During the fall 2018 semester, students in Children's Literature: From Ancient Myth to the Digital Age (ENG 375) completed a Community-Based Learning Project with the Buffalo City Mission. Led by instructor Alice Villasenor, Ph.D., students researched, selected and delivered age-appropriate books for the Buffalo City Mission Cornerstone Manor's Literacy Enrichment Afterschool Program (LEAP). The semester-long project included two fieldtrips to the Buffalo City Mission Cornerstone Manor - one trip to meet with the LEAP Program's staff and students to learn their needs, and another visit to deliver the books, read to the children and facilitate an art activity related to one of the books.

Medaille College's First-Year Experience (FYE) Program offered a "Power of You" leadership series to students during the fall 2018 semester, and nine freshmen earned leadership certificates by participating in at least five of the eight sessions. Alexis Swanson, Amber Benjamin, Reilly Girard, James Bevelacqua, Kyla Hobbs, Dialo Stevens-Rivera, Hassan Mohamed, Stephan Shelton and Dajsha Laguerre completed the program led by facilitator Tamara McMillan and coordinated by FYE Program Director James Ramsey, Ph.D. The "Power of You" series, which is geared toward first-year students, provides scholars with experiential learning opportunities, community building and leadership opportunities.

Students from Medaille's Pathways Program volunteered at Compass House, as part of the College's third annual Pathways to Service Event on December 1. Pathways Program students, including first-year students and their peer mentors, spent the day organizing donations, helping with holiday prep, cleaning, and making lunch for residents at Compass House, an organization that provides safe shelter and services to homeless and runaway youth and teens in Buffalo. The Pathways Program is an educational and supportive mentoring program for first-year students at Medaille.

Seven Medaille Mavericks student-athletes were named to the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Fall 2018 All-Sportsmanship Teams. Alexa Hoiensahl (women's volleyball), Zach Lewandowski (men's golf), Alyssa Murzynowski (women's cross country), Jay Bortel (men's cross country), Hallie Dworzanski (women's tennis), Matt Burke (men's soccer), and Daniella Ward (women's soccer) were all voted by their teammates to the AMCC All-Sportsmanship Teams after competing in the fall season. The honor goes to student-athletes who consistently demonstrate a high level of ethical conduct, respect and fair play, in both practice and competition, whether on the sidelines or as an active competitor.

Medaille College freshmen Lachlan Beever has been named to the 2018 United Soccer Coaches NCAA Division III All-Great Lakes First Team. Beever played an incredible breakout season for the Mavericks men's soccer team, scoring 20 goals and 43 points - both top marks in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC). He adds Regional All-American to a resume that already included AMCC All-Conference First Team, AMCC Newcomer of the Year and AMCC Offensive Player of the Year.

In commemoration of Veterans Day 2018, Medaille College recently profiled current student and active member of the United States Air Force Kenneth Chudoba on Medaille.edu. Read the U.S. Airman's story to learn how he manages his military service and schoolwork.

Medaille College senior Charles Panepinto of Tonawanda has been named the 2018 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Golfer of the Year, becoming the first player in program history to earn the honor. Panepinto, a three-time all-conference selection, was runner-up at the 2018 AMCC Championship. He was the individual medalist at the Medaille Tri-Match, where he shot a season-low 70, tied for the best round in the AMCC this year and also a tie for the Medaille program record.

Members of Medaille's Future Teachers Club recently participated in the Step Up for Down Syndrome event at Coca Cola Field. The students gave temporary tattoos to children and their families. Pictured, from left, are ECC student Skye Schultz, Medaille's Lindsay Naab and Izabella Ventresca, Buster Bison, and Medaille's Mercedes Chentfant-McDougall and Natasha Ellis.

Medaille's First-Year Experience Program recently held two "Varied Voices" panel discussions featuring a diverse group of student panelists. The Medaille students spoke about the sociocultural transition from high school to college. Panelists included Aliyah Dandy, Jasmine Fisher, Daquan Williams, Caitlin Mundy, Caitlin Quinn, James Misercola, Justin Garrett, Kaitlin Sotero and Jonathan Smith.

Medaille College is proud to welcome our new undergraduate freshmen and transfer students for the 2018-19 academic year. We look forward to sharing all of your successes during your time at Medaille. It's a great day to be a Maverick!

Medaille College student athlete Matthew Gabalski was one of the speakers at a joint ceremonial groundbreaking event on September 10 to announce the new home for the Medaille Mavericks men's and women's soccer and lacrosse programs. The Medaille Sports Complex at Buffalo Color Park, located at 427 Elk Street in Buffalo, will include an outdoor athletic turf field, a 26,400 square foot indoor field house featuring locker rooms, an athletic training facility, weight rooms, meeting space and classrooms. Gabalski, a member of the men's soccer and lacrosse teams, was joined by more than 40 student athletes. "The Medaille Sports Complex is so much more than just a place to play," Gabalski told the crowd. "It's finally a place to call home." The event was held by Medaille and South Buffalo Development LLC.

An article written by Medaille College graduate student Melissa Mahadeo, two Medaille faculty members and a local psychologist has been accepted for publication in the ARC Journal of Addiction. The article, titled "Supervision in Psychotherapy: Clinical Considerations and Recommendations for Improving the Supervisory Process and Enhancing Professional Development," was coauthored by Mahadeo, a doctor of clinical psychology student; Medaille assistant professor Keith Klostermann, an internationally recognized behavioral couples therapy (BCT) expert; Medaille clinical associate professor Susan C. Steffan, chair of the College's Department of Business, Management & Leadership; and Theresa Mignone, a psychologist at the Buffalo VA Medical Center. The Journal is an open access journal that publishes and distributes articles, letters and audits identified with the aversion and treatment of undesirable alcohol, tobacco and other medication use over the range of clinical settings.

Six members of the Medaille Mavericks women's bowling team were recently named to the National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) 2017-18 All-Academic list. Medaille's Ysobel Conrad, Caitlyn Cornish, Mackenzie Derleth, Carla Hansen, Jennifer Stewart and Morgan Walsh are among the 268 student athletes recognized by the NTCA. To be recognized, a student athlete must have a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher for the academic school year.

In April, Medaille sophomore Cameron Steer, a member of the Mavericks soccer team, led Scotland to its third-straight U19 LD Home Nations Championship. Following the victory, Steer told www.medaillesports.com about how he joined the team: "When I was in my third year of high school, I was approached by one of the gym teachers who was also [the] coach of the school's learning disability team. After captaining them through a very successful period of winning two national championships and two regional championships in two years, I earned a call up to the Scotland LD trial." Read more about Steer's experience in this year's tournament.

Student volunteers from Medaille College recently ventured to Gooseneck Hill Waterfall Sanctuary to help the owners clean up their facility after damaging winter ice storms. Gooseneck Hill has over 700 waterfowl and 70 different species. Medaille volunteers included Shannon Butler, Jessica Culbert, Isabella Devine, Coryn Griffith, Rebecca Lesser and Alexandria Whiting-Mahoney.

Medaille College is proud to congratulate all of its 2018 graduates! Visit Medaille's Flickr page to view commencement photos from the May ceremonies by photographer Nancy J. Parisi, as well as photos and videos from the pre-ceremony gathering. To view official backdrop photos from Medaille's Alumni Association, visit medaille.edu/gradphotos. In addition, search #MedailleGrad18 on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for social media highlights.

Medaille College softball standout Laura Kratzke has been selected for a 2018 Fastpitch News (FPN) NCAA Division III All-American Honorable Mention. The sophomore received numerous honors during and following the Mavericks' 2018 season, including an award as Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Player of the Year and spots on the AMCC All-Conference First Team as both a pitcher and as a designated player.

Medaille College student Andrew Parks, a pitcher on the Mavericks baseball team, has been selected as a recipient of the 2018 Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Faculty Athletics Representatives Award. Parks and Penn State Behrend's Jordan Oberlande were chosen from among 18 student athletes named to the All-Academic Team. Parks, a communication major at Medaille, has recorded a 3.98 GPA through his junior year.

Medaille College student Brittney Schechterly recently helped train a Labrador Retriever named "Alan" for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a nonprofit organization that provides trained dogs to people who are blind or visually impaired. Before starting as a trainer, the process involved an interview and extensive pre-placement classes. Schechterly received Alan in December 2016 as a six-week-old puppy. Weekly and then monthly classes followed. Finally, on March 18, 2018, Schechterly drove Alan to Yorktown Heights, NY, so he could begin training school. "I said goodbye, but stayed to watch his training test. The test lasts about 15 minutes and is held in front of a small audience and a panel of judges. Alan passed his test and impressed the judges so much that they put him on breed evaluation, which means he could be used as a stud to breed other future guide dogs." Schechterly takes great pride in Alan's performance, and the role she played in his success: "No matter what career path he chooses, Alan has made me so proud. I look forward to hearing about his progress throughout the next few years." One of Schechterly's professors at Medaille, Bernadette Clabeaux, Ph. D., says no one is better suited to be a trainer than Schechterly. "Brittney is an excellent student with a compassionate heart," Dr. Clabeaux says. "Her work with Guiding Eyes exemplifies her kindness. I had the privilege of watching Brittney practice her training skills with Alan and watched the connection between them grow over this year."

Medaille College sophomore Shawn Filas, a member of the Mavericks baseball team, was recently named to the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) All-Conference Third Team. Filas finished the 2018 campaign with a .330 batting average. 33 hits, 29 RBIs, a .460 slugging percentage and a .380 on-base percentage.

Medaille College sophomore Connor Priester, a member of the Mavericks baseball team, was recently the subject of a feature story in the Niagara Gazette. The article discussed his journey from North Tonawanda to Medaille and highlighted his on- and off-field successes. In the feature, Medaille head coach Josh Sova calls Priester a "jack of all trades," adding, "If we had 10 Connor Priesters on our team, we'd be a pretty good team." Priester is studying sport management at Medaille and contributes to the "Beyond the Box Score" podcast. This summer, he will serve as a coach for the NT Americans Showcase Team.

The Medaille College Mavericks softball team had a stellar 2018 season, one that saw postseason honors for a number of players. Earning spots on the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) All-Conference First Team were seniors Lauren Kocher and Sharon Trigilio, as well as sophomore Laura Kratzke. Earning a spot on the AMCC All-Conference Third Team was junior Mercedes Sulzbach. In addition, Kratzke was named the AMCC Softball Player of the Year.

Medaille students showcased their work at Student Research, Scholarship and Creativity Day on May 4. The second annual event featured the work of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as members of Medaille's distinguished faculty. Check out an album with photos from throughout the day on Flickr.

Poems, stories, art and photography from Medaille students is highlighted in the 2018 issue of Prelude, the College's literary magazine comprised entirely of student work. The 2018 issue can be read in its entirety on Medaille.edu. And check out photos from the Prelude publication party held on May 3 on Flickr. Students involved in the creation of the magazine include:

Medaille students, faculty and staff came together with students and families from the Valley Community Association (VCA) on April 27 to celebrate another year of Science in Bloom. The only program of its kind in the area, Science in Bloom fosters interest in science by engaging Buffalo Public Schools students enrolled in the VCA after-school program in college-level labs while being mentored by Medaille students. Participants in the program this year as teaching assistants or helpers were Marissa Brockway, Daniele Card, Clare Christy, Amanda Hartman, Michelle Magee, Belal Mohamed and Jennifer Ray.

International students in two classes at Medaille College recently partnered with the Resource Council of Western New York on a community-based learning project. As part of the "Read to Me Project," each Medaille student read a book and created a craft with a child during the after-school program; each child who participated went home with a book and the craft he or she made. Medaille students in assistant professor Lucy Czesak's Advanced College Writing for Multilingual Students course (ENG 202) included Juan Montoya, Pablo Ballesteros and Inmi Wi. Students in assistant professor Ping Zhu's College English-as-a-Second Language Conversation course (ESL 110) included Mingshuo Wang, Yunseon Choi, Bobae Nam and Mohamed Maalim.

"Is there a universal moral code?" That was the topic of a recent debate hosted by the newly formed Medaille College Debate Club. Adjunct professor Dr. Nicole M. Jowsey led a team that included Medaille students Javonne Bolden, Justin Garrett, Jordan Lux and Marissa Pecorella. Department of Social Sciences chair Dr. Timothy A. McCorry led a team that included Medaille students Melissa Chudzinski, Monique Davis, Daquan Williams and T'Zyah Vance. Dr. Jowsey's team used works by Immanuel Kant, St. Thomas Aquinas, Aristotle, St. Augustine and Martin Luther King, Jr., while Dr. McCorry's team used the works of Immanuel Kant, Hannah Arendt, Lawrence Kohlberg and Michel Foucault.

Students in Medaille's master's in elementary education program recently made presentations and volunteered at the Niagara Frontier Reading Council (NFRC) spring professional development event on the topic "Media Literacy in the Era of 'Fake News.'" Sabrina Ruffolo presented on "Effective Strategies for Teaching Elementary Students About Fake News" and Jaclyn Kasprzak presented on "The Four Cs of 21st Century Learners: Teaching Elementary Students about Critical Thinking, Communication, Collaboration and Creativity." Fellow graduate students Danielle Blahowicz and Sierra Chojnacki volunteered to host the donations for Nicaragua raffle project. The mission of the NFRC is to promote literacy education, encourage professional development and provide community service that fosters literacy within Western New York.

The Medaille College women's lacrosse team earned its second straight Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) Championship with a 23-7 victory over the D'Youville Spartans on April 24. Congrats to the Mavs, head coach Russell Allen, and assistant coaches Jody Lang and Sarah McCabe on the title. See the full Mavs roster at the Medaille Athletics website.

Medaille College sophomore Mitchell Ali, a midfielder on the Mavericks men's soccer team, has earned a spot on the FC Buffalo roster for 2018. The Wolves are the area's National Premier Soccer League team. Last year, Ali scored a career-best 11 goals and 28 points for the Mavs, earning him Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) All-Conference First Team honors, as well as a 2017 United Soccer Coaches NCAA D-III Men's All-Great Lakes Region Second Team selection. FC Buffalo opens its 2018 season on May 18 when the Wolves take on the Fort Pitt Regiment at All High Stadium in Buffalo.