SUNY Niagara

SUNY Niagara (formerly Niagara County Community College, or NCCC) is a public community college in Sanborn, New York. Founded in 1962, SUNY Niagara is sponsored by Niagara County and offers associate degrees as part of the State University of New York system. Dual admissions programs facilitate transfer to four-year colleges upon completion of the two-year degree programs.

SUNY Niagara

Former names	Niagara County Community College (1962–2024)
Motto	The Smart Place to Start
Type	Public community college
Established	November 8, 1962; 62 years ago (November 8, 1962)
Parent institution	State University of New York
President	Lloyd A. Holmes
Undergraduates	3,300[1] (2024)
Location	Sanborn , New York , United States 43.145963°N 78.878660°W / 43.145963; -78.878660
Campus	Suburban 287 acres (1.16 km2)
Colors	Navy blue and yellow
Nickname	Thunderwolves
Affiliations	National Junior College Athletic Association
Mascot	Tripp the Thunderwolf
Website	sunyniagara.edu

SUNY Niagara operates the Niagara Falls Culinary Institute as a remote campus within the former Rainbow Centre Factory Outlet in downtown Niagara Falls, New York.

History

Niagara County Community College's first campus opened on September 30, 1963 within a former Nabisco factory at 430 Buffalo Avenue in downtown Niagara Falls, New York.^[2][3]

The current campus opened on February 5, 1973 at the corner of New York State Route 31 and New York State Route 429 in the suburban community of Sanborn, New York. It was built on 287 acres (1.16 km²) of semi-wooded land, with eight interconnected buildings:^[4]

• Ernest Notar Administration (Building A)
• Business (Building B)
• Science (Building C)
• Henrietta G. Lewis Library (Building D)
• Humanities & Social Sciences (Building E)
• Arts & Media (Building F)
• Student Center (Building G)
• Athletics (Building H)

The school's library was named in honor of philanthropist Henrietta Grigg-Lewis on November 15, 2005 after her foundation donated $1 million for modernizing the facility.^[3][5][6]

On August 29, 2008, the college opened its first student housing complex featuring suite style units for 308 students.^[7]

The school's Niagara Falls Culinary Institute opened on September 28, 2012 within the former Rainbow Centre Factory Outlet in downtown Niagara Falls, New York.^[3][8]

In February 2024, the school changed its name from Niagara County Community College to SUNY Niagara.^[9]

Presidents

• Ernest Notar, 1963–1975^[10]
• Jack C. Watson, 1975–1979^[10]
• Donald J. Donato, 1979–1989^[10]
• Gerald L. Miller, 1989–1999^[10]
• Antonette Cleveland, 1999–2002^[10]
• James P. Klyczek, 2002–2017^[10]
• William J. Murabito, 2017–2024^[11]
• Lloyd A. Holmes, 2024–present^[12]

Athletics

SUNY Niagara athletic teams were first known as the Frontiersmen from 1962–1984, and then the Trailblazers from 1984–2010. They became the Thunderwolves in 2010, along with the introduction of mascot Tripp the Thunderwolf.^[13]

Eric Knuutila has coached wrestling at the college since 1973, producing four national champions including Rashad Evans.^[14]

The 1977–78 men's basketball team fell one game shy of a perfect season after losing the 1978 NJCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship.^[15]

Notable people

Rashad Evans, class of 2000

Alumni

• Mark Bridges, costume designer^[16]
• Donel Cathcart, basketball player^[17]
• Rashad Evans, former mixed martial artist^[18]
• Eric Gansworth, novelist and poet^[19]
• Rick Hockenos, former basketball player and coach^[20]
• Richard Jacob, basketball coach^[21]
• Sean Jamieson, former baseball player^[22]
• Nancy J. King, member of the Maryland State Senate^[23]
• George Maziarz, former member of the New York State Senate^[24]
• Joe Micon, former member of the Indiana House of Representatives^[25]

Faculty

• Ray Hall, basketball coach^[26]
• Rich Kilgour, lacrosse coach^[27]
• Yu Liu, professor^[28]
• Don Luce, professor^[29]

Gallery

• 
  Campus
• 
  Entrance sign
• 
  Henrietta G. Lewis Library
• 
  Ernest Nolar Administration Building