Kimberly McGann '95

Two SUNY Oswego advancement employees won Awards for Excellence at the annual educational conference held by the State University of New York Council for University Advancement (SUNYCUAD) June 15 in Syracuse, including "Best of Category" award.

Director of Annual Giving Kimberly McGann '95 won a "Best of Category" award in electronic communication for a flash presentation, "Wishing You a Joyful New Year," which was e-mailed to alumni in December 2006. Associate Alumni Director Michelle Tackett-Spinner '98 received a Judges Citation in the category of Alumni Programs for the Future Alumni Network (FANs) at SUNY Oswego. In total, 57 award winners were selected from 180 entries.

"These entries reflect programs and projects that have achieved outstanding results through good planning, well-conceived goals and objectives and resourceful and effective solutions," wrote SUNYCUAD Vice President Loretta Lawrence Keane in a congratulatory letter to the award recipients.

McGann’s award-winning flash presentation, "Wishing You a Joyful New Year," features photographs of the people and places that make SUNY Oswego memorable. As soft music plays, the presentation flows through images ranging from classroom and dorm settings to gorgeous sunsets and a packed arena at a Laker hockey game. White script graces the images as they progress. One part reads, “Oswego is a place students plan their future…remember fondly…call home.”

McGann said she saw that other universities were beginning to use flash presentations to encourage gift giving and felt that they would be something new and cutting edge that could be brought to Oswego. Working with a team including Jennifer Broderick, Colin Nekritz and Andrea Marsh-Acome '04 to design and write the presentation, she feels it was a success.

"Many alumni viewed the presentation and we got a lot of positive feedback from them," McGann said. “Getting the award was exciting and it is always great to reach the goal of bringing back happy memories to Oswego alumni.”

Michelle Tackett-Spinner ’98

FANs was formed at SUNY Oswego only two years ago and just completed its first active year. The organization’s purpose is to form connections between current students and alumni, as well as to create future alumni leaders. So far, the program has been off to a successful start under the advisement of Tackett-Spinner.

One event that FANs sponsored last year was called “The Oswego Challenge” during opening weekend. A scavenger hunt on campus led students around to different buildings, enabling them to have fun while learning about SUNY Oswego’s history.

"It was quite an honor and achievement to be recognized for all of your hard work throughout the year," said Tackett-Spinner on receiving the citation.

FANs also won several awards this year from the Association of Student Advancement Programs (ASAP), including the outstanding adviser award, which went to Tackett-Spinner, the outstanding organization award, and the outstanding student award, which went to Marybeth McMenemon ’07. Tackett-Spinner said that she hopes to continue the success of FANs and draw more students to the organization.

—Kristin Quinn '08