SUNY Oneonta

Twelve geology students from SUNY Oneonta recently spent a week-and-a-half in California developing their field mapping skills and putting them to use in the desert and beyond. The week-and-a-half-long trip was part of the upper-level course Field Geology of Plate Boundaries, and students were accompanied by their professor, Dr. Keith Brunstad. It was an opportunity for students to use what they have learned about geologic mapping in prior coursework in a real-world context and build confidence and experience in that area. Students spent several days mapping geologic layers that have been warped and broken in Rainbow Basin in the Mojave desert, near Barstow, California. Amid the eroding mountains and expansive views, students practiced recording geologic observations, taking field notes and sketches, creating maps and geologic cross sections, and presenting summaries of their findings. At night, they camped out, sleeping in tents and cooking their own food. The last few days of the trip were spent at University of California - Riverside's Sweeney Granite Mountains Research Station, which is located in the Mojave National Preserve. There, students got to climb volcanoes and into lava tubes and visit dry lakes where salt is being mined.

Eight SUNY Oneonta students participating in the Pine Lake Archaeological Field School this summer are seeing firsthand what it would be like to work as archeologists. The immersive learning experience takes students to Hartwick College's Pine Lake Environmental Campus in West Davenport, about eight miles from SUNY Oneonta. There, they spend about eight hours a day learning basic methods in field archaeology, including surveying and excavating techniques, mapping and laboratory analysis. The summer program, which is offered every other year, is a collaborative effort of SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick, with SUNY Oneonta providing most of the equipment. Students can earn six credits by taking the summer course.

A book featuring autobiographical vignettes by 29 Latino SUNY Oneonta students and recent alumni won two awards at the Latino Literacy Now's International Latino Book Awards. Titled "Mi vida en los Estados Unidos, jovenes hispanohablantes cuentan sus experiencias" ("My Life in the United States, Young Hispanic Heritage Language Speakers Write About Their Experiences"), the book is a collection of common experiences growing up with two languages and two cultures, and similar life struggles.

Thirteen students studied the Hudson River from source to sea during a unique pre-semester field experience from Aug. 21-27. Led by Michael Koch, associate professor of philosophy, and Tyra Olstad, assistant professor of geography and environmental sustainability, the group camped, hiked and paddled in and around the Hudson, starting in the Adirondacks and ending in New York City.

Ten students participated in GEOFYRST (Geologic Experience Outdoors: the First Year Regional Summer Trip), SUNY Oneonta's six-day pre-semester geology field trip for new students, from Aug. 18-24. Now in its10th year, GEOFYRST gives freshmen their first real field experience--and a chance to bond with other new students, faculty and upperclassmen while hiking, setting up tents and roasting marshmallows.

Ten SUNY Oneonta students learned firsthand about the complex issues associated with immigration during a five-day cultural immersion program on the U.S./Mexico border this spring.

More than a dozen SUNY Oneonta students and recent graduates got an inside look at the presidential election process by hitting the campaign trail for various candidates in the final days leading up to the New Hampshire primary.

Fifteen SUNY Oneonta political science students got an inside look at the presidential election process during a five-day trip to New Hampshire that culminated Feb. 9 with the first-in-the-nation primary. The trip is part of a semester-long course, POLS 216: Presidential Election Campaigns, taught by Associate Professor of Political Science Gina Keel. While in New Hampshire, students attended candidate rallies, town hall meetings and other events, witnessing firsthand the campaigning and media frenzy in the last days before the primary.

Seven SUNY Oneonta students and recent graduates collaborated with Art Department Lecturer Janet Wentworth to create "Community Heroes in Portraiture," a multimedia exhibition commemorating the lives of more than 20 "unsung heroes" in Otsego and Delaware counties. The exhibition features 10 original oil portraits by Wentworth, accompanied by the students' photographs, videos, historical and biographical writings, and drawings.

An exhibition of graphic design work by SUNY Oneonta senior Palden Sherpa is on display at the Project Space Gallery in the college's Fine Arts Center.

SUNY Oneonta graduating senior Dustin Tropp of Pittsburgh, Pa., recently published his first book, "Running for Local & State Office: 150+ Things You Should Know & Do To Win." Tropp, who will graduate from SUNY Oneonta on Saturday, May 16, majored in Music Industry and Business Economics, with minors in Political Science and Audio Production. Released May 1, the book is published by the Millennial Candidate Coalition, an organization Tropp co-founded.

A team of five physics and engineering majors was awarded $2,043 by the New York section of the American Physical Society for an outreach project called O-SNAP! (Oneonta Sparking New Attitudes in Physics). Under the direction of Dr. Sunil Labroo, the students will visit four Upstate New York middle schools next year to generate interest in physics and engineering fields, particularly among female and minority students.

Artwork by 72 students is featured in SUNY Oneonta's 2015 Student Juried Art Exhibition. The exhibition, featuring more than 100 works by student artists, opened April 13 and runs through May 16 in the college's Martin-Mullen Art Gallery. Featured artworks were chosen from an open jury process and works entered by the art faculty. Painting, drawing, sculpture, digital print, digital video, and an assortment of mixed media make up this year's offerings.

SUNY Oneonta honored 16 recipients of the George E. Zimmerman Memorial Awards, Jean Parish Art on Campus Awards and Martin-Mullen Art Gallery Awards during a reception on Thursday, April 16. The award winners are among more than 100 student artists whose work was selected to be featured in the Annual Student Juried Art Exhibition, which opened April 13 and runs through May 16 in the college's Martin-Mullen Art Gallery.

Fourteen SUNY Oneonta students have been selected to present papers at the college's sixth annual New Critics: Undergraduate Literature and Composition Conference on Saturday, April 11. Students from 10 colleges and universities will present their scholarly work in 25 sessions at the conference, which will feature a keynote address by acclaimed critic and Guggenheim Fellow Dr. Daniel Mendelsohn.

Three SUNY Oneonta students presented papers at the college's seventh annual Undergraduate Political Science Conference on March 20, 2015. A total of 16 students from colleges throughout New York state were selected to present papers at the conference, which featured a keynote address titled "Presidents on Political Ground" by Dr. Bruce Miroff, professor of political science and Collins Fellow at the University at Albany.

An exhibition of digital photography by SUNY Oneonta junior Beth Cleveland is on display at the Project Space Gallery in the college's Fine Arts Center. Titled "Exposed," the solo show features digital photographs manipulated in Photoshop to create the sense of double exposure, challenging perspective and encouraging the viewer to look beneath the surface.

An exhibition of digital photography by SUNY Oneonta senior Rachel Gullotta is on display at the Martin-Mullen Gallery Exhibition Hall in the college's Fine Arts Center. Titled "The Four Seasons and the Night," the solo show features more than 40 11- by 14-inch photographs taken during the past three years by Gullotta, a Computer Art and Communication Studies major from Tully, NY.

An exhibition of digital photography by SUNY Oneonta junior Zena Ballas is on display at the Project Space Gallery in the college's Fine Arts Center. Titled "Zena's Phocus," the solo show features photographs taken with a film camera and developed by Ballas, along with a few digital images.

Work by several SUNY Oneonta students is featured in "Under the Glaze," an exhibition of ceramics in the college's Project Space Gallery.

Fashion research conducted by SUNY Oneonta senior Victoria Panyu has been accepted for presentation at the 2014 International Textiles & Apparel Association (ITAA) conference. Panyu, a fashion and textiles major/business communication minor from Staten Island, conducted research on online-only fashion retailers in collaboration with Dr. Hyejune Park, assistant professor of Fashion & Textiles.

David D'Antonio has been named a SUNY Oneonta Honorary Alumnus by the college's Alumni Association. This distinction is bestowed upon individuals who are not graduates of SUNY Oneonta and who have demonstrated continued and exceptional commitment and service to the college and the programs of the SUNY Oneonta Alumni Association. D'Antonio, the sole recipient of the Honorary Alumnus Award, is one of five individuals who will be honored during a Reunion Weekend ceremony on June 7.

SUNY Oneonta recently recognized 72 students who achieved certification in the college's Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program during the spring 2014 semester. LEAD@Oneonta is a comprehensive leadership program based on current research and guidelines from the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education. There are three levels of leadership certification: Silver, Gold and Platinum.

Nearly 200 SUNY Oneonta students presented original research and creative projects at the college's annual Student Research and Creative Activity Day on March 26.

Three SUNY Oneonta students presented papers at the college's 19th annual Undergraduate Political Science Conference from April 11-12. A total of 22 students from colleges across the country were selected to present papers at the conference, which featured keynote lectures titled "Mitosis & Abortion" by Dr. Douglas Lackey of Baruch College and "Remembrances: Cultural Memory as a Form of Resistance" by Dr. Taine Duncan of the University of Central Arkansas.

Seven SUNY Oneonta students presented papers at the Phi Alpha Theta NY Upper Regional Conference for History Undergraduates, hosted by SUNY Oneonta on April 12. A total of 33 students from colleges throughout the Northeast were selected to present papers at the conference, which featured a keynote address titled "History Major to History Ph.D.: Pursuing Historical Studies from Undergraduate to Graduate School" by SUNY Oneonta alumna Dr. Meagan Butler of the University of Glasgow.

Thirteen SUNY Oneonta students presented papers at the college's fifth annual New Critics: Undergraduate Literature and Composition Conference on April 19. A total of 21 students from colleges throughout New York state and as far away as Los Angeles were selected to present papers at the conference, which featured a keynote address by PEN/Jerard Award-winning creative nonfiction writer Colette Brooks.

Four SUNY Oneonta students presented papers at the college's sixth annual Undergraduate Political Science Conference on March 14. A total of 13 students from colleges throughout New York state were selected to present papers at the conference, which featured a keynote address titled "Human Rights and Chinese Investment in Africa" by Dr. Muna Ndulo, Professor of Law and Director of the Institute for African Development at Cornell University Law School.

Mifuyu Otsuka of Tokyo, Japan, is among a select group of State University of New York students chosen to receive the 2014 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence. SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher presented the awards to the students at a reception in their honor on April 2 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany.

Ashley Ly of Walton, NY, is among a select group of State University of New York students chosen to receive the 2014 SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence. SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher presented the awards to the students at a reception in their honor on April 2 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany.