The School Snack Cupboard began in September at the suggestion of 1^st Grade Teacher Nicole Gayton. Using funds donated by the community through the School Supply Drive, sponsored by the Bergen Business and Civil Association and the Byron-Bergen S.T.E.P. Boosters, Principal Kristin Loftus cleared cabinet space in the Main Office kitchen and filled it with snacks for students. When those snacks began to run out, Elementary School Social Worker Courtney Bapst arranged donations from local organizations, including the Genesee Orleans Ministry of Concern and the United Way. Currently, over 200 snacks are distributed each month through the School Snack Cupboard.

“It has been truly incredible to see the impact of this initiative on our students,” said Loftus. “Whether a child needs a snack because they’re hungry or because it supports a sensory need, having free and easy access removes barriers and allows them to focus on learning. It also reassures our teachers that they have the support needed to help meet the whole child — including their most basic needs.”

Kindergarten Teacher Ayn Gardner and Instructional Coach and Student Council Advisor Debbie Slocum met with the Student Council to discuss this year’s beneficiary for the annual school community service project. After reviewing the local organizations that have already benefited from the annual project, the Student Council held a discussion, took a vote, and decided to collect food to support the needs of their school’s student body.

“We have never done a community service project to support the District before,” said Gardner. “The students are using it every day. This year, it seemed to be a perfect fit!”

Student Council members helped track donations by coloring in thermometers for each item. Every grade level met the goal of 100 donated snack items. 

“I am deeply grateful to our school community for stepping up in such a generous way,” said Loftus. “The outpouring of snack donations reflects the care and commitment that make our school so special. We are beyond thankful.”

Provided information

SUNY Brockport has received a three-year, $373,360 grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to strengthen the University’s capacity to pursue innovative, externally funded research—work that often grows through collaboration with regional industry and community partners.

SUNY Brockport will join NSF’s Enabling Partnership to Increase Innovation Capacity (EPIIC) program as part of the Supporting Partnership for Advancement, Research, and Knowledge (SPARK) cohort. The national program is designed to help institutions expand research capacity and build stronger partnerships that support innovation.

SUNY Brockport collaborated with three other SPARK cohort institutions—Guilford College, Rhode Island School of Design, and Southern Arkansas University—to submit the proposal.

“The NSF recognizes that a majority of the research they fund goes to highly resourced institutions, which can leave others behind in federal funding,” said Dr. Jose Maliekal, associate professor and principal investigator for the project. “Institutions like Brockport have the capacity to innovate, but our faculty don’t always have the time or resources to dedicate to projects.”

The grant’s aim is to create a collaborative environment that supports scholarship through community partnerships and that allows innovative work to take shape. Maliekal will serve as the principal investigator (PI) and lead the initiative at SUNY Brockport alongside co-principal investigators Dr. Martin Abraham, Dr. Laurie Cook, and Dr. Michael Coleman.

“Writing a grant is labor-intensive, so fewer faculty are writing them, which reduces our institution’s capacity for research opportunities,” Maliekal said. “We want to create an environment in which faculty feel supported as they seek collaboration and funding to advance their career goals.”

The EPIIC-SPARK grant will create conditions for more Brockport faculty to compete for external funding, allowing more students to participate in applied research and community-based projects that connect classroom learning to real regional needs. A central component of the initiative is collaboration with regional industry and community partners whose needs coincide with the expertise of SUNY Brockport faculty.

“External partners are not always aware of what we have to offer them,” Cook said. “EPIIC is essentially trying to bridge that gap between the needs of institutions and regional partners.”

As part of this initiative and community collaboration, more experiential learning opportunities will be available for students to take part in engaging research, internships, and shadowing/mentoring with regional partners.

“When faculty scholarship connects with regional partners, long-term connections are made and pipelines open up for our students,” Cook said. “Ultimately, that is where the NSF is going. They want to better prepare our students to enter the modern workforce.”

In addition, the initiative will recruit two Faculty Fellows each year, who will receive course release time and professional development. Each Fellow will build a small team of colleagues to develop a project and prepare a grant proposal—expanding the number of faculty positioned to compete for external funding and increasing opportunities for students to participate in applied research.

“The more faculty learn about opportunities like this, the better positioned they will be to take advantage of them,” Maliekal said.

Want to partner with SUNY Brockport?

Regional/industry and community partners interested in exploring research collaborations, internships, mentoring, or applied projects may contact Jose Maliekal at 585-395-5598 or jmaliekal@brockport.edu or Laurie Cook at 585-395-5757 or lcook@brockport.edu to discuss partnership opportunities.

Provided information and photo

Mrs. Giancursio is the current Assistant Principal at Churchville Elementary School. She has worked for Churchville-Chili CSD for 20 years and has been Assistant Principal since July 2021. She previously worked for the district as an Instructional Literacy Coach and a First Grade Teacher.

“I am incredibly honored to accept the position of Principal at Churchville Elementary School,” says Kim Giancursio. “I value the relationships I have developed with the students, staff, and families of our school community. I look forward to our continued partnership in supporting the growth and success of every student.” 

Provided information and photo

In February, Churchville Elementary School students helped support the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge. Students around the country participate in the Kids Heart Challenge to learn about the importance of heart health, exercise, and giving back to others.

During the event, CES students raised funds to help kids with special hearts, inspired by the school’s very own heart hero, third-grade student James. James underwent heart surgery days after being born and has since met all major milestones and is cleared to play the same as other kids his age.

This year, 216 students participated in the challenge, raising $20,391.15. Top fundraisers were recognized during a celebratory assembly, and the students who raised the most money were able to take on the titles of “PE teacher for the day,” “Assistant Principal for the day,” and “Principal for the day.”

At the end of the assembly, to celebrate their accomplishment, a few lucky students had the chance to spray CES physical education teachers, classroom teachers, and Principal Kate Daly with silly string.

This was the school’s 25th year participating in the American Heart Association’s Heart Challenge events.

Provided information and photos

On Friday, February 6, 2026, five Byron-Bergen seniors dressed to impress for a day of hands-on experiences at the Golisano Institute for Business & Entrepreneurship. The Golisano Institute provides career-ready, alternative, post-secondary business education. In addition to taking a tour and observing classes, students participated in mock job interviews and a workshop during which each student created a professional LinkedIn profile. The field trip was part of Byron-Bergen’s newly established work-based learning program.

The work-based learning program launched in the fall of 2025. Headed by College & Career Counselor and Certified Work-Based Learning Coordinator Robert Kaercher, the program allows seniors to earn high school credits while gaining real-world career experience. Students who participate in the program meet as a class on Mondays and attend internships three days a week. The in-classroom time allows students to discuss their internship experiences and career goals and take part in presentations from alumni and community leaders. “The alumni presentations focus on more than just asking students what they want to do, but sharing their personal experiences with them, so the students can learn,” said Kaercher.

Their internships take place during the school day, allowing students to participate in internships during regular business hours. Gianna Clark interned at Del Plato Casey Law Firm LLP in Batavia, where she learned how to interpret and prepare legal documents and attended client meetings and depositions. “I’m becoming familiar with the legal jargon, which is very useful,” said Clark. “I worked mostly with real estate and estate planning, but I also attended professional association meetings and gained a lot of experience.” She plans to study political science in college and then attend law school.

The field trip to the Golisano Institute offered a glimpse into what a career in business could look like, and students left with tools they can use going forward. For some careers, presenting oneself in person and online in a professional manner is crucial. “I liked the business feel and professional attire,” said Grace DiQuattro, who interned with the Genesee Community College athletic department, where she focused on marketing and design. “I worked on their website redesign, helped coordinate the Region 3 Championships, and created signage and pamphlets. Everyone was super respectful and treated me like a colleague, not just a high school intern.” She plans to attend Felician University to study sports marketing.

“Work-based learning is also a valuable tool to explore different career options,” said Kaercher. “We had two students interested in education who, after a semester in the classroom, decided to pivot and try a different area of education.”  

Senior Libby Starowitz is currently interning at Byron-Bergen Elementary School with Physical Education Teacher Danielle Carson. “Working with the adaptive PE students was my favorite,” said Starowitz. “Because of that experience, I’m going to start working one day a week in a special education classroom.” She plans to attend Genesee Community College in the fall to study physical education.

“Libby has developed a great rapport with our students and staff,” said Carson. “She spent countless hours observing in our gym, learning classroom management and teaching skills.”

Byron-Bergen High School has actively advocated career planning and out-of-classroom experiences since Kaercher first came to the High School in 2015. In that time, Kaercher has expanded experiential learning offerings to include an annual college and career day event, participation in GLOW With Your Hands career days, career field trips, college visits, and now the work-based learning program.

“Kids learn a lot about their future careers through conversations they have with professionals in our community and through experiences like the Golisano Institute,” said Kaercher. “The value of hands-on learning experiences for our students is immeasurable. The program has been very successful because our community is so open to giving these experiences back to the kids.”

Provided information

Each year, students in Mrs. Brongo’s Life Skills Class at Churchville-Chili Senior High School create a holiday craft to sell, raising funds for a local organization. This year, students crafted and sold 116 Charlie Brown figures, raising $1,000. ​

Students chose to donate the funds to Bridges for Brain Injury, Inc. They visited the Bridges for Brain Injury farm on February 5 to learn more about the organization and its future plans. ​

CCCSD students in Mrs. Brongo’s class have raised a total of $16,570 for charity since beginning their holiday craft fundraiser in 2005.

Provided information and photo

Senator Pam Helming is announcing that the New York Conference of Italian American State Legislators is now accepting applications for the Senator James D. Conte Memorial Academic Scholarship and the Senator John J. Marchi Memorial Athletic Scholarship. Each scholarship awards $3,000 to deserving students; two academic and two athletic scholarships are available. 

Eligible applicants must be New York residents who are current college students or high school seniors planning to enter college. They also must reside within a conference member’s district. Senator Helming’s district includes the Monroe County communities of Chili, Churchville, Mendon, Riga, Rush, Scottsville, and Wheatland, along with all of Livingston, Ontario, and Wayne counties.

 Senator Helming said, “With the cost of college soaring, I am proud to be part of a group of legislators that offer scholarships to college-bound students. The application process is easy, and decisions are made quickly. I encourage all those pursuing a higher education in my Senate District to apply!”   

Applicants should have a grade point average of 85 or higher, be active in community service and extracurricular activities, and demonstrate financial need. In addition to these qualifications, students applying for an athletic scholarship must also be involved in an organized sport(s). Applicants need not be of Italian American heritage. 

Applications will be accepted until March 16. Students may apply online at: https://www.nyiacsl.org/apply-for-scholarship-form 

Scholarship winners will be honored at a ceremony in Albany in May of 2026. 

The New York Conference of Italian American State Legislators is a bipartisan, non-profit organization. The conference is composed of state Assembly and Senate members who actively promote and celebrate the state’s Italian American community. 

Provided information

Twelve BOCES 2 CTE students signed on the dotted line for the Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program (FLYAP) on February 2. These students were a part of the annual “Signing Day” ceremony, commemorating their acceptance into paid co-ops and job shadowing opportunities with several local advanced manufacturing companies. 

Students will take all the knowledge and experience they have gained throughout their CTE programs with them to the companies they signed on with. From there, they will be able to expand their skills and train alongside machinists, toolmakers, electricians, and other advanced manufacturing professionals.  

The event was treated akin to a sports draft with students partaking in photo ops and officially signing with their future employers. The event marks an exciting start to a bright future. 

The following students were selected for the Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program: 

•    Zach Bontadelli, Spencerport, Welding

•    Elio Conway, Hilton, Advanced Manufacturing

•    Larry Copeland, Churchville-Chili, HVAC

•    Cody DeFazio, Hilton, Advanced Manufacturing

•    Jaden Hawkins, Hilton, Advanced Manufacturing

•    Aiden Ingram, Brockport, Advanced Manufacturing

•    Anthony Meli, Hilton, HVAC

•    Cade O’Keefe, Spencerport, Advanced Manufacturing

•    Cody Passino, Hilton, Computer Technology

•    Jayce Richerson, Kendall, Welding

•    Collin Surridge, Spencerport, Advanced Manufacturing

•    Arianna Tobey, Brockport, Welding

The Finger Lakes Youth Apprenticeship Program was created by the Rochester Technology and Manufacturing Association in partnership with Monroe Community College. 

Provided information and photo

Genesee Community College has been honored with the esteemed 90+ cashVest Award for 2025, an award presented to multiple public-sector entities in recognition of exemplary leadership in public finance liquidity management. The honor is awarded by three+one, a national financial-technology firm that specializes in evaluating cash-management practices within the public sector. This recognition underscores the organization’s commitment to utilizing data-driven insights to maximize every taxpayer dollar, delivering enhanced benefits to communities nationwide.

Garrett Macdonald, Chief Executive Officer of three+one, and GCC Alumnus, commented on the award: “Collectively generating hundreds of millions in additional revenue in 2025 alone that would otherwise have to be raised in taxes or additional tuition is an amazing accomplishment. As each of these entities continues to navigate an ever-changing economic landscape, they have gone above and beyond to set a national standard in cash management and to certify they are doing everything they can to maximize their liquid cash resources.”

By maintaining a cashVest score of 90 or above for four consecutive quarters, Genesee Community College has demonstrated its commitment to effective cash management, improving financial stability, and ensuring responsible stewardship of public resources.

Dr. Craig Lamb, President of Genesee Community College, stated, “At GCC, we are deeply committed to being responsible stewards of public funds as we collectively seek to enrich our surrounding community, using every resource efficiently and strategically. I want to extend my gratitude to GCC’s Finance and Operations department for their efforts in ensuring we operate at the highest standards of fiscal responsibility. In addition, being presented with this award by GCC alumnus Garrett Macdonald, of whom we are so proud, makes this honor even more special.”

Provided information and photo

The Competition is open to all high school students in the 25th Congressional District. The winning artwork of the district’s competition will be displayed for one year in the U.S. Capitol. The exhibit in Washington will include the winning artwork from all participating districts from around the country. The winning artwork will also be featured on the House of Representatives’ web page.

Submissions are due by 4 p.m. on April 17, 2026.Visit https://morelle.house.gov/services/art-competition for competition rules, the required release form, and the entry submission link.

Those with questions may contact Rep. Morelle’s office directly at 585-232-4850 ext. 6.

Provided information