WINTER 2020
WINTER 2020 The Magazine of Villa Maria College President Matthew Giordano, Ph.D. Vice President for Academic Affairs Ryan Hartnett, Ph.D. Vice President for Development Mary Robinson Vice President for Enrollment Management and Operations Brian J. Emerson Vice President for Finance Richard Pinkowski Vice President for Mission Donald Monnin, D. Min. Board of Trustees 2019-2020 Timothy M. Rider (Chairperson) David M. Gelia (Vice Chairperson) Thomas J. Bienias Sister Mary Francesca Buczkowski, CSSF ’68 Sister Mary Therese Chmura, CSSF Catherine Grantier Cooley Sister Suzanne Marie Kush, CSSF ‘70 Eileen Martin Honorable Ann T. Mikoll Sister Mary Geralyn Mroczkowski, CSSF Natalie Neumann
sections A Message from our President
3
Joan M. Priebe
Campus News
4-7
Daphne Ross
New Hires
7
Carole T. Sedita
Villa Maria's COVID-19 Response
8-9
Surviving the Pandemic One Photoshoot at a Time
10-11
New Program
11
Creating What's Next
12-13
Honor Roll of Donors
14-15
From the Alumni Office
15
James G. Pappas
Dominca Zwirecki Sortisio Lisa Summerour, Ed.D. Sister Mary Aquinas Szott, CSSF Editor Brian J. Emerson Designer Meghan Wienke Photography Tom Wolf Printer Zenger Group
PUBLISHER
Writers
Villa Maria College | 240 Pine Ridge Road | Buffalo, NY 14225 716.961.1805 | villa.edu
Joy Kuebler Kristen Schober Rachel Tabak
Contents © 2020 Villa Maria College A FELICIAN SPONSORED MINISTRY
a message from OUR PRESIDENT
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hen I announced on March 16, 2020 that Villa Maria College would close campus buildings due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I was flooded with conflicting emotions. The news had been changing so rapidly, and the challenges had been mounting so steeply, that it was difficult to process what was happening. Buoyed, though, by my redoubtable team of faculty, staff, and vice presidents, I tried to ensure that our decisions were guided by the determining factor behind everything we do at Villa— what is best for our students? Not surprisingly, that very same day, it was our students who strengthened my resolve and reassured me that everything would be ok. Every student I talked to as I made my rounds of the campus expressed a level of determination and rollwith-the-punches resiliency that inspired me. More than anything, they stated their earnest desire to get back to campus as soon as possible, because Villa, they told me, is their refuge from the circumstances of their everyday lives. Villa, they said, is their home. For the rest of the spring semester and into the summer, when campus was closed completely, we put all of our energy into maintaining this sense of home, spiritually and emotionally, even if we could not do so physically. The faculty and staff responded in countless heroic ways, handing out nearly 100 computers to students who needed them to complete their coursework, creating videos and holding Zoom sessions to maintain the high level of student support for which Villa is known, and revamping their courses to deliver instruction online. The students told us, time and again, that they just wanted to come back home. And so, with a flurry of activity in July and August, we prepared the campus according to State and local health guidelines. Joyously, we reopened the campus, welcoming students back in a hybridized, socially-distant format— but, crucially, on campus—for the start of the fall semester. In light of the pandemic, many experts are predicting that education will never be the same. However, if one thing has remained constant, has become even more pronounced during this time, it is that Villa really is home. Like any good home, we rally together and find ways to remain united, even when we cannot be in the same house. For that, I am deeply grateful.
Matthew Giordano, Ph.D. President, Villa Maria College
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Interior Design Alumna Named to National Kitchen & Bath Association's 30 Under 30 Class of 2020 Jennifer Hutton, a 2011 graduate of Villa Maria’s interior design program was included in the 2019 30 Under 30 by the National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA). Hutton is a creative designer at Artisan Kitchen Design and Baths.
Students of the Year. The work of the interior design students was assessed on professionalism, creativity and complexity, and three winners were selected by a panel of design experts including professional architects and interior designers from the Western NY community. This year’s winners were: 1st place – Sarah Filkorn, '20 2nd place – Angela Cerroni, '22 3rd place – Emma Massimi, '20
Interior Design Program Celebrates 15th Anniversary, Student Awards This year, Villa Maria’s interior design program celebrated its 15th anniversary as a baccalaureate program. A reception was held in honor of the program, which was the College’s first baccalaureate program. Special recognition was given to three students who were named this year’s Distinguished
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Angela, left; Sarah, center; Emma, right
Changes to the Admissions Process at Villa Maria Eases the Burden of Applying to College Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic As the COVID-19 pandemic sweeps the nation, students nearing the end of their
high school careers may feel confused and anxious about the best way to continue applying to colleges. In response to these feelings of uncertainty, Villa Maria has made changes to its admissions process. “This is a confusing time for students who are applying to colleges,” said Brian Emerson, Villa’s vice president for enrollment management and operations. “These changes will ease the burden of attending college during these challenging times. Rightfully, students and their families have lots of questions about how to navigate the admissions process virtually, how to receive acceptance without standardized test scores, and how to pay for college in this time of uncertainty.” Villa's new flexible admissions process mitigates these concerns: • Deposit requirement lifted • Rolling acceptance • No application fee • Test optional • Provisional acceptance • Quick response • Personalized financial aid
CAMPUS news 2020 ADDYs: Graphic Design Professor Julie Zack Wins Levy Osborn Award for Excellence in Communications; Students Earn 8 Awards
Best of Show Francesca Bubb, '19, Cross Platform, Integrated Brand Identity Campaign – Calle Rica Food Truck
Villa Maria’s 2020 Student ADDY Award winners are as follows:
Francesca Bubb, '19, Shelby Braidich, '19 and Ana Echeverria, '19, Integrated Brand Identity Campaigns – Prelude: Senior Design Exhibit Ana Echeverria, '19, Cross Platform, Integrated Brand Identity Campaign – Beehive Café
Francesca Bubb's Calle Rica Food Truck, Packaging, and Posters
The biggest award of the evening went to Julie Zack, assistant professor of graphic design. Zack was named this year’s winner of the Levy Osborn Award for Excellence in Communications for her lifetime achievement, outstanding service and original creative thinking that is sure to propel the advertising industry in Buffalo forward for years to come.
Maria Schiltz, '21, Jordan Santalucia, '20, Amanda Sader, '20, and Jose Inchausty, '22, Cross Platform, Integrated Brand Identity Campaign – More Than a Number Campaign Gold ADDY Winners: Francesca Bubb, '19, Cross Platform, Integrated Brand Identity Campaign – Calle Rica Food Truck Emily Kaczinski, '20, Michael Morganti, '20, Lindsay Neilson, '21, Sales & Marketing, Collateral Material, Publication Design – SKALD 2019
Film Club Hosts Virtual Red Carpet Night An international pandemic didn’t stop Villa Maria's Film Club from hosting a campus–favorite event, Red Carpet Night. For the first time in the popular event’s three-year history, the event was held virtually.
Silver ADDY Winners: Emily Kaczynski, '20, Out-of-Home & Ambient Media – Heathers Reimagined for 1960s Henny Zack, '22, Integrated Campaigns – Consumer Campaign – Cast Party Exhibition; Henny is the only student whose freshman-year work has won an ADDY Award since at least 2003.
Fine Art in Graphic Design from SUNY Fredonia and a Master of Art in Advertising Design from Syracuse University.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to show off the work that they’re proud of,” said Ashton Barrie, '20, a senior digital filmmaking major, and the president of Villa’s film club. “Virtual Red Carpet Night, even under the current circumstances, gave us the chance to provide students with that opportunity. We‘ve learned so much and have worked so hard, we all deserve to display that work and we’re excited to show it!” Virtual Red Carpet Night supported the College’s mission by serving as a fundraiser in support of WNY COVID-19 Community Response Fund.
Graduation Award Winners Named from Villa Maria’s Class of 2020
Julie Zack with Bob Grizanti, Art Department Chair
Julie has served as a full-time faculty member in graphic design at Villa Maria since 2006. She earned a Bachelor of
Although the College’s official Commencement ceremony did not take place, it still recognized two members of its graduating class. Named after the foundress of the Felician Sisters, the Blessed Mary Angela Student Award is given annually at Commencement to the most outstanding graduate of Villa Maria. The award is selected by the
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CAMPUS news president of the College and his Cabinet, based on nominations from faculty and staff. Recipients embody the mission and values of Villa, demonstrated through outstanding achievement in academics, leadership, and service to both the College and local community. The 2020 recipient of the Blessed Mary Angela Award was Nyles Moore, '20. Nyles served the Villa community as a student ambassador and as an orientation leader, and received a faculty nomination for the College’s Student Leadership Program, which was designed to help exceptional students develop their unique skills and learn how to leverage those skills in various settings. He was also an ambassador for Say Yes Buffalo. In his own words, Nyles served as a bridge between the Say Yes Buffalo organization and high school students enrolled in Buffalo Public Schools. He worked to help spread the word about Say Yes’ mission and offerings to the local community. He gained real-world experience as an intern at the AlbrightKnox Art Gallery and the Squeaky Wheel Film and Media Art Center. Now an alum, Nyles hopes to continue to use his art to make a difference, make the world a better place, and help other people respect themselves and respect others. He is collaborating with some of his peers to launch a not-for-profit organization to bring greater awareness to local art talent. Long term, he would like to open his own animation studio
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and complete his book of poetry and illustration.
apocalyptic horror thriller film Bird Box.
The Martin Wanamaker Spirit Award is given annually to a graduate who has distinguished themselves in promoting spirit on campus. The 2020 recipient of the Martin Wanamaker Spirit Award was Digital Filmmaking and Business Administration major Ashton Barrie, '20. Ashton was a standout member of his class, was a founding member of the College’s film club and served as the club’s president. Under Ashton’s leadership the club launched Red Carpet Night, a student-run film festival that quickly became one of the student body’s favorite events. Ashton also served the College as an orientation leader and student ambassador.
Villa Student Takes Top Spot in AAF Buffalo’s Don Nichols Scholarship Competition for the 6th Consecutive Year Kelsey Sikora, '22, a sophomore graphic design student at Villa Maria, was named the first-place winner of the 2020 Don Nichols Scholarship Competition. Sikora was awarded a scholarship for her efforts. Her win marks the sixth consecutive year in which a Villa student has claimed the top spot. This year’s competition, which was hosted by AAF Buffalo, required students to submit a reimagined movie poster or trailer. Sikora submitted a design for the post-
Zach Huber, '21, was named the thirdplace winner for his movie poster for Joker. He was also awarded a scholarship. Colt McAndrew, '22, and Jonathan Murtha, '22, were each awarded Honorable Mention for their movie poster designs for Midsommar and Black Hawk Down, respectively.
Strongest Animation Projects Receive Faculty Awards Earlier this summer, Villa Maria’s animation department hosted its annual screening. This year, the event was live streamed on YouTube. While the setting was obviously different, the quality of work and excitement for the event was not. Altogether, the event opened with a 30-minute showcase of freshman and sophomore work, followed by the films and projects created by junior and senior students. Faculty awards were presented to the strongest projects, and the event concluded with the Class of 2020 video. The 2020 Animation Screening Award winners were:
CAMPUS news Strongest Story: Gold Fever by Cameron Knisley, '22 Strongest Animation: Love Strings by Nichole Fears, '20 Strongest Design: 3D Environment Design Demo Reel by Colleen Tulowitzki, '20 Strongest Art Direction: The Wicked by Kiara Brinson, '20 Strongest Technical Direction: Demo by Nyles Moore, '20 Faculty Choice Award: Untitled Heroes by Douglas A. Strnad, '20 Best Junior Film: Ezra by Paige Bidleman, '21, Alyssa Esch, '21, Estefani Gonzalez, '21, Melissa Leonard, '21, and Alaeh Ramadan, '21 Best Senior Film: Gold Fever by Cameron Knisley, '22 Best in Show: Gold Fever by Cameron Knisley, '22
Scene from Cameron Knisley's Gold Fever
Junior Graphic Design Major Lindsay Neilson, '21, Wins AAF Buffalo’s Annual Portfolio Review Over the summer, AAF Buffalo held its annual student portfolio review. The event, which was held online this year, gives current college students the opportunity to spend 20 minutes chatting with an advertising professional, asking questions and sharing their work. Sixteen students participated and the prize money was divided equally among the top 5 students, instead of first, second, and
third places as in the past. Junior Graphic Design Major Lindsay Neilson was one of the five winners of Portfolio Day 2020.
U.S. News’ Top 2021 Best College Rankings Released; Villa Maria College Included Twice U.S. News & World Report, the global authority in education rankings, unveiled the 2021 U.S. News Best Colleges in October. For the first time in the College’s 60-year history, Villa Maria was included on two lists: Social Mobility and Best Regional College North.
Photography Professors Laura Snyder and Michael Bosworth Display Work in Invitational Exhibit; Selected to Give Artist Talk at Exhibit Reception The work of two of Villa Maria’s photography professors was on display in an Upstate New York invitational photography exhibition entitled, Continuing the Dialog: The State of Photography II. Michael Bosworth and Laura Snyder were among 29 photography artists and educators whose work was selected for the exhibit, which showcased the broad and expansive nature of the photography field. As part of the exhibit, Professors Snyder and Bosworth participated in an artists’ talk on October 23. They discussed the themes found throughout their images and the inspirations behind them.
NEW HIRES In the past year, we have welcomed the following new employees:
William “Woody” Gutowski IV Information Technology Robert Johnson Information Technology Lisa Kraska Administrative Assistant for Academic Affairs Jill Manka Career Readiness Specialist Rochelle Marx-Asher Occupational Therapy Assistant Program Director Joshua Muntain Assistant Professor of Animation Desmond Randall Say Yes Academic Coach and Student Success Coordinator Scasha Smith Workforce Distribution Coordinator and Community Liaison Eletha Thompson Student Life Coordinator
PROMOTIONS Nathan Straus Assistant Director of Admissions
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VILLA MARIA'S COVID-19 RESPONSE: Surviving the Pandemic with Safety & Support WRITTEN BY KRISTEN SCHOBER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY TOM WOLF
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hen COVID-19 hit the United States in March, Villa Maria was forced to close its doors. For the first time in the College’s 60-year history, it could not be the second home it has always been to students, faculty and staff. The day the shutdown began, classes were shifted immediately to a fully online format. Administration began planning for the next steps with two goals in mind: keeping the College community safe and providing the same personalized and supportive environment as always. Under the guidance of the College’s expert faculty, Villa students proved their resiliency and dedication by overcoming
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a plethora of challenges to finish an unprecedented academic year strong. The spring semester was completed virtually, and campus remained closed. Although the transition was relatively smooth, it was not without its losses. One of the biggest letdowns of the virtual end to the spring 2020 semester was the cancellation of the in-person end-of-year events in which students showcase the work they create throughout the academic year. While the events were shifted to a virtual format and were generally well attended, they lacked the personal, intimate feel that is typical of, and unique to, Villa. Another loss was the cancellation of the College’s 56th Commencement
Ceremony. While the Student Life Office held a heartfelt virtual celebration for our graduates, it hardly replaced the formal Commencement ceremony to which we look forward year after year. After years of hard work and an unyielding commitment to their education, the Class of 2020 became alumni without the “pomp and circumstance” that was very much deserved. Staff and faculty slowly returned to campus over the summer, all the while preparing for a semester that was sure to be unlike any other. Administration remained focused on creating an environment that was both safe and productive. As a result, students were divided into cohorts and classes were hybridized, allowing them to attend in-person classes approximately half of the time. Most classes were complemented with a virtual component, enabling students to complete their coursework from the safety of their own homes. Faculty put in long hours over the summer, preparing lessons that would be effective while being delivered remotely. Their efforts to revamp curriculum were supported by the College’s investment into much needed technology. Based on the feedback collected after the end of the spring semester from students and faculty alike, the College purchased or enhanced its software in order to deliver robust education and academic support online. One of the most notable deliverables of the shutdown was the immediate development of the College’s tech lending program. The program put laptops, desktops, software and other technology directly into the hands of students who depended on the College’s equipment to complete their coursework. In some cases, staff members delivered the technology directly to students’ homes. Right away, more than 25% of Villa’s student body
benefited from the tech lending program, and that number has only increased as time goes on. Before students could return to campus for the fall 2020 semester, physical changes had to be made. The College has gone above and beyond to keep all members of the Villa community as safe as reasonably possible. The hygiene and sanitation requirements from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Department of Health have been met and then some. All restrooms were outfitted with touchless fixtures, traditional water fountains were upgraded with touchless bottle fillers, and hand sanitizer stations were installed in several locations across campus. The College increased cleaning and sanitizing protocols and invested in high tech disinfecting products, and sanitizer was purchased for every classroom, lab and shared space. All members of the College community are expected to maintain 6-feet of distance from others at all times. With approximately 250,000 square feet of available space, Villa is the best suited institution in Western New York to accommodate the new physically distant way of life. The maximum capacity of all shared spaces was reduced, and all classrooms and labs were reconfigured to ensure a 6-foot gap between all desks and equipment. Large spaces like the dining hall and auditorium have a reduced maximum
capacity of 25%. In an effort to enforce the reduced capacity, seats were marked off with at least six feet between them. Floor markers were laid out to help encourage physical distancing in other high traffic areas like the dining hall and bookstore, and plastic barriers were added to key customer service areas. In addition, the College provided custom face masks to all students and employees. Finally, everyone who comes to campus is required to complete a health screening form. Those who are sick will be required to stay home or return home if they become ill while on campus. Several staff members have been trained as contact tracers and they reach out to anyone who does not pass the health screening for further evaluation.
Life at Villa amid a pandemic has been challenging, but it has also brought the College community together like nothing else. The seemingly ever-changing restrictions and rules are tedious, but they are working. Our numbers are among the lowest of any college or university in Western New York, and that speaks to how well our entire community works together. Because everyone has committed to keeping campus safe, the fall semester has been relatively smooth, and students were able to reap the full benefit of in-person classes and access to an array of support services. We don’t when – or if – things will ever go back to the way they were pre-pandemic, but one thing is for sure, Villa will adapt and emerge stronger than ever.
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SURVIVING THE PANDEMIC ONE PHOTOSHOOT AT A TIME How One Local Photographer Keeps Her Business Alive During Quarantine By Kristen Schober Heather Bellini White, '00
So many local families shared their stories about how they had been affected by COVID. I got to know so many families and hear so many stories of loss, togetherness and neighborly love.
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he COVID-19 pandemic has forced business owners across the nation to reimagine the ways in which their businesses operate, creatively considering how they can best accommodate their customers while following the stringent safety requirements that have been imposed upon them. One of those business owners is Heather Bellini White, '00, an alumna of Villa Maria College’s photography program. Since her graduation in the year 2000, White has been busy building her business from a selfproclaimed “side hustle” to a well-established, full-service photography enterprise that provides a full suite of custom services for weddings and corporate events, professional headshots, families and more. Once Western New York was forced into quarantine, White’s creativity kicked in. “As soon as the pandemic hit, we went into ‘fix it’ mode and immediately began the Buffalo Porch Project,” she said. The Buffalo Porch Project was an initiative that took White and her team on a 2,000-mile journey throughout Western New York. “Buffalo Porch Portraits were conducted safely,” White explained. “We shot from a distance with a telephoto lens, wore masks and sanitized often. We even carried measuring tape in our camera bags to ensure that all social distancing rules were being met. Families were posed using verbal cues; parents were awesome at helping with that.”
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In total, the Buffalo Porch Project took White and her team on an incredible journey that resulted in them photographing 115 families in front of their own homes. “These sessions were extremely emotional,” said White. “So many local families shared their stories about how they had been affected by COVID. I got to know so many families and hear so many stories of loss, togetherness and neighborly love.” “This project became so much bigger than me," she said. “This project took on a life of its own. Some days I would smile from ear to ear and other days I would cry...it was an experience that I will never ever forget." While White did not invent the concept of front porch photo sessions, she did put her own spin on the project. “A friend of mine told me that a photographer had done something similar in another city but was charging money for it,” said White. “I decided to bring it to Buffalo and do it for free!” As for her time at Villa, White says it helped her reach her creative potential. “Villa taught me to harness my passion and my creative side,” she said. “I enjoyed surrounding myself with others who also shared the same passion as myself. I am still connected to Villa, and my experience as a student will always stay with me as it has helped me to become who I am today!” After three long months, Heather Bellini Photography was able to re-open the doors of its studio in Williamsville. Like most
businesses, the impact of the shutdown was far-reaching. “We shut down abruptly on March 13 and we did not reopen until mid-June,” she said. “Over 25 weddings were canceled or postponed, and every corporate event was canceled...not to mention the loss of our headshot clients and family portraits. The loss was astronomical.” White says her team has been busy and are working to re-build dayby-day. Her business, though, has been changed completely. “Clients are now seen by appointment only. We now shoot using telephoto lenses so that we can stay 6-feet away from our clients but produce images that appear to have been shot up close. We practice hand gestures and verbal cues and refrain from touching our subjects during our sessions. Like everyone else, we’re wearing masks and sanitizing often. We are blessed to be busy again and can’t wait for a booming 2021. I will never complain about being busy again!” All of the images captured by Heather Bellini Photography can be viewed online at www.buffaloporchproject.com.
ESPORTS
COMES TO VILLA A new addition to Villa Maria’s already robust student life programming, esports gives students the opportunity to play video games competitively. With strong ties to STEM fields, esports helps students build important skills— problem solving and strategy development—that are directly transferable to several career paths. The inclusive nature of esports makes it a good fit for Villa. While it has proven to be incredibly popular among students in the College’s animation, game design, and computer software development programs, students majoring in any academic program are encouraged and welcome to try out for the league. By offering scholarship esports, Villa joins the ranks among hundreds of other colleges and universities. The Villa Vikings have already formed the following esports teams: Apex, Fortnite, League of Legends, Overwatch, Rocket League, and Smash Brothers. Approximately 25 students have joined the esports team, and this is just the beginning for the league both in Western New York and at Villa.
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CREATING WHAT'S NEXT By Joy Kuebler, Class of 1994
We do land
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y time at Villa was so valuable to me as a young person. I had transferred to Villa from the University at Buffalo, and found the small class setting and close relationships with professors, as well as the entire staff, to be something I brought forward with me into the next phase of my academic career and then to my professional career. Quality relationships are at the heart of my success, and learning to generate those relationships was born out of my time at Villa.
Joy Kuebler, '94
Deciding to create a business back in 2003 was a bold move, but I knew I was not able to generate what I wanted for my career or my family by staying with the opportunities that were available at the time, which reminds me of my decision to transfer from UB to Villa, a decade earlier. I knew that I needed something more than the options I had at the time, and Villa offered me a space of freedom to explore a wide range of career opportunities in a space with continuing support and encouragement. My success at Villa not only allowed me to thrive at Cornell University, where I received my Bachelors of Science degree in 1997, but it also set the stage for going out on a limb to create what I needed in terms of my career. In 2003 I created Joy Kuebler Landscape Architect, PC and have over the last 17 years employed and mentored dozens of people, and bought hundreds of projects to the lives of Western New Yorkers. Today I am yet again creating what’s next, not only for me, but also for the world. Over the last seven years I have been exploring, crafting and honing an area of practice that I saw as being hugely overlooked; that of meaningful community participation and engagement in the world of design. My time at Villa allowed me my first taste of social sciences, and the power of relating with and understanding my fellow humans. My design education then allowed me a place to take what I learn from people and create spaces for them. Today I am reaching back to the world of social sciences and seeing it as an opportunity to RECREATE the way the design profession engages with people and communities. After working with others in allied professions, I have crafted a methodology that works at the level of broad community interaction needed for the world of architecture, planning and community development. I call that methodology PLAYCE, and I am proud to be launching a second company whose mission is to share these methods, and empower other designers as well as community
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members themselves, in reframing the role of community engagement and embracing the richness of possibility it brings to the building of meaningful, equitable and sustainable communities. Certainly we have seen our fair share of challenges brought on by COVID, but as design and construction have been essential
from the ALUMNI OFFICE Congratulations to the Class of 2020, who graduated in the most unusual circumstances. We’re proud to highlight the following alumni news: Ashton Barrie ’20 and Amanda: Welcomed a baby girl, Ava, on August 12, 2020. work, our challenges have been mostly in the space of supporting our team to work remotely and for me to be able to visit each of our construction sites this summer. But it has also had some interesting advantages for us as well, particularly as it pertains to PLAYCE. In December of 2019 I decided that PLAYCE would be structured as a subscription based online platform with tools and templates that anyone in the world could access. Creating that online platform from the in-person successes we already had over seven years would be the next steps. COVID certainly pushed up our time frame and put us to work at creating on-line adaptations for our in-person work almost immediately. And while our platform is still in development, because of COVID, we are actively creating PLAYCE as a standalone company today.
Brianna Criss ’19 & Kameron Kotecki ’19: Engaged on July 15, 2020. Phillip Lee ’17: Graduated with a Juris Doctor from Syracuse University. Samantha (Manns) McNamara ‘16: Married Gordon McNamara on August 8, 2020. Bryanna Roden ’18 and Austin: Welcomed a baby girl, Aubriella, on July 31, 2020. Jocelyn Torres ’18: Graduated from University of Phoenix with a master’s degree in business administration. Starting a new job? Have you received a promotion? Getting married? Having a baby? Then share the good news with us! Please send an email to alumnirelations@villa.edu, or visit VILLA.EDU/VISTAS to share your news. Please send us updates when you move or if any of your information changes so we can keep you in the loop!
ALUMNI board members PLAYCE is our placemaking methodology that integrates traditional public engagement techniques with team building and organizational development principles utilizing the power of play to build trust within a group, create consensus around an idea, and develop a strategy to move that idea forward. JKLA’s PLAYCE approach to public engagement invites stakeholders to be collaborative problem solvers from the onset of the process by becoming active participants in site analysis. Stakeholders become project champions; ideas move to consensus sooner and concepts are tried on for size early, ensuring greater future success.
Heather Bellini White ‘00 Photography
Adam Schuh ‘19 Graphic Design
Mary Lucy Drabczyk ‘00 Music
Keith Sieman ‘15 Music Industry
Nicole Germain ‘08 Early Childhood Education
Emily Sniegowski ‘18 Photography
Marc Muroff ‘14 Physical Therapist Assistant
Joseph Tronolone ‘15 Music Industry
Lucy Norton ‘16 Graphic Design
Brian Walsh ‘18 Music Industry
Sabrina Pisano ‘08 Physical Therapist Assistant
John Willis ‘19 Graphic Design
Joseph Principato ‘18 Music Industry
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HONOR ROLL of donors Thank you to all of the generous alumni, parents, and friends who help make a Villa Maria College education available to students today and into the future. Who the Honor Roll Includes: This Honor roll lists gifts made in Villa Maria College’s fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2019 and ending on June 30, 2020. It includes contributions to the Villa Maria College Annual and other fund-raising campaigns, as well as gifts for special purposes such as scholarships, the endowment, and special projects.
Your Feedback: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the names on this Honor Roll. If you notice an error or omission, please accept our sincere apologies and report the correction to Rachel Tabak, '18, at rtabak@villa.edu or 716-961-1882.
Legacy Society ($5,000 and up) Msgr. Richard S. Amico Charitable Memorial Trust Lorraine Blaszyk Judith Brummer California Closets The Children's Guild Foundation Felician Services, Inc. The Felician Sisters of North America The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation David Gelia Mr. and Mrs. Edward Gelia Mr. and Mrs. Dean Hagen Estate of Helen Labus
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The Vincent and Harriet Palisano Foundation The John R. Oishei Foundation Estate of Ruth Peters The Margaret L. Wendt Foundation The Peter and Elizabeth C. Tower Foundation
Carol Sedita Dominica Sortisio
Pine Ridge Club ($1,000 - $4,999)
Catherine Beltz Sister Marcella Marie Garas Carmen Gullo Kathleen Ives Robert Klump Murray Roofing Co. Inc. Charles Pyrak Mr. & Mrs. Theodore Pyrak Queen of Martyrs Convent Mr. & Mrs. Donald Sokolowski Lisa Summerour James Tokarski Dr. & Mrs. Andrew Zaleski
Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Bienias Msgr. Angelo Caligiuri Catherine Cooley Del Denby, Inc. Brent Desiderio Paul Di Vito Ferguson Electric Foundation Lawrence Gallick Dr. Matthew Giordano & Dr. Jennifer Desiderio Jeanne Grantier Hodgson Russ, LLP Patricia Jackson Rev. Thomas Kobuszewski Sylvia S. Lissa Legacy Foundation M&T Bank Foundation Eileen Martin Hon. Ann Mikoll John P. O'Rourke Foundation James Pappas Mr. and Mrs. Richard Penfold Richard Pinkowski Joan Priebe Timothy Rider Mary & Thomas Robinson
Viking Club ($250 - $999)
Friend of Villa (Up to $249) Anne Agostinelli Sr. Barbara Amrozowicz Michele Angelli Frank Antonucci Pamela Arent Rev. James Augustyn Todd Baker Kenneth Balamut Fred Batchelor Mr. & Mrs. Donald Bates
Dorothy Bembenista Gloria Besch Sister Marcine Borowiak Jessica Bracco C.J. Irwin Co Carolyn Calderon Rev. Angelo Caligiuri Alison Caputy Victor Carbone Anthony Casuccio Samuel Chellino Jeanne Childs Robert Ciesielski Bonnie Clark Mick Cochrane Jennifer Cornacchio Cornelius Cosgrove Mr. & Mrs. John Countway Patricia & Alex Craig Dorothea Crombie Kathleen Curran Jennifer D'Alessandro Suzanne Daddis Mary Dettelis Louis Dolinic Mary Lucy Drabczyk Gloria Durka Sylvia Ernst Charles Evingham, Sr. Josephine Feary Jean Felton Patricia Folts Colleen & Robert Fulkerson Michele Gephart Nancy Giordano Sylvia Grmela Shirley Halizak Diane Handzlik Joan Heffron Sharyl Hendel Immaculate Heart of Mary Central Convent James Desiderio, Inc Robert Johnson Michaelene Karpinski James Kelley Joyce Kessel
Kim Kotz Constance Kowalczyk Alissa Kowalski Karen Lake Michael Lasek Jr. Helen Leistner Linda Lempko Stephen Mandy Rev. Walter Matuszak Margaret McCabe Mary Jane Mees Dawn Mencer Leah Merritt-Mervine David Miller Minute Print, Inc. Rebecca Mitchell Rosemary Mogavero Donald Monnin Sr. Geralyn Mroczkowski Kenneth Myszka Joanne Nowak Patricia Olds Elizabeth Opoka Christine Palczewski Dolores Palczewski Michele Parker Audrey Passariella Clara Pautler Ann Peruzzini Pietszak Funeral Home Joan Pillittere Judith Piskun Irene Pleban Maria Povlock Jasmine Price Darby Ratliff Claudia Reitmeier Edward Reska Paula Richards Dr. Ann Rivera Jeri Robinson-Lawrence Sara Rogers Tracy Rozler Sister Mary Louis Rustowicz Lucy Saladyga Linda San George
A. Dale Schaefer Rose Schaefer Angela Scherer DJ Schier Kristen Schober Patricia Schreiner Mary Scioli Short Street Photographers Jessica Siegel John Skywark Carole Smerka Linda Sroka St. Theresa's Parish Donna Stengel Chesterine Stevenson Jessica Stoddard Becky Strathearn Mary Ann Sullivan Rachel Tabak Sister Jessica Terek Lynn Tomczak Colleen Tulowitzki Raymond & Cheryl Vargo Kelli Wagner Lucy Waite Jesse Walp Mollie Ward-Crescente Eileen Watson Mary Weisenburger Theresa Wendzikowski Dr. Geraldine Westwood Edmund Wick Joanne Willis Joe Ann Willson Michele Winkelsas George Wisniewski Mr. & Mrs. Gary Wnek Amy Wrobel Pauline Zabron James Ziemer
WINTER 2020 | 15
Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage
PAID
Buffalo, NY Permit No. 16
Development Office Felician Hall | 240 Pine Ridge Road | Buffalo, NY 14225
ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED
VILLA.EDU
Upcoming Events December 8 Holiday Extravaganza
February 11 Valentine's Day Celebration
April 22 Earth Day Celebration
December 16 Mindfulness & Meditation Workshop
February 15-16 President's Day | College Closed
December 23 – January 3 Christmas Break | College Closed
March 2 Women's History Month Celebration
April 24 Craft Fair Alumni Event Villa Maria College Social Hall
January 14 New Student Orientation Villa Maria College | 10AM
March 9 Villa Recharge
January 18 Martin Luther King Day | College Closed January 19 Spring 2021 Semester Begins January 19-22 Welcome Week January 28 Music Club's Coffee House February 1 Black History Month Celebration February 2 Mobile Blood Drive with Connect Life Villa Maria College | 10AM - 3PM
March 13 - March 21 Spring Break | College Closed March 25 Music Club's Coffee House March 31 - April 4 Easter Break | Campus Closed April 8 All Birthdays Party April 20 Music Club's Coffee House April 22 Graduate Gathering
May 3-7 Spring Week May 10 Final Day of Classes May 12-14 Exam Week May 23 57th Commencement Villa Maria College June 14 Annual Villa Scholarship Golf Outing Villa.edu/golf October 5 Fall Gala 500 Pearl | 5:30PM - 8:30PM villa.edu/gala
For more information on upcoming events at Villa Maria, visit VILLA.EDU/CALENDAR