CAMRY DEAN
Special to The Leader
Dozens of students were honored on March 15 at the 34th annual Educational Development Program (EDP) awards ceremony.
The program, which has been on SUNY campuses since the early 1960s, provides motivation, support and financial assistance to students who have the potential to succeed in college — despite an absence of prior preparation or resources.
David White, the director of EDP, opened the night congratulating the success of current students, staff and alum.
“The purpose of this event is to celebrate EDP’s existence on Fredonia’s campus, and to honor those students enrolled in our program who have achieved academic success,” he said. “These students exemplify the program’s model, going above and beyond. They also provide the synergy to motivate other students to perform at their maximum level.”
The program also used the ceremony to celebrate the dedication and service of Dan Tramuta, the associate vice president for Enrollment Services.
Tramuta used his last speech as Direct Supervisor of the program to tell the room full of recipients of its achievements over the past half-decade.
“In five years, this program has taken its first year GPA from just above 2.0 to almost a 2.8. Why are kids coming back Fall-to-Spring or Fall-to-Fall?” he asked. “It’s that academic success.”
Amanda Gusmano, a three-year veteran of EDP and junior graphic design major, can attest to this. She was in attendance as one of the many students to receive a gold certificate for having a GPA of a 3.3 to 4.0.
“It gives us that support especially because a lot of us don’t have families, so we have some kind of force pushing us and giving us that ‘you can do it’ kind of attitude,” she said. “You start off as a family because in the summer, you have four weeks to really get to know everybody and you find people that you click with before classes start. All of the advisors, they’re amazing. They’re your parents when your parents aren’t here. They keep you going.”
The program actually reached out to Gusmano, who had no intentions of attending college before she came to Fredonia.
“When David [White] told me I was going to college, I was just bawling my eyes out,” said Gusmano. “I never thought I’d get here. I strive as hard as I can because they gave me this opportunity.”
Among the recipients was an alumni of the program and a Buffalo native, Lavette Johnson-Debrow.
Johnson-Debrow graduated from Fredonia in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in communication disorders and sciences. After her success at Fredonia, she continued to further her education and earned an associate of applied science degree in educational interpreting from the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at Rochester Institute of Technology, and finally her master’s in deaf education from Gallaudet University.
Since then, she’s had incredible success in her field, and is now currently working as a certified teacher for the deaf and hard of hearing in Upper Marlboro, Maryland.
Johnson-Debrow was awarded the 2016 EDP Distinguished Alumni Award, and she credited all of her success to the program.
“I couldn’t have done it without them. It was my foundation,” said Johnson-Debrow. ”They really supported me when I was here. Trying to go through the speech and hearing program was difficult and I would always go to EDP for support and encouragement. My foundation, my rock: EDP.”
Some of the notable winners of the night were Educational Development students of various years and majors who have showed dedication to both their academics and the community.
The Outstanding EDP Tutor of the Year was given to Margaret Fagan, a junior communication disorders and sciences major, and seniors Jordan Reed, a history major, and Andrew Senseney, a physics major.
The Arthur O. Eve Scholarship was presented to students who have demonstrated self-improvement, leadership and service to the Educational Development Program, the university and the community. This year, the recipients were senior Anthony Colquitt and junior Deshaun Jefferson, who are both majoring in Sport Management, and Jelissa Lebron, a senior communication studies major.
The Director’s Award is given to the EDP student who has achieved the most significant improvement and academic progress over the course of one year, and it was presented to Kelvin Munoz, a senior sport management major.
The Gregory Antonio Memorial Award was established in honor of alumni Gregory Antonio, and this year was given to Sammantha Nickel, a junior majoring in theatre production and design.
Other awards given out at the ceremony were silver certificates given to EDP students with a 2.7 to 3.29 GPA, and community service certificates given to those who dedicated their free time volunteering with programs both on campus and off.
The night concluded by inducting 30 new members to the Alpha Mu chapter of Chi Alpha Epsilon National Honor Society. Those corded were full-time EDP students who achieved a 3.0 or higher GPA for two consecutive semesters.