SUNY Oneonta

SUNY Oneonta awarded nearly $20,000 in grant funding to support students pursuing internships during the fall 2023 semester. The grant program aims to make internship experiences more accessible by helping to defray costs such as transportation, living expenses, technology and more. Any student who plans to complete an internship for academic credit can apply for a grant of up to $3,000 through SUNY Oneonta's Career Development Center, which also provides career counseling and helps students find and secure internships in their fields of study. SUNY Oneonta is committed to helping students pursue experiential learning opportunities to explore their field of interest while gaining experience to prepare them for life after graduation. Internships are one of many real-world learning opportunities students can secure through the university's Experiential Learning Center. In addition to providing financial support to students pursuing internships, SUNY Oneonta awards more than $100,000 annually in student grants for research and travel to professional conferences and has 23 different scholarships for students who study abroad or participate in faculty-led trips.

On Nov. 2, 2023, 28 SUNY Oneonta students from the School of Economics and Business participated in the annual Backpacks to Briefcases event, where students travel to New York City to visit with alumni in the business and financial industries. Alumni host the students in their place of employment, and this year, the Backpacks to Briefcases program featured two alumni hosts per visiting group. Backpacks to Briefcases is a long-standing program at SUNY Oneonta that began in 2006 and is designed to help students start building their professional network before graduating. It is one of five Campus to Careers programs that offers students the opportunity to ask alumni questions about their journey from student to their current title. Its success paved the way for other programs across different majors at SUNY Oneonta like Mixing Board to Management (Music Industry), Goodrich to Broadway (Theatre), Campus to Capital (Political Science) and Academics to Agencies (Communication and Media Studies). "The value of the networking experience for students lies in the meaningful connections forged through interactions with alumni during Backpacks to Briefcases," said Laura Lincoln, executive direct in the Office of Alumni Engagement. "These connections serve as bridges between academics and real-world applications." The 2023 Backpacks to Briefcases program featured the following alumni hosts: Marco Ammirati '20 (Arrow Search Partners), Seth Crystall '80 (ION Group), Shawn Dacey '13 (Brookfield Properties), John Doherty '87 (Ernst & Young), Stiven Espinosa-Hunter '17 (ABM Industries), Dave Gaber '09 (Arrow Search Partners), Jason Konopolsky '09 (Brookfield Properties), Lyndee McCallum '07 (JP Morgan), Larry Pestana '11 (ABM Industries), Scott Salmirs '84 (ABM Industries), Richard Saperstein '81 (Treasury Partners), Michael Sternberg '18 (Treasury Partners) and Jenna Vasilakopoulos '21 (Arrow Search Partners). Backpacks to Briefcases is funded by the Oneonta Student Association and the SUNY Oneonta Alumni Association through charitable gifts to the Fund for Oneonta.

On Thursday, Nov. 9, the SUNY Oneonta Theatre Department presented "All in the Timing," a 20th century play written by American playwright David Ives. "All in the Timing" is a collection of one-act comedic plays featuring intellect and satire and won Ives the John Gassner Playwriting Award. Each act is uniquely different from one to the next in the original six plays, ranging from an awkward first date titled "Sure Thing" to "Variations on the Death of Trotsky." Eight more plays were later included in "All in the Timing," including a monologue about a man who believes he is an actual typewriter. The SUNY Oneonta production of "All in the Timing" was directed by Kiara Pipino, associate professor of acting, directing and movement. Students from the Mask and Hammer theatre club, an active and dynamic campus organization that promotes opportunities for students of all majors to become involved in theatre activities, played the role of 21 different characters. Other students involved in the production are part of the crew as stage and assistant stage managers, assistant director, sound designer, prop coordinator, painters, master electrician, costume crafts, wardrobe supervisor and several run crew members. "The Theatre Department decided on "All in the Timing" because the nature of the show will expose students to a different acting style and aesthetic than what they have been working on previously," said Pipino. "It is a way more stylized piece, too, which means the acting will need to take into consideration the design aspects of the production - as they become just as important in the storytelling as the text itself." Casting and initial rehearsals for "All in the Timing" began at the end of the spring 2023 semester. Assistant Technical Director and Theatrical Designer Nathan Elsener designed the scenery, and Technical Director, Production Manager and Theatrical Designer Scott Segar designed the lighting. Associate Professor of Theatrical Design Bethany Marx designed the costumes, and the role of "Jack" was played by Associate Professor of Philosophy Achim Koeddermann. "Because "All in the Timing" is not a full-length play, but rather a series of short plays with a similar kind of approach to style and acting, students could work on shorter pieces and really focus on details," said Pipino.

A junior at SUNY Oneonta has made history as a member of both the United States' National Amputee Soccer Team and the first-ever National Women's Amputee Soccer Team, and she competed for both on the world stage last weekend. Alexia Michitti, a 19-year-old Business Administration major from Vestal, NY, took the field as goalkeeper representing the United States for both teams in Warsaw, Poland, during the international Amp Futbol Cup on Sept. 16-17. She and her teammates took on players from Poland, England, Japan and Costa Rica. Alexia is the first woman in the world to make both a national squad and the new national women's squad, and she's the only woman on the co-ed national squad. Although the American team lost in Poland, Alexia was named one of the captains and MVP of the game. "It was a game much bigger than the score," she said. "Amazing vibes from the stadium and everyone cheering from home, too!"

SUNY Oneonta students are getting firsthand experience in their fields of study this summer with research projects on topics ranging from theatre to natural sciences. Twenty-four SUNY Oneonta students are involved in research projects on and off campus through the university's Summer Research Fellowship Program. Fellowships assist undergraduate and graduate students with costs related to participating in summer research and creative activity in either an independent or group project. SUNY Oneonta faculty are mentoring students in projects ranging from a Shakespeare intensive study in Prague to research that combines sustainability and video games in elementary, middle and high school education. The 2023 Summer Research Fellowship recipients receive financial support from University Advancement's Student Research and Creative Activity Grant Fund, with additional funding from Alumni Engagement. Students receive grants of up to $3,000 each, with a maximum of $6,000 for two or more students working together on a single project. Students who must remain on campus for their research stay at SUNY Oneonta for free this summer. The students will share their projects with the campus community during a Summer Student Research and Creative Activity Showcase from Sept. 7 to 14. "The summer fellowships provide students with a great opportunity to do concentrated, in-depth, faculty-led research without sacrificing their ability to earn money at a time when so many students are home working summer jobs," said Audrey Porsche, associate director of scholarly activities.

Two SUNY Oneonta students were coaches in the first collaborative Nike multi-sport camp held on June 11 and 12 at Hartwick College. SUNY Oneonta Assistant Professor of Sport and Exercise Science Dr. Katherine Griffes, Hartwick Head Men's Lacrosse Coach and Assistant Athletic Director Don LaSala, Cooperstown All Star Village (CASV) and Nike Sports Camp developed the multi-sport camp for young kids. Student coaches are Exercise Science majors at SUNY Oneonta who have taken courses in Human Growth and Development, Sport Psychology and Motor Learning. The two-day camp provided a wide range of sports and basic movement activities for the siblings of kids in the area for the CASV baseball tournament. Some activities included basketball, soccer, kickball and football, endurance and agility games and drills and low-intensity activities like yard games and sidewalk chalk.

A total of 232 SUNY Oneonta students earned Provost's List honors for the spring 2023 semester. To qualify for the Provost's List, a student must earn a perfect 4.0 grade-point average while carrying a course load of 12 hours or more.

It may be summer break, but learning at SUNY Oneonta is certainly not on pause, with numerous students participating in faculty-led programs abroad. For the course "Philosophy of Life and Death," Dr. Daniel Patrone led 12 of his students and a student teaching assistant on a three-week journey through England, Scotland and Wales from May 24 to June 13. Beginning in London, the group visited historic sites, galleries, museums, temples, gardens, theatres and more, all the while discussing, exploring and debating the meaning of life, the ethics of euthanasia, the rights of the terminally ill, the possibility of life after death, and more. The student philosophers' itinerary allowed them to trace the history of wars, plagues, executions and more, visiting "haunted" sites and having class on the floor of the ruins of a Roman gladiator arena, where they discussed the ethics of spectator violence. They took in cultural treasures in the British Museum, debated whether the Elgin Marbles and Benin Bronzes should be returned to their cultures of origin, and visited Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and Stonehenge. Their research culminated in "an impressively thoughtful and intense debate" on topics covered, Patrone reflected - "This is what deep learning looks like!" Short-term, faculty-led programs incorporate coursework, cultural experiences and, many times, elements of service learning. The trips give students the opportunity to learn and earn credit in a completely new setting, often covering unique subject matters not regularly taught on campus. "Faculty-led programs are wonderful because they allow our students a 'mini study abroad', if you will," said Office of Global Education Director Michelle Lopez. "We're incredibly happy to be able to offer these life-changing opportunities again after a necessary pause during the pandemic. Faculty-led trips mean invaluable experiential learning for students, something we prioritize at SUNY Oneonta!"

More than 1,100 SUNY Oneonta students earned Dean's List honors for the spring 2023 semester. To qualify for the Dean's List, a student must earn a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher while carrying a course load of 12 hours or more.

Twenty-four SUNY Oneonta students have been selected to serve as Dragon Guides for the 2023-2024 academic year. In addition to leading activities for new students and their parents during six daylong summer orientation sessions, Dragon Guides welcome new students into their new community by leading small groups, answering questions about the university and college life, and mentoring new students throughout their first semester. With assistance from the Office of Student Experience, the Dragon Guides will reach out to their mentees to revisit their goals from orientation and offer support on reaching those goals. They will also be sponsoring connection groups for new students to participate in, which will encourage and support engagement.

1,150 SUNY Oneonta students completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree following the Fall 2023 semester. Graduates were honored and recognized during ceremonies held Saturday, May 20, in the Dewar Arena of the Alumni Field House. The day before commencement, seniors took part in the Pass Through the Pillars tradition. With friends, family and faculty and staff cheering them on, seniors walked through the pillars a final time, representing the end of their Oneonta journey and transition into the alumni family.

Sixty-two SUNY Oneonta students and the Sport and Exercise Sciences department partnered with Special Olympics to host a regional track and field event at Oneonta High School on Sunday, May 7, 2023. The event allowed area individuals who have varying intellectual and adaptive disabilities, including clients at local organizations Springbrook and Pathfinder Village, to showcase their athletic ability in a competitive setting. Athletes ranged from ages 10 to 53, and the day included an opening ceremony with remarks by City of Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek and SUNY Oneonta President Alberto Cardelle. Lecturer of Sport and Exercise Sciences Andrea Fallon-Korb and her two interns organized the event. The interns were the coordinators for the 60 student volunteers, 28 Special Olympic athletes and three adaptive athletes who participated in the day-long competition. This year was the second time that SUNY Oneonta students and the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences volunteered to coordinate the Special Olympics Track and Field event. To be eligible to participate in Special Olympics, athletes must be at least eight years old and identified by an agency or professional as having one of the following conditions: intellectual disabilities, cognitive delays as measured by formal assessment, or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay that requires or have required specially designed instruction. Student volunteers fell into three categories for those who: helped run the track meet, organized an obstacle course and outdoor activities through the Exercise Science Club and those from an exercise science course taught by Assistant Professor of Sport and Exercise Science Dr. Katie Griffes. The students from Dr. Griffes's class helped by hosting pre- and post-competition workshops and education sessions. Workshop volunteers were tasked with educating the athletes on the importance of several athletic principles. These included pre-competition stretching, hydration, mobility and agility training, yoga, and mindfulness and breathing exercises. Each workshop combined information with entertainment, allowing athletes and volunteers to join everyone's stations. "Volunteering for the Special Olympics allowed our students to understand and appreciate sport inclusion at a deeper level," said Dr. Griffes. "This event provided students with a chance to give back to their community, to make sure we are creating space for everyone to be included and benefit from sport participation, and see the impact their time, energy and efforts can have on others."

Three students were recognized at an award ceremony for participating in an online financial investment competition, the SUNY Oneonta Stock Market Game, on May 10, 2023, in Fitzelle Hall. The students invested virtual cash of $100,000 in a live market, buying and selling stocks while using other financial instruments to practice their investment skills. The top three winners received $50, $30, and $20, respectively. The competition was open to all students and was offered through www.wallstreetsurvivor.com, an online stock market simulator.

More than 50 SUNY Oneonta students received an Academic Achievement Award on May 10, 2023, during the 35th annual recognition reception on campus. Each academic department chooses one to three students who stand out from the rest of their peers in their major to receive this award. Undergraduate Academic Achievement Awards recognize exceptional seniors after reviewing their scholarly accomplishments. To be eligible for an Academic Achievement Award, seniors need a 3.5 GPA in their major. Faculty nominate students in their department at SUNY Oneonta based on further academic or professional pursuits and a demonstration of leadership on- and off-campus. Graduate Academic Achievement Awards recognize academic performance, leadership and excellence in scholarship. Awards are made to post-baccalaureate students at SUNY Oneonta, whether they do most of their work on campus or through a distance-learning format. Awardees may excel in various areas, including exemplary work on a thesis or other capstone project, leadership and involvement in department, campus or community activities, or exceptional academic or professional performance in the classroom and beyond.

Thirty-five SUNY Oneonta students were inducted into the Tau Sigma National Honor Society for the 2022-23 academic year on April 14, 2023. Tau Sigma is designed exclusively for transfer students. The mission of the organization is to recognize and promote the academic excellence and involvement of transfer students. The minimum academic average required for membership is either a 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent thereof) or an academic average that places the prospective candidate in the top 20 percent of all incoming transfer students during their incoming semester.

Gideon Plamondon and Destiana De Jesus are the first two SUNY Oneonta students to be selected for a mentorship program offered by the Country Music Association (CMA). Plamondon and De Jesus are among 41 college and university students from across the country to be selected for this opportunity. As members of the CMA's Educational Leadership Class of 2024, they will meet country music industry professionals through a year-long program that includes panels, seminars and courses. In addition to being the first SUNY Oneonta students selected, Plamondon and De Jesus are two of the three SUNY applicants ever to be accepted into the mentorship program. A highlight of the program will be a trip to Nashville in August for the organization's annual Leadership Summit, a multi-day conference full of professional development, industry education and networking. The summit will also allow the accepted students to meet one another and get a glimpse of what their year will look like as they partake in remote courses.

More than 250 SUNY Oneonta students earned Provost's List honors for the fall 2022 semester. To qualify for the Provost's List, a student must earn a perfect 4.0 grade-point average while carrying a course load of 12 hours or more.

Alyssa Carbone of New City, N.Y., has been selected to receive a State University of New York Association of Council Members and College Trustees scholarship. Alyssa is a recipient of the Excellence and Student Initiative Scholarship, awarded by the State University of New York Association of Council Members and College Trustees (ACT). She graduated from SUNY Oneonta in December 2021 as a Spanish major with many achievements and has enrolled at the University of Buffalo School of Law. This scholarship recognizes Alyssa for her outstanding academic performance and commitment to her campus community. Excellence and Student Initiative Scholarship applicants must have achieved a dean's list GPA as of the last reporting period and they must demonstrate that they identified a need in their campus community and provided or service or solution to address it. Three letters of recommendation are also required. The scholarship will provide Alyssa with $1000 and a $250 donation to the charity of her choice. Only five nominees receive this scholarship each year: two from university colleges, two from university centers and doctoral degree institutions, and one from technical colleges. All recipients were invited to an awards luncheon on Saturday, Oct. 15, at the Turning Stone Casino & Resort in Verona. "In my application for the scholarship, I noted my experience in various executive diversity-related board positions in my work helping to give marginalized students a voice and promoting diversity-related events," said Alyssa. "In addition to diversity and equity work, I sought to assist domestic and international students with their transition to on-campus life, serving as an Office Assistant for the Office of Global Education and an international student mentor." While she attended college at SUNY Oneonta, Alyssa served as secretary for Vice-Presidential Affairs for the SUNY-wide Student Assembly and on numerous campus councils, committees and task forces. She was the vice president of the Hispanic Organization for Learning Advancement club and a volunteer tutor with the Multicultural Community Center. Alyssa was also the student coordinator for the Students of Color Coalition and The Luminous Letter Project, a letter-writing advocacy project for LGBTQIA+ people in federal and state prisons and Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers. She has widely presented her research on climate change and how it affects Latinx communities in the United States, most notably as a Refugee Representation Intern at Human Rights First in NYC. "I also sought to keep students engaged with the many opportunities SUNY Oneonta has to offer," said Alyssa. "I served as a founding board member of The Nebula Society, a Resident Advisor and served as Senator and later Attorney General on the Student Association, representing the voices and concerns of students across campus."

Ten students were elected to SUNY Oneonta's Student Association Activities Council. The Activities Council is funded by the college's Student Association with a share of the student activity fee and by the Student Life fee. The Council works to provide large-scale programming to SUNY Oneonta students while supporting the college's mission to "nurture a community where students grow intellectually, thrive socially, and live purposefully."

SUNY Oneonta students from two separate disciplines, geology and biology, teamed up this summer and put their skills to the test during an 18-day field trip to the Rocky Mountain region. The trip, led by Associate Professor of Paleontology and Geology Leigh Fall and Biology Professor Donna Vogler, let 12 students learn first-hand about the flora, fauna, formations and ecosystems in Colorado, Arizona and Utah. Surrounded by desert, mountains and tumbleweeds, students honed their observation and identification skills, collecting geological and ecological data and analyzing that data to better understand how the natural world works. Spending time at the Grand Canyon, Great Sand Dunes National Park, Mesa Verde National Park, Arches National Park, and Rocky Mountain National Park, students practiced identifying rocks, fossils, plants, and animals, recorded their observations in a field notebook, and synthesized their data in field presentations. At night, students set up camp and prepared meals, and then tented under the stars. Ecology and geology may seem like very different disciplines, but both are essential for understanding the evolution of the landscape, according to Fall. "Each influences the other in a variety of ways," she said. "For example, the type of rocks and their weathering products can promote or inhibit particular plant growth in an area." The geological exposures in the Rocky Mountain region offer a natural laboratory for examining the geological processes that has shaped the area. Equally important, Vogler said, the Rocky Mountain region provides a unique opportunity to study wildlife in the field and in an unfamiliar area of the country. Students said the trip impacted them in many ways, allowing them to make close friendships, validating their choice in major, seeing beautiful landforms and, most importantly, taking what was learned in the classroom and applying it in the real world.

Nine students have volunteered to serve as members of The Oneonta Future Alumni Network (OFAN). In this role, they assist the SUNY Oneonta Division of College Advancement and the SUNY Oneonta Alumni Association in reaching its goals by facilitating an active relationship between students and alumni with a sense of pride, loyalty, and tradition. Members help develop and improve student programs on campus that will create a stronger sense of school identity. The Oneonta Future Alumni Network also enhances the education of students and prepares them to serve as future alumni leaders and volunteers.

On Thursday, March 28, and Friday, March 29, a group of 20 student members of WONY 90.9 FM, SUNY Oneonta's student-run radio station, took a Student Association-sponsored field trip to Boston to visit a few of the largest public media institutions in the United States. The students received private guided tours of WGBH and WBUR. They also visited the PRX Podcast Garage and WTBU, Boston University's student-run radio station. The group was accompanied by Dr. Andrew Bottomley, WONY faculty advisor and assistant professor of Media Studies in SUNY Oneonta's Communication & Media Department. It was a rare chance for students to get a behind-the-scenes peek at professional broadcasting studios, interact with experienced journalists and top industry executives, and learn about internship and career opportunities.