Campus Community
Posted: Thursday, October 1, 2009Young Alumni Honored During Homecoming Weekend
Buffalo State College honored three of its most accomplished young alumni at a special reception on Friday in the Campbell Student Union. The Young Alumnus Achievement Award recognizes graduates of the last 20 years for their professional advancement, dedication to the community, and commitment to the college and its mission. The following individuals were honored for their achievements:
Angela Maria Caba, ’95
B.A., Humanities
Emergency Medicine Physician, Lutheran Medical Center
Caba is a doctor of osteopathic medicine who works as an emergency medicine physician at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn and as a family practice physician for the Urban Health Plan in the Bronx. A past physician coordinator with Parent Partners in Health Education, Caba currently provides multicultural health care in family and emergency medicine through Caba Medical Consultants. She also serves as a Medical Reserve Corps volunteer for the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. She received the 2009 Educational Opportunity Program Distinguished Alumnus Award and is currently mentoring five Buffalo State undergraduates who are interested in the medical profession.
Richard J. Trigilio, ’90
B.S., Design
President and CEO, Medical Management Services Inc.
As president of Western New York’s leading medical billing company, Trigilio has contributed greatly to his firm, which provides billing and consulting services to more than 700 physicians, employs 125 people, and sees annual revenues of more than $4 million. He is an alumni board member of the NY ETA Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon at Buffalo State and has served on the St. Joseph’s Hospital Foundation board for 10 years, two as president. He also served as chair of the foundation’s Treasure Hunt Auction and Sports Day Golf events for two years. The foundation recognized him with its Leadership Award in 2006. A member of the Ride for Roswell “Extra Mile Club” for raising more than $1,000 every year from 2006 to 2009, Trigilio has ridden his way to more than $10,000 in contributions to Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
Rita M. Zientek, ’90
M.S., Student Personnel Administration
Associate Dean, School of the Professions, Buffalo State College
In her role as associate dean, Zientek is responsible for curriculum, administrative representation, speaker series, student scholarship fundraising, and marketing materials and logos. She serves on the Alumni Association’s board of directors, is president of the Campus House board, is a teacher certification officer, and is a loyal supporter of Buffalo State. Zientek also serves on the boards of the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, the Burchfield Penney Art Center, the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Habitat for Humanity, and WNED’s ThinkBright External Advisory Board. Zientek recently earned a Ph.D. in higher education administration and was recognized with the 2009 Edwin D. Duryea Jr. Higher Education Memorial Award from the University at Buffalo’s Graduate School of Education. The award is given to the graduating Ph.D. student who has achieved outstanding success in the field of higher education.