Both Keuka College nominees for the Outstanding Adult Student award given by the Rochester Area Colleges of Continuing Education achieved perfect grade point averages of 4.0.

But scholarship is only part of the criteria for the award. Success at combining college study with other adult responsibilities such as family, job, career and/or community service is the other part.

Both nominees—current Accelerated Studies for Adults Program (ASAP) student James Noble and recent graduate Nathan Varland—fit the bill.

Program Coordinator for Criminal Justice Dave Boyer and Program Director for Criminal Justice Tom Tremer considered all Rochester area ASAP criminal justice students who had completed more than 50 percent of their course curriculum and met the additional criteria for the award before selecting Noble.  

“Jim Noble truly exemplifies the level of commitment, dedication, and determination necessary to ensure success in an accelerated adult learning program,” said Boyer. “He continuously demonstrates a positive outlook in his approach to course work and stands as a roll model for fellow students to emulate.” 

A lieutenant with the Rochester Police Department (RPD) and the commanding officer of the Technical Services Section, Noble is expected to complete a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice in June.

During his 22-plus years with the RPD, Noble has held assignments as the commander of field investigation (East Station), internal affairs officer, patrolman and supervisor. He and his family reside in Chili, where he is a volunteer fireman with the Clifton Community Fire Dept.  

According to Program Director for Management Bill Howard, management program staff polled instructors and faculty advisers and Varland was the top choice for the award.

“He was an outstanding student who played a real leadership role in his cohort,” said Howard. “Under Nate’s leadership, that cohort developed into a positive mutually-supportive team that increased every member’s interest and engagement with the learning process. Nate deserves some credit for the fact that the cohort members completed some outstanding action research projects that had a very tangible positive impact on several businesses and non-profit organizations in Western New York.”

Varland completed a Master of Science in Management (MSM) degree in January. Director of Planning and Technology for Community Action of Orleans and Genesee, he is responsible for strategic planning, grants management, technology and marketing for the agency. A resident of Batavia with his wife and two children—one of whom was born while he was in the program—Varland is also active in his church and community.

Said Howard, “He achieved success while balancing a leadership role in the classroom with a demanding career and a young family.”   

Noble and Varland, along with Outstanding Adult Student award winners from other colleges, will be recognized at an April 29 banquet at the Lodge at Woodcliff

-- Tanya Cornell-Kestler