Jefferson Community College
Watertown, NY 13601
The Jefferson Community College Alumni Association is pleased to announce the recipients of this year’s distinguished alumni awards program. Five individuals in the field of higher education will be honored during a special program being held on Tuesday, April 22 at Ives Hill Country Club. This year’s distinguished alumni are:
Rising Star Award: Courtney D. Battista, Class of 1999
Courtney Battista holds an associate’s degree in Human Services
from Jefferson and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Psychology
and a master’s degree in Educational Administration from St. Lawrence
University. Courtney is currently employed by SUNY Canton as their Director
of Residential Life. She is also SUNY Canton’s Coordinator of Greek
Affairs, which includes advisement of nine social Greek organizations and
Greek Council.
Rising Star Award: Shelby L. Wearne, Class of 1995
Shelby Wearne earned an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts-Humanities
and Social Sciences from Jefferson and went on to Syracuse University to
earn a bachelor’s degree in Communication and Rhetorical Studies with
a minor in Education. After graduation from Syracuse University, Shelby relocated
to Massachusetts to take a professional position at Wheelock College in Boston.
She is currently employed at the Center for Academic Student Services at
Northeastern University in Boston where she is also pursuing a master’s
degree in College Student Development and Counseling.
Professional Achievement Award: Joanne C. Conlon, Class of 1971
After graduating with an associate’s degree in Liberal Arts- Humanities
and Social Sciences from Jefferson, Joanne earned her bachelor’s degree
in English from St. Lawrence University, her master’s in Higher Education
from Syracuse University and an Ed.D, M. Ed in Higher and Adult Education
Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University. Joanne is employed
as the Director of Student Academic Support at Rosemont College in Pennsylvania.
She was most recently named an American College Education Personnel Association
(ACPA) Educational Leadership Diamond Honoree.
Jeffersonian Award: Paul A. Alteri
Paul first joined Jefferson in 1996 as an adjunct instructor of criminal
justice. He began teaching full-time in 1999 and has achieved
the rank of assistant professor of criminal justice. Paul attended LeMoyne
College where he earned his bachelor’s degree in sociology and SUNY
Oswego where he earned his master’s degree in human resources/counseling.
Paul is very involved in Jefferson’s campus community and has served
as head coach of the Cannoneers baseball team since 1996. In the community-at-large,
Paul lends his time to many local organizations including the Italian American
Civic Association, St. Anthony’s Mt. Carmel Men’s Society and
the Immaculate Heart Central School football team.
Honorary Alumnus: Katherine F. Fenlon
Katherine Fenlon joined the English faculty at Jefferson in 1978, reaching
the rank of full professor in 1993. She received the State University
of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1992 and in 1994 was appointed Academic Dean, a position now titled Vice President for Academic Affairs. Kate holds a bachelor of arts degree in English from St. Lawrence University, a masters of arts in English Literature from Brown University, and has completed additional graduate studies at SUNY Potsdam and SUNY Albany. An active member of the community, Kate currently serves on the board of directors for Samaritan Medical Center, Literacy of Northern New York and the Jefferson-Lewis Workforce Investment Board. In 2007, she was named the 17th recipient of the prestigious Athena® Award recognizing both her professional and personal contributions to the community.
For more information please contact the Alumni Office at Jefferson Community College, 315-786-2327, or via email apfeiffer@sunyjefferson.edu.