ACENEWS
Allegheny College alumna and AmeriCorps*VISTA Fellow, Sasha
Miller, gave a moving speech centered on the nature of community
service. She recounted the impact service has had on her throughout her
life, with a powerful quote from Lilla Watson, stating, “If you have
come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you have come
because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work
together.”
Following these powerful speakers was an opportunity for ACE
administrators to recognize their respective programs members,
including those from NEXT Consulting Services, Connect4Change,
Community Corps, Bonner Service Leaders, and AmeriCorps*VISTA
Fellows. Recognition was also given to the transportation office and
ACE operations crew, all of whom support the office in various essential
ways.
The annual Community Partner of the Year Award is given to a
nonprofit that establishes a long-term DEEP partnership with the ACE
office and its programs, as well as builds sustainable projects that benefit
the community. Mediation Matters was the recipient of this year's
Community Partner of the Year Award. Executive Director, Sarah
Rudger-Tysz, was present to accept the award on the organization's
behalf.
The Faculty Member of the Year Award was presented to Dr. Arindam
Mandal, Assistant Professor of Economics at Siena. Dr. Mandal's
Economics of Discrimination class has partnered with local charter school,
Green Tech High, in order to implement an index which assesses
students in various degrees of success post graduation. The aim of this
project is to look beyond traditional measures of academic attainment in
order to evaluate what factors impact a student's ability to succeed.
Superlative awards were presented to members of each program. ACE
members voted for which person should receive the following awards:
Congeniality Award, DEEP Partnership Award, and the Team Player
Award. Acceptance speeches were prerecorded and played as the
recipients were presented their certificates of achievement.
The event concluded with the presentation of a gift to the ACE
administrators from the Bonner Service Leaders, and final words of
thanks from AmeriCorps*VISTA Coordinator, Lamara J. Burgess.
Overall the event was a time for recognition and reflection on the great
work accomplished by all ACE members. It was truly a time to
remember why we serve, and why it is so important to let your voice be
heard.
ACE Welcomes a
New Staff Member
ACE’s newest staff
member, Cristina
Alberto, is from
Amsterdam, New
York and recently
graduated in 2013
with an Associates of
Applied Science in
Accounting from Fulton-Montgomery
Community College. While working part-time
at ACE, she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in
business administration at SUNY Cobleskill.
Cristina was inspired to join ACE because her
cousin, as well as a colleague, inspired her to
apply. Her cousin started a new position as an
advisor and her colleague encouraged her to
look into a position working with students
because of how helpful and connected she was
with her fellow classmates. To Cristina,
working well with others and helping them
succeed has always come naturally. She began
to think about her future and started looking
for positions at colleges. She came across the
office assistant position with ACE and
immediately thought it was a great start to her
career path.
At ACE, Cristina works directly with Assistant
Director of ACE Operations, Lori A. Barringer.
Some of her responsibilities include managing
student payroll, making Sodexo orders,
tracking inventory, and processing event,
transportation, and work requests. She enjoys
working closely with the office administrators
and providing students with assistance and
guidance.
By Jennifer Hunt, ACE Communications
DEEP Service Magazine | Page 9