Hard work and resilience pay off

Posted 6/2/22

LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — SUNY Sullivan students crossed the stage to receive their diplomas in May’s graduation ceremony. That might be considered accomplishment enough, but the stories some …

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Hard work and resilience pay off

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LOCH SHELDRAKE, NY — SUNY Sullivan students crossed the stage to receive their diplomas in May’s graduation ceremony. That might be considered accomplishment enough, but the stories some students have to tell are even more compelling.

Recent grad Amy Brudermann got her degree while working two full-time jobs and graduated with a 3.97 GPA.
Recent grad Amy Brudermann got her degree while working two full-time jobs and graduated with a 3.97 GPA.

Amy Brudermann, associate’s degree in business administration

Monticello resident Amy Brudermann may have taken a few years to get a college degree, but once she did, she pursued her courses with dogged determination. She earned her degree with a 3.97 GPA in just one and a half years, while working two full-time jobs.

She was also a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success and of the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society.

In addition to three full semesters of courses, Brudermann, a mother of two adult children, took additional courses last summer and this winter so that she could finish her degree this spring.

“It was a long year and a half,” she said. “I worked really hard and made a lot of sacrifices to be able to walk on stage and receive my degree.”

She thanked her children, professors and classmates for helping her adjust to new ways of learning. “Twenty-five years ago, when I last studied, everyone used books. Now everything is online and the books are digital. That took some getting used to and there was definitely a learning curve... Thank goodness for my children.”

She praised her instructors for their patience, and her classmates for helping her. “I am grateful for everyone.”

Brudermann, who works as a contract monitor for the Sullivan County Department of Social Services, said not having a college degree limited her ability to pursue civil service promotions. Less than 48 hours after receiving her degree, she will walk into work Monday morning to a new job title and a pay raise.

“SUNY Sullivan has helped me realize that it is possible to have a lot going on in life and still get a degree,” said Brudermann. “My hope is that I can inspire anyone who is thinking about going back to school to know that you can do anything you set your mind to. It’s a small amount of time with a large reward. If I can do it, anyone can!”

Ryan Grodin went back to SUNY Sullivan for a second degree, was in the honors society and the garden club, and volunteered on the nature trail and in the chemistry lab. He will head off to SUNY New Paltz for biochemistry.
Ryan Grodin went back to SUNY Sullivan for a second degree, was in the honors society and the garden club, and volunteered on the nature trail and in …

Ryan Grodin, associate’s degree in liberal arts and sciences

After graduating from SUNY Sullivan last May with a degree in business administration, Wurtsboro native Ryan Grodin didn’t have to look far to continue his education and pursue his strong interest in science. He returned to the college in the fall for a degree in liberal arts and sciences.

When the pandemic forced him to finish his business degree with two semesters of remote classes, Grodin kept busy working installing commercial flooring in his free time. When in-person learning resumed, he got more involved on campus. In addition to the garden club and the Phi Theta Kappa Honors Society, Grodin also helped tag the college’s nature trails and volunteered in the college’s chemistry lab, cleaning test tubes, preparing solutions and doing other work.  

“I think it’s definitely increasing my autonomy and I think my confidence in what I can accomplish,” Grodin said. “It’s also given more of a large-scale way of thinking about the world, especially how Sullivan interacts with the county through things like the food pantry, and what institutions can do for the community.”

Grodin is heading to SUNY New Paltz in the fall to study biochemistry. He’s particularly interested in research, possibly with an agricultural focus.

Chihiro Uchizono had to return home to Japan at the start of the pandemic, but she still attended SUNY Sullivan remotely—even with the 13-hour time difference—and held down a job too. Once back to in-person learning, she served as student government treasurer and joined arts clubs. Now she plans to work in the travel industry.
Chihiro Uchizono had to return home to Japan at the start of the pandemic, but she still attended SUNY Sullivan remotely—even with the 13-hour time …

Chihiro Uchizono, associate’s degree in hospitality and tourism management

While her passion for travel and learning about other cultures led Chihiro Uchizono to SUNY Sullivan’s hospitality and tourism management program, her commitment to pursuing her degree may have redefined what it means to study remotely. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Uchizono, who grew up in Osaka, Japan, had to return home, and studied remotely there for the first two semesters of her coursework at SUNY Sullivan.

“The first semester right after COVID-19 was the most difficult year for me, because there is a 13-hour time gap between Japan and the U.S… so I had to wake up at 2 or 3 in the morning to attend Zoom class,” she said. “I had to go work after that, so it was very tough to manage my time schedule.”

When in-person classes resumed last fall, Uchizono made the most of her time on campus, becoming Student Government Association treasurer and an active participant in  the garden club, the performing arts club and the art club.  

“I enjoyed my experiences at SUNY Sullivan a lot because it is a small college. I can interact with many people including faculty members and students and be close with them,” said Uchizono. “I appreciate the very welcoming atmosphere since I am an international student who came to the U.S. alone.”

After a road trip tour of the East Coast with friends, Uchizono said her next step is to find an internship and get some job experience in the travel industry. “I am really interested to travel more and get to know more about other cultures,” she said.

SUNY Sullivan, Amy Brudermann, business administration, Ryan Grodin, liberal arts and sciences, Chihiro Uchizono, hospitality and tourism management

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