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ONEONTA, N.Y. -- A new multi-year campaign at the SUNY College at
Oneonta will enhance academic quality and scholarships in Biology, Chemistry
& Biochemistry, Earth Sciences, Physics & Astronomy, and Mathematics,
Computer Science & Statistics. Known as
Visions/Solutions:
The Fund for Science and Technology, the campaign, which began in
January, recently exceeded $1 million in gifts, grants, and written
commitments on the way to its goal of $4 million by June 2010.
The campaign is co-chaired by Janet Perna, a 1970 SUNY-Oneonta graduate
who is the retired General Manager of Information Management Solutions for
the IBM Software Group, and Professor William Pietraface, Chair of the
SUNY-Oneonta Biology Department and Vice President of the College at Oneonta
Foundation Board of Directors.
Recognizing the vital role of science and technology in today's world,
the
College Foundation Board of Directors established several objectives for
the campaign:
- increasing the number of scholarships available for science and
technology majors at the College;
- establishing an endowment for student-faculty research;
- enhancing equipment and facilities in the College's science and
technology programs; and
- emphasizing the importance of science, mathematics, and technology
campus-wide.
The Fund for Science and Technology is the first-ever campaign at
SUNY-Oneonta that targets a specific group of academic departments.
A number of new scholarships have already been established during the
campaign, including several designed specifically for students studying
science and technology:
- The James '83 and Laura Bidwell Scholarship, established by the
former Managing Director of International Development for E*Trade and
his wife, will be awarded to students who major in science, mathematics,
or education with a preference to dual majors in two of the three.
- The Roger Arthur Frost Scholarship, established by emeritus Dean of
the College Dr. James Frost in memory of his son, will be awarded to
incoming freshmen majoring in the sciences or technology.
- The Rudy and Gwen Latendorf Schuster '68, '73G Scholarship, created
by Dr. and Mrs. Schuster of Oneonta, will be awarded to students who
major in science education or family and consumer science education.
Janet Perna, the co-chair of the campaign, established a related
scholarship in 2007. The Janet Perna '70 Women in Technology Scholarship is
awarded to freshman women with financial need who enter SUNY-Oneonta to
pursue a major in biology, chemistry, earth sciences, mathematics, computer
science, statistics, physics, or secondary education in one of those fields.
William Pietraface and his wife, Marge, have made a gift commitment to
name the Pietraface Tissue Culture Laboratory, a 320-square foot area in the
Physical Science Building where faculty and students conduct cellular,
molecular, and plant biology research. Their gift will also create a new
scholarship in recognition of Dr. Pietraface's teaching career of nearly 30
years at the College.
The
College at Oneonta Foundation scholarships serve a number of purposes,
including recruiting and retaining well qualified new students and rewarding
meritorious performance by current students.
The Fund for Science and Technology is coordinated through the College at
Oneonta Foundation, a non-profit organization that facilitates charitable
giving to the College and manages the College's endowment. Established in
1982, the Foundation uses sound fiscal policies to invest and allocate
assets. Many scholarships at SUNY-Oneonta are endowed, so the principal
funds used to establish them are preserved in perpetuity.
More information about The Fund for Science and Technology is available
from Paul J. Adamo, Vice President for
College Advancement
and Executive Director of the College at Oneonta Foundation, at (607)
436-2535 or on the web at
www.oneonta.edu/advancement/donors/v-s/
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