12th annual Buffalo State College Foundation Scholarship Gala, gift planning, and more

The 12th annual Buffalo State College Foundation Scholarship Gala celebrated “Science in Motion” in May to benefit students in the All College Honors Program. BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York, M&T Bank, and Niagara’s Finest Inns were this year’s presenting sponsors.

Great Lakes Fisheries Informed by Research

Randal Snyder, associate professor of biology, received a $48,000 grant from New York Sea Grant for a project, “Improved Predictions of Condition and Growth in Alewives: Effects of Dietary Fatty Acids, Temperature, and Ration.”

The alewife—a small, common fish of the Great Lakes—is an important part of Great Lakes food webs. This study uses captive alewives to examine how temperature, ration size, and prey composition influence alewife growth and condition. Given the dramatic changes that continue to occur in Great Lakes food webs, it is useful to develop accurate measures of alewife condition and growth to support important fishery management decisions. This research will improve the ability to optimize salmonine stocking rates, to forecast how changes in food webs or abiotic factors will affect alewife populations, and to better predict the impact of alewives on their prey populations.

Celebrating a life

A scholarship was created to honor the life of David Heine, a student who saw his time at Buffalo State as a journey of self-discovery. Originally an English education major, he changed his goal to communication design, a program in which he thrived and produced outstanding work.

Following his unexpected death in spring 2008, Heine’s family set up a memorial scholarship for other students who have chosen to switch majors.

Heine had a healthy sense of humor, often signing his artwork “ReaLame Productions,” a testament to his philosophy that “life is about having fun—it’s important not to take yourself too seriously.” That’s how the idea of Heine’s “ReaLame” Endowed Scholarship Fund came to life. The Heine family wanted to keep his memory linked with following dreams and helping other students.

In summer 2008, a fundraising event set up by the family benefited the scholarship. Following the fundraiser, about 50 young people showed up to a KanJam tournament, a favorite sport of Heine and his friends. Apart from the tournament donations, the event raised $6,500 toward the scholarship, which is now endowed.

Online donations can be made at www.buffalostate.edu/giving by designating a gift to the Dave Heine “ReaLame” Scholarship Fund.

“I want to help tomorrow’s students!”

You may not be able to donate as much as you would like to right now. However, you can help a Buffalo State student in the future with a bequest, which allows you to leave a gift to the Buffalo State College Foundation in your will.

Talk to your lawyer or your financial planner to see if this is right for you. Then call the Buffalo State College Foundation to support tomorrow’s students.

Buffalo State College Foundation

Lorraine Yates

Senior Major Gift and Planned Giving Officer

(716) 878-5536

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