SUNY Canton Celebrates Distinguished and Outstanding Alumni

The SUNY Canton Alumni Association has announced the recipients of its annual Distinguished Alumni and Outstanding Young Alumni Awards.

“The Distinguished Alumni Award is chosen by members of the Alumni Association Board each year to recognize outstanding achievement and contributions,” said Alumni Association President Fergal I. Foley, a1980 SUNY Canton graduate. “This award highlights individuals who have made significant impacts in their professional fields, demonstrated exceptional leadership, and contributed positively to their communities.”

Awards were given for the past two years at the recent SUNY Canton Alumni and Friends Awards Ceremony, held by the college’s Advancement Office, with representatives from the Canton College Foundation, Inc.

Susan D. Law, a 1992 graduate and the college’s retired food services director, was selected for the 2023 Distinguished Alumnus Award. As a Canton native, Law’s entire career was defined by exemplary customer service within the food service industry. She was a manager at Dixie Lee Restaurant and joined SUNY Canton’s Dining Services in 1983.

Over her 38-year career, she significantly contributed to the college community, served on numerous committees, and was recognized with several awards, including a Division Coin from the 110th Mountain Division for her efforts during the 1998 Ice Storm and the President’s Meritorious Service Award in 2008. Law also helped design and oversee the transformation of Chaney Dining Center, which reopened in 2019 with an expanded menu and a completely redesigned dining area. That same year, the Paysonian yearbook was dedicated in her honor.

She established the Susan D. Burke Law Endowed Scholarship in 2021, which supports women pursuing engineering fields. Post-retirement, Law remains actively involved in the Canton community, holding positions including board member of the Church & Community Program, board member for Siena Academy, trustee of St. Mary’s Parish, and past President of the Canton-Potsdam Hospital Guild.

Grace E. Vesper, class of 1988, received the 2024 Distinguished Alumni Award. Vesper is noted for dedicating much of her life to SUNY Canton and her community.

As one of the first non-traditional students at the college, she graduated and began a career in the clerical field, eventually working for the Village of Canton for 20 years in various roles. Her community involvement includes active participation in the United Church of Madrid and the Norfolk United Methodist Church, as well as significant contributions to the Canton-Potsdam Hospital Guild.

Vesper has been a devoted volunteer and donor to the college since she graduated. She joined the Alumni Association Board in 1994 and the Canton College Foundation Board in 2014. Her consistent support includes establishing an annual scholarship for business students. The Grace Jones-Vesper ’88 Scholarship was endowed this year.

Vesper was also inducted into the SUNY Canton college-wide Hall of Fame.

Kaitlyn N. Tibbetts, a 2018 graduate, received the 2023 Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Tibbetts is a Special Agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, who is tasked with the unique responsibility of investigating felony crime, preventing terrorism, and protecting secrets for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.

Tibbetts graduated summa cum laude from SUNY Canton with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Investigation and a minor in Homeland Security and Forensic Science, having previously earned associate degrees in Liberal Arts and Criminal Justice. During her time at SUNY Canton, she was president of the American Criminal Justice Association, Secretary of the college’s EMS Squad, and Vice President of the Outdoor Adventure Club. She was also a Senior Resident Assistant, a member of several honor societies, and volunteered as a firefighter and EMT-B. In recognition of her achievements, Kaitlyn received the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence in 2018.

While pursuing her bachelor's degree, Tibbetts began her career with the Federal government in 2017 as an intern with the United States Secret Service, where she served as an investigative support assistant. She later became a permanent employee at the Secret Service Headquarters in Washington, D.C., working as an analyst on their Investigation Support Desk. In 2021, she earned her master's degree in Applied Intelligence with a concentration in Homeland Security from Georgetown University's School of Continuing Studies.

Terome S. Parham, a 2013 graduate, received the 2024 Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Parham is a detective with the New York City Police Department who got his start in law enforcement as a SUNY Canton University Police dispatcher.

In addition to his campus job, Parham balanced his studies with significant extracurricular involvement, serving as Vice President of the Student Government Association and the College Activities Board, President of the Residence Hall Association, and President of the Black Student Union. His commitment to community service is reflected in his role with the Community Affairs Bureau, where he coordinates city-wide youth engagements, runs sports leagues, and acts as the liaison for the Police Athletic League.

Parham is also a Senior Coordinator for the NYC Explorer Program, overseeing approximately 3,000 children, and has facilitated community presentations on crime prevention, bullying, and gang and drug awareness. He has remained connected to SUNY Canton, maintaining relationships with classmates and serving as an adjunct instructor in the Criminal Justice program.