Brockway Hall Lobby to Honor Alumna Curry ’52

07/22/2011 

SUNY Cortland will dedicate the first-floor lobby of Brockway Hall, the College’s second-oldest building on the main campus, to an alumna during a ceremony to be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 17.

Margaret “Peg” Curry ’52, a retired teacher and the namesake of an annual scholarship for physical education or sport management majors, will be recognized for her lifelong contributions to the College.

“Peg is more than just an alumna, but a dear friend who delights in our students and loves learning everything new about Cortland,” said Tina Aversano, the leadership gifts officer for the College. “She really feels that SUNY Cortland prepared her well and helped her to be successful.”

SUNY Cortland President Erik J. Bitterbaum and Vice President for Institutional Advancement Raymond D. Franco will attend the dedication ceremony in addition to other members of the campus community. The event is open to the public and refreshments will be served.

Curry grew up in Binghamton, N.Y., and taught for 34 years in New York state in the Mount Pleasant School District.

Her time at SUNY Cortland was marked by groundbreaking moments. Curry was among the first group of women to occupy the former campus residence, Wickwire Hall, located on Tompkins Street, and among the first group of students to use the College’s Raquette Lake facilities.

She studied under legendary College professors and participated in the debate team and rifle club during all four of her years at SUNY Cortland.

A member of the former sorority Sigma Sigma Sigma, Curry’s friendships with faculty, staff and alumni are countless.

“When Peg graduated, she reminds me that she cried to her parents at the thought of leaving Cortland,” Aversano said. “She has carried that love and adoration for the College throughout her life.”

During the 2005-06 academic year, Curry endowed the annual Margaret A. Curry ’52 Scholarship, which gives $1,000 to a physical education or sport management major with financial need. She also funded the naming of a bedroom at the Lynne Parks ’68 SUNY Cortland Alumni House to ensure support for its upkeep.

Brockway Hall’s first floor is home to the Jacobus Lounge. The elegant reception hall is one of the College’s premiere event locations.

The building also houses SUNY Cortland’s Division of Institutional Advancement. Its first floor offices house alumni affairs, publications and electronic media, and public relations, which includes sports information. Occupying the building’s second floor are the division offices as well as those of the Cortland College Foundation, leadership gifts, planned gifts, advancement information services and the Student Call Center. One small conference room is located on each floor.

Hilltop, one of SUNY Cortland’s newer dining facilities, opened in the basement of Brockway Hall in 2006. It features display cooking, which means most menu items are prepared directly in front of customers.

Dedicated in 1951, Brockway Hall is named after George A. Brockway, the former president of Brockway Motor Truck Corporation who contributed $100,000 to building the State University of New York’s first student union. A painting of Brockway and a dedication plaque hang in the building’s lobby.