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FMCC Honors First Distinguished Alumni

The Foundation of Fulton-Montgomery Community College held its Annual Dinner on Wednesday, September 26 at the Johnstown Holiday Inn.  For the first time, this year's dinner included a presentation to the College's First Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. 

FMCC alumni and the community-at-large were asked to nominate graduates of the College who achieved outstanding success and made a lasting impact on their community.  The College is pleased to announce the following three alumni selected to receive this award:  (pictured left to right) Michael J. Pepe '78, Donna Gatto Fraley '67; and Dr. Donald F. Staffo '66.

Mrs. Gatto Fraley, a graduate of FMCC's Class of 1967, is the Director of Literacy Learning Academy and Inclusion Facilitator for the Polk County School Board in Lakeland, Florida.  For her impressive work at the Academy, she has received accolades and national recognition as she travels coast-to-coast making presentations at national conferences to special educators across the country allowing them to implement the effective strategies she models for them.  In April of this year, Mrs. Gatto Fraley was inducted into the Gloversville High School Hall of Fame.  She also took the lead on planning FMCC's 40+1 Reunion where the Class of 1967 hosted a celebration for the Class of 1966, the first graduating class of the College, this past October.

Michael J. Pepe, a graduate of FMCC's Class of 1978, is Vice President/Regional Lending Manager for NBT Bank in Gloversville.  Over the past thirty years, Mr. Pepe has served both Fulton and Montgomery Counties through numerous boards, clubs, and organizations including Hospital Trustee, Finance Committee Member, and Advisory Board Member over an eight year period at St. Mary's Hospital, Amsterdam; President, Vice President, and Treasurer over an eight year period for the Fulton County Economic Development Corporation; and more recently as Immediate Past President of the College's Foundation Board of which he's been a member for six years.  He is active in local basketball and softball leagues, coaching AAU & CYO girls' basketball and softball, and spent thirteen years as a local radio sports announcer.

Dr. Donald F. Staffo, a Professor and Chairman of the Department of Health and Physical Education at Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, AL and a member of FMCC's first graduation class in 1966, was the recipient of the 2007 American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Honor Award. The Honor Award, established in 1923, is the second highest award in the profession and is bestowed upon members of the Alliance for meritorious service to the professions represented. The national honor award is the latest of several recent awards and recognitions that Dr. Staffo has received. While attending FMCC Staffo was co-captain of the varsity wrestling team and was the starting second baseman on the varsity fast-pitch softball team. In 1989, during the College's 25th Anniversary Celebration, Dr. Staffo returned to the campus as a keynote speaker.

"There were several fine candidates from which we were able to choose," said Dr. Dustin Swanger, President of FMCC.  "While we could only select three, if we could honor all of them, we would have been delighted. FMCC is proud of our graduates and all that they do for their communities. This is just the start of recognizing our outstanding alumni.