Senior forward Katlyn Cunningham earns the Liberty League's “Forward of the Week” award.
Senior forward Katlyn Cunningham (Clarksburg, MA) was named the Liberty League's “Forward of the Week” after leading the Dutchwomen to three consecutive victories. Cunningham averaged 13 points and 6.3 rebounds as Union defeated conference rivals Skidmore (44-23), Rensselaer (63-55), and Vassar (73-42). Katlyn shot 51.7% from the field (18-of-29) including a nine of 10 performance against Vassar in which she connected on her first nine field goal attempts.
After 11 games, Katlyn leads the 8-3 Dutchwomen (3-0 in the Liberty League) with her 12.2 scoring average as well as with her 7.0 rebounding average. She has 913 career points, which ranks here ninth all-time, and looks to become the ninth member of the Dutchwomen's 1,000-point club. Her 521 career rebounds ranks her eighth. Julie Miller, Class of 1984, is seventh with 556.
A total of 22 alumns turned out for the annual game.
Those who returned for the annual men's alumni game included
Dave Viniar, John Pelton, Ted Bick, Al Walker, Tom Coombs, Steve DeBalso, Brendan Chudy, Ken D'Orazio, Brian Laux, Ryan Freundlich, Adam Polansky, Ryan Murray, Rich Eichinger, Bill Henson, Pete Meola, John Denio, Frank Jones, Kurt Fox, Jerry Brescia, C.J. Rodgers, Phil Henry, Jason Manning and Coach Bob Pezzano.
Dave Viniar, his wife, Sue, his son, Jordan, and President Roger Hull officially dedicate the Viniar Athletic Center with the traditional ribbon-cutting cermony. In the background are coaches Mary Ellen Burt and Bob Montana.
What a great day it was on Saturday, January 15, 2005…the
day Union College basketball officially dedicated the brand new, beautiful,
Viniar Athletic Center. From the 22 men
who returned for the alumni game, to the luncheon, to the women's and men's sweep
over Liberty League rival Vassar, it was a great day to be part of Union
College Basketball!
Members of the men and women's teams join Mr. Viniar at center court for a group photo.
The Viniar Athletic Center, which was officially christened
on November 28, 2004 when the Dutchwomen defeated Williams, 52-41, in the first
basketball game every played, is the fourth home to Union basketball. The old gym, the building that is now Becker
Hall, played host to Union basketball, and hay for the horses, when the
Dutchmen began their glorious history on February 3, 1898. Basketball then moved to Alumni Gym and
shared their home with an overhead running track, wrestling, and Foote Memorial
Pool, which was located in the basement.
The program moved to Memorial Field House in 1955 and the team played in
the midst of a dirt track that surrounded the court. Now, almost 50 years later, the women's and men's basketball teams
have a facility they can call their own.
Captains Katlyn Cunningham and Devon Bruce take a jump ball from Mr. Viniar.
“I am very fortunate and grateful to have the opportunity to
spend my last year in this beautiful facility,” said senior forward, and
co-captain, Devon Bruce.
“Thank you very much Mr. Viniar,” echoed senior forward and
tri-captain Katlyn Cunningham. “What a
thrill it was to be on that court, playing our first game in the facility
against Williams and beating them, 52-41.”
The Viniar Athletic Center was a $3.2 million gift from
former basketball player Dave Viniar, Class of 1976. Dave wasn't a star, but as he told the gathering of about 130 at
the luncheon, “I love basketball and I love Union. To be able to provide this building for the College and the
basketball teams gives me great pleasure.
“I got a lot out of playing basketball at Union,” Mr. Viniar
continued. “I learned about dedication,
work…hard work, and some of my best friends are my former teammates. These are all things I've taken with me
throughout my life. I'm very pleased to
be able to give something back to Union.”
“Dave understands the role of athletics at a place like
Union,” said Dutchman head coach Bob Montana.
“He has given Union College and Union basketball a tremendous gift and I
can't thank him enough, not only for this beautiful facility, but for all the
things he has done throughout the year that people have no idea about.”
And its Dave Viniar……for threeeee!
Dutchwomen head coach Mary Ellen Burt pointed out how the
new building has made her job easier in what she considers her two primary
priorities as head coach. “My two main
responsibilities are to take care of my players and to recruit for the
program,” she began. “This beautiful
building makes my job so much easier. I
already have four local student-athletes who are applying for early decision
thanks to the facility. Not only is
this a great recruiting tool, it is a great statement for Union College
basketball.”
Union President Roger Hull presented Mr. Viniar, his wife,
Sue, and his son, Jordan, with basketball shirts with the number 76 on them,
representing Dave's graduation year.
Later, during the ribbon-cutting ceremonies, President Hull gave Mr.
Viniar the gold scissors.
“I am pleased to have the opportunity to thank Dave and his
family for what they have done for Union College,” said Hull.
From all outward appearances, Union College in Schenectady and Excelsior College in Albany have nothing in common. Union is a 210-year-old institution with an architecturally striking campus, a rich academic history and a long list of distinguished alumni. Excelsior is 34 years old, has no physical campus to speak of, and its students, who are mostly working adults, go to classes online.
But in terms of leadership, the two colleges have one thing in common: They have been led in recent years by men of extraordinary vision. And now both leaders will be stepping down at the end of June.
Roger Hull, president of Union for the last 15 years, will leave to devote his energies to helping grade school children prepare for college. C. Wayne Williams, president of Excelsior for 18 years, will retire. They will leave behind institutions that are much stronger today than they were when they arrived.
Mr. Hull will leave behind a reinvigorated Union College that has grown in academic stature and enrollment during his tenure. The endowment has grown and the college's image has been burnished. Several new buildings have made the campus more imposing than ever. And older buildings have been restored, including the jewel of the campus, the Nott Memorial, which stands as a testament to Mr. Hull's aesthetic and historic values.
Yet as much as Mr. Hull treasured Union's past, he never lived in it. Instead, he brought 21st-century ideas to campus — requiring all of Union's incoming classes to devote one day of service to the community, for example, and renovating a neighborhood on the campus' west side. He forged close ties between Union and community officials, too. One of his ideas: a community center that pairs local children with Union tutors. And he forever demolished the myth that the interests of town and gown must be in conflict. Because of his leadership, Union and Schenectady are better off today than they were 15 years ago. Whoever follows in his path must keep that partnership alive.
Mr. Williams came to Excelsior College when it was known as Regents College, and when its image was that of an external degree program of the state Board of Regents. Today, largely because of Mr. Williams' leadership, Excelsior is recognized as the nation's oldest and most respected distance learning institution in higher education. Its best known programs are those in nursing, but in all there are 31 undergraduate and three graduate offerings, with fields as diverse as nuclear technology and electronics engineering. And there are more than 100,000 alumni.
Like Mr. Hull, Mr. Williams was focused on the future, and what it could mean for his college. He also demolished a myth — namely, that a classroom must always be defined by four walls. Mr. Williams understood that in today's computer age, a classroom can be just a mouse click away, and as portable as a laptop. Whoever follows in his path must be just as visionary, and just as committed to academic excellence.
“Friends: One Day, One Wrong Turn” about the effects of a November 2000 car
crash
Jan. 20
through March 13
Mandeville Gallery, Nott Memorial
“Walter Hatke: Recent Work”
Opening reception and gallery talk on Thursday, Jan. 20, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Through
Feb. 14 Burns Arts Atrium Gallery
“Moku Hanga at Union,” an exhibition of
contemporary Japanese woodcuts. Gallery talk on Thursday, Feb. 10, at 11 a.m.
with artist April Vollmer.
Through
March 18. Social Sciences Gallery
Photographs from anthropology term in Tasmania
