SUNY Oneonta

Ava Lebid, of Yorktown Heights, NY, has completed an experiential learning project titled "Business Case Studies: Book Cover" 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. "Over the summer and beginning of the fall semester, I worked as a design intern under the supervision of Ed Beck at the SUNY Oneonta Faculty Center. The Faculty Center as part of its Open Educational Resources initiative, helps faculty publish original textbooks. SUNY Oneonta and the Fashion Institute of Technology were in the process of creating a new textbook of Fashion Business Case Studies, and I had the opportunity to create the book cover," said Lebid, who is studying Digital & Studio Art. "The final book cover design shared a balance between modern aesthetics and accessibility. A central focus of the book cover was ensuring that it followed ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) standards so that the cover would be both readable and inclusive. This meant paying close attention to text size, color contrasts, and layout. In the end, the final product combined clarity with a modern look that achieved Professor Kohan's vision. "I started the project by creating about four initial drafts, each with a different design approach. These drafts varied in color, layout and typeface. After presenting Professor Kohan with these options, she chose a design that resonated most with her. From there, I refined the chosen draft, making changes based on feedback from both Professor Kohan and Ed Beck. This back-and-forth process taught me how to respond to client needs while still applying my own creative judgment. "One of the biggest learning curves for me was working with ADA accessibility standards. I had never had to consider how design choices could impact readability for people with visual impairments or other accessibility needs since my previous projects were all personal. I learned to use online tools that test color contrast ratios to ensure that the text was legible against different backgrounds. This required me to be intentional not only with aesthetics but also with function. Beyond technical skills, I also learned about the importance of collaboration, communication, and flexibility in client-based projects. Overall, this project gave me practical experience in professional design work while also teaching me how to balance creativity with accessibility. It was rewarding to see the design evolve from rough drafts into a polished, final cover that Professor Kohan was happy with." 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.

Jessie Reed, of Niskayuna, NY, has completed an experiential learning project titled "Summer WordPress Internship" 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 worked with Faculty Center Staff and another intern to create custom WordPress themes to make portfolio sites more accessible to the average student. WordPress is the foundation for over 40% of professional websites on the internet, and SUNY Oneonta's OpenLab makes it available for students and faculty to use," said Reed, who is studying Art and Design. "We used this PowerPoint at the SUNY Oneonta Summer Research Showcase to give students and faculty a better idea of why it's beneficial to use the OpenLab. "The work we did this summer in creating pre-built themes and tutorials for the OpenLab makes creating WordPress websites even more accessible for students and staff. Most students don't spend much time working in web design, if at all, but our custom tutorials and pre-made blocks should make it much easier to introduce new users to the SUNY Oneonta Open Lab and create a functional site without too much stress or hassle. It doesn't require nearly as much time and energy as building the entire site from scratch, and makes clean and professional portfolio sites available to students who would otherwise have had to either spend hours learning the ropes or pay to have a site commissioned. Students and staff can also use the foundational skills learned through the OpenLab to create other sites. "I started out this summer as a Faculty Center Design intern with very little experience in web development, and having not even heard of WordPress yet. I've always struggled a bit with using computers in general and wasn't happy with the results of my prior attempts at website building. Thanks to this internship, I was able to expand my skills and use what I had already learned from graphic design courses to build a site that looks both functional and professional. My first goal when starting this summer was to create a portfolio website of my own, which I did while exploring all the features WordPress has to offer. Developing a good portfolio is an absolute necessity for art and design students trying to break into the industry, so the work we did this summer will be a huge help to me in the future as well." 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.

Saranna Shevalier, of Ballston Spa, NY, has completed an experiential learning project titled "Reassessing the Paleoecological Context of Area 123 at Koobi Fora, East Turkana, Kenya" 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. "In June of 2025, I had the opportunity to join the Koobi Fora Field School, through George Washington University and went to Kenya for a six-week field school. Throughout this time, we camped near our sites and went out in the field to survey and collect data daily," said Shevalier, who is studying Anthropology. "This research poster was presented at SUNY Oneonta's Summer Showcase, September 2025. "Traveling to Kenya and joining the Koobi Fora Field School meant a lot of days of travel throughout the country. We camped at each stop and attended extensive lectures from the professionals running the field school. We were introduced to concepts in geology, mapping, paleoecology, paleontology, paleobotany, mobility and land-use patterns and more. Our days consisted of mornings of field survey looking for fossils in our desired locations, followed by lunches in the field and evenings spent working on these research projects. By the end of the six weeks, we had completed a PowerPoint presentation of our findings, as well as a five-page paper. "This poster is the final usage of the data collected in comparison to a database of collections throughout the 1970's to current(Turkana Public Database). This was my first time using R, or GIS to create graphics for my own project. I also had the opportunity to read through many journal articles that provided regional context to this experience. I will be able to present this work in the future, and continue to build upon it if I am able to go back to Kenya this upcoming summer." 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.

Ariel Pazer, of Gardiner, NY, has completed an experiential learning project titled "Fashion Production Internship at Made X Hudson" 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. "I worked as an intern on the production team at Made X Hudson for 10 weeks. They are a local, sustainable small-batch clothing manufacturer in Catskill, NY, producing both an in-house collection and products for clients, as well as alterations," said Pazer, who is studying Fashion and Textiles. "The big project I worked on while at Made X Hudson was a collaboration between Celestino Couture, Alejandra Filiciotto, and Marist's Silver Runway called Runway Over the Hudson. It was a runway show with looks designed by Sergio Guadarrama of Celestino Couture, models and backstage help from the students of Marist's Silver Runway. "My main job was working with Celestino Couture to help pattern, sew, and trim some of the runway looks. I got to develop the patterns for two of the garments in the show, sewed parts of 10 of the looks, and sewed a lot of crochet cacti onto hats. However, I was also present at the Model Selection, measuring all the potential models so their measurements would all be on record, as well as the first fitting when all the major adjustments were made. "During this project, I got to experience the full production side of producing a runway show. From taking designs from paper sketches to wearable garments, choosing models to final fittings and the last-minute rush that seems to be inevitable on a project like this, this experience was a step into the real world of fashion in a way school cannot emulate. The amazement at how the little pieces I produced came together to form a whole look that was totally beyond my own imagination was something I will never forget. In the future, I will be able to point back to this show as my first step into the industry." 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.

At SUNY Oneonta, geology students don't just learn about plate boundaries-they stand on them. For two weeks during winter break, 13 students traded winter coats for desert boots as part of an upper-division field course focused on geologic mapping, gaining hands-on experience in one of the most geologically complex landscapes in North America. Led by Associate Professor Keith Brunstad and designed for Geology majors in the Earth & Atmospheric Sciences Department, the course focuses on describing rock types, measuring structural features, and interpreting how tectonic forces have shaped the Earth over time, mirroring the work of professional geologists. The expedition brought students to Death Valley National Park and surrounding points of geologic interest in southern California. After flying into Las Vegas, the group rented vehicles and established a base camp at Furnace Creek, California, within the park. From there, students explored sites offering exceptional exposures of faults, folds, volcanic features, sedimentary deposits and geomorphic landforms. Fieldwork was immersive and demanding. Students took detailed field notes and sketches, measured rock orientations, created geologic maps and cross sections, and worked collaboratively to interpret the region's complex geologic history. They experienced strong desert winds at night, a challenge when camping in lightweight tents, as well as intense days in the desert sun. "We experienced fantastic lighting over the desert mountains, were serenaded by coyotes every night, pondered the stories told by the rocks, and witnessed stars without number in the evenings," said Associate Professor Les Hasbargen, who also went on the trip. "I'm sure all of the participants are still trying to get the dust out of their clothes, hair and ears! It's not easy for the desert to let go of those who visit." Students returned to campus with extensive field data that they will continue to analyze during the spring semester, transforming observations into polished maps, cross sections and written interpretations. They also came back with deepened connections with classmates.

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.

Two SUNY Oneonta Physics students reached new heights after spending a week at a NASA facility in June, launching their first rocket into space. Students Ethan Biles and Jack Millen took their education beyond the classroom by joining Associate Professor of Physics and Astronomy Joshua Nollenberg at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility. Located on Virginia's eastern shore, Wallops is home to NASA's annual RockOn! workshop, an immersive program where college students and faculty collaborate to build scientific instruments, attach them to a rocket and launch the rocket into space. Biles and Millen prepared for RockOn! weeks in advance as part of their Physics summer internship course. While NASA provided everything at the workshop from detailed instructions to hands-on assembly, Nollenberg used the lead-up time to introduce the students to numerical methods for solving physics-based problems. After completing several simulations, the team turned its focus to understanding the rocket's flight trajectory using equations of motion. "We have equations of motion that describe the position and also the angular position in polar coordinates relative to a launch site," said Nollenberg. "What we want to do is find the best trajectory to get into orbit that minimizes the amount of mass that's usedso what we do is develop a Hamiltonian [technique] that gives us a series of cost functions that describe how much cost there is to changes in our position, our angle, our velocity, our angular velocity and also the mass loss." Although RockOn! is limited to just 28 teams, each consisting of two students and one faculty member, college and university groups from across the country compete for a spot in the program. Each team was responsible for assembling scientific instruments housed within a canister, which was then stacked alongside others to form the rocket's internal structure, as provided by NASA. Once complete, a final outer "skin" was added to enclose the stacked canisters and seal the space-bound vehicle. Teams spent the first day, June 20, learning the skills they'd need for the week. They dedicated the next few days to assembly and concluded the week by watching their rocket launch on June 26. "For assembling the components, it was very similar to following a LEGO assembly manual," said Millen. "At the end of each stage, we would await an inspection from the RockOn! Team to ensure we followed all directions correctly and that our components would be 'launch-proof.'" The rocket used for RockOn! was a two-stage Terrier-Improved Orion sounding model, measuring 40 feet in length and capable of traveling at about 1000 meters per second. Sounding rockets are unmanned, suborbital vehicles designed specifically for scientific research. After the rocket touched down, Biles, Millen and Nollenberg recovered their equipment to collect data on pressure, temperature, acceleration, gyroscopic movement, magnetism, humidity and orientation. "My favorite part of the RockOn! experience would be soldering the circuits. I've always had an affinity for electronics and circuitry," said Biles. "The feeling of launching a rocket was breathtaking. The joy you get from seeing your labor in space is something else." Nollenberg selected Biles and Millen to participate in RockOn! based on their strong academic performance, but the program also served as an opportunity for growth. They deepened their understanding of numerical methods, learning to model rocket flight, simulate heat transfer and solve engineering optimization problems. These skills are essential for predicting how their electronics would perform under real-world conditions. While Biles and Millen worked from their strengths, they also developed new problem-solving skills, especially in debugging code. At first, they were surprised by how often errors occurred in longer programs, but they quickly adapted. "They grew a 'weakness' in the sense that they anticipated that they would be spending just a little bit of time debugging," said Nollenberg. "They built up a lot of intuitiveness to hunt down where the mistakes might be in the code when things were working incorrectly. They knew there might be a mistake, and that was okay. You just find a mistake and fix it, and that's something I saw grow a lot during that process." Biles and Millen received funding for their internship course through the Experiential Learning Center and the National Science Foundation. Full story with visuals: https://suny.oneonta.edu/news/physics-students-launch-rocket-nasa-facility