Community Engagement Awards Honor Students, Faculty, Community Partners
The Institute for Civic and Community Engagement at St. John Fisher University recognized students, faculty, and community partners during the annual Community Engagement Awards, held on Tuesday, April 22. Monroe County Executive Adam Bello and City of Rochester Mayor Malik Evans also attended the ceremony.
Eriel Young was given the Tehan Outstanding First-Generation Scholar Award. During her time at Fisher, she has supported the efforts of the Rochester Education Foundation, including the launch of a new YouTube channel featuring advice from current college students. On Fisher’s campus, Young has demonstrated outstanding leadership as the president of the Black Student Union and has served as a First-Generation Scholar class assistant for two years, mentoring the incoming cohort.
Jenna Hoffman was given the Tehan Outstanding Service Scholar Award for her dedication to the West Irondequoit’s Post-Secondary Transition Program. On campus, Hoffman has held numerous leadership roles; serving as the secretary for Best Buddies, as a student ambassador for admissions, and an integral part of the development of men’s and women’s Club Basketball, serving as president for both teams. Additionally, she is the president of the Teacher Education Student Association and has been the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education senator for the past three years for Student Government Association.
Bri Sick received the Community Engaged Learning Student Award for the coursework she produced in her Legal Research course on behalf of Law NY.
Dr. Susie Hildenbrand, associate professor in the Ralph C. Wilson, Jr. School of Education, received the Community Engaged Learning Faculty Award. She has taught several courses throughout her time at Fisher and helped facilitate a meaningful partnership with Starbridge, a nonprofit that provides services and advocacy for people with disabilities and their circles of support.
Sue Condoluci, recreation therapist; Emma Dority, senior recreation therapist; and Donna Herrera, head recreation therapist and the recreation therapist team at the New York State Office of People with Developmental Disabilities were given the Scholar Community Partner ‘Above and Beyond’ Award.
Valley Manor, an Episcopal Senior Life Community, was honored with the Community Engaged Learning Community Partner Award and St. Peter’s Kitchen was given the Outstanding New Partner Award.
Community members involved in the Institute’s Center for Nonprofit Leadership were also recognized at the ceremony.
Participants in the Board Leadership Seminar Spring 2025 cohort included George Poulios, 13thirty Cancer Connect; Cheryl Gossin, Center for Youth; Zahira Jimenez, Delphi Rise; Cherriese Bufis-Scott, Diverse Mosaic Community Center; Deborah Smith, Diverse Mosaic Community Center; David Bornholdt, Finger Lakes Boating Museum; Kristine Klein, Friends of Mt. Hope Cemetery; Raegena Lawrence, GRASA; Kia Brooks, GRASA; Clianda Florence, Let's Get L.I.T. (Liberating Individuals Through Literary Text); Vincent French, Let's Get L.I.T. (Liberating Individuals Through Literary Text); Jesse Cramer, Lollypop Farm; Jessica Wilson, Mental Health Association; Van Smith, Recovery Houses of Rochester, Inc.; Brandon Wright, Recovery Houses of Rochester, Inc.; Theresa Carter, Rochester Black Nurses Association; Melissa Suchodolski, RochesterWorks, Inc.; and Dave Seeley, RochesterWorks, Inc.
Graduates of the Nonprofit Management Certificate Program included Sarah Boorsma, Children’s Institute Inc.; Jennifer Canning, Nazareth University; Tremain Harris, City of Rochester; Daniel Irving, Irving Insights Grant & Project Consulting; Sydney John, URMC Wilmot Cancer Institute – Pluta Integrative Oncology and Wellness Center; Maryanne Meier, Hope Church; Samantha Standing, The Children’s Agenda; Teresa Stewart, Rochester Area Community Foundation; Isha Torres, PathStone Corporation; Autumn Wiggs, Bivona Child Advocacy Center; Michelle Yale, The Children’s Agenda; and Tracey Youngblut, LEGO Group.