Erie Community College, State University of New York

Seven individuals were honored by the Erie Community College Foundation at the 16th annual ECC Distinguished Alumni Awards Dinner October 28, 2009 at Salvatore’s Italian Gardens, 6461 Transit Road, Depew.

These awards are presented to ECC alumni who have achieved career success and have made significant contributions to their communities.

Recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award included: Gordon Ballard ’82, self-employed account executive; Jim Binner ’88, marketing manager at Sorrento Lactalis, Inc.; Althea Luehrsen ’97, assistant vice president for the University at Buffalo’s Corporate and Foundation Relations; Catherine Rybczynski ’86, Hamburg town clerk and Arturo Salas ’79, assistant vice president for Costco Wholesale Optical.

Ken Duke ’78 and ’86, was honored as this year’s Distinguished Alumni Employee. Ken is a master electronic technician, adjunct faculty member and the head bowling coach at ECC.

Marie Bartolotta, who recently retired as dean for institutional planning, assessment and grants at ECC, was this year’s recipient of the Louis J. Billittier Honorary Alumni Award.

Erie Community College meets the needs of a diverse student body and contributes to regional economic vitality by providing excellent, flexible, affordable and accessible educational programs in a multi-campus environment committed to continuous improvement.