Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union CEO John Felton (left), Southern Chautauqua FCU Chief Financial Officer Matthew Hoaglund, ’21, and SUNY Fredonia President Dr. Stephen H. Kolison Jr. (right).
As SUNY Fredonia prepares to publicly launch its Bicentennial celebration, a new gift from the Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union will help create a lasting public expression of that milestone.
The credit union has donated $20,000 to support the development of a mural tied to Fredonia’s Bicentennial, a university wide celebration honoring the institution’s 200-year history and looking ahead to its future.
For Southern Chautauqua FCU, the gift reflects both its roots and its mission.
“This credit union was founded by educators, so there has always been a soft spot in our hearts for supporting educational initiatives,” said Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union CEO John Felton. “We’ve been fortunate to have many years of success, and that puts us in a position to continue growing, investing in our future and giving back to the community that has supported us.”
That sense of community investment made Fredonia a natural fit.
Mr. Felton said the credit union looks for opportunities to support organizations that improve quality of life in Chautauqua County. In Fredonia, he said, the university’s Bicentennial offered a meaningful chance to back both a historic institution and its momentum moving forward.
“Fredonia is an important pillar of the North County and of Chautauqua County as a whole,” Felton said. “We see positive things happening there, and we wanted to show support for that vision. The Bicentennial is a moment to celebrate the university’s history, but also to invest in what comes next.”
President Stephen H. Kolison Jr. said the gift reflects the kind of community partnership that will help make the Bicentennial meaningful both on campus and beyond.
“We are deeply grateful to Southern Chautauqua Federal Credit Union for this generous gift and for its belief in Fredonia’s future,” President Kolison said. “The Bicentennial is an opportunity to honor the people, moments and purposes that have shaped this institution for two centuries. Support like this helps us celebrate that legacy in a visible and lasting way, while strengthening the connection between the university and the community we serve.”
The mural offered a fitting way to express that partnership. It will be located in Fenton Hall near the lifetime giving donor wall. The artist creating the mural, Erin Ruffino, is a 2019 graduate of SUNY Fredonia, and her father, Charles, earned his master’s degree from Fredonia. The 8-foot by 43-foot mural will include visual elements from1826 through today and will serve as a lasting reflection of Fredonia’s legacy and of the university’s bond with the surrounding community.
The bond between Fredonia and the community is reinforced by Southern Chautauqua FCU Chief Financial Officer Matthew Hoaglund, whose own SUNY Fredonia experience gives the partnership between the credit union and the university added meaning.
A Jamestown native who transferred to Fredonia and earned his Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Accounting in 2021, Hoaglund said he experienced a campus culture that felt deeply personal.
“You could tell the professors and the people who worked there cared about students,” Mr. Hoaglund said. “They would go above and beyond for them, the same way we try to go above and beyond for our members. That’s what made this feel like such a natural connection.”
Hoaglund, who joined the credit union in 2024 and was promoted to CFO in 2025, said working at Southern Chautauqua FCU has shown him just how deeply the organization is woven into the life of the county.
“I knew the credit union had a strong reputation, but once I got here, I really saw how much Southern Chautauqua does in the community,” he said. “They’re invested in people, in organizations and in helping this region thrive. Being able to connect that commitment back to Fredonia means a lot to me as an alumnus.”
Felton said that the connection between education, employment and community is part of what makes the partnership especially meaningful. “It’s hard to keep talent in Chautauqua County,” he said. “But when someone can attend school here and then find an employer that is equally dedicated to this community, that’s a powerful connection. We’d like to see more of that.”
He also sees shared values between the university and the credit union: a commitment to people, growth, and long-term success. “We recognize the importance of hard work, but also the importance of balance, personal development and building a life,” Felton said. “Matthew’s experience at Fredonia helped prepare him for that. We appreciate institutions that develop people in that full sense, not just for a job, but for a meaningful life and career.”
The Bicentennial celebration at Fredonia highlights two centuries of impact while inviting alumni, students, employees, and community members to help shape the university’s next chapter. In that spirit, the credit union’s gift is both commemorative and forward-looking. For Felton, that made the decision simple. “When you believe in an institution’s role in the community, you want to be part of its story,” he said. “This was a way for us to do that.”
More information about SUNY Fredonia’s Bicentennial celebration is available at 200.fredonia.edu.
