Post Classifieds
Statler hosts honor student Gala
By Colleen Young
On April 24, 2013
The Buffalo State community dressed to the nines at the 16th annual Buffalo State College Foundation Scholarship Gala to
raise money for the newly named Muriel A. Howard Honors Program Saturday night at Statler City.
The Honors Program's name change was initiated by Buffalo State President Aaron Podolefsky.
"We wanted to honor her leadership," Podolefsky said. "She led the institution."
Howard was Buffalo State's president from 1996 to 2009, and the first woman to hold the position. Under her leadership, the
college's facilities and buildings grew. She expanded its reputation for teacher preparation and helped the college to become a
leader in arts and culture.
Andrea Guiati, director of the Muriel A. Howard Honors Program, said that Howard more than tripled the program and now it's
named to recognize her contribution.
"Muriel Howard definitely was the key person that saw the need to place Buffalo State in a new path," Guiati said. "She
understood the need to provide affordable education and the need to place Buffalo State in the category of highly-achieving
students."
Guiati said Howard was key in the process to get more Honors Students to graduate from Buffalo State each year.
"She said, 'You get me the students, I'll get you the money,'" Guiati said. "Buffalo State is a school that students want to come
to because of programs like this."
Her contribution to public higher education, service to the community and commitment to diversity are the reasons that the
program was named after Howard.
During Howard's tenure, the college also increased and enhanced its academic programs and services. While she was
president, the All College Honors Program grew from 68 honors students in 1999 to 203 students today.
The honors program provides each honors student with a $2,500 scholarship each year for four years.
Podolefsky said that the Scholarship Gala is the biggest fundraiser of the year for the honors program, followed by a
fundraising golf outing in the fall.
Podolefsky explained that this fundraiser is a part of the Transforming Lives Campaign, which is a capital campaign aimed
toward raising $20 million.
The honors program and the capital campaign are a part of "Buffalo State's commitment that whoever wants to go to college
can," Podolefsky said. "All of the money raised goes directly to the students. Hundreds get together at this event to have a good
time and support the school."
Susanne Bair, vice president of institutional advancement, said that the Gala supports scholarships for all 203 of the All
College Honors Program students, who see the direct results of the funds raised at the Gala and reap many benefits from being
in the program.
"They get access to accelerated classes with certain faculty, they have an All College Honors lounge and dorm, they have
special internship and mentoring opportunities and they get a scholarship," Bair said. "Tonight, the goal was to net $275,000."
Adza Beda, vice president of the honors program, said that a lot of hard work goes into the Gala, but the students profit from
the funds raised.
"The more money we raise, the more money we have for scholarships," Beda said. "We get scholarship money for books,
and even trips for research."
Pamela Voyer, director of special events and protocol, ran the event. She said that a lot of logistics went into the formula
they've created to have a successful Gala each year.
"We're making it better and keeping it interesting," Voyer said. "We work to make sure our mission is understood and keep
everyone engaged by making the event very entertaining and switching it up, from the venue to the band and the menu."
Voyer said that the event reflects the desire of the college and welcomes donors from the Buffalo State community who have
invested in the institution.
"We need to set it apart from other programs and events on campus, so we make it different each year," Voyer said.
Tom Koller, senior associate director of intercollegiate athletics, was one of the hosts of the evening. He said that the sold-out
Gala was a success.
"Spectacular event," Koller said. "As of this commencement, 500 All Honors students will have graduated through this
program. This is a terrific event and it's all for the right reason - for all the students in the All Honors Program."
Colleen Young can be reached by email at young.record@live.com.
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