles said her staff encounters an even mix of students. Many freshmen and sophomores, for example, seek help with understanding different career fields and also look for on- and off-campus part-time and summer jobs to offset tuition costs and to gain career experience. In addition, recent graduates also are using services more than ever.

Zuckerman-Aviles considers her counselors to be “the most talented in Western New York.” And they’re busy. She advises students to book appointments for one-on-one counseling sessions as early as possible. Wait times can run up to three weeks.

Zuckerman-Aviles said the online database is also “humming.” During 2007–2008, more than 4,800 students logged in to ORCA to view more than 6,000 full-time-job opportunities. More than 3,500 employers posted jobs, an increase of 11 percent over the previous year. Job postings rose by 30 percent, and internship listings increased by 24 percent.

August advises students not to give up during this economic downturn. “People are still getting jobs,” she said. And Zuckerman-Aviles tells students to be persistent, have patience, be prepared, and immediately follow up with employers. Most of all, she wants them to take advantage of the CDC’s resources. No matter what the economy, she said, the CDC “will support you in making your dream become a reality.”

By Tony Astran

Buffalo State College is pleased to welcome Tom Porter, Mohawk chief and author, for a presentation and book signing beginning at 6:00 p.m. Monday, March 9, in Bulger Communication Center North. Porter’s visit is part of the 19th annual Native American Heritage Celebration Month, “Education and the Next 7 Generations,” presented by Buffalo State’s Native American Students Organization (NASO).

Porter (Sakokweniónkwas, “He Who Wins Them Over”) is a member of the Bear Clan of the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne, a Mohawk territory located on the St. Lawrence River. He has written several books, including Kanatsiohareke: Traditional Mohawk Indians Return to their Ancestral Homeland and his most recent, And Grandma Said…, which shares his grandmother’s traditional teachings about culture, discipline, and family life.

A champion for the revitalization of indigenous languages and traditions, Porter is a native Mohawk speaker who served as the official interpreter for the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs from 1965 to 1976.

Porter also served as secretary of the council from 1968 to 1976, and from 1971 to 1992 as acting sub-chief for the Tehanakarine Chieftainship title, one of nine chief titles of the Mohawk Nation at Akwesasne. Chiefs are considered political and spiritual leaders. Since 1993, he has served as the founder, director, and spiritual leader of the traditional Mohawk Community of Kanatsioharè:ke, located in Fonda, New York, the homeland of his ancestors.

A respected elder, he has devoted his life to educating both Native and non-Native people about the history, culture, and spirituality of the Iroquois, or Haudenosaunee. The Haudenosaunee—which means “people of the longhouse”—is also known as the Six Nations Confederacy, which comprises the Cayuga, Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, and Tuscarora people.

Lori Quigley, associate dean of the School of Education, considers Porter’s visit to Buffalo State a “blessing.”

“Tom is one of the most highly respected speakers in the Haudenosaunee community,” she said. “He is humble but humorous, and always delivers a powerful message.”

This is Porter’s second appearance on campus; Bulger Communication Center North was filled to capacity for his presentation when Buffalo State hosted the 13th annual Stabilizing Indigenous Language Conference in 2005.

“My presentation will offer a more in-depth understanding of the spirituality of Native Americans,” Porter said. “I hope listeners will gain a clearer understanding that the Haudenosaunee are a people who value ancient teaching.”

Quigley, a member of the Seneca Nation, said the Haudenosaunee are a diverse group of people and believes it is important to preserve their traditions.

“We’re not just a people of the past,” she said. “We’re still very vibrant today.”

Porter has also written a number of shorter works, all of which center on Mohawk traditions and spirituality. He holds many awards and honors for his work, including the Rothko Chapel Award, Earth Action’s Human Rights Award, and the Gamaliel Chair in Peace and Justice.

Lloyd Elm, associate professor of elementary education and reading and a member of the Onondaga Nation, kicked off Native American Heritage Celebration Month on March 3 with his presentation “Speaking to the 7th Generation.” He has twice received the National Education Association’s Leo Reano Memorial Award for Human and Civil Rights.

The following events will also be held at Buffalo State College in March during Native American Heritage Celebration Month.

Corn Husk Doll–Making Workshop
Mary Claus, Tuscarora
Thursday, March 5
Bacon Hall 115
7:15–10:00 p.m. (time pending)

Traditional Lacrosse Demonstration
Niagara Hawks and Iroquois Nationals, Onondaga
Wednesday, March 11
Houston Gym
7:00–9:00 p.m.

Iroquois Linguistics
Dr. Percy Abrams, Onondaga
Thursday, March 12
Bacon Hall 115
Bengal Pause (12:15–1:30 p.m.)

Sustaining Our Lands for the Next 7 Generations
Tony David, Haudenosaunee Environmental Task Force
Tuesday, March 17
*Tentative*

Native Americans on the Big Screen
Wednesday, March 18
Bulger Communication Center South
7:00–9:00 p.m.

Joe Mahfoud in Concert: The Stevie Project
Thursday, March 19
Campbell Student Union Social Hall
7:00–9:00 p.m.

All events are free and open to the public. For more information, call Christopher Pennuto, associate professor of biology and NASO adviser, at 878-4105, or George Ghosen Jr., NASO president, at 572-5677.

Events are co-sponsored by Residence Life, the School of Education, Student Life, Equity and Campus Diversity, Native American SUNY: Western Consortium, United Students Government, and the Nontraditional Students Organization.

By Tony Astran

The third China Awareness Week takes place March 9–13 on the Buffalo State campus and features two seminars that will highlight Chinese business, culture, and cuisine. Authentic Chinese arts and crafts will also be on sale from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily in the Campbell Student Union lobby.

The seminars will take place during Bengal Pause (Tuesday and Thursday, 12:15–1:30 p.m.) in Bacon Hall 117. Christine Lai, assistant professor of business, will moderate a student panel discussion titled “Beijing, China, through the Eyes of Buffalo State Students” on March 10. Lin You Qing, a Chinese native and Buffalo State sophomore majoring in dietetics and nutrition, will present “Harmony in Chinese Food: A Professional Perspective” on March 12.

Zhang Jie, professor of sociology and director of the Center for China Studies, organizes the week. He said he hopes the events will promote diversity, provide an awareness of Chinese culture, and build “bridges of understanding” between American and Chinese people.

Lai and 15 Buffalo State business students traveled to Beijing from January 2 to 17 as part of a 3-credit study-abroad course on Chinese culture and business practices. Buffalo State students Jonathan Castillo, Quintara Lee, and Bill Logan will discuss their travels and the teachings of guest faculty members who visited them at the Central University of Finance and Economics. Topics include Chinese culture, history, economic reform, health care, education, development of written characters, and Confucianism.

Students also visited the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, the Beijing Hyundai plant, the Summer Palace, Tiananmen Square, and the Great Wall. Lai said the experience helped students become “global citizens” as opposed to “global tourists,” and that she witnessed a sense of transformation among them.

“Most of the students had never traveled outside the U.S., so a two-week trip was a good time frame to ‘test out’ studying abroad,” she said. “Now, one student is planning to go to China for graduate school as a result of the experience. While we were there, the Chinese people seemed just as interested in us as we were in them. Wherever we went, they were extremely friendly and helpful.”

The arts and crafts for sale in the Campbell Student Union were purchased in China by the cohort of Chinese visiting scholars at Buffalo State. Items include artwork, posters, photos, ornaments, key chains, and gloves. A video about Chinese culture and economic development will play in the background. Zhang encourages shoppers to ask the scholars questions about life in China.

Zhang hopes China Awareness Week will encourage more faculty and students to consider partaking in study-abroad programs. During the seminars, literature will be available for an upcoming trip to Beijing to study Chinese language and culture at Capital Normal University. The program will run jointly through the University at Buffalo. The deadline to apply has been extended to April 1; the program runs from May 24 to July 23.

Chinese Awareness Week 2009 is sponsored by the Center for China Studies, International and Exchange Programs, and University College. All events are free and open to the public.

By Phyllis Camesano

When the Joad family drives to California in the Theater Department’s spring production of The Grapes of Wrath, they will be riding in the actual truck from the original 1988 Steppenwolf Theatre production.

The iconic car with its downtrodden but hopeful passengers is just one of many stage elements and effects employed in this epic production of John Steinbeck’s landmark 1939 novel, adapted for the stage by Frank Galati. Joe Price, associate professor of theater, directs the performance, presented in collaboration with Casting Hall Productions.

“It’s a story that is bound to resonate,” said Price. “While our current economy has not reached Depression-era depths, there is hardship, and we are all hoping for a brighter future.”

The Grapes of Wrath follows the Joads, a poor sharecropping family, as they are driven from their Oklahoma homestead by the 1930s Dust Bowl to journey across the country in search of jobs, dignity, and the Promised Land: California. Along the way, they are joined by many other equally hopeful families enduring similar plights.

The play includes 80 characters played by 27 students, many assuming four to five roles each. Through special effects, rain streams down, wind blows, and dust flies as the Joads make their way across the country. To accommodate the many scene changes, the semicircular stage includes several minisets: a river, a dirt-filled grave, the Joad family homestead, and a migrant-worker camp. Each vignette is spotlighted as the events and countryside unfold along the cross-country journey.

The sense of place is underscored by the big sky, which is an ever-present, mood-changing backdrop created with lighting effects on a cyclorama that wraps the stage. “The sky is a character,” Price said. “It is always there, embracing, beckoning, scaring.”

For sound effects and music, a group of five musicians performs live on stage. Sputtering car noises, howling wind, and Woody Guthrie– style tunes emanate from the group: Dust Bowl-era music expert and guitarist Tom Naples; Buffalo State student vocalists Jessica Hall, Valerie Wolanski, and Daige-Ann Thompson; Buffalo State student guitarist Sam Alba; and Holland High School fiddler Skylr Carrow. Price describes the group as an “updated Greek chorus.”

“To pull off a play like this, you need a full team,” Price said. “The cast must do its part. But, the scenery, the set, the costumes, and music take it to another level.”

Price joined the Buffalo State Theater Department last fall. Previously, he was the associate head of acting at the M.F.A. Professional Actor Training Program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, which is affiliated with the Kansas City Repertory Theatre.

Principal roles are played by Buffalo State students Tafik Muhammed (Tom), Alice Cunningham (Rose of Sharon), Dylan Carrow (Casey), and Star Johnson (Ma). The part of Pa is played Justin Washington, ’08. Student Jennifer Arroyo manages the stage, and student Jeff Osterer oversees sound.

Theater Department faculty and staff include technical theater director and production manager Gregory Faust (sets); assistant professor of theater Ann Emo (costume design); and assistant professor of theater Shannon Schweitzer (lighting). Faust drove to Chicago in a snowstorm to pick up the Joad jalopy and truck it back to campus.

Performances will run March 12–14 and 19–21 at 8:00 p.m. and March 14 and 21 at 2:00 p.m. in Warren Enters Theatre in Upton Hall. Tickets are $15 for the public; $10 for Buffalo State faculty, staff, and alumni, college students with ID from other schools, and senior citizens; and $6 for Buffalo State students. Tickets are free for all high school students with ID. For tickets and information, call 878-3005.

By Timothy J. Walsh

With increased interest in students engaging in residence life on campus, Buffalo State College is moving ahead with plans for a two-unit $50 million campus housing project slated to begin construction after Commencement 2009. Estimated project completion is anticipated for fall 2010. The two L-shaped four-story halls are expected to create 503 bed spaces in apartment-style housing.

For the past several years, Buffalo State has experienced an increase in demand for on-campus housing. In fall 2007, a market study was completed by Brailsford and Dunlavey, a national leader in student housing, to determine the demand for housing at the college. The study noted a deficit of 740 bed spaces. Since that time, Buffalo State has taken key steps to address the issue. In January 2008, 156 new bed spaces were added when Cassety Hall was reopened as a residence hall.

In her recent State of the College address, President Muriel A. Howard noted, “The demand for on-campus student housing has continued to increase, which is consistent with national trends. This fall we had over 2,300 students living in college housing, a substantial increase over last year.” Resident students currently represent 28.4 percent of full-time students at Buffalo State.

To respond to this critical need for our students, in September 2008, a new not-for-profit corporation was formed with the sole purpose of creating the needed housing. Cannon Design was retained to complete a program study and develop architectural plans. Funding for the project will be sought through the bond market.

The complex will be constructed on the southwest side of the campus on the site of the current student parking Lot L, running along Grant Street. Lot L holds 439 parking spaces. Upon construction, Lot L will no longer be available, and students will be asked to use Lot M more often. Transportation from Lot M to the center of campus is provided through the NFTA circulators. The frequency of the circulators is being explored with NFTA. University Police will also increase patrols of the Lot M area.

The administration is aware of parking restraints on campus, and actions are taking place to address concerns. The recently enacted freshman and sophomore resident-student parking ban saves an estimated 475 spots. The parking spaces lost to the new residence halls will be offset by spaces gained from the student parking ban, resulting in a net gain of 36 spaces on campus. The college is exploring more ways to expand parking on campus.

By Mary A. Durlak

The Women’s Studies Interdisciplinary Unit is proud to present Lois Gibbs, named by the National Women’s History Project as one of its 2009 honorees, on Thursday, March 12, at 12:15 p.m. in Bulger Communication Center North.

Gibbs will address the campus on her work as a community activist advocating for environmentally safe neighborhoods. Her presentation is one of several events that will take place on campus as part of Women’s History Month in March.

A catered reception will open the first event, the Buffalo State College Women’s Art Exhibit, in the E. H. Butler Library lobby on Wednesday, March 4, at 3:00 p.m. The exhibit, titled Women, the Arts, and the Environment, will feature art in all media and works of scholarship that have been created or written by Buffalo State College female students, faculty, alumnae, and staff. In keeping with this year’s theme—Women Taking the Lead to Save Our Planet—many of the displays will be related to environmental issues.

The Women’s Studies Research Symposium will take place on Thursday March 5, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 210. The event will feature a number of presentations, posters, and roundtables on topics presented by faculty, students, and staff, including the Queen City Roller Girls, aging, and the feminization of William Carlos Williams.

Lois Gibbs will deliver the keynote on March 12. Gibbs’s work began in Niagara Falls, New York, in 1978, when she discovered that her child’s elementary school was built on top of a toxic chemical dump that later became known as Love Canal. She became a community organizer and, in 1981, she founded the Center for Health, Environment and Justice (CHEJ). According to its Web site, CHEJ works with communities at risk to empower people to protect their neighborhoods and families from chemical threats.

“We are delighted to present Lois Gibbs to help us emphasize the important role women have played in the environmental movement,” said Jennifer Ryan, assistant professor of English and coordinator of the Women’s Studies Interdisciplinary Unit. Gibbs will also meet with classes.

The Women’s Studies Interdisciplinary Unit Committee is grateful to the Equity and Campus Diversity Office, the University College Dean’s Office, the Graduate School Dean’s Office, the Faculty-Student Association, and the Natural and Social Sciences Dean’s Office for sponsoring this year’s events.

By Tony Astran

Building on the success of the 2008 Leadership Lecture Series, a new lineup of speakers will again bring renowned national and local business leaders, activists, and alumni to campus in support of the college’s mission of preparing students for leadership roles and responsibilities.

Events take place on Tuesdays in E. H. Butler Library 210 from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted. All are free and open to the public. Each lecture will end with an opportunity for questions from the audience; classes are encouraged to attend.

“The Leadership Lecture Series was a big success last year—students were riveted by each speaker, and at least one entire class was at each event,” said Eileen Merberg, retention and leadership specialist for campus life, who is organizing the series. “The series reflects our belief that leadership abilities develop throughout a lifetime. This year, the importance of diversity will be our underlying theme.”

The first speaker, Teena Fitzroy, an information specialist at Monroe 1 BOCES in Rochester, visits campus on March 3. She has been an advocate for individuals with disabilities for more than 25 years, championing individuals’ rights in both the educational and adult-service systems. Fitzroy is a wife, mother, grandmother, and college-educated professional who has cerebral palsy. She will present “Junk in My Trunk: Learning to Live Successfully with a Disability,” a story about her struggles and triumphs.

Keynote speaker Julian Bond, chairman of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), will speak at 12:15 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall on April 2. Bond is a distinguished professor at American University and a professor of history at the University of Virginia who has served the causes of dignity, peace, and freedom for more than four decades. A former legislator who served in both houses of the Georgia General Assembly for more than 20 years, he is an expert on diversity in the law. His speech to campus, “Civil Rights: In the Day, Today, and Tomorrow,” will discuss the long struggle of African Americans for equality, diversity in the legislative process, and the future of civil rights issues.

The 2009 Leadership Lecture Series is sponsored by Residence Life, Academic and Student Affairs, and the President’s Office. It is funded through an Auxiliary Services Grant, the Faculty-Student Association, and an Equity and Campus Diversity Minigrant.

Updates to the schedule will be provided as soon as possible.

March 3
Teena Fitzroy
Information Specialist, Monroe 1 BOCES

March 10
To be announced

March 17
Tom Calderone, ’86
President, VH1

April 2
Julian Bond
American Civil Rights Leader, Educator, Author
Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall, 12:15–1:30 p.m.

April 7
To be announced

April 14
To be announced

We are deeply saddened by the terrible tragedy of last Thursday’s horrific plane crash and the loss of those involved. As a campus, we mourn the deaths of several alums and colleagues, including Beverly Eckert, Alison Des Forges, Ronald Gonzalez, Kevin Johnston, Jerome Krasuski, Brian Kuklewicz, and Madeline “Maddy” Loftus.

Beverly Eckert, a 1975 graduate of Buffalo State College, was the widow of Sean Rooney, who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. Eckert was en route to Buffalo to take part in the presentation of the Sean Rooney Memorial Scholarship ceremony at Canisius High School. Eckert was the sister-in-law of Brendan Rooney, director of administrative computing in our Computing and Technology Services Department.

Alison Des Forges, noted historian and human rights activist, was a friend, colleague, and neighbor to many of us. In 2005, we were honored to have her give the Baccalaureate Commencement Address.

Ronald Gonzalez, a 2002 graduate with a bachelor of arts in journalism, was the former executive director of Alianza Latina, a community-based organization dedicated to HIV/AIDS education and prevention in Erie County.

Kevin Johnston, who graduated in 2000 with a master of science degree in multidisciplinary studies, was director of health, safety, and environment at Henkel Corporation, Buffalo, and a former president of the Western New York section of the American Industrial Hygiene Association.

Jerome Krasuski, a 1989 graduate with a bachelor of science in industrial technology, died with three colleagues from Northrop Grumman as they returned home from a business trip.

Brian Kuklewicz, husband of literacy specialist candidate Karen Kuklewicz ( ’05), earned a bachelor of science in industrial technology from Buffalo State in 1992. He was an engineer with BurnsCascade in Depew, New York.

Madeline “Maddy” Loftus was a cherished member of the Bengals women’s hockey program from 2002 to 2004. She was traveling to Buffalo to participate in Saturday’s women’s hockey reunion at the Sports Arena.

We extend our deepest condolences to all the families, friends, and alumni affected by this tragedy.

By Phyllis Camesano

As the City of Buffalo begins to define and formalize its unique African American history and cultural contributions, Buffalo State College History and Social Studies Education Department faculty members Felix L. Armfield and Edward. O. Smith Jr. are engaged in that important initiative.

Armfield and Smith are voting members of the Michigan Street African American Heritage Corridor Commission, which was established by the governor in 2007 to develop a plan for preserving and promoting East Side landmarks and history, some of which date back to slavery. Armfield was recently elected secretary of the commission. Currently, the corridor is defined as the vicinity of Broadway, Elm, Eagle, Pine, and Nash streets in downtown Buffalo, and includes the J. Edward Nash House, the Michigan Street Baptist Church, the Colored Musicians Club, and most recently, the Durham Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church.

“Buffalo’s African American history still remains to be thoroughly investigated and formally recognized,” said Armfield, professor of history and social studies education, who has an avid interest in African American heritage. “The college has always made a conscious effort to be stewards of that history. Our participation in this initiative advances that longstanding commitment.”

Through the college’s art conservation program, the Monroe Fordham Regional History Center, and the efforts of Howard, Armfield and Smith, Buffalo State has played a pivotal role in the preservation and sharing of Michigan Street buildings and history.

At its first meeting in December, the commission began to build the foundation for moving forward. The group was updated on a recently amended urban renewal plan, which expanded the boundaries of the corridor to include the Durham Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church. The addition of the historic church was brought about at the urging of President Muriel A. Howard and George K. Arthur, ’89, former Common Council president and a member of the commission.

Plans for involving longstanding business owners in the corridor and next steps for creating a 501(c)(3) were also developed at the meeting. The commission convenes again on March 9 at 1:00 p.m. at the Frank E. Merriweather Jr. Library, 1324 Jefferson Avenue. All are welcome.

The initial $75,000 in state funds for the commission was secured by New York State Assemblywoman Crystal Peoples, ’74, ’02. In addition to Armfield, Arthur, and Smith, voting members are Willow R. Brost, commission chair Karen Stanley Fleming, Keith P. Griffler, John A. Johnson, Bishop Clarence W. Montgomery Jr., George Scott, Lillian S. Williams, and Howard A. Zemsky, vice chair of the Buffalo State College Council.

By Tony Astran

With help from the College and Community Partnerships Office, Robin Lee Harris found a way to improve the work of and reward Buffalo State graduate students for their efforts to clean Buffalo’s rivers and educate Buffalo Public Schools students.

Harris, an associate professor of earth sciences and science education, understands how valuable the College and Community Partnerships minigrants are. She applied for and received $2,000 in 2007 and successfully reapplied last year. The support has yielded a tremendous return on investment for a program called “Project Riverwatch.”

This program—a collaboration between Buffalo State, the Buffalo Public Schools, Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper, and the Buffalo Science Teachers Network (BSTN)—helps aspiring science teachers teach public school students about science while simultaneously beautifying Buffalo’s natural environment each month.

The minigrant was used to purchase water-quality testing kits and also provides a small stipend for Adam Hovey and Ronald Callea, two Buffalo State graduate students who are “captains” during the monthly cleanup projects.

“Adam and Ron are passionate about the environment and teaching science to students, and had been working with Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper on these projects since 2006,” Harris said. “The minigrant provides them with resources to connect even more with the community and help students take an interest and ownership in the environment.”

Hovey, who plans to graduate this fall, is a science teacher at South Park High School. During a recent Saturday morning cleanup project, he, Callea, several Buffalo State teacher candidates, and a few dozen middle school students traveled to the Bailey Peninsula pocket park at the convergence of the Buffalo River and Cazenovia Creek. There they planted 100 trees, painted benches, stenciled signs, removed invasive Japanese knotweed, and replaced railings.

“It’s great to hear a sense of pride from the students,” Hovey said. “I overheard a few say, ‘I hope no one messes with this.’ These out-of-classroom, real-world experiences help students become more interested in learning. They’re making ‘real’ science.”

According to Harris, Project Riverwatch not only helps Buffalo Public Schools students build their science-action portfolios but also provides preservice hours for teacher candidates at Buffalo State.

“Our goal is to reach out to the community and empower children growing up in the city to know what’s going on in their surrounding environment and make a difference,” she said. “The program also is designed to provide leadership opportunities for science teachers and, thus, improve retention.”

“The program helps children become more cooperative and engaged in the classroom,” added Maureen Milligan, a project coordinator for BSTN who works closely with Harris. “The science teacher candidates like the opportunity to interact with students in an informal setting. They also develop lesson plans around the project and provide classroom instruction prior to each cleanup.”

Callea, a science teacher at McKinley High School, agrees that the program has a positive effect on students. “They bring the experiences back to the classroom,” he said. “In my opinion, some students are not as strong with textbook work but can perform physical tasks extremely well. So once class resumes, these students feel much more connected to the academic environment.”

Overall, the partnership has connected more than 20 Buffalo State teacher candidates to various Buffalo Niagara Riverkeeper programs and more than 10 Buffalo Public Schools science teachers and their classes. In addition, the two captains have organized multiple shoreline cleanups, replanted hundreds of trees, and conducted numerous water-quality tests for area waterways.

Harris said the College and Community Partnerships minigrant strengthened Project Riverwatch and bettered the lives of hundreds of Buffalo Public Schools students.

“Through this project, the students experience a greater sense of purpose and realize they can make a difference—one trash bag at a time,” she said.