These local students have recently earned diplomas:

— Brandon Quinn of Berne, graduated from Missouri University of Science and Technology with a bachelor of science degree in geological engineering summa cum laude;

— Bartholomieu Comegys, son of David Comegys and Andrée Elliott of Altamont, graduated with a major in English from Ithaca College’s School of Humanities and Sciences;

— Justin Frederick of Schenectady, graduated from Rochester Institute of Technology with a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering technology from RIT’s College of Applied Science and Technology in the fall 2012 quarter;

— Adam S. Guenther of Schenectady received a master of science degree in engineering and global operations management from Clarkson University in December 2012;

— Danielle Assenheimer of Schenectady earned a degree in psychology from Siena College in Loudonville;

— Gabrielle Lansburg of Voorheesville earned a degree in accounting from Siena College in Loudonville;

— Benjamin Seymour of Voorheesville earned a degree in political science from Siena College in Loudonville; and

— Nicole Tommasone of Schenectady earned a degree in accounting from Siena College in Loudonville.

Awards and

achievements

These local students have recently distinguished themselves:

— Robert Leto of Schenectady has received The Teacher’s College Scholarship for the 2012-13 academic year at Emporia State University in Kansas; and

— Vincenzo Polsinelli, Schenectady resident and Siena College senior recently organized and led a trip for Habitat for Humanity to Haiti. Polsinelli, a biology major, and seven other students, spent nine days in January volunteering in the small village of Fontaine. Fontaine is the hometown of former Siena student Pierre-Louis Joizil, who attended Siena on a scholarship after an earthquake-ravaged Haiti in January 2010.

The Siena students’ main goal was to paint the newly constructed St. Gabriel Middle-High School alongside its students, who enjoyed working on their English in the process.

Polsinelli also worked with General Electric, which donated six solar panels, and Let’s Share the Sun, an organization in Troy, that facilitates their installation in poor, disadvantaged areas of the world to bring electricity to Fontaine’s school. The solar panels allow the Haitian students to use laptops that had been previously donated and to continue their studies at night. Solar lanterns were also donated so that students can bring electricity home to share with their families on a rotating basis.

Polsinelli plans to continue his relationships with Fontaine and return one day with medical experience, after going to medical school. He hopes to conduct research in the village and eventually create a clinic that will be run by the people of Fontaine.