Niagara Wheatfield High School senior Devyn DeVantier will attend Alfred University in the fall and has been awarded the Dean’s Scholarship to the school. She also received the Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority for Women Educators at Niagara Wheatfield Central Schools scholarship, as well as New York State Lottery, Central Rotary Club of Western New York and Niagara Wheatfield Community Booster scholarships. She did not receive a full-tuition scholarship to Niagara County Community College, as was reported in last week’s Niagara Weekend section.

The Niagara Orleans Counselors Association has named Orleans/Niagara BOCES counselor Kara Kirk its Counselor of the Year. Kirk, of Lockport, who works at the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, has been an active member of the Counselors Association for several years and is serving as co-president. She’s also the designated liaison for Orleans County Mental Health, Wyndham Lawn and Orleans and Niagara counties’ social services departments.

At the Orleans Career and Technical Education Center, Kirk advises the National Technical Honor Society, coordinates the Peek’n Peak Leadership Conference and is a member of its Strategic Planning Leadership Team. She also runs the Professional Development Program, which assists high school students in preparing for careers.

“Kara is always willing to help out the organization in any way possible, whether it’s serving on a committee, setting up meetings, ” said fellow counselor Cathy Flagler.

Three members of Niagara County Community College recently were honored with the State University of New York 2008-09 Academic Year Chancellor’s Award. They are:

Associate Professor Kathy Gerbasi, of the Social Sciences Division, who was honored for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Service; Julie Woodworth, associate professor in the Nursing Division, received the Chancellor’s Award for Teaching; and Pamela Parker, supervisor of Central Services, was honored with the Chancellor’s Award for Classified Service.

Gerbasi teaches a variety of psychology courses, including a course titled the Psychology of Human-Animal Relationships. She’s conducted research in several areas of human-animal studies.

Woodworth, certified a Nursing Educator by the National League of Nursing and NCCC alumnus, has worked at NCCC for more than a dozen years. In May 2008, she received the Innovations in Teaching Award from NCCC for her use of nursing case studies in the classroom.

Parker, also an NCCC alum, was honored with the college’s Excellence in Service award in 1998, and has instituted new initiatives and innovations in Central Services.

The Chancellor’s Awards are conferred to acknowledge and provide SUNY systemwide recognition for consistently superior professional achievement, and to encourage the ongoing pursuit of excellence.

AirForceAirman CodyS. Goodman, a 2006 graduate of Medina High School, recently graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio. He completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

He is the son of Wayne Goodman, of Medina, and Beth Goodman, of Webster.