Class of 2024

Dr. Debra M. and Paul J. Backus '75

Dr. Debra and Paul Backus have shown a lifelong commitment to SUNY Canton and the Canton community, always holding the belief that our students are our future. Paul, a proud alumnus of the Automotive Technology program, has served SUNY Canton as an adjunct instructor and Automotive Advisory Board member for over twenty-five years. 

Debra is a SUNY Canton nursing professor emerita. During her tenure, she was instrumental in achieving national accreditation for the practical nursing and the RN-BS nursing programs as well as continuing national accreditation for the AAS nursing program.

Paul enjoys working on mechanical things, and Debra enjoys quilting and martial arts. Together, they enjoy working out together, staying fit and spending time with their children and grandchildren.

St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union

St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union has been one of SUNY Canton’s strongest corporate advocates over the last 22 years.

Under the leadership of SUNY Canton alumni, including Todd Mashaw ’88 and Amber Taylor ’16, St. Lawrence Credit Union has made its generous impact felt at the College. Countless gifts have been made to dozens of golf tournaments, the athletics booster, the student emergency fund, eSports program, and various scholarship initiatives. In 2015, St. Lawrence Federal Credit Union made the lead major gift to establish the SUNY Canton Financial Literacy Center, which provides personal finance educational opportunities to students and the greater community, as well as housing the VITA Tax Program, which provides free tax preparation for community members. In 2018, the Credit Union established an annual scholarship which provides a student from St. Lawrence County with funds to pursue their educational dreams.