Alumni in the News for June 2018

Saint Rose alumni made news recently for many great reasons, and we’ll name a few: receiving awards for school and community service, presenting grants to schools for nutritional-education programs, running for local office, and breaking ground for new facilities.

Anne-Marie Malcolm G’04, principal of Madiba Prep Middle School in Brooklyn, started the District Science STEM Fair at Madiba Prep years ago. Now, the science fair involves almost every school in District 16, from kindergarten through high school. “Our top winners have investigated treatments for diabetes, developed alternate energy sources, built robots and discovered multiple uses for everyday items,” she told Our Time Press in “Our Schools: Principal Voices – Anne-Marie Malcolm,” which appeared on May 18, 2018. She began her educational career 17 years ago in Brooklyn, and since then has worked at various district schools as a teacher, a trained teachers college literacy coach, and a dean before becoming principal.

Caitlin Fort G’13 received a Golden Apple award from the Vermont Council of Special Education Administrators for her work at Lyndon Town School, in a program that serves students with intensive social, behavioral, and physical challenges, and whose families typically lack the economic resources to fully nurture their children’s needs. Director Brian Carroll of the Caledonia North Supervisory Union Student Services, who nominated Fort and was present at the ceremony, recalled his first meeting with her five years ago at a Saint Rose career fair. At the time, she told him, “I’m going to be a great special educator!” That positivity and energy factored heavily into his decision to hire her for Lyndon Town School. The story, “Lyndon Town School Special Educator Given Statewide Award,” appeared on the news site of television station KPVI on May 15, 2018.

Vincent Lentini G’08 was in the news as a first-time candidate for the North Merrick School board. He is a secondary school teacher and chair of the technology, fine art, and family/consumer science department in Lynbrook Public Schools. The article, “North Merrick School Voters’ Guide,” appeared in New York Newsday on May 9, 2018.

Peter Gannon ’02, the newest president and CEO of the United Way of the Greater Capital Region, was featured in “Peter Gannon named CEO, president of Albany nonprofit” in the Albany Business Review on May 9, 2018. He has been president of the Arsenal Business & Technology Partnership in Watervliet, and will move into a volunteer advisory role with its veteran business outreach center.

Cheryl (Hage) Perez ’82 received the 2018 New York State Senate Woman of Distinction award on May 1, 2018. Perez, who earned her degree in social work at Saint Rose while working full time and raising her two children as a single mother, has served developmentally disabled adults for many years. As executive director of the Mental Health Association of Fulton and Montgomery Counties, she developed many new programs; as executive director of Support Ministries, which provides housing and support to AIDS patients, notably doubling the size of the program. In between those accomplishments, she battled cancer. In her latest position as executive director of the Veterans Community and Housing Coalition, which provides critically needed housing and services to veterans in counties throughout the Capital Region, she has helped raise more than $400,000 to build housing for homeless veterans. Perez, herself the daughter of a decorated World War II veteran, now has grandchildren serving in the U.S. Marine Corps. The story, “Amsterdam resident honored as 2018 NYS Senate Woman of Distinction,” appeared in Recorder News on May 7, 2018.

Jayne M. Smith G’06, director of early-childhood education services for the Jewish Community Center of Staten Island, spoke to the press about the opening of a new, fourth location of the JCC at 2221 Richmond Avenue, New Springville. Smith said that her organization anticipates opening the new facility in September. A native of the Bronx, Smith said that she first became aware of her special-education calling during her teenage years, when she was a lifeguard working with Down Syndrome children. She joined the JCC in 1993 as a teacher, helped develop the special-needs program, and later was promoted to assistant director and finally director. “JCC preschool program gets ready to expand into New Springville” appeared in the Staten Island Advance on May 6, 2018.

Keith Payet G’05 was in the news presenting a grant for nutrition education to Chattanooga-area schools. Payet, who has been CEO of UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Tennessee since 2017, awarded the grant on behalf of his organization, which teamed with Whole Kids Foundation to provide a total of $81,000 in grants to area schools to build or expand vegetable gardens, salad bars, or beehives, and provide educational resources about agriculture, caring for the environment, and maintaining healthy lifestyles. The article, “2 area schools receive grant for nutrition information,” appeared in The Chattanoogan on May 3, 2018.

Christine Hayes ’03 was re-elected to the Guilderland School Board. Currently serving as President on the board, she is also associate counsel for Albany Medical Center. She has lived in Guilderland for 25 years and graduated from Guilderland High School. The news item that detailed her position on the issues, “Four run for four Guilderland School Board seats,” was in the Altamont Enterprise on May 3, 2018.

Neill C Alleva G’15 became interim principal at Mamaroneck Avenue School in Long Island. Alleva has taught in the New York City public schools for 25 years, and is working on his doctorate at Northeastern University. The article, “Interim principal picked for Mamaroneck Avenue School,” appeared in Patch.com on April 26, 2018.

Allison Banhazl G’10 was named principal of Waverly Park Elementary School in East Rockaway. Banhazl has served as assistant principal in the Merrick Union Free School District for six years. Prior to that, she was a teacher in Brooklyn. Her appointment was announced in “Lynbrook School District announces new Waverly Park Principal,” in Patch.com on April 25, 2018.