SUNY Oneonta

It's one thing to read about water resource problems and environmental issues in the developing world. It's an entirely different experience to see these issues - and the people they affect - first-hand and work toward solutions. Sixteen environmental sustainability students from SUNY Oneonta recently returned from a summer international field course where they did just that. In its fourth year, the field course, called "Water and Environment of Guatemala," brought students to Guatemala for two weeks, where they took water samples and analyzed water quality data from Lake Atitlan and the surrounding drainage basin. The course is led by Associate Professor of Geography and Environmental Sciences Tracy Allen. Based on their observations, interactions with local residents, and data collection, students worked to identify sustainable solutions to the area's water resources problems. Students were also able to learn about agriculture while touring a coffee plantation and, later, take in the area's natural wonders, including the Pacaya volcano, which is active. The students went into a Guatemalan elementary school to teach fifth and sixth graders about the lake and water quality, and they also installed water filtration systems into some of the area homes. Students said these interactions were particularly meaningful and rewarding, and the trip was eye-opening.

SUNY Oneonta will open the 2017-18 gallery season with an exhibitions featuring artwork by student scholarship winners. "Student Recipient Exhibition, Jean Parish Memorial Scholarship 2016-2017" opens Sept. 11 and will run until Oct. 6 in the Project Space Gallery. This exhibit will feature the artwork of recipients of the 2016-2017 Jean Parish Memorial Scholarship awards: Lorelei Olk, Cap Dramstad, Jessica Tyler, Noah Barton, Briela Tollisen and Megan Jansen. A range of styles and media - including drawing, painting, photography, prints and mixed media - will be presented. A reception for the exhibit and student presentations will take place Thursday, Sept. 14, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., funded through the estate gift of Jean Parish, faculty emerita in art, to the college foundation. The Project Space Gallery is free and open to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Friday when the college is in session and during special events. For more information about the gallery or upcoming exhibitions, contact Gallery Director Tim Sheesley at (607) 436-2445, (607) 436-3456 or visit www.oneonta.edu/academics/art/gallery.html.

Eleven new international freshman and transfer students have been awarded merit scholarships to attend SUNY Oneonta beginning in the fall 2017 semester. The award amounts range from $6,000 to $8,000 per year.

More than 300 new freshman and transfer students have been awarded merit scholarships to attend SUNY Oneonta beginning in the fall 2017 semester. The award amounts range from $1,000 to $8,000 per year.

Four SUNY Oneonta students are involved in a year-long project with the goal of shaping the future of science education by designing and creating their own instructional models for use in classrooms. The project, titled "Authentic Research Experiences for Earth Science Education Majors," gives pre-service Earth Science teachers the chance to design and build their own models of particularly complex or abstract Earth processes and concepts, according to project leaders Dr. James Ebert of the Earth & Atmospheric Sciences Department and Dr. Paul Bischoff of the Secondary Education Department. Participating students, who were selected from a pool of applicants, spent four weeks in the spring designing and building the models and will work throughout the year to tweak and perfect them. Four of the students were from SUNY Oneonta, and two were from other SUNY schools. The students were given a stipend of $2,500 for their work. Six more students will participate next year, with six more after that.

Six students enrolled in Biology 296, a Directed Research course called CCRABSS: Creating Collaboration in Research Among Bahamian and SUNY Oneonta Students, spent a month in the Bahamas learning about fishery management issues. The data they collected will aid in determining land crab fishery stock abundance on North Andros Island as a means of enabling long-term, sustainable harvests of this economically and culturally important species. The students surveyed 5,000 square meters of land crab habitat, counted and measured hundreds of land crab burrows, explored a handful of Blue Holes, enjoyed 28 sunrises from Forfar Beach, and learned how challenging field work can be, even in a tropical paradise.

Senior Katie O'Gorman earned honors as an Academic All-District selection by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Senior Rachael Shine earned honors as an Academic All-District selection by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

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.

Senior David Busby was selected as an Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Three SUNY Oneonta students received funding totaling $5,700 to support summer internships through the Dewar Foundation Fund for Internship Support. The new fund, which will offer $12,500 to SUNY Oneonta students over the course of the year, helps make internship experiences more accessible. Permanent residents of Otsego County and contiguous counties who are interning for academic credit either in the United States or abroad are eligible to apply. Award preference goes to students who graduated from Oneonta High School.

Local athletes were members of the 2017 SUNY Oneonta softball team.

A total of 187 SUNY Oneonta students earned Provost's List honors for the spring 2016 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. The following area students were named to the spring 2017 SUNY Oneonta Provost's List:

A total of 1,409 SUNY Oneonta students earned Dean's List honors for the spring 2017 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.

Local athletes competed on the 2016-17 SUNY Oneonta women's tennis team.

Local athletes competed on the 2016-17 SUNY Oneonta men's tennis team.

Local athletes were members of the 2017 SUNY Oneonta women's lacrosse team.

Sixteen SUNY Oneonta students received funding totaling $21,800 through the Helen & Michael Casper Fellowship for Internship Support, which was created through the charitable gifts of Andrea Casper '75 in honor and memory of her parents. This year's fellowship recipients will complete summer internships in a variety of disciplines in locations ranging from Oneonta, NY, to Dublin, Ireland.

Local athletes competed on the 2017 SUNY Oneonta men's lacrosse team.

Local athletes competed on the SUNY Oneonta baseball team this spring.

Senior Cory Santangelo has been selected to play on a USA All-Star team in Brazil.

Senior Austin Hughes has been selected to play on a collegiate All-Star team that will play in Brazil.

Senior Kevin Hoff has been selected to play on a Division III All-Star team that will play in Brazil May 29-June 7.

SUNY Oneonta recognized 54 outstanding students during an Academic Achievement Awards reception on May 3. One to three students were chosen from each of the college's academic departments and programs to receive the 2017 Academic Achievement Awards. Each student selected one faculty guest to accompany them to the recognition event. In addition to their excellent work in the classroom, students were honored for distinguishing themselves in many ways, including research, activism, mentoring, athletics, involvement in campus activities and volunteerism.

Twin sisters Jaclyn and Melissa Marry were recently honored by the SUNYAC with the Elite 20 Award.

Senior Mikey McElroy was selected to the BCANY Upstate team in men's basketball.

Fifty-two members of the Class of 2017 received Senior Service Awards in recognition of their outstanding commitment to volunteerism while at SUNY Oneonta. Students who completed at least 350 hours of service through the college's Center for Social Responsibility and Community (CSRC) were recognized during a reception on May 12.

Nearly 140 SUNY Oneonta students presented original research and creative projects at the college's 2017 Student Research and Creative Activity Day on April 12.

Twelve SUNY Oneonta students were selected to receive the 2017 College at Oneonta Foundation Awards for Excellence in Student Research & Creative Activity.

Four students were elected to the College at Oneonta Foundation Board of Directors at the April 14, 2017, board meeting. All terms begin in June 2017.