Salute to Excellence

Save the date of November 13, 2025 for the 34th Annual Salute to Excellence!

The Monroe Community College Foundation’s 33rd Annual Salute to Excellence was held on November 14 at the Floreano Convention Center and was the stage for an inspirational and celebratory evening. Friends, family, members of the college community, donors, business and community leaders gathered together to celebrate our alumni and philanthropy having an impact at Monroe Community College. Tom Battley, James M. Sydor ’71 and the late Richard A. Nasca were recognized with the Salute to Excellence. The inspiring stories of Kimberly J. Gaylord ’98, Michael P. Mandina ’75, Sheila M. Strong ’98, Ed.D. and Tashanda D. Thomas ’06, PHR, SHRM-CP were shared during their induction into the MCC Alumni Hall of Fame. Representing Honorary Chair Dr. Millicent K. Ruffin, Corning Incorporated’s Michele Johnson, M.P.A., MS.Ed. and Committee Chairs David J. Beinetti, AIA, NCARB and Kevin W. Williams, Ph.D. set the stage for an incredible evening.

Special thanks to our generous underwriters and Honorary Committee members for supporting this celebration of leadership, philanthropy and public higher education in Greater Rochester including:

Gold Sponsors:

  • Corning Incorporated
  • ESL
  • Rochester Gas and Electric

Silver Sponsors:

  • Barbara and John Bruning
  • Konar Properties
  • M&T Bank
  • ON Services
  • Thorlabs Lens Systems, Inc.

Bronze Sponsors

  • LaBella Associates
  • M/E Engineering
  • SPIE
  • Wegmans Food Markets
  • Allen K. Williams

Patrons:

  • AAC Contracting, LLC
  • AccuCoat, Inc.
  • AmeriCOM
  • Builders Exchange of Rochester
  • Corning Advanced Optics Division Engineering
  • Davie Kaplan, CPA, P.C
  • .EFPR Group, CPAs
  • Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
  • LeChase Construction Services, LLC
  • Mariellen Nasca
  • News10NBC/WHEC-TV
  • Optimax Systems, Inc.
  • Pike Construction
  • QED Technologies International LLC
  • Sage Rutty & Company
  • SWBR
  • Sydor Optices, Inc.
  • Connie O. Walker, Esq. and Allen K. Williams
  • Vertus Charter School
  • Villager Construction, Inc
  • Willow Domestic Violence Center of Greater Rochester

Benefactors:

  • Tom Battley
  • Essie Calhoun-McDavid and Bernard McDavid
  • John Hart
  • Pamela and Kenneth Hines
  • Professor Karen Morris
  • Prashanta Samanta
  • Diana and Kevin Williams
  • Jon Yormick, Yormick Law, LLC

The Monroe Community College Foundation is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt not-for-profit organization. Funds raised from events support scholarship assistance, faculty enrichment programs, funding for educational equipment and seed money for innovative programs.

Questions or comments? Email the MCC Foundation.