Alumnus of the Year
Cynthia Gabriel, 1987
2009 Alumnus of the Year
Program of Study
Humanities
Recognition
Cynthia Gabriel, of Herkimer, is the recipient of the 2009 Alumnus of the Year Award. An Associate Professor of English at HCCC, Ms. Gabriel is actively involved on-campus and in the community. She brings a commitment to excel to the classroom, and spends hours of her own time working with students on an individual basis. As one faculty member noted “she has an innate knack for knowing when something is needed, and she gets things done.” Ms. Gabriel has taught a wide variety of classes in her ten plus years at the college. She has helped create new and innovative programs such as the “Women’s Studies Program. Recently, she has been an advocate and grant writer to start a new “Teacher to Teacher” program at Herkimer County Community College to improve the overall teaching level of all faculty on campus. Ms. Gabriel is also a recipient of the 2009 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Ms. Gabriel is the President of the HCCC Alumni Association, and has brought new involvement by the alumni to the campus. She has also volunteered her time to the Herkimer County College Foundation, American Heart Association, and various other community groups. Ms. Gabriel was one of the first Female Members of the Herkimer Elks Clubs.
The Alumnus of the Year award honors a graduate of Herkimer County Community College who has demonstrated the highest level of excellence in their professional field. The recipient is selected by the Alumni Association Board annually, and the award is presented by the College President at Commencement.