SUNY Oneonta

The SUNY Oneonta iGEM (International Genetically Engineered Machine) team traveled to Paris in late October to compete in the annual iGEM Grand Jamboree and received a gold medal in its first-ever collaboration with students and faculty from Hartwick College. The iGEM Grand Jamboree is a competition where teams of students from around the world "push the boundaries of synthetic biology by tackling everyday issues facing the world." More than 450 teams registered for the competition this year, making the 2024 Grand Jamboree the largest in iGEM history. This was the fifth competition for the SUNY Oneonta team, which won silver medals in the 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023. "We could not be prouder of this year's team, not only for their success, but also for their enthusiasm and dedication to having a positive impact on the world," said Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Kelly Gallagher, who advises the team alongside Associate Professor of Biology Jill Fielhaber. "Receiving a gold medal represents the culmination of countless hours spent both in and outside of the lab from every student," said Dr. Fielhaber. "Our team's first collaboration with students and faculty from Hartwick College makes receiving SUNY Oneonta's first gold medal all the more significant." This year's team included 16 SUNY Oneonta students from a wide variety of majors - including Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Dietetics, Early Childhood/Childhood Education, Earth Science, English, Exercise Science, Philosophy, Political Science and Sociology - who worked on both the scientific and human practices aspects of the project, Hartwick team members included majors in Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry and Mathematics. Together under the mentorship of faculty from both SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick, the students worked on a project titled, "pHish and CHIPS," to create a device that would neutralize water automatically after detecting the presence of extreme pH imbalances. "It all started with thinking about what the CHIPS and Science Act meant for upstate New York and all the investment in semiconductor manufacturers that has impacted the state," said Dr. Gallagher. Signed into law by President Biden in August 2022, the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors (CHIPS) and Science Act has accelerated the development of new semiconductor chip fabrication plants throughout the United States, with two plants planned for construction near Oneonta. Research for the team's "pHish and CHIPS" project began in April 2024. According to the team's project description, water is crucial to the manufacturing process of semiconductor chips. Prior to release or recycling of these chips, fabricators purify their wastewater by adjusting the pH level and removing contaminants called polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). With millions of gallons of water to process daily, real-time pH adjustment presents sustainability and water management challenges. Part of the iGEM students' goal was to use their knowledge of synthetic biology to design a pH-sensitive wastewater system that would "turn on" and release buffers to neutralize the water in the presence of pH extremes during the chip fabrication process. While one part of the team was concerned with the research and development of the pH device, the human practices group investigated the ethical and regulatory landscape of the project and how to best engage public interests and concerns. This included how to successfully approach corporate sponsorship, researching what human impacts are related to these types of waste streams, where current holes in regulations exist and what can be done to help close those gaps, and how the group can improve industry issues. Together, the full team worked on "pHish and CHIPS" with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Six (Ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all) and Nine (Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation) in mind. The 2024 iGEM Grand Jamboree was four days long, from Oct. 23-26, at the Paris Convention Center - a roughly 15-minute drive from the Eiffel Tower. At the conference, the team had a booth set up and coordinated times for each member to represent "pHish and CHIPS." With guidance from their faculty advisors, each student was prepared to answer questions during the judging session by being an expert on at least one part of their project. When they weren't at the booth, the students explored the other presentations at the Grand Jamboree. The iGEM team was supported by the Student Grant Program for Research and Creative Activity, the SUNY Oneonta iGEM Team Fund, funding from University Advancement, Access and Opportunity Programs, the Science and Technology General Fund, the Provost's Office, and the Caroline '67 and David D'Antonio Student Travel for Excellence Fund, which is funded by the University Foundation and the SUNY Oneonta Alumni Association through charitable gifts and grants to the university.

Thirty-six students were elected to serve in Student Association positions for the 2024-2025 academic year at SUNY Oneonta. Student Association serves as the liaison between administration, faculty and students. Elected students sit on external committees where they voice student input on decisions that affect the campus community. Senate meetings are Tuesday nights at 6:30 in the Hunt Union Waterfront. The Student Association of SUNY Oneonta is dedicated to fostering and maintaining meaningful relationships between students, faculty and administration to be effective in advocating for and allocating resources towards bettering the well-being of the student body. The Student Association strives to promote an inclusive, academic and social experience that encourages student growth and participation by advancing advocacy, transparency and communication between the branches of the Student Association, the broader Oneonta community and the collective student body.

Katrina Blais, of Ferndale, NY, received a scholarship from the Association of Mathematics Teachers of New York State (AMTNYS) at a conference. Blais is majoring in Adolescence Education: Mathematics and Mathematics at SUNY Oneonta and is a member of the class of 2026. The AMTNYS scholarship is a $2,000 scholarship awarded to four students per year enrolled in a Teacher Education Program in New York State who have completed at least 18 credit hours in Mathematics. Students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.25. Awards are based on a committee evaluation of each student's achievement throughout their academic program and their involvement with and contributions to their school and the mathematics community. Blais was encouraged to apply for the AMTNYS scholarship by Dr. Toke Knudsen, professor of mathematics at SUNY Oneonta, who wrote a letter of support for Blais.

SUNY Oneonta awarded nearly $22,000 in grant funding to support students pursuing internships during the fall 2024 semester. The grant program aims to make internship experiences more accessible by helping defray costs such as transportation, living expenses, technology, etc. 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 Planning and Networking 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. As part of the Drive for 135 initiative, the SUNY Oneonta Alumni Association and the Career Planning and Networking Center invite alumni to submit internship opportunities that will allow current and future students to gain critical real-world experiences. Through this initiative, SUNY Oneonta hopes alumni will help secure 135 new or recommitted internship opportunities for students. Alumni can support this initiative by offering internship opportunities within their organizations or networks. While we cannot guarantee student applications for every position, your contributions are vital to their success. Hosting organizations will have the responsibility of reviewing applications, conducting interviews and selecting interns from the pool of eligible students.

On Thursday, Oct. 24, the SUNY Oneonta Mask and Hammer Theatre Club presented "Proof," a play written by American playwright and screenwriter David Auburn. This gripping drama navigates the intricate intersections of genius, family and mental health. When a brilliant mathematician passes away, his daughter, Catherine, must confront not only her own precarious grip on sanity but also the shadow of her father's legacy. As secrets unravel and truths emerge, "Proof" asks, "Who inherits brilliance, and at what cost?" "Proof" won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The production of "Proof" was performed in the Hamblin Theatre at SUNY Oneonta from Thursday to Saturday, Oct. 24-26, at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday, Oct. 27, at 2 p.m. Information about future shows performed by the Mask and Hammer Theatre Club and the SUNY Oneonta Theatre Department can be viewed online at https://suny.oneonta.edu/theatre-department/season-shows.

State University of New York Chancellor John B. King, Jr. and Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado visited campus on Sept. 18 to officially launch the Empire State Service Corps, share good news about the initiative, and celebrate SUNY Oneonta's record student participation in the program. Announced by Governor Kathy Hochul in May as the sixth proposal from her 2024 State of the State agenda, the Empire State Service Corps-spearheaded by Delgado and SUNY-aims to increase civic and public service opportunities for students by creating paid service positions for more than 500 students across the SUNY system. The program is funded by a $2.75 million expansion of community service endeavors. King and Delgado met with University President Alberto Cardelle, students in the inaugural class and campus coordinators for a roundtable discussion and news conference, announcing that the Empire State Service Corps has been formally accepted as an AmeriCorps partner. This means that, upon completion, participating students will be considered AmeriCorps alumni and be eligible for the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, a scholarship they can use for graduate school or to repay student loans. "National and community service has the power to unite New Yorkers, address pressing social issues, and improve the lives of those who participate in it," Delgado said. "Today we celebrate the launch of the Empire State Service Corps, which will, in its first year, create 500 new meaningful, paid service opportunities for SUNY students while addressing critical community needs. I am grateful for Governor Hochul's leadership in establishing the new Office of Service and Civic Engagement, which will expand and enhance service opportunities across New York State, to make service more accessible, inclusive, and widespread. The Empire State Service Corps is a wonderful first step toward expanding service opportunities and creating a stronger, more unified and resilient state." SUNY Oneonta has 48 Empire State Service Corps student members, the most of any participating SUNY. Students begin their assignments in September in a variety of high-need areas such as K-12 tutoring, SNAP and basic need outreach, peer mental health, sustainability, anti-hate and anti-bias prevention, nonpartisan civic engagement, and FAFSA completion. Local site assignments include the Salvation Army, Oneonta City School District, Village of Cooperstown and Gilbert Lake State Park, to name a few. Students will perform 300 paid public service hours over a year. "Making a difference by serving others is at the heart of our mission at SUNY Oneonta," said President Alberto Cardelle. "We appreciate the paid public service opportunities made possible through this effort, championed by the Governor's Office and SUNY. I am proud that our students responded to this call to serve Oneonta and the surrounding region so enthusiastically."

SUNY Oneonta students were recognized for attaining gold-level leadership milestones in the fall 2024 semester through the university's Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program. LEAD@Oneonta is a comprehensive leadership program based on current research and guidelines from the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education. All students can choose to participate in the LEAD program, which aims to better prepare them for life after earning their degree by providing a comprehensive picture of leadership and the skills needed to be a good leader. Students can attain a silver, gold or platinum level. To reach each level, students must meet a mix of programmatic and experiential leadership requirements, including completion of online courses, attendance at educational events, and membership and leadership in one or more of SUNY Oneonta's 100+ student-run clubs and organizations. Completing a leadership level is recognized on campus as a credential that can be used, for example, when running for office or applying for STEP (Student Travel for Excellence Program) funding. The program also provides students with a leadership record that can be submitted to potential employers.

Twenty-five SUNY Oneonta students are studying abroad during the fall 2024 semester through programs offered by the university. SUNY Oneonta offers summer and semester programs through study abroad and exchange international partner universities and many short-term faculty-led programs through the Office of Global Education (OGE). Of the available programs, these students are studying abroad at the American College of Greece in Greece, Seinan Gakuin University in Japan, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and Yonsei University Mirae Campus in South Korea, Instituto Lorenzo de' Medici and John Cabot University in Italy, Univesitat Politecnica de Valencia, Universidad de Granada Centro de Lenguas Modernas, University of Salamanca, University of Barcelona, University of Granada and Study in Valencia in Spain, Study in Portugal Network (SiPN), Linneaus University in Sweden, Bond University in Australia and University of Toulouse - Jean Jaures in France. Thirteen students received scholarships from SUNY Oneonta to study abroad, including the Bill and Khuki Woolever Scholarship, Caroline Turner '53 Study Abroad Scholarship, David '77 and Nancy Frick Global Connections Scholarship, David Daly '82 & Arthur Dauria Scholarship for International Travel, Gary '71 and Pamela '73 Tutty Study Abroad Scholarship, Gerald J. Ferrante '77 Scholarship in Memory of Margaret A. Ferrante, Julia D. Galusha '71, '75 Endowed Fund for Global Connectedness, Klaritch Family International Education Scholarship, Tracey (Wolf) '86 & Keith '87 Drayer Annual Fund for Global Experiential Learning and the Global Connectedness Fund. One student received a scholarship from their study abroad university after being nominated by SUNY Oneonta. More than 20 scholarships were established by the SUNY Oneonta Foundation to provide support for students who might otherwise not have the financial means to study abroad. Scholarships are made possible through gifts from alumni, faculty, staff and community members, and are awarded each semester to qualifying students.

SUNY Oneonta's Hunt Union Ballroom was transformed into a high-energy assembly line of beans, rice, spices, bags and recipe cards on Saturday, Sept. 7, as more than 50 student volunteers packed 25,602 meals to be donated to 22 Otsego County food banks. The students' efforts are part of a larger goal organized by 9/11 Day, a national nonprofit that founded the federally recognized September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. With grant funding from AmeriCorps, 9/11 Day is supporting service activities for college-age students. SUNY Oneonta is one of 11 college campuses across the country working together to pack nearly 1 million nonperishable meal kits for those in need in their local communities. "It's been an awesome privilege to be a part of this," said Samuel Cox, Operations Manager for the Pack Shack, an organization that partnered with 9/11 Day to work with college students across the country on the meal-packing project. The Pack Shack sent SUNY Oneonta a sampling of the pre-packaged meals ahead of time, and staff from Sodexo (the university's dining service provider) cooked up a tray of the meals so that at the end of the event, the volunteers got to taste the meal they were packing. SUNY Oneonta's service day was led by the university's Center for Volunteerism and Community Engagement, which organizes large community service events and connects students with service learning and volunteer opportunities in the region throughout the year. "By the end of the day, we will have packed 123 boxes of meals to distribute to people in need in our community through the Otsego County Hunger Coalition," said Linda Drake, Executive Director of the CVCE. "This is the first time we have done a project like this, and it's been a wonderful experience seeing so many students having fun while supporting a great cause." Over the past 23 years, the 9/11 Day nonprofit has transformed the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks into the largest annual day of service in American history, now recognized under federal law. The mission of 9/11 Day is to inspire millions of Americans to rekindle the spirit of unity and compassion that arose in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, and to encourage good deeds and other acts of service in tribute to the 9/11 victims, survivors, first responders and members of the military who rose in service in response to the attacks.

Pitching tents, cooking and camping under the starry night sky, jumping into swimming holes, hiking and seeing the geology of the Adirondack Region first-hand? All in a day's work during this year's GEOFYRST trip, an immersive outdoor experience for new SUNY Oneonta students. Fourteen first-year SUNY Oneonta students participated in GEOFYRST (Geologic Experience Outdoors: First-Year Regional Summer Trip), a week-long, one-credit, pre-semester field experience for incoming students. While exploring New York and the Northeast from Aug. 15-21, students were introduced to various geologic materials, landscapes and field technologies to understand our planet better. They were back in time for the first day of classes on Aug. 26. The annual trip, which began in 2007, is open to all first-year students, regardless of major. Before any other students move onto campus, GEOFYRST students are immersed and engaged in the outdoors, building friendships and connections and gaining an appreciation of geology and, in turn, the Earth.

The Personal Finance Achievement Award is given to students through the SUNY Oneonta financial wellness program, Making Cent$. Making Cent$ staff, interns and volunteers put together numerous events and activities that help students improve their proficiency with financial literacy. Students participating in Making Cent$ earn credit for Making InCENTive$, which leads them to the Personal Finance Achievement Award. This award recognizes a student's dedication to improving financial literacy by completing core activities in six personal finance categories and continually participating in the program. After finishing the Making InCENTive$ path, students complete an exit interview during their final semester to help improve the Making Cent$ program, earn their Personal Finance Achievement Award in receive a Making Cent$ graduation cord.

Two-hundred nineteen SUNY Oneonta graduate students completed the requirements for a master's degree, Certificate of Advanced Study, or Advanced Certificate Program following the Spring 2024 semester. Family, friends, faculty and staff gathered on campus to celebrate the scholars, athletes, activists, artists and leaders who make up SUNY Oneonta's Class of 2024 during Spring Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 18.

Two hundred fifty-seven SUNY Oneonta students earned Provost's List honors for the spring 2024 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.

More than 1,100 SUNY Oneonta students earned Dean's List honors for the spring 2024 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.

Five SUNY Oneonta students were inducted into the Triota, Delta Beta Chapter, Honor Society during an induction ceremony on May 3. Triota (Iota Iota Iota) is a national honor society dedicated to recognizing and encouraging academic excellence in Women's and Gender Studies. With more than 50 chapters nationwide, the Triota Honor Society strives to maintain the feminist values central to Women's and Gender Studies by encouraging diversity, egalitarianism and a supportive academic environment for all students. SUNY Oneonta students must complete six credit hours in Women's and Gender Studies courses and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 to be inducted into the Triota Honor Society.

More than 50 SUNY Oneonta students received an Academic Achievement Award on May 8, 2024, during the 36th 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.

Twenty students in SUNY Oneonta's Marketing Club, OnMark, traveled to New Orleans to attend the 2024 American Marketing Association's Annual International Collegiate Conference, where they ranked among the Top 15 Collegiate Chapters of the Year. OnMark was ranked No. 11 out of more than 350 competing colleges and universities. Schools are judged based on their accomplishments, with each chapter submitting an annual report detailing their fundraiser events, membership drives, community service, career development workshops, and other AMA competitions in which the club participated throughout the year.

The SUNY Oneonta Men's and Women's Track & Field teams had five individuals and two relays receive All-SUNYAC honors at the SUNYAC Championships on Feb. 23-24. Senior Aidan Kelly was the SUNYAC Champion in the men's heptathlon. Senior Isabella Fabrizio earned All-Conference in the women's shot put and weight throw, junior Marco Alter in the men's weight throw, senior Jonthomas Bierman in the 800-meter run, and senior Ejim Nnate in the 60-meter hurdles. The Red Dragons won both the men's and women's distance medley relays.

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.

Gideon Dean of Berlin, MD, received three International Student Broadcasting Championship (ISBC) awards for his work in radio. The ISBC competition allows students to pursue networking opportunities, talent and brand development, and promising career prospects within the media industry. The competition covers radio broadcasting, video and digital content creation, and e-sports broadcasting, focusing on quality over quantity. Dean is studying Music Industry at SUNY Oneonta, pursuing a career in country music radio. The ISBC awards he won were Rising Star, Best Specialty Show and Best Social Media Execution. Rising Star is given to "outstanding individuals who excel in their chosen field and demonstrate improvement over time." Dean received this award for his portfolio of work in radio. Dean received Best Specialty Show for his WONY (student radio) program, "Equal Play." His show is the station's only country music program, highlighting the women of country music. The award is given to "niche programming judged on creativity, listener interaction, social media content and production values all contributing to quality programming." Best Social Media Execution is awarded to "a social media page that shows the ability to connect with its audience through quality media content and interactions." Dean runs his social media page, US Radio Updater, with a student from San Diego State University. US Radio Updater is tied for this category with the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines.

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.

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.