June 2017 Union in the Media Archive

Mechanical engineering students in Professor Ron Bucinell’s class collaborated with the Schenectady ARC on a prototype they designed that allows developmentally challenged individuals to use a machine that precisely places snaps onto clothing. The students were James Hawkins, Raquel Paramo and Lingzhi "Owen" Zhang.

John Sexton, the president-emeritus of New York University, was the featured speaker at Union's 223rd Commencement on Sunday, June 11.

475 students in the Class of 2017 received their degrees during the ceremony.

To read a story in the Daily Gazette

To view a photo gallery in the Times Union

To read a story on Union's news site

Eight Union College seniors were chosen to represent the College's Minerva Fellows program.

They will travel the globe to work in developing countries while paired up with a social entrepreneurial organization. The students will work for nine months and return to the College and live in a Minerva house for one month, where they will participate in a social entrepreneurial course and educate current students about their experiences abroad.

This year's fellows are:

The College’s chapter of Phi Beta Kappa recently announced the new inductees to the honor society.

From the Class of 2018:

Gianluca Avanzato, Andrew Forte, Aidan Pieper, Rebecca Shamah, Jason Turner and Maria Van Nostrand.

From the Class of 2017:

Sharmeen Azher, Noemie Bechu, Kimberly Bolduc, Jack Bragg, Julia Brooks, Morgan Clark, Loren Collado, Kent Curran, Christopher Di Capua, Melissa Epstein, Rachel Fried, Sierra Goodfellow, Molly Graether, Matthew Hacker, Sara Halsey, Connor Hurley, Ruoxuan (Rosie) Jia, Thomas Lawton, Kimberly MacLeod, Kathryn Martin, Molly McDonald, Laura Mueller, Brendan O’Connor, John (Pete) Peterson, Matthew Rametta, Matthew Ramotar, Francis (Frank) Rocco, Zachary Roth, Allison Schachter, Laura Schaffer, Joshua Schwartz, Maddison Stemple-Piatt, Kevin Tran, Lam Vo and Matthew Wu.

They join the members of the Class of 2017 elected last year:

Kathryn Evans, Chelsea Kaiser, Rebeka Kelmar and Emily Su.

Juniors and seniors of academic distinction who are candidates for the B.A. or general B.S. degree are eligible for membership in Phi Beta Kappa. Election is based on scholarship and character, with particular attention given to intellectual maturity and breadth.

Union’s Phi Beta Kappa chapter, Alpha of New York, was established in 1817 and is the fifth oldest in the country. Election to membership is one of the highest distinctions given for academic achievement. An exhibit honoring the College’s Phi Beta Kappa history is currently on display in Schaffer Library.

Mechanical engineering students in Professor Ron Bucinell’s class collaborated with the Schenectady ARC on a prototype they designed that allows developmentally challenged individuals to use a machine that precisely places snaps onto clothing. The students were James Hawkins, Raquel Paramo and Lingzhi "Owen" Zhang.

The project was one of five demonstrated Friday. Other companies and the student groups included

• Automated Dynamics I: Daniel Beinstein, Alexander Chu and Grace Stewart
• Automated Dynamics II: Kyle Mason, Timothy Nelson, Joseph Noonan and Zachary Pray
• Precision Valve and Automation: Amelia Ezequelle, Sean Farrell and Christopher Porat
• Gatherer's Gourmet Granola: Andrew Fontaine, Christian Kaljulaid, Jeremy Manus and Keanu Rodriguez

Several media outlets attended the demonstration.

To view a clip from News10, the ABC affiliate in Albany, click here.

Linda Wallen Boff '83 was recently appointed to the Dunkin’ Brands Group Board of Directors. Linda is the chief marketing officer for General Electric, responsible for leading the company’s global marketing strategies.

At Union, she was involved with Concordiensis and Sigma Delta Tau, and played lacrosse.

Read the coverage of her new appointment here.

Follow her on Twitter here.