The Daily Bulletin Archive

Buffalo State College honored more than 150 of its most dedicated supporters during the 23rd annual President’s Circle Dinner, held at the Buffalo Club on November 4.

Dinner was followed by the presentation of awards. Interim President Dennis K. Ponton presented the Individual Leadership Award to Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower. Their daughter, Mollie Byrnes, and her husband, John Byrnes, traveled from Gloucester, Massachusetts, to accept the award on Mr. and Mrs. Tower’s behalf. In his remarks, Ponton noted that Peter and Elizabeth Tower have been two of the community’s most generous supporters of the arts and education. “That has been true of their generosity to Buffalo State as well,” said Ponton. Mr. and Mrs. Tower established the Elizabeth and Peter Tower Program in Special Needs Art Education Fund and provided significant support to the Burchfield Penney Art Center.

Susanne P. Bair, vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the Buffalo State College Foundation, presented the Foundation Leadership Award to the Gustave A. and Geraldine F. Werner Foundation, which provides three full scholarships annually for exceptional education majors.

Mrs. Geraldine Schrader Werner, a 1929 graduate of Fredonia Normal School, taught elementary school. When her son was born with Down syndrome, she helped at his school, eventually taking over the special education class. She took courses at several colleges including Buffalo State to augment her education. Her daughter Gayle A. (Schrader) Fish, ’56, ’60, earned a B.S. in exceptional education and an M.S. in elementary education at Buffalo State College.

Werner and her second husband established the foundation to assist students studying to become exceptional education teachers.

Bair told the guests that the family’s generosity was demonstrated anew last year, when William Fish called Buffalo State to share the welcome news that the Werner Foundation had decided to fund two additional scholarships because, he said, “We know times are hard for some of your students.” Mr. Fish and his brother, Charles, trustees of the foundation and grandsons of Mrs. Werner, accepted the award on the foundation’s behalf.

The Alumni Leadership Award was presented to Joseph Varga, ’43, by Linda A. Dobmeier, ’71, chair of the Buffalo State College Foundation. Dobmeier said that although she was presenting the award to Varga, it was really going to two people, Joseph and his late wife, Jean, ’43.

“Joe and Jean supported the college for decades,” said Dobmeier, “and together they established the Joseph and Mary Jean Daly Varga ’43 Graduate Award Fund. The Vargas had experienced the need for dedicated special education teachers in their own family, and their generosity helps ensure this need is met.”

In accepting the award, Varga told the assembly, “As donors, you’re not giving; you’re receiving. The results of your gift will come back to you many times over. Thousands and thousands of people will be affected because you chose to help a student.”