SUNY Oneonta

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.

Martina Ibrahim, of Malverne, NY, has been selected as the Spiritual Wellness Ambassador within the Office of Student Experience at SUNY Oneonta for the 2025-26 academic year as part of the Empire State Service Corps cohort. In this role, Ibrahim supports the holistic well-being of students through spirituality, religious literacy and personal growth. She manages the Interfaith Prayer and Reflection Space, assists the Interfaith Student Council and researches best practices for spiritual wellness on college campuses. Beyond these responsibilities, Ibrahim serves as Vice President of the Interfaith Council and emphasizes writing and crafting as practices that promote personal and spiritual well-being.

Two SUNY Oneonta students, Jasmine Smallwood and Kianny Lugo, serve as Family Engagement Ambassadors within the Office of Student Experience at SUNY Oneonta as part of the 2025-26 Empire State Service Corps cohort. In their roles, they create and publish informational articles for the Families@Oneonta portal, a central hub that provides campus updates, resources and important information for SUNY Oneonta families. This semester, they also launched and began moderating new discussion boards on the portal, enabling them to engage directly with families virtually by answering questions and sharing updates. They also assist with major family-focused programs, including Family Weekend and Family Spring Fling. During this year's Family Weekend, which saw record-breaking attendance, the Family Engagement Ambassadors played a key role in supporting families by hosting events, answering questions and connecting with them throughout the weekend.

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."