The director of the college’s Gerontology Institute, John Krout, received one of the highest honors from the New York State Society on Aging last week.

The Walter M. Beattie Jr. award honors a member of the SSA for outstanding contributions to gerontology and commitment to the work in the state and society.

“There have been lots of people who have worked with me,” said Krout. “It is the success of the entire department.”

Krout has been the director of the school’s gerontology institute since its inception in 1992, has written five books in the field and has been a member of the SSA for 22 years.

“He is a brilliant professor,” senior gerontology major Jessica McNamara said. “He really set me on the right path for graduate school.”

Currently, there are 12 students majoring and 45 minoring in the program, with 20 courses available. Classes are offered within all five schools in the college. The institute is also continuously working on various research projects in which the students are encouraged to participate.

“The program offers unique opportunities,” Krout said. “You get to look at the interesting subject from many programs. Plus, there are going to be many job opportunities for graduating students due to the Baby Boomers reaching the 55-and- over age range, making this age group the largest in the country.”

The Gerontology Institute holds a partnership with Longview, a senior residential facility. The college faculty and students have participated in Longview activities and programs since 1999. Presently, the Longview facility includes a 1,800-square-foot space dedicated for the college’s use.

“John was the main mover for the institute at Longview,” said Christine Pogorzala, assistant professor of gerontology and co-coordinator of activities at Longview. “He did a lot of the planning and detail at the maintenance level and worked at getting a lot of faculty interest. The program is now a great educational experience.”

The Gerontology program sponsored 43 other events at Longview last semester, involving about 333 students, 32 faculty and nine staff members.

“You get to talk to an older person who is not your grandparent,” Krout said. “You learn that aging is not for sissies.”

Krout not only sees gerontology as a major with potential to make students successful, but also a way to learn more about themselves and their lives.

“Both age groups (seniors and students) have issues of being recognized by the rest of society and are very often stereotyped,” Krout said. “Students can definitely learn more about themselves by getting to know seniors. Students may be gaining a partner while an older person may be losing a partner. While most young people want to be old, older people think about youth.”