Class of 2023

Ronald Blanchard '68

Ronald J. Blanchard '68 was raised in the small town of Camden in Central New York. The first of his family to attend college, Ron enrolled in SUNY Canton's Hotel Technology program. While studying, Ron seized the opportunity to develop his leadership skills. 

In honor of his 50^th reunion, Ron established the Ronald J. Blanchard ’68 Student Leadership Endowed Scholarship which provides a scholarship to a first-generation college student who enriches their education by becoming a leader on campus while pursuing their studies.

Bruce E. Dartt

Professor Emeritus Bruce Dartt, a native of Bainbridge, New York, joined Canton ATI in 1964 as an Instructor in the Department of Public Works and promoted to Assistant Professor in 1965. Bruce graduated from Clarkson University with both a Bachelor and Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering. Bruce founded and led the incredibly successful, and now 50+ year old, Engineering Science, A.A.S. program from the 1960s until his retirement in 2000. This program became one of the cornerstone programs of the Canino School of Engineering Technology. Bruce educated and mentored many of our most successful alumni, so many of whom have gone on to become leaders in industry across the country. Whether graduates of the ES program went directly into industry or continued their education elsewhere, their time with Bruce Dartt is credited as an invaluable starting point.

John Sarnicola '63

John Sarnicola, a native of Scipio, NY, studied Mechanical Engineering Technology, at Canton ATI during the early 1960s. After graduating from Canton as the first in his family to pursue a college education, John continued on to receive his Bachelors, Masters, and Ph.D. He worked in industry in Binghamton, NY, for several years before being hired by Binghamton University to start their Engineering Technology program. He later left BU to start his own company, Sarnicola Simulation Systems, which designed motion platforms for use in a variety of industries, by stalwarts such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Chrysler, and General Motors. Upon retirement, John donated a vast portion of his companies’ remaining equipment to help with the start up of our Mechatronics program and replacement of equipment in our Mechanical Engineering Technology program.

Grace E. Vesper '88

Grace Vesper has dedicated much of her life to SUNY Canton. Grace started her journey at SUNY Canton as one of our first nontraditional students. Upon her graduation in 1988, she began working in the clerical field for the St. Lawrence County Personnel Office, handling health and life insurance for county employees and retirees. She later worked for the Village of Canton for 20 years, wearing many hats, as Deputy Clerk, Deputy Registrar, Tax Collector, as well as several other duties as required.

Grace joined the Alumni Association Board in 1994, and the Canton College Foundation Board in 2014. That, combined with her generous donation history, gives her an exemplary 36 years of service to SUNY Canton. She has made SUNY Canton a priority, and for that we are forever grateful that she considers us part of her family.