Alumni Awarded for Service

Dr. Thomas C. Brown`61, Lawrence J. Schorr `75, `77, Dean Mileur and Owen C. Pell `80

Dean Jean-Pierre Mileur recognized three alumni for their ongoing service to Harpur College at our annual Recognition Ceremonies in the West Gym (see related story). The recognition awards are presented each Spring to alumni for outstanding achievement in their careers and service to the community. This year's winners, Dr. Thomas C. Brown `61, Lawrence J. Schorr `75, `77 and Owen C. Pell `80, exemplify the lasting value of a liberal arts education.

Tom Brown, who received his award at the ceremony for Science and Math, graduated from Harpur in 1961 with a major in Biology. He earned his medical degree from Northwestern University in 1965. He is a board certified anesthesiologist and a clinical associate professor of Anesthesiology at Upstate Medical Center. An active supporter of Harpur College for many years, Dr. Brown was a preceptor in the local Harpur College Physician Mentoring program. Currently, he serves as a member of the Harpur College Advisory Council and chairs the Council's Special Projects Subcommittee. Dr. Brown is one of the founding members of the Harpur Alumni Physician Council and is presently involved in expanding its physician mentoring program to the New York City area. In 1996, Brown and his wife, Beverly `78, established the Brown Health Professions Scholarship to assist a Harpur College student interested in a health care career.

Lawrence Schorr `75 `77, who earned both a Bachelor's and Master's in English from Harpur College, was honored at the ceremony for Fine Arts and Humanities. He attended Syracuse University Law School, graduating in 1981. Schorr is the CEO of Empire Plastics, Inc. and serves as Administrative Partner at Levene, Gouldin and Thompson, LLP in Binghamton. He is an active member of the Harpur College Advisory Council. A longtime benefactor of Harpur College, Schorr supports the Harpur College Faculty Development Fund, which benefits professors and their research. His strong belief in access to higher education motivated him, along with his wife, Jennifer Brink Schorr `81, to establish several scholarships, including the Resource Recycling Technologies, Inc. Environmental Studies Scholarship, the Lawrence and Jennifer Schorr Scholarship for English majors interested in technology, and the Lawrence and Jennifer Schorr Scholarship for students who have transferred to Binghamton University from Broome Community College.

At the ceremony for Social Sciences, Dean Mileur gave the award to Owen C. Pell `80. Pell majored in Political Science at Harpur College and earned a law degree in 1983 from the University of Virginia, where he was the first Binghamton University graduate accepted. Pell is partner at White and Case LLP in New York City, where his practice includes complex commercial litigation, including cases of foreign sovereigns and public international law. A strong supporter of Harpur College, Pell established a Philosophy, Politics and Law fund to enhance student programs. Pell also established the Philosophy, Politics and Law Honors Fund, which supports a conference for students who graduate with honors in that program.

Harpur College is proud to recognize Brown, Pell and Schorr for giving so much of their time, knowledge and support to their alma mater. Congratulations to our recipients!

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Harpur Recognition Ceremonies Celebrate Seniors

Record low temperatures, rain and snow didn't keep proud parents, families, and friends of Harpur College seniors away from recognition ceremonies on May 18, 2002 in the West Gym. The divisions of Fine Arts and Humanities, Science and Mathematics, and Social Sciences each held separate festivities throughout the day.

Three alumni received awards for their continued dedication to Harpur College and accomplishments in their careers (see related story). Sixty-eight seniors received Foundation Awards for outstanding grades, leadership on campus, and community service. Most importantly, each senior had the spotlight as he or she walked across the stage, shook hands with Dean Mileur and other University Vice Presidents, accepted a congratulatory message signed by President DeFleur, and received a pin from the Alumni Association.

In his address to the class of 2002, Dean Mileur said, "I know you have worked long and hard and I hope you will take pride in your accomplishments. I know I speak for the faculty and staff of the college when I say that we are, every one of us, very proud of you as the latest of Harpur's 52 graduating classes."

The following morning, May 19, 2002, seniors joined the ranks of more than 45,000 Harpur College alumni as Binghamton University fondly waved goodbye to the class of 2002 (see related story).

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Happy Graduation, Class of 2002!

Four years of hard work paid off for the class of 2002 as they walked down the aisles of the Broome County Arena on May 19, 2002 to experience the joy of Commencement. Although many grads had to brush snowflakes off their mortarboards, that didn't dampen the spirits of the nearly 1,500 Harpur College seniors on a day they will never forget.

James Oh and Becky Green share the excitement of graduation.

President DeFleur dedicated the Commencement to the memory of Binghamton's fifteen alumni who perished on September 11, 2001, as well as the families and friends of our campus community who were affected by that tragic day.

President DeFleur and Provost Mary Ann Swain, vice president for academic affairs, conferred Freeman A. Hrabowski III, president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, with the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters for his leadership in higher education and minority achievement. While in graduate school at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he established a tutorial center that specialized in mathematics instruction for minority students. As he worked on his Ph.D., Hrabowski was named assistant dean for student services and oversaw Project Upward Bound and the Educational Opportunity Program. He was recently elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and received the prestigious McGraw Prize in Education. In a heartfelt speech, Hrabowski told graduates to be proud of graduating from Binghamton University "because it means you're smart."

Jay Oddi, president of the Senior Class Council, gave President DeFleur the Class of 2002 Gift: a map to symbolize their financial support of the upcoming memorial garden in remembrance of those lost on September 11, 2001.

Kathleen Lotterhos delivered the student speech. A physics major with concentrations in biology and chemistry, she is the recipient of the renowned Goldwater Scholarship and SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence. Lotterhos has combined outstanding academic achievement with community service, campus activities, and club sports.

Click here for Binghamton University's Commencement 2002 Photo Album.

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Harpur Alumnus Gary Kunis `73 Awarded Honorary Doctorate

Gary Kunis `73 and President DeFleur before Commencement

President Lois DeFleur and Provost Mary Ann Swain, vice president for academic affairs, presented Gary Kunis `73 with the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters at Commencement for Graduate and Professional Schools, following Harpur College's ceremony. "This really validates everything I've done in my life," Kunis told the Harpur Hotline, "My learning experience at Harpur College formed the foundation for my business career."

In 1990, Kunis joined a startup Silicon Valley company that consisted of "14 people and a dog." The company today is Cisco Systems, a multi-billion dollar, international company that designs networking equipment that helps make the Internet possible. Kunis is now Vice President and Chief Science Officer and the executive sponsor for Cisco's Japan operations.

Kunis and his wife, Natasha, gave the University its largest single donation from an alumnus to support scholarships, enhanced computer networking, and startup funds for a networking research and instructional laboratory in 2000.

In his commencement speech, Kunis said Binghamton University gave students the keys they need for success: the ability to learn and apply knowledge, the ability to analyze and plan and implement strategy, the ability to work under time constraints, and the ability to work in a team and tolerate others.

"Your education is priceless. It will lead you to all your dreams."

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