NEW PALTZ — Twenty SUNY New Paltz students (including 17 from the Hudson Valley, see list on page 2) from 18 different academic departments have been recognized as outstanding graduates through, “Honor with Books,” a program that places a personalized bookplate in a newly purchased book for the Sojourner Truth Library.
This spring, department chairs were invited to nominate one of their outstanding graduates to have his/her name become forever a part of the Sojourner Truth Library’s stacks. This fall the books will be placed on the shelves of the library.
“Honor with Books” was created two years ago by Friends of the Sojourner Truth Library and the SUNY New Paltz Foundation, as a way for the faculty, staff or any member of the community to honor a colleague, loved one or friend. The outstanding student program was made possible with both the support of the Provost’s Office and financing from the New Paltz Foundation.
Professor Linda Greenow, chair of the Geography Department and a member of the Steering Committee of the Friends of the Library, coordinates the “Honor with Books” program. “This is a wonderful opportunity to honor a special person,” said Greenow. “Their name then appears on a bookplate in one of the library books that faculty and students will see for many years.”
David K. Lavallee, provost of New Paltz, provides tremendous support to the outstanding students that are chosen each year. “I have found the “Honor with Books” program one of the most creative ways of providing a legacy for students who have made themselves the pride of their departments,” said Lavallee.
According to Dr. Paul Brown, chair of the steering committee for the Friends of Sojourner Truth Library, “Friends,” along with the “Honor with Books” program, has raised over $120,000. This money continually benefits the university by providing scholarships for students and many additions to the library’s collection.
Each of the personalized bookplates reads: In honor of (name of student), Outstanding Graduate, Spring 2003, Given by the Department of (name of department).
The following students were honored with bookplates this fall:
- Jamal D. Mantin,New York, N.Y. (Black Studies)
- Rafael Perez-Rogers, Shokan (Business Administration)
- Chandra Wymer, Fulton (Chemistry)
- Bruno F. Battistoli, Kingston (Communication and Media)
- Stephanie S. Meyer, Boiceville (Communication Disorders)
- Meri Grillo, Poughkeepsie (Economics)
- Susan Brown, Germantown (Education Administration)
- Pasquale A. Catalano, Highland (Electrical and Computer Engineering)
- James Stamant, New Windsor (English)
- Jessica Smith, New Paltz (Foreign Language — French)
- Christopher Zottola, Warwick (Geography)
- Darren Kimmet, Woodstock (History)
- David Sela, Davis, CA (Honors Program)
- Brian Berner, Hurley (Philosophy)
- Blerta Cela, Kosovo, Yugoslavia (Political Science, International Relations)
- Katy Sampson, New Paltz (Psychology)
- Kristen Stanton, Patchogue (Sociology)
- Keri Carcich, New Paltz (Education)
- Coveney Fitzsimmons, New Paltz (Sociology)
- Kathryn Long, Highland (Art)
For more information about the “Honor with Books” program, visit www.newpaltz.edu/honorwithbooks.
