Senate Resolution No. 4181

BY: Senator KENNEDY

COMMENDING Sister Marcella Marie Garus upon the
occasion of her retirement after 40 years of
distinguished service as President of Villa Maria
College

WHEREAS, It is the practice of this Legislative Body to take note of
and publicly acknowledge individuals of remarkable integrity and
character whose endeavors have enhanced the quality of education in this
great State; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Sister Marcella Marie Garus upon the occasion of her retirement
after 40 years of distinguished service as President of Villa Maria
College; and

WHEREAS, Sister Marcella Marie Garus entered religious life as a
Felician Sister in 1961; while studying at the University of Detroit in
1968, her provincial minister requested her to serve as the business
administrator at Villa Maria College; and

WHEREAS, After serving in that capacity for ten years, Sister
Marcella Marie Garus became Villa Maria College's third president in
1978; and

WHEREAS, For the past 40 years, Sister Marcella Marie Garus has
committed herself to helping students from all backgrounds achieve a
college education; and

WHEREAS, During her illustrious tenure, Villa Maria College moved
from a two-year college to a four-year bachelor's degree-granting
institution and created a name for itself in the fields of animation,
fashion design and merchandising, music, and interior design; and

WHEREAS, Under the able leadership of Sister Marcella Marie Garus,
Villa Maria College also added six associate degree programs and 14
bachelor's programs; furthermore, enrollment has grown by 30%, with 490
full-time students and 106 part time students recorded this year; and

WHEREAS, Sister Marcella Marie Garus was instrumental in expanding
curriculum to newer fields such as occupational therapy, digital
filmmaking, and digital media and communication; she also paved the way
for physical changes to the campus, including updates to the campus
library, a new art gallery, residence halls, new athletic facilities,
and most recently, a partnership with Catholic Health to add a health
care program for elderly individuals; and

WHEREAS, This extraordinary woman has been the proud recipient of
numerous awards and accolades including: the Bishop's Medal for Catholic
Education, the Governor's Award for Excellence in Education Award, New
York State Senate Women of Distinction Award, the Commission on
Independent Colleges and Universities Higher Education Leadership Award,

the Cheektowaga Chamber of Commerce Appreciation Award, and the Am-Pol
Eagle Citizen of the Year Award; and

WHEREAS, The result of many individual efforts, the excellence and
success of Villa Maria College is due in large part to the efforts of
Sister Marcella Marie Garus; and

WHEREAS, As a long-serving President of Villa Maria College, Sister
Marcella Marie Garus has created and fostered opportunities for her
students, faculty and staff, ensuring pathways for their educational
success as well as their personal and professional growth; and

WHEREAS, Sister Marcella Marie Garus has clearly had an enduring
impact on the students of Villa Maria College, as well as on the
community-at-large, and accordingly merits recognition and applause for
her impressive dedication to others; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to commend the
efforts of those individuals who work to support our proud traditions of
institutions of higher education by providing their skills and talents
to our colleges; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Sister Marcella Marie Garus upon the occasion of her retirement
after 40 years of distinguished service as President of Villa Maria
College; and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to Sister Marcella Marie Garus.