CORNING, N.Y. -- SUNY Corning Community College welcomed back 30 retired employees to its Spencer Hill campus on Thursday, September 3, for a special luncheon in the Commons.
The event was organized by the CCC Development Foundation and the CCC Retirees Recognition Committee, which includes Neil Bulkley ‘60, Joe Hanak, Benny Hunziker, Pat Keeler, Nancy Latour, and Les Rosenbloom.
"This event is important because it brings back the people who were instrumental in building this college and gives them an opportunity to reconnect and see how everyone is doing," said Pat Keeler, who retired in 2007 after spending nearly 26 years at SUNY CCC.
"When I came to CCC, it was a different environment from teaching in high school. Both traditional-aged and older students wanted to learn, and for a teacher, that's a big deal," Keeler added. "Whenever an older student came back and said, 'I never could understand math until you taught it to me,' it made me feel good."
Ken Roberts, Executive Director of the CCC Development Foundation, says his team looks forward to working with the retirees group each year because they reinforce and inspire the Foundation’s work of supporting the college. “To meet and speak with some of the pillars which CCC was built upon, and around, is an honor. Their impact continues to be felt across the CCC community today, and their legacy will continue for years to come,” he said.
"It's nice to see the people I worked with in an environment like this, where you can have conversations about your kids and other aspects of life that you never had time to discuss while working together," said former Engineering and Mechanical Technology Professor John Longwell '69.
"My best memory at CCC was when I was promoted to full professor," Longwell said. "The number of faculty and staff members who congratulated me was phenomenal. CCC is truly a wonderful place to work."
The CCC Development Foundation is seeking CCC retirees who are willing to share stories and memories from their time at the college. As Corning Community College prepares to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its founding in 2027, the Foundation is planning to capture an oral history documenting the college’s most recent 20 years. The project will build upon the 50th anniversary video series, which chronicles CCC’s history through the first 50 years and is available on YouTube.
Retirees interested in sharing their experiences and memories are encouraged to contact the CCC Development Foundation at foundation@corning-cc.edu to learn more about the project.