5 employees, 2 students receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award

The award recognizes students for achievement and involvement and professionals for exemplary performance and service.

Two Finger Lakes Community College students and five employees were recognized at commencement on May 17 as recipients of the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Excellence.

Student recipients were Misty J. Hall of Shortsville and Nessa “Gonzo” Gonzalez of Canandaigua.

Misty J. Hall

Misty, the student trustee for the 2024-25 academic year, is a recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. She graduated in December 2024 with a degree in liberal arts and sciences. She transferred to the nursing program at Nazareth College and continued to take classes at FLCC to stay on as trustee. A member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, Misty works in the Academic Advising, Career and Transfer Services (AACTS) Office, where she takes the lead in assisting her peers and other visitors. She is also a cadet lieutenant colonel in the Civil Air Patrol Auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force.

Nessa Gonzalez

Nessa, the vice president of Student Corporation for 2024-25 and the Student Veterans Organization, received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. She graduated in May with a degree in chemical dependency counseling. Nessa also served as vice president of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and Active Minds, a student group that promotes mental health awareness. Outside of FLCC, Nessa has volunteered for the Scouting for Food Drive and Honor Flight, which provides transportation for veterans to visit memorial sites. She served in the Marines as a motor transport mechanic before attending FLCC.

Joseph Mariconda, left, and Patrick Rae Faculty recipients were Joseph Mariconda of Pittsford, Eric Marsh of Canandaigua, and Patrick Rae of Farmington.

Joseph Mariconda

Joe, professor and coordinator of the criminal justice program, received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service. After retiring from the Rochester Police Department, he joined FLCC as a criminal justice instructor in 2006, rising to the rank of full professor. Joe helped create a partnership with the Finger Lakes Law Enforcement Academy, leading to a new certificate program that allows academy students to earn FLCC credits toward a degree. He mentors new faculty and donates regularly to Flick’s Place, which provides free household goods for students. Joe, who will retire this summer, also served for nine years as president of the faculty union.

Patrick Rae

Patrick, associate professor and chair of the Business Department, received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities. A member of the American Culinary Federation, he holds certifications for master in beef advocacy and instruction in food safety and responsible alcohol service. Patrick hosts demonstrations and workshops in collaboration with New York Kitchen and the New York Beef Council to advance the culinary field. He developed new culinary courses at the college, including sous vide cooking. He has planned large dinners for the college and community organizations, including the Ontario County Chamber of Commerce’s ATHENA Awards dinner.

Eric Marsh Eric Marsh

Eric, professor and chair of the Health Science and Human Performance Department, received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. He teaches a wide range of health and physical education classes, and he uses hands-on, inquiry-based strategies and technology to help students learn. He helped develop the health care studies degree, FLCC’s most popular program, and the nutrition and dietetics degree. Eric, who has a doctorate in business administration, stays current with educational trends through professional organizations and seeks grants for equipment for health science programs.

Staff recipients were Margaret Lorenzetti and Mary Ellen Tallman, both of Canandaigua.

Margaret Lorenzetti

Margaret, assistant director of development, received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Margaret Lorenzetti Excellence in Professional Service. She has been instrumental in raising funds as the organizer of the Vintners & Valentines winemakers’ dinner and the annual FLCC Foundation Golf Tournament. Margaret works with donors to establish scholarships and oversees the selection process for more than 100 awards that help students overcome financial barriers to education. She plays a key role in commencement and has served on the college’s Employee Engagement and Wellness committees.

Mary Ellen Tallman

Mary Ellen, an account clerk and typist for the Charles J. Meder Library, received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service for routinely going above and beyond to improve the function and atmosphere of the library. She is responsible for the purchasing, technical processing of new materials, and the library’s budget. In addition, Mary Ellen decorates for holidays and volunteers to maintain the garden outside the library’s entrance. She reorganized key areas of the library to make them more efficient and improve workflow.