NSF-CSEMS Annual Report for Year 3: 8/15/03 – 8/14/04
PROJECT PERSONNEL
The following faculty and staff of Suffolk County Community College (SCCC) spent
more than 100 hours working on CSEMS grant-related activities during AY 2003-04 and
were paid by SCCC:
Name
Title/Position
Gleason, Jill
Oldfield, Dr. Margery
Rowe, Dr. Kate B.
Santomassino, Laurel
Michael L. Russo
Principal Clerk  Eastern Campus
Grant Specialist  Grants Office
Exec. Dir.Admissions & Enrollment Management
Prof. Asst.  Central Enrollment Management
PI and Associate Dean of Faculty
Person
Months
7/8
2/3
2/3
2/3
7/8
Additional SCCC personnel who worked < ¼ month (primarily on committee-related work):
NAME
TITLE/POSITION
PERSON
MONTHS
FACULTY LEADERSHIP GROUP
Breeden, Thomas
Chen, Xingbin
Mandia, Scott
Maritato, Peter
Michev, Dr. Iordan
Russo, Michael
Simon, Michael
Smith, Laura
Warasila, Dr. Robert
Academic Chair of Physical Science Amm.
Associate Professor of Computer Science – Amm.
Assistant Academic Chair, Physical Science Amm
Academic Chair, Engineering Technology Amm.
Co-PI & Associate Professor of Mathematics Amm.
Associate Dean of Faculty, Chair
Instructor of Construction Technology – Amm
Professor of Computer Science/Info. Tech.Amm.
Asst. Academic Chair of Physical Science Amm.
1/10
1/10
1/10
1/10
1/10
1/10
1/10
1/10
1/10
Office Systems Analyst
Vice-President for Academic and Campus Affairs
Head Clerk
Administrator, Central Office
Principal Account Clerk
Programmer Analyst
Director of Publications
Professional Assistant  SCCC Honors Program
Senior Budget AnalystOffice of Bus./Fin. Svc.
Principal Clerk Typist  Central Admissions
1/10
1/10
1/10
1/10
1/10
1/10
1/10
1/10
1/10
1/3
OTHER STAFF
Bancroft, Rose
Canniff, James
Catalano, Rosanne
Haack, Catherine
Haney, Christine
Sotis, Mathew
Erhardt, Karleen
Haggerty, Denise
Lesser, Deborah
Maione, Robin L.
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Note: 1 Person-Month = 151.667 work hours (52 weeks x 5 days/week x 7 hours/day ÷ 12)
Synopsis of the Activities/Work conducted by SCCC personnel:

Michael L. Russo – Principal Investigator and chair of the faculty leadership
group. Provided overall administrative oversight for year 2 of the NSF-CSEMS
project in collaboration with the offices of academic affairs, admissions and
enrollment management, legal, planning, and information services, and business
and financial services. He chaired the faculty leadership group, planning and
presiding over meetings and working individually with each member of the group
to determine the best options for recruiting and evaluating potential CSEMS
recipients. Russo sent solicitation letters to all academically qualified students, in
conjunction with enrollment services personnel, at the beginning of each
semester. He initially screened all CSEMS applications, checking for academic
and financial eligibility, and presented candidates to the selection committee for
final approval. He created and distributed brochures to advertise the scholarship
and oversees the development and maintenance of the Suffolk CSEMS Web site .

Jill Gleason – Provided clerical support for the management of the grant, by
working extensively with SCCC's Computer Science/Information Technology
professors and the College's Office of Admissions to identify eligible CSEMS
grant recipients. She also sent out applications to potential recipients and collected
all of the completed applications. Finally, she was assigned responsibility for
uploading information about SCCC's CSEM Scholarship recipients to NSF's
CSEMS website.

Deborah Lesser: In collaboration with her supervisor, Mr. John Bullard, the
Associate Dean of Business and Financial Services, Deborah assisted with the
management of CSEMS funds.

Robin Maione  Provided additional clerical support in recruiting potential CSEM
Scholars; collected applications from recently enrolled freshmen; prescreened
freshman applicants, and created both the CSEMS application and CSEMS poster
with help from Karleen Erhardt, Director of Publications.

Dr. Margery Oldfield: Collaborated with the Office of Business and Financial
Services and the Office of Legal, Planning, and Information Services to establish
the CSEMS project and budget. She also served on the student selection
committee, which interviewed and screened the first set of candidates, provided
answers to all questions related to administration of the CSEMS grant and
management of the CSEMS budget, assisted in the production of the CSEMS
application, poster, and brochure, and provided advice for the PI, Co-PIs, and
FLG on an "as needed" basis.
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
Dr. Kate Rowe: Provided assistance in recruiting and identifying new students
who may be eligible for the CSEMS scholarship. She also served on the student
selection committee, which interviewed and screened the first set of candidates.

Laurel Santomassino: Provided additional clerical support in recruiting potential
CSEM Scholars.
Activities/Work conducted by Committee Members:

Thomas Breeden: He disseminated information about the availability of the new
CSEMS scholarships to SCCC students in the Engineering Science Curriculum
and local communities. Through is participation in SCCC's STEP program he
maintains contact with science teachers in several local school districts with large
minority populations.

Beverly Broomell: Served as a member of the Faculty Leadership Group.

James Canniff: Served as a member of the Faculty Leadership Group.

Denise Haggerty: Served as a member of the student selection committee, which
interviewed and screened the first set of candidates.

Peter Maritato: Served as a member of the Faculty Leadership Group as well as
on the student selection committee, which interviewed and screened the first set
of candidates. He disseminated information about the availability of the new
CSEMS scholarships to SCCC students enrolled in Engineering Science and
Technology Curricula. He also did outreach to local community school districts
including visits.

Iordan Michev: Served as a member of the Faculty Leadership Group.

Laura Smith: Served as a member of the Faculty Leadership Group.

Robert Warasila: Served as a member of the Faculty Leadership Group as well as
on the student selection committee, which interviewed and screened the first set
of candidates. He also disseminated information about the availability of the new
CSEMS scholarships to SCCC students and local communities in his role as
Professor of Physics.

Jane-Marie Wright: Served as a member of the Faculty Leadership Group.
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PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
The State University of New York at Stony Brook (SUNY-SB): Dr. David L.
Ferguson, Professor of Technology and Society and Applied Mathematics, continued to
provide numerous consultations on various topics associated with selection of students
and the administration of SCCC's CSEMS Grant. He and his office staff helped us to
identify venues by which SCCC students could more seamlessly transfer to SUNY-Stony
Brook in the future, and continue receive CSEMS scholarships at that institution.
Sensor Consortium for Security and Medical Sensor Systems: This SUNY at Stony
Brook grant has the goal of promoting and increasing awareness of entrepreneurship and
technology transfer activities on Long Island with a focus on national security and
medical sensor systems. Suffolk County Community College is part of the four-school
consortium, which includes Stony Brook University, Farmingdale State College of
Technology, Hofstra University, and Suffolk. Each school sends four students to
participate in each of four technical projects. Students take a course on entrepreneurship
at Stony Book, participate in different aspects of project development, and receive a
stipend.
No students from this year’s CSEMS group is participating in the consortium, but some
have applied for next year.
Other Collaborators or Contacts
Brookhaven National Laboratory: Robert Warasila collaborated with Arnold Peskin
and other scientists at the Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory to
develop internship opportunities for SCCC's CSEMS grant recipients.
Suffolk County Legislature: We have collaborated with the Suffolk County Legislature
for additional CSEMS funds to use for students who do not make the financial eligibility
criteria established for the NSF CSEMS grant. We are asking the Legislature to allocate
$60,000 per year to supplement the NSF scholarships. These supplementary CSEMS
awards will begin in the fall of 2004.
ACTIVITIES AND FINDINGS
This section will serve as your report to your program officer of your project's activities
and findings; please describe what you have done and what you have learned, broken
down into four categories:
Describe the major research/education activities of the project: What have been your
major research and education activities (experiments, observations, simulations,
presentations, etc.)?
The major activity for our program is to identify and encourage qualified people to study
in the targeted areas and to mentor scholarship awardees through their Suffolk programs.
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Activities (from Spring/Summer 2002Timetable):

Multi-campus Faculty Leadership Group (FLG) meetings: The PI (Russo) and
Co-PI (Warasila) met together and individually with the following FLG members:
Kate Rowe, Laura Smith, Tom Breeden, Peter Maritato, Thomas Breeden, Iordan
Michev. The faculty leadership group, and its student selection committee,
subsequently defined the roles of team members, refined the grant project schedule/,
and initiated contact with the cooperating SCCC Offices and Departments,
interested secondary school representatives, and various community groups.

Coordinate project recruitment efforts with Office of Enrollment
Management: Michael Russo (PI), Robin Maione, Karleen Erhardt, Margery
Oldfield and other SCCC staff collaborated in the development a CSEMS Website,
poster, flyer, and brochure for distribution to potential scholars.

Initiate full-scale recruitment of CSEM Scholars: Personnel connected with
SCCC's Office of Admissions/Enrollment Management and the Honors Program
assisted in recruiting potential CSEM Scholars. Letters were sent to all students
enrolled or entering in the appropriate majors who had a 3.0 GPA (or B average
from high school). Student responses were sent directly to M. Russo, who screened
applicants for financial eligibility. CSEMS flyers, posters, and brochures were also
distributed to high schools and students who were interested.

Advising/Mentoring of CSEM Scholars: Gobi Gopinath (PI), Laura Smith,
Josephine Freedman, and other SCCC faculty met with the first 3 CSEM Scholars
individually in Spring '02 to discuss their schedules, career aspirations, and plans
for graduation. The number of faculty advisors/mentors will increase in AY 200203, as more CSEM Scholars join the program.

Academic Enrichment: Activity not yet initiated (only 3 Scholars in Spring '02);
it is currently anticipated that these activities will be initiated during AY 2002-03.

Self-esteem Building: Activity not yet initiated (only 3 Scholars in Spring '02); it
is currently anticipated that these activities will be initiated during AY 2002-03.
Describe the major findings from the activities identified above.
The major work done on our CSEMS grant is devoted to acquiring, stimulating, and
mentoring students. We received 35 applications from academically qualified students
for the fall and spring semester awards. Of these, 19 were financially eligible and were
awarded scholarships. These students were assigned to mentors as follows:
Professor Thomas Breeden, Academic Chair of Physical Sciences and member of
the CSEMS Faculty Leadership Group
 Christopher Gabriel, computer science: Graduated from Suffolk County
Community College.
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


Anthony Perez, mathematics: Left Suffolk and is continuing pursuit of a four-year
degree in applied mathematics and statistics at SUNY at Stony Brook.
Harley Davis, mathematics: Complete an AA degree in mathematics and is
continuing at a four-year college.
J. R. Greene, information technology (spring only): Left the CSEMS program; did
not register at the college this semester.
Professor Laura Smith, Academic Chair of Computer Science and member of the
CSEMS Faculty Leadership Group
 Charles Gaffney, computer science: Complete his AS degree in computer science
and is continuing at a four-year college.
 James Lospinuso, computer science: Left the CSEMS program and changed his
major to general studies.
 Patrick Lowry, computer science: completed an AS degree in computer science in
the spring of 2004 and spent the following semester continuing in computer
science at Dowling College in Oakdale, NY. He left Dowling after one semester
and is employed by the Geico Insurance Company as an auto damage adjuster.
Professor Xingbin Chen, Professor of Computer Science and member of the CSEMS
Faculty Leadership Group
 Gokay Ozdemir, computer science: left the CSEMS program and changed his
major to business.
 Mathew Trezza, computer science: continuing in the CSEMS program.
Professor Robert Warasila, Assistant Academic Chair of Physical Sciences and
member of the CSEMS Faculty Leadership Group
 Shao Xin, engineering science: left the college after the spring, 2004 semester.
Professor Peter Maritato, Academic Chair of Engineering and member of the
CSEMS Faculty Leadership Group
 Mudussar Nazir, electrical engineering: completed an AAS degree and is
successfully continuing in mechanical engineering at SUNY Stony Brook.
 Richard Robinson, electrical engineering: left the college without completing a
degree to study at a four-year institution.
 Robert McEvoy, electrical engineering: left the college in the spring of 2004 and
began in the electrical engineering department at SUNY Stony Brook in the fall of
2004, where he is doing very well.
 Hector Holdine, electrical engineering: left the program and is continuing at the
college as a part-time student.
Iordan Michev, Professor of Mathematics and member of the CSEMS Faculty
Leadership Group
 Erik Arfsten, mathematics: continuing in the CSEMS program.
 Gary Kostyrka, mathematics: left the CSEMS program after is GPA dropped well
below the minimum NSF requirement.
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Professor Michael Simon, Professor of Engineering, Architectural and
Construction Technology and member of the CSEMS Faculty Leadership Group
 Mathew Brady, architectural and construction technology: competed and AAS
degree and is employed locally in the construction field.
 Joseph Lapuglia, architectural and construction technology: complete an AAS
degree and took a semester off to work in construction management at a local
company. He will begin full-time study at SUNY Farmingdale in the fall of 2005,
working toward a BA in architecture.
 Sean Green, construction technology, (spring only): completed an AAS degree
and is employed locally in the field.
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ADDITIONAL COMMENTS ABOUT OTHER GRANT-RELATED ACTIVITIES
AND OPPORTUNITIES
Describe the opportunities for training/development provided by your project.
None
Describe outreach activities your project has undertaken.






Distributed CSEMS brochures to high school counselors throughout Long
Island
Distributed brochures to all freshmen who enrolled for the Fall semester
during the summer 2003.
College administrators, faculty, and staff spoke abut the CSEMS grant at all
appropriate college events.
Current SCCC students were screened according to the CSEMS criteria, and
were sent letters inviting them to apply for a CSEMS scholarship. The letter
referred to the CSEMS Web site where forms and applications could be
downloaded.
Various SCCC advisory committees, including the Board of Trustees, were
notified about the CSEM Scholarship program.
The Suffolk County Legislature was asked to supplement the NSF CSEMS
funding so that awards could be given to academically qualified students who
were not financially eligible.
PUBLICATIONS AND PRODUCTS
What Have You Published in Journals?
In general, we do not engage in research that results in publishable papers.
Do you have any major journal publications to report?
No
What Books or Other One-Time Publications Have You Produced?
None
Do you have any books or major one-time publications to report?
No
Internet Dissemination
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A comprehensive Web site was established for recruiting and coordinating
scholarship recipients.
The URL of the site is http://www.sunysuffolk.edu/Web/csems/. It contains all
important CSEMS information including detailed program information, a
downloadable scholarship application and applicable instructions, names and email
addresses of all scholarship recipients and assigned mentors, faculty leadership group
members with email and office contact information, a bulletin board for
communication among all program participants, and important announcements.
Other Specific Products Have you developed any other specific product of
significance?
No
CONTRIBUTIONS: Now we invite you to explain ways in which your work, your
findings, and specific products of your project are significant. Describe the unique
contributions, major accomplishments, innovations and successes of your project
relative to : 1.the principal discipline(s) of the project; 2.other disciplines of science
or engineering; 3.the development of human resources; 4.the physical, institutional, or
information resources that form the infrastructure for research and education; and
5.other aspects of public welfare beyond science and engineering, such as commercial
technology, the economy, cost-efficient environmental protection, or solutions to
social problems.
Contributions within Discipline
Nothing to report yet
Contributions to Other Disciplines
Nothing to report yet
Contributions to Human Resource Development
Nothing to report yet.
Contributions to Resources for Research and Education
Nothing to report yet
Contributions Beyond Science and Engineering
Nothing to report yet.
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