Elwinger establishes first endowment for internships

The Fredonia College Foundation is pleased to announce that Judy Elwinger, who served as director of the Career Development Office for three decades until her retirement this past fall, has begun building an endowment to provide resources for summer internships for SUNY Fredonia students.

The first fund to support internships at SUNY Fredonia, the Judy Elwinger Career Development Internship awards are meant to provide travel expenses and other financial support for students to take advantage of more domestic and international internships that are often exceptionally valuable, yet historically have been out of reach, financially, for many students.

A retirement reception honoring Ms. Elwinger occurred in December and, in lieu of a gift, she asked that friends and colleagues give a gift to the endowment through the Fredonia College Foundation.

Judy began at SUNY Fredonia in 1969 as Assistant Dean of Students and a Residence Hall Director (Eisenhower and Hemingway), serving in that capacity until 1977. She also served as co-director of the Summer Orientation Committee from 1972 to 1974, and Career/Placement Counselor from 1970 to 1976. In 1977, she was named Assistant Director of the Career Development Office, and its Director in 1979.

In 1992, Elwinger was the first recipient of the President’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service at SUNY Fredonia. In 1994, she earned the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service as well. She was also a leader in Career Development across the SUNY system, serving as president of the SUNY Career Development Organization, as chair, co-chair, program committee member or presenter for several annual conferences, and as a member of its executive board for several years. A member of the Western New York Association of College Career Centers from 1977 until her retirement, Judy was also the Employer Coordinator for the Buffalo Area Teacher Recruitment Days since 1982. In addition, she won two SUNY-wide Career Development Office Awards for Excellence in Programming, co-authored of two publications, and was an invited presenter at many conferences.

Elwinger earned her B.S. in Education from Clarion University and a Master’s of Education in College Counseling and Student Personnel Work from the University at Buffalo.

If you would like to join this endeavor, checks may be sent to the Fredonia College Foundation at any time. Judy will be notified regularly of donors who have given to this fund in her honor. To learn more, please contact Karen West at 716-673-3321 or Karen.west@fredonia.edu.