Obituary

Professor Sam Draper,

Founder of Nationally Recognized Honors Program at Rockland Community College

Sam Draper, retired Professor of English and co-founder of the Sam Draper Mentored/Talented Students Honors Program at Rockland Community College, State University of New York, in Suffern, NY, passed away on October 22, 2009 at the age of 84.

"Sam Draper was a legendary scholar, teacher, mentor and friend who had a significant impact on Rockland Community College and the thousands of students with whom he worked,” said Dr. Cliff L. Wood, President, Rockland Community College.

Prior to joining the College in 1968 as Professor of English, Draper studied European literature at Columbia University and spent several years in France and Belgium on a Fulbright fellowship. A true Renaissance man, Professor Draper shared his interest in opera by founding RCC’s Youth for Opera Club.

Draper said he was prompted by a lack in guidance during his own academic career to co-found, with Professor Libby Bay, the RCC Honors Program in 1977--with mentoring as the centerpiece.

“I made some big mistakes in my own academic career, and that’s where mentoring comes in,” Draper said in an interview shortly before his passing. “We take a very special interest in our students in helping them decide what their future might be and what courses they should take. In certain cases, we even bring them to the transfer college for an interview.”

Draper recounted how he went to every Ivy League and Tier One school admissions office where he could gain entry to tell them about the Honors Program and the benefits of the strong mentoring component. Draper was pleased to find that the admissions officers were willing to consider any student for transfer.

“The wonderful thing about America is that the Ivy League never showed any prejudice against a really bright honors student from a community college.”

Draper received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 2007 New York Community College Trustees (NYCCT) Benefactor Vision for Tomorrow Award.

The Sam Draper Honors Scholarship has been established in his memory. To make a donation, please contact the RCC Foundation at 845-574-4576 or click here:

http://www.sunyrockland.edu/alumni-friends/rcc-foundation/

For a complimentary copy of DVD about the Sam Draper M/TS Honors Program or for more information, call 845-574-4796, or click here:

http://www.sunyrockland.edu/prospective-students/honors

To view informational videos please click here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DdXYZJok4K0

http://vimeo.com/29576056