Stasia Arcarese and Richard Correnti to Receive Alumni Awards at College's Reunion

Arcarese: Crediting Plattsburgh for the Opportunities Offered

Arcarese said the honor really stems from the opportunities SUNY Plattsburgh offered for her career as a nurse and as a nursing instructor.

“Plattsburgh’s program gave me the best of everything plus more of a future,” she said.

After working as a staff nurse at Champlain Valley Physician’s Hospital, Arcarese became a nursing professor at Clinton Community College. She held that post for 20 years, receiving a SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching in 1999. She also came back to SUNY Plattsburgh for a while, teaching on a part-time basis.

The member of the Class of 1962 said she couldn’t believe it when she was named an award recipient.

“I think there are a lot of people who have done what I have done. But I admire Mr. Garrow and was very pleased to be included in anything associated with him. I really appreciate this honor.”

Even though she now lives in Fort Meyers, Fla., she still believes in sustaining her support for SUNY Plattsburgh, hosting leadership giving receptions, serving on committees and attending alumni receptions in Florida

“I guess I feel an allegiance to Plattsburgh. It really gave me a solid start to my career. And the college has kept such a great reputation, not only because of the curriculum but because the faculty are really concerned about their students.”

“Not only has Stasia given her time as a highly active volunteer with the college,” said Director of Alumni Relations Joanne Nelson, “she’s also served as a philanthropist, giving annually to the college and, with her husband, establishing a scholarship.”

“We have contributed to Plattsburgh for years, because we have been so impressed with the education and what it does provide,” said Arcarese.

She and her husband, Lawrence, a member of the Class of ’65, have three children.

Correnti: ‘Service Above Self’

The second honor — the Alumni Association’s Distinguished Alumnus Award — will be conferred upon Correnti for his professional achievement, contributions to society and service to the college.

Another member of the Class of ’62, Correnti said he was also very surprised to be named to receive the award.

“I had no idea,” he said. “I knew nothing about it. Shocked, I guess, is a more apt way to say it. I am deeply, deeply honored and humbled by this, and I am sure there are many others who are as deserving.”

Nelson notified him of the honor with a phone call this spring and found him nearly speechless.

“My comment to her was ‘I was vice president of student affairs for almost 25 years, and, in that role, was much more accustomed to giving awards than receiving them.’ To have that happen the other way around was pretty neat,” Correnti said.

Correnti retired in 2000 after serving as senior administration at three colleges. He was an associate dean for student development and vice president for student affairs at SUNY Cortland; vice president for student affairs and project manager for the $10 million student union at Ithaca College; and vice president for student affairs at Florida International University in Miami.

While at Ithaca, he also served as president of the board of the National Association for Deans and Vice Presidents. Under his leadership, the central NASPA office moved to Washington, D.C., to be more closely aligned with other national professional organizations.

As past president of NASPA, Correnti continued to forge new ground, helping to create a foundation to support the organization.

“Now the NASPA Foundation has hundreds of thousands of dollars being used for scholarships and research,” he said.

“His entire adult life has been one of service above self, particularly for our youth,” the Alumni Association nominating committee announced in its selection. “His record of accomplishments and key educational positions speaks for itself. He is an alumnus who has distinguished himself through constant contributions to his profession and to his community.”

Correnti currently lives in Penn Yan, N.Y., and maintains a seasonal home in Florida with his wife Carol (Vainoris) Correnti, from the Class of ’63. They have three children.