Challenge grant will match every dollar raised by the end of the 2013-14 academic year
(Canastota, NY- April 2014) Onondaga Community College has established the Vincent Spadafora Memorial Scholarship Endowment to honor the memory of Professor Emeritus Spadafora. Spadafora, of Canastota, dedicated 40 years to Onondaga as an assistant professor in the Electronic Media Communications Department.
Every dollar raised by the end of the 2013-14 academic year will be matched by Ed Levine, President and CEO of Galaxy Communications, until the endowment level of $25,000 is reached. The scholarship will assist both current and future Onondaga students majoring in Electronic Media Communications.
Spadafora, ’73, passed away on March 15, 2013 at the age of 65. Throughout his life, he served the College, the community and the nation in various roles:
* Sergeant in the United States Army while serving two tours of duty in South Vietnam.
* President and league representative for the Tri Valley Pop Warner Football Conference and National Pop Warner Football Hall of Fame inductee.
* Professional in the broadcasting industry for 42 years.
* Graduate of Onondaga Community College, assistant professor in the Electronic Media Communications program for 40 years, and Chair of the department.
“Too often in broadcasting people only see the bold headlines or the talent presenting a story,” Levin said. “People like Vince Spadafora are the backbone of the industry, training tomorrow’s broadcasters. I knew Vince for more than 25 years. He was always great at supplying our radio stations with qualified student-interns who showed up on time, worked hard and wanted to be serious broadcasters. Often those internships turned into jobs.
“Their performance is a reflection of how he taught and trained his students at OCC. He taught them about being a real-world broadcaster because he was one himself. It’s important to me the contributions of Vince and all teachers are remembered and saluted.”
“Although Vinny no longer blesses us with his presence, he is not really gone,” said Spadafora’s widow, Elaine. “His teaching in the classroom has touched many of his students. He still sits beside you in the broadcast booth. His lawn chair is alongside yours at the car show. He still stands along the pier and guides you safely back to camp. He still looks out for all of us and helps the best he can.
“Though we may not feel it now, he is still there making us smile and sharing a laugh. It means so much to our family and to all who admired and respected Vinny to honor his memory through this scholarship endowment at Onondaga that will support students for years to come.”
Gifts in Spadafora’s honor can be made at sunyocc.edu/giving or by calling the OCC Foundation at 315.498.6060.