SUNY Oneonta

SUNY Oneonta's Music Industry students continued a longstanding tradition in late January, touring the world's largest not-for-profit music expo and trade show, The NAMM Show, in Anaheim, Calif. The NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) Show, held Jan. 20-24 at the Anaheim Convention Center, brought together leaders, innovators, experts, artists and creators from the music products, pro audio and sound, and entertainment technology industries for a rousing reunion. Twenty-three SUNY Oneonta Music Industry majors and Music Industry Club members traveled with Associate Professor Paul Carter and Adjunct Lecturer Mark Pawkett to Anaheim for three days of product introductions and demonstrations, educational sessions and panel discussions, and-perhaps most importantly-networking and inspiration. "I think the highlight of my trip was genuinely taking in the people around me," said Madeline Blieden, a Music Industry major. "It was refreshing and inspiring to see how many people shared my passion for music and how expressive they were!" Students enjoyed special events, live music and celebrity appearances while exploring the latest industry trends through demonstrations, panel discussions and educational sessions on modern marketing techniques. They also tested new products from over 5,400 brands, including Roland electronic drum sets, Ernie Ball Music Man guitars and cutting-edge audio editing software. Highlights included meeting artists like Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Mike Dirnt (Green Day), Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers), Les Claypool (Primus), and Marcus Miller. One session Blieden attended was presented by singer-songwriter Charlie Puth, where he provided insight into his music creation and production process. The session offered a detailed look at how a successful songwriter and producer transforms inspiration into a finished product, giving attendees valuable perspective on the creative and technical aspects of the industry. "We also attended a panelist discussion with some of the most well-respected session musicians in the business, like bassist Leland Sklar and drummer Rick Marotta," said Blieden. "There was also a panelist discussion with major names in the record business like Fab Dupont and Rick Beato! It was so inspiring to listen to such highly successful and passionate musicians and executives discuss their careers!" "This trip always provides a wonderful opportunity for students to meet music industry professionals, hear inspiring presentations and see great performances," said Carter. "There is an invaluable component to the trip where students meet others who have been in their shoes, making it easier for them to stay connected long after NAMM concludes." Faculty in SUNY Oneonta's Music Department have taken students to The NAMM Show for 30 years. The NAMM trip was made possible, in part, by support from the Caroline ('67) and David D'Antonio Student Travel for Excellence Fund.

In the fall 2025 semester, the SUNY Oneonta Investment Management Team, consisting of Tudor Wolfson, Colby D'Andria and Nicholas Tyburczy advised by Assistant Professor of Finance Dr. Catalina Hurwitz, participated in the 2025 Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge. This international competition involved more than 2,600 student teams of three-to-five members and a faculty advisor from 50 countries using the Bloomberg Terminal for investment education. Teams received a virtual $1 million and had five weeks, from Oct. 13 to Nov. 15, to develop investment strategies. Dr. Hurwitz praised the competition for enhancing students' understanding of economic stability, global events and market trends within a short time. Department Chair Dr. Izabella Lokshina highlighted the advantage gained through practical experience using the Bloomberg Terminal for real-world market analysis.

Joslyn Sperry, of Norwalk, IA, has completed an experiential learning project titled "Historic Baking & Cooking Workshop: Development of 2026 Programming" at SUNY Oneonta. Throughout the calendar year, SUNY Oneonta students put their classroom knowledge into action as they complete a wide range of experiential learning projects across every academic discipline. Whether studying fashion trends, conducting biological research, analyzing historical archives, working in professional accounting settings or participating in community-based fieldwork, students are gaining real-world experience that prepares them for career success. These opportunities are supported through the university's Experiential Learning Center, located on the main floor of the Hunt Union. The center connects students with internships, research opportunities, global education experiences, volunteer programs and sustainability initiatives. By emphasizing hands-on engagement and practical skill development, the center ensures that experiential learning is woven into every major at SUNY Oneonta. "This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to be the Living History intern at Old World Wisconsin in Eagle, WI. My internship project centered around the implementation of the summer 2025 Historic Cooking Workshop for the public and researching, planning, budgeting, and training for a new Historic Cooking Workshop for summer 2026," said Sperry, who is studying Museum Studies. "This document will be used as the handout for visitors who pay to participate in the summer 2026 Historic Baking and Cooking Workshop at Old World Wisconsin. It includes a short schedule, recipes, a short passage to give context to the recipes, and an heirloom measurement chart. "This summer, I taught the five offered sessions of the Historic Baking and Cooking Workshop at Old World Wisconsin. In addition, I used past resources for these sessions and other programming to develop the materials and lesson plan for next summer's workshop. I also had the amazing opportunity to share my knowledge of the past on property as a historic interpreter in various sites. This gave me the chance to learn about historic textile production by dyeing and mordanting wool yarn, spinning wool into yarn, and weaving on an antique German floor loom. "Over the summer, I learned what makes a successful hands on education program through teaching the cooking workshops. Through observing and researching the target markets of Old World Wisconsin, I was able to tailor the development of next summer's workshop to these audiences. In addition, I observed the methods of managing a museum across a large property at OWW and the benefits and challenges of being part of a larger state organization. All of this and more will help me moving forward in my career in the living history field and has helped me to develop valuable connections to continue to guide me through my future." Students benefit from a robust network of campus offices housed within the Experiential Learning Center. The Career Planning and Networking Center helps students secure internships in locations such as New York City, Washington, D.C., Albany and Los Angeles, as well as with local businesses and nonprofits. The Office of Global Education offers programs ranging from 10-day faculty-led trips to full-year study abroad experiences, while the Office of Student Research and Creative Activity supports student research through grants and opportunities to present at the annual Student Research and Creative Activity Showcase. SUNY Oneonta invests heavily in helping students access these opportunities. Each year, the university awards more than $120,000 in grants to support student research, internships and travel to professional conferences. In addition, 23 study abroad and experiential scholarships help students participate in faculty-led programs, national competitions and industry events.

One hundred ninety-six SUNY Oneonta students completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree following the fall 2025 semester. Graduates were honored and recognized during the Fall Commencement, held Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025, 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, 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.

Eight SUNY Oneonta students were selected to serve as Dragon Guides during the spring 2026 semester. In addition to leading activities for new students and their parents during 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 Move-in, Orientation, and Welcome Programs and the Office of Student Experience, the Dragon Guides reach out to their mentees throughout their first year at the university to revisit their goals from orientation and offer support in achieving them. They also sponsor connection groups for new students to participate in, which will encourage and support engagement.

Thirteen SUNY Oneonta students participated in the Oneonta Future Alumni Network program during the fall 2025 semester. The Oneonta Future Alumni Network offers students a unique opportunity to focus on networking, volunteering and event planning while building valuable connections with alumni and university partners. Members play an active role in event assistance, helping to organize and support a variety of events hosted by the SUNY Oneonta Division of University Advancement. Through their involvement, students can earn service hours and credit for the university's Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program, all while gaining hands-on experience and expanding their professional networks. The Oneonta Future Alumni Network provides a supportive environment for students to develop crucial skills, collaborate with peers, and cultivate lasting relationships with alumni that will benefit their careers post-graduation.

Three hundred and twenty-one SUNY Oneonta students earned Provost's List honors for the fall 2025 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.

One thousand two hundred ninety-nine SUNY Oneonta students earned Dean's List honors for the fall 2025 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.

Sixty-six SUNY Oneonta students are participating in the second class of Empire State Service Corps (ESSC) members during the 2025-2026 academic year. More than 500 students from 45 SUNY campus are participating in the program, and the number of applicants outpaced the number of available spots at 4:1. SUNY Oneonta has the highest number of participating students of any SUNY campus. The Empire State Service Corps, championed by Governor Kathy Hochul and funded by $2.75 million in the FY25 Enacted State budget, is New York State's largest AmeriCorps program. As a recognized AmeriCorps program, participating students who complete 300 service hours are also eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award of up to $1,500 for their service. "The Empire State Service Corps program empowers our students to take on civics and service opportunities that benefit all New Yorkers. Communities throughout the state are enriched, and SUNY students receive real-world experience as they work to improve lives through this program," SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. said during a visit to Hudson Valley Community College in October. "I applaud every member of our Empire State Service Corps, and the staff and faculty who support them as they work to make a difference in their on- and off-campus communities." Students began their assignments in September in a variety of high-need areas that include K-12 education, SNAP and basic need outreach, peer mental health, sustainability, nonpartisan civic engagement and FAFSA completion. New to the program this year, students are also completing in early childhood education, student success coaching and veterans' affairs outreach. Local site assignments include the Salvation Army, Oneonta City School District, Village of Cooperstown and Gilbert Lake State Park, to name a few. The first cohort of Empire State Service Corps and Empire State Summer Service Corps members logged a combined 102,343 service hours during the 2024-25 program, serving 74,638 New Yorkers. Empire State Summer Service Corps members also supported 200 new SNAP application submissions during this year's summer session.

Twenty-five SUNY Oneonta students were inducted into the Alpha Chi honor society on Wednesday, Nov. 12, during a ceremony held at the Otsego Grille at the Morris Conference Center. Among the inducted students were 13 undergraduate and 12 graduate students. For undergraduate inductees, students must be a junior or senior, have a GPA of 3.875 or higher and show good character. For graduate inductees, students must have 15 or more credits, a 4.0 GPA and show good character. Since 1922 Alpha Chi National College Honor Society has distinguished itself as one of the top national honor societies in the nation. Alpha Chi's mission is to recognize and promote academic excellence among college and university students, and by encouraging a spirit of service and leadership, to nurture those elements of character that make scholarship effective for good. Now with 500,000 alumni, some 300 chapters across 45 states and 10,000 new members annually, Alpha Chi recognizes exceptional student scholars and unites them to channel creativity and curiosity into scholarship that empowers a life of service.

Seventy-four SUNY Oneonta students received the Richard Siegfried Student Award in the fall 2025 semester for earning a total GPA of 3.9 or higher. To be eligible for the award, a student who meets the GPA requirement must either be a full-time first-year or transfer student. Students received the award on Nov. 20 following the annual Richard Siegfried Junior Faculty Prize for Academic Excellence Lecture, titled "In the Shadow of Giants: What animal fossils reveal about human origins," at the Morris Conference Center on campus. The Siegfried Junior Faculty Prize for Academic Excellence is named in memory of Richard K. Siegfried, SUNY Oneonta Professor of Theatre (1958-1995). Professor Siegfried (or Sieg, as generations of students fondly called him) epitomized excellence in his academic life, through imagination, meticulous scholarship and discipline, and through his expectation of the same pursuit of excellence in his students and colleagues. His dedication brought excellence to his work in such historical theater worlds as Aristophanes, Moliere, Ibsen, or Chekhov, to his rigorous study of the skills of voice and movement, and to his leadership in the imaginative creativity of improvisation. In the latter half of his professional career, Sieg embarked in a new direction, devoting his research to working directly with theater artists who were testing the limits of theatrical creativity, so that he might enrich his work with his own students. This new study led to special enthusiasm for artists whose work merged theater goals with humanitarian goals. Soon, more and more of his own productions, whether of the classics or the avant garde, came to embody his commitment to humanitarian causes. Sieg, with his wife Alice, began to apply theatrical skills, both traditional ones and those newly acquired, to the area of social change. Students and community members alike soon joined him in bringing this new theater to the streets to raise public awareness, most memorable in the huge puppets he designed to dominate Oneonta's landscape in peace rallies or on Hiroshima Day. Sieg was himself instrumental in establishing a sister city relationship between Oneonta and Dipilto, Nicarague, encouraging community members to join him in helping rebuild that city. Indeed, Richard Siegfried's devotion to academic excellence and to humanitarian integrity merged in him, until he became a conscience for our community, a voice backed by action, moving against injustice and violations of human dignity at home and abroad.

SUNY Oneonta awarded $31,100 in grant funding to support 38 students pursuing internships during the fall 2025 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 that allow them to explore their field of interest while gaining valuable experience to prepare for life after graduation. Internships are among the 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.

For its final production of the fall 2025 semester, the SUNY Oneonta Theatre Department presented "Scapino" with 21 students. "Scapino" is a physical farce comedy adapted by Frank Dunlop and Jim Dale from Moliere's 1671 play "Les Fourberies de Scapin." Set in present-day Naples, Ottavio and Leandro are a couple of friends whose fathers have had to go away on a business trip, leaving their sons in the care of guardians, Scapino and Sylvestro. During his father's absence, Ottavio fell in love with and married the pretty Giacinta. Now he learns his father has returned with plans to "marry him off." A series of wild plots and counterplots unfold as Ottavio seeks Scapino's help. "We decided on this show because it allows the students to be exposed to a very specific acting style, Commedia dell'Arte," said Kiara Pipino, Associate Professor of Acting, Directing and Movement. "To that end, we also secured a grant so that we could invite a specialist in the field, Mace Perlman, to be part of the production and to teach a Commedia dell'Arte workshop to our student body." Directed by Pipino, "Scapino" was a joint performance made possible by the SUNY Oneonta Theatre Department's faculty and staff and students from the Mask and Hammer Theatre Club. Faculty, staff and students made up the show's crew, while the cast is made up of students and guest artist Mace Perlman.

During the fall 2025 semester, the SUNY Oneonta Career Planning and Networking Center awarded a total of $91,800 to 64 students from Incremental Funds issued to the university by the State University of New York system. Students received funding for credit-bearing, unpaid internships to help offset the costs associated with completing unpaid internships on and off campus. The Career Planning and Networking Center on campus offers career counseling and helps students find and secure internships in their fields of study. To help with the application and registration process, the Career Planning and Networking Center hired Internship Facilitators in 2024 to assist students, faculty and staff. SUNY Oneonta is committed to helping students pursue experiential learning opportunities that allow them to explore their field of interest while gaining valuable experience to prepare for life after graduation. Internships are among the 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.

Five SUNY Oneonta students volunteered as yoga instructors during an eight-week EDD Adaptive Sports class during the fall 2025 semester. The class, held in the Alumni Field House dance studio on campus, saw roughly 10 EDD athletes in attendance. Students helped weekly with set up, breakdown and supporting the athletes. "I greatly enjoyed watching the athletes interact with the students," said Dr. Katherine Christison, assistant professor of exercise science and the class instructor. "Watching and mirroring the students' poses helped the athletes feel comfortable and confident with their own skills."

Twenty-four SUNY Oneonta students are studying abroad during the fall 2025 semester through programs offered by the university. SUNY Oneonta offers summer and semester programs through study abroad and exchange with 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 and Tokyo Metropolitan University in Japan, Hanze Univ. of Applied Sciences in the Netherlands, Ludwigsburg University in Germany, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in South Korea, Instituto Lorenzo de' Medici and Florence University of the Arts in Italy, University of Albany in Valencia (AIP), University of Barcelona and University of Granada in Spain, University of Westminster, Leeds University and Manchester Metropolitan in the United Kingdom and Universite de la Rochelle in France. Eleven students received scholarships from SUNY Oneonta to study abroad, including the Bill & Khuki Woolever Scholarship, Caroline Turner '53 Study Abroad Scholarship, Carrie Krumholtz-Liebman '92 Scholarship AND Klaritch Family International Education Scholarship, College at Oneonta Foundation 30th Anniversary Scholarship, David '77 and Nancy Frick Global Connections Scholarship, David Daly '82 & Arthur Dauria Scholarship for International Travel, Dr. Warren & Mrs. Rita Wellman Scholarship for Study Abroad, Gary '71 and Pamela '73 Tutty Study Abroad Scholarship and Nancy E. Wolters Endowed Scholarship. 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.

Thirty-five students were elected to serve in Student Association positions for the 2025-2026 academic year at SUNY Oneonta. The Student Association serves as the liaison between the administration, faculty and students. Elected students sit on external committees where they voice student input on decisions that affect the campus community. 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.

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.

Six SUNY Oneonta students were immersed in hands-on, grant-funded learning experiences abroad this summer in subjects ranging from biology to music under the guidance of faculty mentors. The trips were made possible by the Tyler Center for Global Studies, which awarded a $20,000 grant to SUNY Oneonta to fund student international research and creative activities. SUNY Oneonta was among 12 universities across the country to be selected by the Tyler Center for Global Studies. SUNY Oneonta opened applications to all students and selected a cohort of six students as its first class of Tyler Fellows. Each student chose a different destination, spending just under a week to more than a month engaged in their project. Among their SUNY Oneonta faculty mentors were Assistant Professor of Photography Wesley Bernard, Associate Professor of Spanish Maria Cristina Montoya, Associate Professor of Music Adam Kent and Associate Professor of Biology Kiyoko Yokota. Now back on campus, students have been working on personal reflections about their travels and projects, networking with their peers in the program and will participate in a virtual Tyler Fellowship conference on Nov. 20. All six Tyler Fellows also presented their research during the Student Research and Creative Activity Summer Showcase on campus in the Hunt Union International Lounge on Sept. 23. Read the full story: https://suny.oneonta.edu/news/students-receive-new-grant-travel-abroad-projects

Sixty-seven recent SUNY Oneonta alumni are continuing their education at the university through graduate programs after earning their bachelor's degree in December 2024, May 2025 or August 2025. These students began their graduate studies at the start of the summer 2025 term or will begin in the fall 2025 semester. SUNY Oneonta offers 14 graduate programs that are in person, online or a mix. Students can enroll in master's degree or certificate programs that include Biology, Lake Management, Museum Studies, Nutrition and Dietetics, Literacy Education, Educational Technology, School Counseling and Special Education. SUNY Oneonta's graduate programs frequently receive external recognition for quality, affordability and career outcomes, including: No. 114 on U.S. News and World Report's 2025 list of the nation's "Best Online Master's in Education Programs." No. 1 on Intelligent.com's list of the "Best Online Master's in Reading and Literacy Programs of 2025." No. 11 on TheEdAdvocate.org's list of "2023 Best Online Master's In Reading Education Programs" in the country. No. 2 in the nation on the OnlineMastersDegrees.org list of "Top Nutrition Master's Programs Online for 2024." No. 3 in the nation on EduMed.org's 2024-25 list of "Best Online Nutrition Master's Degrees." No. 7 in the nation on OnlineU's "2025 Best Master's Degrees in Nutrition Online." In addition to highly competitive tuition rates and graduate student scholarships, many programs offer Graduate and Teaching Assistantships, which include tuition waivers or stipends. SUNY Oneonta graduate students develop meaningful relationships with outstanding, accessible faculty who are experts in their fields, experienced, caring teachers and advocates for their students' successes. After completing their degree program, graduates join a network of successful alumni whose experiences at SUNY Oneonta opened new doors, fostered personal and professional growth and enriched their careers.

This summer, SUNY Oneonta's sunny, quiet campus quad was filled with the buzz of 145 accepted students arriving early to learn what to expect as new first-year students. But this was no tour, these students moved into the residence halls for four weeks. Designed to make the huge transition to college a little less intimidating, the AOP (Access and Opportunity Program) Summer Academy has been welcoming new students since the 1990s. From morning to night, the students' days are designed to familiarize them with collegiate academic and social expectations, school policies, student services and learning resources at SUNY Oneonta. Throughout the week, there were presentations and tours of departments including Financial Aid, Counseling, Academic Advisement, Career Planning & Networking, Global Education and Student Accounts. Students were able to ask questions about internships, studying abroad and course selections. See the full story: https://suny.oneonta.edu/news/summer-academy-students-learn-secrets-success

On Wednesday, April 9, 16 SUNY Oneonta students volunteered at the Oneonta Boys and Girls Club (OBGC) during "Work Together Wednesday," a national event that is part of Week of the Young Child. Work Together Wednesday celebrates the value of collaboration and teamwork through activities that encourage children to engage in group projects and puzzles. SUNY Oneonta student volunteers, including NCAA Division III athletes and students from a variety of academic programs, joined in to support the event. This initiative coincided with NCAA Division III Week, a time when the contributions of student-athletes and the broader impact of Division III athletics are recognized and celebrated. Oneonta Public Transit brought nearly 120 children from the Bugbee Children's Center and Oneonta YMCA to the OBGC for the community event. Catholic Charities, the local Child Care Resource and Referral Agency for Bugbee Children's Center, sponsored the event.

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.

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.