Buffalo State’s prestigious All College Honors Program received a boost from 144 golfers and 10 tennis players who participated in the university’s 15th annual Golf and Tennis Scholarship Classic on September 10 at the Brookfield Country Club in Clarence.

This was another successful classic, netting more than $75,000, which will provide scholarships to All College Honors students. The scholarships help enable students to attend college who otherwise could not afford to and provide support for service learning, research with faculty mentors, and special seminars.

We thank our presenting sponsor, Pepsi Beverages Company, and numerous national and local businesses and alumni who made the classic possible. Twenty Buffalo State staff and student volunteers also did their parts to make the day possible by handling logistics such as registering golfers and driving beverage carts.

“Our event takes a lot of effort,” said Kathryn Neeson, development assistant for fundraising events, who helped coordinate the tournament. “Its success is due to the donors who support this outstanding program.”

The day provided winners, too. The men’s winning foursome was the Buffalo State Finance and Management team: Timothy Ecklund, associate vice president for campus life; Robert Erickson; Kevin Roth; and Jim Thor, associate vice president for finance and management and comptroller. The women’s winning foursome, the Barnes & Noble at Buffalo State Bookstore team, consisted of Dawn Everett; Amanda Konopa; Debbie Parker; and Lynn Puma, bookstore manager. Libby Ponton, wife of provost Dennis Ponton, and Fred Howe, professor emeritus of educational foundations, won first place in the women’s and men’s tennis competitions.

View photos from this year's Golf and Tennis Scholarship Classic.

Save 20 percent on Buffalo State apparel on game day at the Barnes & Noble at Buffalo State Bookstore! Extended hours from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for all your game day needs. Stop in to your campus bookstore, located in the Campbell Student Union.

Through National Student Exchange, students have the opportunity to study for a semester or an academic year at one of 200 participating colleges or universities at affordable tuition rates. Please contact Christine Cali, ext. 4328, to schedule a class visit. Provide your students with this possibility for enriching their college experience and let them know about the information session today, September 20, during Bengal Pause (12:15 to 1:30 p.m.) in Classroom Building B118!

Did you ever wonder how to make beautiful gourmet cupcakes? Well, here is your chance to learn! Join Buffalo State Dining today in Resident Dining from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to learn how to make innovative cupcakes. Enter with a meal swipe or lunch door price of $8.79.

For more information on Buffalo State Dining, please visit our website.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that all students, especially those who have a chronic medical condition such as asthma or diabetes or who are currently taking prednisone, should receive a flu shot.

A flu vaccine clinic will be held today, September 25, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in E. H. Butler Library 208. Insurance companies that might cover the vaccine at this clinic are Independent Health, Univera, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, and Medicare Part B. Students must have their insurance cards with them. Students whose health insurance plans do not cover the vaccine will be charged $30 for the injection or $40 for the nasal spray (cash or check only).

This clinic was arranged through the Weigel Health Center. Please contact Deborah Sarratori, assistant director of medical administration, ext. 6711, with questions.

The Buffalo State Employee Assistance Program will host a Weight Watchers at Work information session on Thursday, October 4, at noon in E. H. Butler Library 208.

The benefits of the “At Work” program:

• Flexibility – When you sign up for Monthly Pass, you’ll get access to weekly At Work meetings and unlimited local meetings plus e-tools, the program's Internet weight-loss companion.
• Convenience – Weight Watchers brings the meetings right to campus, so even the busiest professionals can still attend.
• Daily motivation – Since a majority of our week is most likely spent at work, attending Weight Watchers with your colleagues creates a great network for ongoing support and motivation.
• Reduced fee – The monthly fee of $39.95 is less expensive than at Weight Watchers centers. The fee is payable by credit card, debit card, or PayPal.

A minimum of 20 participants is required for Weight Watchers to host a program on campus. Please help us reach the minimum requirement.

If you have any questions, please e-mail Gina Game.

Zumba classes, part of the Buffalo State recreation and fitness program, are postponed until a new instructor can be found. If you are interested in teaching Zumba, please contact Rudy Pompert, ext. 6631.

Members of the campus community are invited to submit nominations for the following student awards:

President’s Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate and Graduate Student
One undergraduate student and one graduate student will be awarded the President’s Medal. The President’s Medal is the highest honor awarded to a student by Buffalo State. This award is given to a student who, through use of his or her natural talents and acquired skills, has demonstrated a commitment toward meeting the goals of higher education as set forth in the university’s mission statement. The recipients will deliver the student address at Commencement. A grade point average of at least 3.5 is required for consideration for this award. Only students graduating in December 2012, May 2013, or August 2013 will be considered.*

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence
The Chancellor’s Award is the highest honor bestowed by SUNY upon a student. This award recognizes model students who have integrated academic excellence with achievement in areas such as athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, entrepreneurship, leadership, and career achievement. Although there is no prescribed grade point average for this award, it is assumed that recipients will have high academic achievement. Award recipients will be recognized at a spring ceremony in Albany and at Commencement. Only students graduating between June 2012 and May 2013 will be considered.*

Nominations are being sought for both awards. Students must be nominated by a faculty or staff member at Buffalo State. Candidates must have demonstrated the qualities recognized by each award. Selection criteria are similar for each award; however, to be considered for the President’s Medal, a grade point average of 3.5 or higher is required. A student may be nominated for either or both awards.

Selection Criteria for Both Awards
Academic Performance: Documented via grade point average, honors received, rank in class, research, and other scholarly projects.

Citizenship: As measured by university and community service, the quality of extracurricular activities, and/or involvement in professional organizations.

Leadership/Creativity: Documented local, state, national, or international recognition for excellence (e.g., recipient of major national scholarships or athletic awards, or recognition by national and international associations and honor societies). For graduate students: documented by activities related to the discipline of graduate degree program or other university service leadership in a professional organization, or community outreach activities related to the field of study.

More information and nomination materials are available on the Student Life website.

Nominations and supporting documentation must be delivered to the Academic and Student Affairs Office, Cleveland Hall 519, by 4:00 p.m. Monday, December 17.

Those with questions or concerns regarding the application process are encouraged to call Daniel Vélez at ext. 5550.

*Information will be verified with the Registrar's Office.

The 2012–2013 “Conversations in and out of the Disciplines” series begins at 3:00 p.m. Friday, October 5, as Daniel L. Potts, assistant professor of biology, presents “All That Is Solid Melts into Air: Postindustrial Ecosystem Ecology” in Ketchum Hall 320. A short, informal wine-and-cheese reception will be held after the talk. Colleagues, friends, graduate students, and advanced undergraduate students are welcome.

Please also mark your calendars for the second and third talks this fall: Karen Sands-O’Connor, associate professor of English, will present “Being Black, Writing British: Black British Writers for Children” on Friday, November 16, and Gary Marotta, professor of history and social studies education, will present “Richard Hofstadter’s Populist Problem—and Ours—and His Identity as a Jewish Intellectual” on Friday, December 7. Both lectures will be held at 3:00 p.m. in Ketchum Hall 320.

We are also pleased to announce that Saziye Bayram, associate professor of mathematics, Kimberly Blessing, associate professor and chair of the Philosophy Department, and Kevin Williams, associate professor of earth sciences and science education, will share their work with us in the spring (dates TBA).

Join your colleagues on Friday, October 5, for a discussion of the issue of “covering the material” in a course. Please prepare for the discussion by reading “The End of the History Survey Course: The Rise and Fall of the Coverage Model” (Sipress and Voelker, 2011). The discussion will also address the instructional implications of the article. Time will be allotted to share and respond to teaching innovations and revised assignments.

Bagels and coffee will be available at 8:15 a.m., and the discussion will be held from 8:30 to 10:00 a.m. in the Professional Development Center, E. H. Butler Library 181B.

Register at http://bscintra.buffalostate.edu/registration/classdetails.asp?class=2935.