Two staff members and a student from Mohawk Valley Community College’s Center for Corporate and Community Education, which provides lifelong learning and professional training to 7,900 people in the surrounding region every year, received awards from the Continuing Education Association of New York (CEANY) during a virtual conference in early November.

Terésa Fava-Schram, coordinator of Workforce Development, won the Outstanding New Continuing Education Professional by demonstrating exemplary service in continuing higher education during the past two years, including leadership, commitment, vision, and inspiration. The award recognizes a new continuing education professional by honoring emerging leaders who strive toward the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment and who excel in continuing education. 

“Terésa’s work with special grants has provided great benefits to local companies and corporations,” said Franca Armstrong, associate vice president of Workforce Development and dean of the Rome Campus at MVCC. “Skill upgrade is a cornerstone of what we do in the Center for Corporate and Community Education, and Terésa’s dedication strengthens our ability to provide training needed for our community members to advance their careers.”

Sarah Lam, CCED director, won the Outstanding Experienced Continuing Education Professional, an award which recognizes an experienced continuing education professional by honoring leaders who strive toward the highest levels of personal and professional accomplishment and who excel in continuing education.

“Under Sarah’s leadership, the Center for Corporate and Community Education has continued to grow and expand in new ways which benefit the community and help to continue to build the workforce in our area,” said Armstrong.

MVCC student Danita Sessions won the CEANY Region East Charles A. Burns Outstanding Continuing Education Student Award, named after “Chuck” Burns, a longtime member of CEANY who was a consummate professional and advocate of continuing education. Throughout his career, he was a strong proponent of helping those who wanted to help themselves through training and education, as well as “giving back” to the less well-recognized and less visible students, frequently the adult student. Sessions, a student in MVCC’s Adult Degree Program, will graduate in December with an associate degree in Business Administration and plans to transfer to another institution to earn her bachelor’s degree. 

“Danita has shown an incredible amount of strength and courage during her time at MVCC,” said Patti Antanavige, student support advisor at the College. “Through the many challenges of life, she has persisted while also maintaining the highest academic performance possible. We are so proud of her.”