SUNY Jamestown Community College honored select graduates, members of its faculty, and alumni during its pre-recorded commencement ceremony on Friday, May 14.
The SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence was awarded to Bagul Mammedova, a native of Turkmenistan. Mammedova, a global studies major, held office within JCC’s Student Senate, serving as a student liaison to the college’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force. Mammedova was also named to the All-USA Academic Team, one of only 20 students in the country to have been selected and the first JCC student to have been selected since 1992.
The SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching was awarded to Amber Kautzman, associate professor of mathematics and computer science. A member of the college’s faculty since 2000, Kautzman has mastered a wide range of courses, from developmental math to college algebra and trigonometry. She also contributed significantly to the reimagining of the college’s general education program, which aims to provide graduates a strong foundation of core skills applicable to life and work. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Mercyhurst University and a master’s degree from Miami University of Ohio.
The JCC Trustee Award, in recognition of highest academic achievement in each degree area, was presented to Luisa Fanara - Associate of Arts: Liberal Arts & Sciences: Social Science, and Associate in Applied Science: Occupational Therapy Assistant; Henry Kestner - A.S. Business-Business Administration; Joana Leamon - A.S. Communication; Jennifer McGuire - A.S. Human Services; Daniel Mattock - A.S. Business-Business Administration; Dylan Pearson - A.S. Liberal Arts & Sciences: Mathematics and Sciences; Siby Thomas - A.S. Business-Business Administration; Bagul Mammedova - A.A. Global Studies; Lily Constantino - A.A. Liberal Arts and Sciences: Childhood Education; Dalton Goldberg - A.A Business-Business Administration; Mara Marsh - A.A. Communication; Anna North - A.A.S Mechanical Technology: Design; and Darrell Sager - A.A.S Mechanical Technology: Machine Tool.
Three individuals were presented with the Distinguished Alumnus Award by Heather Morris, JCC director of alumni relations. Jamestown Campus honorees were Dr. Eric Arnone, ‘03, and Katie Russo, ‘92. The Cattaraugus County Campus honoree was Christie Brook, ‘06.