College announces Leadership Award winners

Middletown —The Educational Foundation of SUNY Orange will honor three Orange County residents for their leadership efforts in business, community and educational endeavors. The event will take place during the foundation’s Second Annual Leadership Awards Luncheon, set for noon on Friday, Nov. 9 in the College’s Orange Hall Gallery. James W. Taylor Jr. will receive the Leadership in Business award, Ralph Martucci Jr. will be presented the Leadership in Community award and Don Przytula will accept the Leadership in Education award. “This awards program is a terrific way for the foundation to recognize the outstanding work that is being done by folks within the community,” said Vinnie Cazzetta, SUNY Orange’s vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the Educational Foundation. “The members of the foundation board have long been impressed with the commitment, energy and effort Jim, Ralph and Don have put forth in their respective areas of expertise. They have served as outstanding role models for their colleagues and peers, and each is certainly deserving of this award.” James W. Taylor Jr. is chairman of Taylor Recycling and is a renowned industry expert in the areas of recycling, debris sorting and recovery, and renewable energy. His company received numerous commendations for its significant role in the World Trade Center/Staten Island Fresh Kills Landfill forensic recovery operation, during the months following the Sept. 2001 terrorist attacks. Additionally, Taylor has consulted with a handful of foreign nations in the utilization of recycling to help solve their solid waste needs. A respected community leader who devotes his time and efforts to a wide variety of groups and organizations, Ralph Martucci Jr. has engraved his stamp on numerous initiatives and projects throughout Orange County. Martucci is currently director of corporate business operations for Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. A SUNY Orange graduate, Martucci recently concluded a 10-year stint as chairman of the college’s Educational Foundation. He has also held membership in the Orange County Chamber of Commerce and, Occupations, Inc. Among his many community leadership posts are the roles of director emeritus of the Orange County Partnership and former director of the Orange County Capital Development Corporation. Don Przytula boasts nearly 30 years of experience as a guidance counselor in Orange County school districts. During that time, he has impacted the lives of countless students who have sought his counsel and advice. He has worked in the Monroe-Woodbury school district for 19 years, serving as director of guidance for the past 13 years. He spent 11 years as a guidance counselor at Minisink Valley High School. Przytula has worked with SUNY Orange to initiate an instant admissions program for seniors who did not have any post-graduate education plans. That program has since been expanded to other districts. He also helped the college create a SUNY Orange orientation program for new and seasoned counselors in the county. The Educational Foundation of SUNY Orange was established as a non-profit corporation in 1987. According to the Educational Foundation by-laws, the objectives for which the foundation exists are to solicit, receive, hold, invest, administer and make expenditures of gifts to or for the benefit of Orange County Community College. In 2006, the Educational Foundation awarded more than $150,000 in scholarships to allow deserving students to study at SUNY Orange. Gold, Silver, Bronze and Patron sponsorship opportuities remain for the luncheon. Individual luncheon tickets are $75. For Sponsorship or luncheon information, contact Pat Cregar at 341-4769 visit www.sunyorange.edu/awardsluncheon.