At a glance
This year’s recipients were Brent Kelley, Belfast, assistant professor in the Culinary Arts Department and Terry Palmiter, Alfred Station, assistant professor in the Architecture and Design Department.
Two Alfred State faculty members were honored recently with a Leadership through Civic Engagement Award.
The award is presented annually by the College Council to acknowledge students, faculty, staff, and alumni who have led or initiated exemplary academic and/or co-curricular initiatives that demonstrate a commitment to engaging in the community— locally, nationally, or globally — through service, volunteerism, activism, politics, and much more. This year’s recipients were Brent Kelley, Belfast, assistant professor in the Culinary Arts Department and Terry Palmiter, Alfred Station, assistant professor in the Architecture and Design Department.
Kelley has demonstrated leadership in civic engagement in a number of ways. He plays an integral role in planning the BP-sponsored Holiday Community Dinner. This year marked the fourth year of this event, which functions as a partnership with the Salvation Army, the Allegany County United Way, BP, and Alfred State Culinary Arts. Alfred State provides a festive, fine dining experience for families that have requested assistance through the Salvation Army.
The most recent event on Dec. 9 involved five faculty, six alumni, and 22 students serving 120 community members. Kelley also supports the coordination of a community outreach effort with the Warming House in Olean. Culinary arts students have prepared meals and shared food with this soup kitchen - an outreach that provides one meal a day to disadvantaged community members. Kelley shares his knowledge and skills to not only prepare students for a career in the culinary arts, but enables students to apply these skills for community benefit.
Palmiter has been on the leading edge of incorporating civic engagement projects in the classroom. During the spring 2014 semester, Palmiter directed studio projects focusing on Temple Beth-El in Hornell to offer National Register listing assistance, and the Finger Lakes Boating Museum in Hammondsport to offer assistance in designing signage, a lakeside facility, entrance, and display areas.
More locally, he has collaborated with the Alfred State Architecture Club and Alfred University to design the current bus stop in Alfred. And he was instrumental in leading documentation, condition assessment, and stabilization for the Rail and Titsworth Canal Warehouse in Belfast. An earlier community service project involved the design and construction of Alfred’s Kenyon Children's Park. Over the years, Palmiter has shown a high level of ongoing involvement within the community, enabling his students to apply their architecture skills to generate positive civic impact in the community. Palmiter has demonstrated a continuing commitment to leadership in civic engagement.
Pictured are Brent Kelley, left, and Terry Palmiter.