SUNY Oneonta

Twelve of the nearly 50,000 panels of the National AIDS Memorial Quilt filled the Hunt Union Ballroom at SUNY Oneonta from March 21-23, each stitch and patchwork square telling a story of lives lost to the AIDS crisis. For many, including SUNY Oneonta student and Otsego Pride Alliance Vice President Kerri Lincoln, the quilt's arrival was not just a powerful tribute but a deeply personal mission. Lincoln, a Women's and Gender Studies major and Oneonta local, began her journey to bring the quilt to Oneonta nearly a year and a half ago. Inspired by a conversation with one of her children, she realized that the AIDS Quilt was becoming a fading memory for younger generations. Determined to change that, Lincoln took it upon herself to bring this piece of history closer to home. Securing the quilt required persistence and began about a year and a half earlier. Lincoln worked with the National AIDS Memorial to meet the requirements for hosting a display and coordinated multiple fundraisers to cover expenses. Basket raffles and community donations played a vital role in making the project possible. Lincoln also collaborated closely with SUNY Oneonta's faculty and staff, who provided support throughout the planning process and assisted with the installation itself. As a nontraditional student, Lincoln worked with Assistant Professor of Women's and Gender Studies Dr. Chloe Diamond-Lenow to incorporate the AIDS Memorial Quilt into her independent study course. Lincoln's coursework included research about the quilt's creation and significance, organizing its display and using it as a text to explore intersectionality, public health and art as resistance. "Kerri took Intro to Queer Studies with me last semester. In the class, one of the assignments for students is to do a research project where they look at the history of a queer trans activist," said Dr. Diamond-Lenow. "Kerri chose to research Cleve Jones, the initial creator of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, and called the project "Stitching Resistance". At that time, she already knew she was bringing the quilt to campus. So we created a 4000-level independent study course, which gave us more opportunities to have one-on-one conversations. I was really just there to support Kerri in organizing the event. But we also framed the AIDS Quilt in relation to queer studies and queer theory." The quilt's arrival was deeply emotional for Lincoln. Seeing the panels unfold, including one featuring Henry Nicols of Cooperstown, underscored the personal connection this project held. Nicols, who contracted HIV as a child through a hemophilia treatment, became a prominent AIDS activist before passing away in 2000. His father, Hank Nicols, attended the event as a speaker, adding another layer of meaning to the display. For Lincoln, memorable moments extended beyond the installation itself. Conversations with visitors revealed how deeply the quilt resonated with those who viewed it. Attendees shared memories of loved ones lost to AIDS, and some expressed gratitude for the opportunity to reflect on a chapter of history that has too often been overlooked. The quilt's presence also served as a reminder of ongoing struggles. Lincoln expressed concern about recent cuts to HIV research and prevention efforts, emphasizing that the need for awareness and advocacy remains crucial.

Seven SUNY Oneonta students were inducted into the Beta Beta Beta honor society during a ceremony held on Wednesday, March 26, in the Perna Science building on campus. Beta Beta Beta is a society for students, particularly undergraduates, dedicated to improving the understanding and appreciation of biological study and extending the boundaries of human knowledge through scientific research. Since its founding in 1922, more than 200,000 persons have been accepted into lifetime membership, and more than 520 chapters have been established throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. To qualify for Beta Beta Beta membership at SUNY Oneonta, students must be majoring in Biology or a biological science and have completed at least one term of the second year of a four-year curriculum or three semesters in college. They also must complete at least four semester courses in biology, of which at least one is not an introductory course, two are taken at SUNY Oneonta, and all are completed with an average grade of 3.15 in the courses. Students must also have a 3.0 average in all courses and be in good academic standing. TriBeta was founded in 1922 at Oklahoma City University--the Alpha Chapter--by Dr. Frank G. Brooks and a group of his students. The idea of an honor and professional society for biology students spread rapidly and by 1925, the society was a national organization. Biennial national conventions of student and faculty members began in that year, and in 1930, the society journal, BIOS, began publication of student research, articles of interest to biologists and society news. As the society grew, it was divided into regional and district groups, each of which holds a convention annually. At the heart of every district and national meeting are student research papers presented in the style of graduate meetings. Awards are given for outstanding individual and chapter accomplishments.

SUNY Oneonta students Daniela Hernandez and Nicolai Glouchkov were two of only 50 students statewide to receive the 2025 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Student Excellence. The award, now celebrating its sixth class of honorees, recognizes outstanding students in SUNY's Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) for their academic merit and perseverance. The SUNY Board of Trustees and Chancellor John B. King Jr. recognized the students' achievements during a ceremony in Troy, NY, on March 11. The honor is named in memory of Norman R. McConney Jr. (1946-2016), a graduate of the University at Albany and former assistant dean for special programs at SUNY. McConney, alongside former Assembly Deputy Speaker Arthur O. Eve, helped create the EOP as a statewide program.

Alex Garcia, a Peer Mental Health Corps member serving at the on-campus counseling center, received the "Excellence in Service, Going Above and Beyond" award at the inaugural Empire State Service Corps (ESSC) summit on March 1 in Syracuse. ESSC members from SUNY institutions across the state gathered at the summit to provide a valuable opportunity for networking and collaboration. Participants also had the chance to engage with SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. during an insightful fireside chat. Through the program, Garcia has built meaningful connections with students and faculty members in the Oneonta community, gained valuable career-related skills and collaborated with others to support larger initiatives. Garcia is a dual major at SUNY Oneonta in Psychology and Sociology and a member of the class of 2026. "Service is important to me because since I began volunteering at a young age," said Garcia. "I've seen firsthand how it builds a community and provides a platform to hear the voices and concerns of those who are historically underserved. I believe that supporting local efforts and nonprofits turns into a push toward a more equitable and welcoming world." The Empire State Service Corps is a program that empowers students to complete 300 paid public service hours over the course of a year. Corps members are also eligible for educational awards through AmeriCorps. The program focuses on key areas such as sustainability, civic engagement, basic needs outreach, anti-hate and bias prevention and FAFSA completion.

Juliette Devenpeck, a Peer Mental Health Corps member serving at Laurens Central School, received the "Cohort Champion" award at the inaugural Empire State Service Corps (ESSC) summit on March 1 in Syracuse. ESSC members from SUNY institutions across the state gathered at the summit to provide a valuable opportunity for networking and collaboration. Participants also had the chance to engage with SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. during an insightful fireside chat. As part of the Peer Mental Health Cohort, much of Devenpeck's time is spent in a local K-12 guidance office, offering support in several areas. Her work includes assisting seniors with career exploration, five-year plans and resumes, as well as helping students in grades 6-9 with stress management and emotion regulation. She also provides individual reading support to a 7th-grade student. "Serving youth is important to me because I believe in focusing on financial literacy and other life skills as a foundation for success after high school," said Devenpeck, a Psychology major and member of the class of 2028. "I have gained valuable experience working with children of all ages and abilities." Observing the daily responsibilities of a guidance counselor has further reinforced her passion for pursuing a career in school counseling. The Empire State Service Corps is a program that empowers students to complete 300 paid public service hours over the course of a year. Corps members are also eligible for educational awards through AmeriCorps. The program focuses on key areas such as sustainability, civic engagement, basic needs outreach, anti-hate and bias prevention, and FAFSA completion.

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.

During the fall 2024 semester, Fashion and Textile students at SUNY Oneonta had the opportunity to gain hands-on experience by creating themed window displays for Shakedown Street, a local thrift and consignment store, as well as inside the Human Ecology building on campus. The project allowed students to apply their skills in visual merchandising, fashion styling and retail display while incorporating sustainable practices by curating secondhand garments. Students worked either solo or in pairs to design displays that featured seasonal themes such as "Rich Layers of Fall," winter holiday concepts and New Year's Eve fashion. Each display was carefully planned to highlight color coordination, layering techniques and accessorizing to create cohesive, eye-catching presentations. Through this experience, students strengthened their collaboration, communication and problem-solving skills. Working under time constraints and with limited resources helped them adapt to real-world challenges often faced in the retail industry. Additionally, students explored ways to attract customer attention, promote sustainable fashion choices and engage with the local community. This hands-on project provided valuable preparation for future careers in fashion merchandising, retail management and creative marketing, allowing students to combine their academic knowledge with practical experience.

Two SUNY Oneonta students, Saranna Shevalier and Jonathan Saminski, have been accepted to George Washington University's Koobi Fora Field School (KFFS). This renowned paleoanthropology field school offers a prestigious seven-week supervised research experience in northern Kenya, where participants collect hominin fossils. Shevalier and Saminski were selected among 20-25 students globally to participate in the 2025 field school, from June 13 to July 26. Since 2012, George Washington University has partnered with the National Museums of Kenya to offer students on-the-ground experience in paleoanthropology at the Koobi Fora Field School (KFFS). Located on the eastern shore of Lake Turkana, Kenya, KFFS is the world's premier field research and training program in paleoanthropology. Throughout the program, students earn credit through lectures, specialized laboratory exercises and one-on-one training with senior scientists on-site. They explore remote and dramatic landscapes and search for evidence of hominins going back millions of years. Additionally, students benefit from the interaction with their international peers, which can broaden their worldview and enhance their future working relationships. SUNY Oneonta Assistant Professor of Anthropology Dr. Kaedan O'Brien got his career start as an undergraduate via this program and is mentoring Shevalier and Saminksi.

Fourteen SUNY Oneonta students were involved in the Theatre Department's production of "The Alleged Children of Darkness," the opening performance of the spring 2025 semester. Set 30 years in the future, on the brink of civil war, "The Alleged Children of Darkness" follows the return of an astronaut from Mars, whose arrival threatens to destabilize an already fragile power struggle on Earth. A stressed ex-NASA employee scrambles to organize a welcome-home gathering, bringing together the astronaut's twin daughters, who are unaware of their connection to him or each other. Inspired by the structure of blockbuster dystopian TV pilots, the play delves into humanity's fight over future resources, exploring conflicts rooted in identity, politics and personal desire. "Dan O'Neil had shared an earlier draft of the play with me when he re-located to Otsego County during the pandemic. The script had been presented as a staged reading but never fully produced," said Professor of Acting & Directing Andrew Kahl. "I really liked Dan's writing, the characters he had developed and the near future he imagined. Last year, I re-read the material and thought it would create a wonderful collaborative experience for students to be directly engaged in workshopping a script for its first fully staged production. When we contacted Dan early last spring, he was enthusiastic about the prospect of working with our students and re-exploring the play from a fresh perspective. His availability also provided the Theatre Department with a chance to offer a playwriting class from a professional playwright." "The Alleged Children of Darkness" was a joint performance made possible by Theatre Department faculty and staff, and students from the Mask and Hammer Club. The show was cast in the final weeks of the fall 2024 semester, followed by a read-through with O'Neil in early December to discuss the plot, themes and character relationships. Using feedback from this session, O'Neil prepared a revised script by mid-January. Rehearsals began on the first night of the Spring semester, with the cast working six nights a week to prepare for the Feb. 28 opening.

Thirteen SUNY Oneonta students are showcasing their artwork in the "Project Open Call: Spring 2025" exhibition from Feb. 25 to March 29 in the Project Space Gallery on campus. "Project Open Call: Spring 2025" is a group show of new work submitted by SUNY Oneonta students to the Gallery's semesterly open call. Featuring work by: Mya Barry, Victoria Bodo, Madison Budek, Lulu Q. Burkowski, Hannah Garay, Maya Golos, Sarah Green, Alec Hodge, Amy Kosina, Maya Pauley, Jessie Reed, Lexi Rockefeller, and Zoe Zappala. Project Open Call is an open-call program that accepts applications at the end of every semester for consideration in student shows in the following semester. Students may submit either personal work or coursework and can apply for inclusion in a curated group exhibition or with an original idea for a solo or group show. Admission to the galleries at SUNY Oneonta is free and open to the public, and visitors can receive parking passes through the University Police Department. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, contact Gallery Director Sarah Simpson at Sarah.Simpson@oneonta.edu or 607-436-2445.

SUNY Oneonta is proud to announce that the Marketing Club, OnMark, received a Commendable Mention recognition in the 2025 AMA Collegiate Case Competition, co-sponsored by Adobe and Deloitte Digital. This prestigious recognition is awarded to only a select number of schools nationwide, and SUNY Oneonta's team was the only SUNY institution to earn a spot on the list. The competition challenged students to develop innovative strategies to promote Adobe Express to college students aged 18-24. The team crafted a comprehensive 20-page marketing plan, which included target market research, positioning and value propositions, SWOT analysis, competitive analysis and strategic communication tactics such as slogans and messaging strategies. This achievement reflects the hard work, creativity and dedication of the talented student team: Spirit Alves (Lead), Anthony Moore, Bridget Doherty, Erleen Rosso, Kaelin O'Connor, Mya Morrison, Rakell Dominguez and Ryan Eno. The team was guided by faculty advisor Wilson Lin, whose mentorship and support were instrumental in their success. Competing against top collegiate teams from across the country, the students demonstrated outstanding marketing expertise, strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.

Forty students were featured in the Art Across Campus: Spring 2025 exhibition. This was the fourth exhibition in an annual series that showcased the creative final projects by students across campus from a diverse range of majors and focuses. This semester's exhibition features student work submitted by Dr. Suriati Abas (Elementary Education and Reading), Dr. Nathan Asman (Music), Dr. Elizabeth Cruzado Carranza (Anthropology), Dr. Kim Fierke (Sport and Exercise Sciences), Dr. Toke Knudsen (Mathematics Department) in collaboration with Professor Jian Cui (Art) and Dr. Zdenek Tronicek (Computer Science) and Dr. Sheena Mason (English). Art Across Campus was on display in the Open Space Gallery until Feb. 15. An opening reception took place on Thursday, Feb. 6, from 5-7 p.m. Admission to the galleries and receptions are free and open to the public, and visitors can receive parking passes through the University Police Department. Gallery hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. For more information, contact Sarah Simpson at Sarah.Simpson@oneonta.edu or 607-436-2445.

Twenty students were inducted into the Alpha Chi honor society on Wednesday, Feb. 19, during an inaugural ceremony recognizing the honor society's new chapter at SUNY Oneonta. Among the inducted students were fifteen undergraduates and five 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.

SUNY Oneonta students were recognized for attaining silver-level leadership milestones in the spring 2025 semester through the university's Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program. LEAD@Oneonta is a comprehensive leadership program based on current research and guidelines from the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education. All students can choose to participate in the LEAD program, which aims to better prepare them for life after earning their degree by providing a comprehensive picture of leadership and the skills needed to be a good leader. Students can attain a silver, gold or platinum level. To reach each level, students must meet a mix of programmatic and experiential leadership requirements, including completion of online courses, attendance at educational events, and membership and leadership in one or more of SUNY Oneonta's 100+ student-run clubs and organizations. Completing a leadership level is recognized on campus as a credential that can be used, for example, when running for office or applying for STEP (Student Travel for Excellence Program) funding. The program also provides students with a leadership record that can be submitted to potential employers.

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. 21-25 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. Despite the damage caused by the Southern California wildfires, air quality remained safe all week, with no fire-related impact on Anaheim or the surrounding areas. Fifteen SUNY Oneonta Music Industry majors and Music Industry Club members traveled with Associate Professor Paul Carter to Anaheim for three days of product introductions and demonstrations, educational sessions and panel discussions, and - perhaps most importantly - networking and inspiration. "The highlight of my NAMM trip this year was getting my first brand endorsement as a drummer and artist," said Aidan Loeffler, a Music Industry major. "I met the brand No Nuts cymbal sleeves at NAMM last year, and have been using them since. I got an endorsement from them this year, which I am extremely excited about! It is one of the first big steps in my career as a drummer!" 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 4,000 brands, including Roland electronic drum sets, Ernie Ball Music Man guitars and cutting-edge audio editing software. Highlights included meeting artists like John Otto (Limp Bizkit), Mick Thomson (Slipknot), Gary Holt (Slayer), Zack Grooves, and Johnathan "Sugarfoot" Moffett. While in California, students maximized their trip by networking at events and directly with brands and artists on the show floor. Returning attendees, like Loeffler, reconnected with peers and past contacts from across the country. They wrapped up their experience with a visit to Disneyland. "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 29 years. The NAMM trip was made possible, in part, by support from the Caroline ('67) and David D'Antonio Student Travel for Excellence Fund.

As part of the SUNY Washington Internship Program, SUNY Oneonta junior Brandon Cirincione, a Political Science and Economics dual major, is interning this semester in Washington, D.C. with Congressman Nick LaLota, who represents New York's 1st District. The work hits close to home for Cirincione, as he is a resident of Congressman LaLota's district. His days are spent gaining firsthand experience with the legislative process, constituent services and policy research. On Fridays, he joins fellow SUNY Washington interns for seminar classes, where they engage with speakers on a variety of topics and tour the city. Last Friday, the group got to visit the National Archives (home to the Declaration of Independence and Constitution) and the National Museum of African American History & Culture. In the coming weeks, they will also meet and get advice from SUNY Washington alumni who now work for congressmen, senators and more. Cirincione is a recipient of the university's James '75 and Mary Ajello Internship Fund, which encourages students to undertake internship opportunities by offsetting a variety of costs like housing, food, tuition and program fees, transportation and airfare, and by providing a living stipend. "This internship is a pivotal step in my academic and professional journey as it allows me to apply the knowledge and skills I've developed through my studies in a real-world setting," Cirincione said. "My long-term goal is to attend law school and pursue a career in public service, where I can continue to make a positive impact through policy and advocacy. This opportunity is not only enhancing my professional development but also reinforcing my passion for government and public policy."

Nine SUNY Oneonta students were selected to serve as Dragon Guides during the spring 2025 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 on reaching those goals. They also sponsor connection groups for new students to participate in, which will encourage and support engagement.

One hundred sixty SUNY Oneonta students completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree following the fall 2024 semester. Graduates were honored and recognized during the Fall Commencement, held Sunday, Dec. 8, 2024, 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.

Twenty-five SUNY Oneonta graduate students completed the requirements for a master's degree, Certificate of Advanced Study, or Advanced Certificate Program following the fall 2024 semester. Students, family and friends gathered inside the Alumni Field House to celebrate graduates during SUNY Oneonta's Fall Commencement exercises on Dec. 8, 2024.

In the fall 2024 semester, the SUNY Oneonta Investment Management Team, consisting of Alexander Deiters, Justin Gulbin and Matthew Sperling advised by Assistant Professor of Finance Dr. Catalina Hurwitz, participated in the Bloomberg Global Trading Challenge. This international competition involved more than 2,400 universities using the Bloomberg Terminal for investment education. Teams received a virtual $1 million and had five weeks to develop investment strategies. The SUNY Oneonta team ranked in the top 16%, finishing 420th globally with an absolute profit of $64,915 and a relative profit of $70,037. 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 Bloomberg Terminal for real-world market analysis.

Two hundred fifty-eight SUNY Oneonta students earned Provost's List honors for the fall 2024 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.

More than 1275 SUNY Oneonta students earned Dean's List honors for the fall 2024 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.

Cassondra Blewett, of Binghamton, NY, was awarded a prestigious scholarship from Tau Sigma, the National Transfer Honor Society. Chosen as one of only 62 national recipients and one of just five students from the SUNY system, Blewett's achievement reflects both her academic excellence and dedication as a transfer student. This scholarship honors students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, academic success and commitment to their community. Blewett's recognition is a testament to her hard work and exceptional accomplishments in her academic journey.

Five SUNY Oneonta students became Making Cent$ Peer Mentors at the end of the fall 2024 semester. Making Cent$ Peer Mentors are students who have initially started as Making Cent$ Interns. During their time as interns, they train with Making Cent$ staff members to learn information that will help them improve their proficiency in financial literacy and help the students around them with financial topics. As interns, these students help complete tasks to keep the Making Cent$ Program running. They also act as a connection to the student community and provide a lot of outreach to their peers. After around a year of training, Making Cent$ Interns take the Making Cent$ Intern Financial Wellness Exam, designed to demonstrate the knowledge they have acquired through their training. After passing this exam and demonstrating their abilities to host different Making Cent$ activities, a Making Cent$ Intern earns the title "Making Cent$ Peer Mentor." Making Cent$ Peer Mentors host one-on-one meetings with students to discuss student loans and help other students create or improve their budgets. They also often become the primary host of activities like Money Personalities. They continue outreach to other students and have a high level of mentorship with newly hired Making Cent$ Interns. Each student started their Making Cent$ Internship in February 2024 and excelled throughout their internship. Daily, they demonstrate a dedication to helping their peers with financial literacy and other aspects of their daily lives.

Six students from SUNY Oneonta's Marketing Club, OnMark, collected 72 items for a food drive held on Nov. 19 to give back to the community. OnMark collected 103 lbs of food and donated everything to Your Safe Haven Food Pantry in Oneonta. This was the first time the club held a food drive.

Three graduating students served as peer tutors during the fall 2024 semester at SUNY Oneonta. Peer tutors are students selected for the position who completed three hours of training before tutoring. Throughout the semester, peer tutors work up to 20 hours per week around their academic schedule. Peer tutors have completed the courses they are tutoring at SUNY Oneonta receiving a B+ or better in the class. All tutors complete additional training throughout their work at the Student Learning Center.

SUNY Oneonta students were recognized for attaining platinum-level leadership milestones in the fall 2024 semester through the university's Leadership Education and Development (LEAD) program. LEAD@Oneonta is a comprehensive leadership program based on current research and guidelines from the Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education. All students can choose to participate in the LEAD program, which aims to better prepare them for life after earning their degree by providing a comprehensive picture of leadership and the skills needed to be a good leader. Students can attain a silver, gold or platinum level. To reach each level, students must meet a mix of programmatic and experiential leadership requirements, including completion of online courses, attendance at educational events, and membership and leadership in one or more of SUNY Oneonta's 100+ student-run clubs and organizations. Completing a leadership level is recognized on campus as a credential that can be used, for example, when running for office or applying for STEP (Student Travel for Excellence Program) funding. The program also provides students with a leadership record that can be submitted to potential employers.

Eighteen SUNY Oneonta Dietetics majors conducted outreach, research and nutrition education this semester by partnering with several local groups and organizations as part of a community service project. The students, who are juniors and seniors, were split into five groups and worked with Saturday's Bread, the Community Gospel Church, Greater Plains Elementary School kindergarten classes, Table Rock Fitness and the SUNY Oneonta men's and women's tennis teams. Students worked with their community partners to assess the nutrition needs of members, teams and clientele, researched what had been done with similar groups of people, and then presented the nutrition education at their community partner's location. "At this point, each student has taken many nutrition courses and has a pretty good idea of how to conduct nutrition research and apply that information," said Dr. Marcy Gaston, assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics. "This project was a great way for the students to learn how to talk to and educate the public about nutrition outside of using field-related terminology. It gives them the basis of performing this kind of service on a much larger scale."

Eighty-three SUNY Oneonta students received the Richard Siegfried Student Award in the fall 2024 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 Dec. 3 following the annual Richard Siegfried Junior Faculty Prize for Academic Excellence Lecture. Dr. Chelsea McCracken, assistant professor of media studies at SUNY Oneonta, was this year's Junior Faculty Prize recipient. McCracken delivered this year's Richard Siegfried Lecture, titled "Visualizing Hollywood's Gender Inequities Through Female Dialogue" at the Morris Conference Center on campus. The award is named in memory of Richard K. Siegfried, SUNY Oneonta Professor of Theatre from 1958 until 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 and Chekhov, his rigorous study of the skills of voice and movement, and his leadership in improvisation's imaginative creativity.

Twenty-six SUNY Oneonta students were involved in the Theatre Department's production of "The Tempest," the final production of the fall 2024 semester. "The Tempest," written by William Shakespeare, features the King of Naples and his followers after being cast ashore on a desert island by a violent storm. "There are so many story elements included in this production," said show director and Professor of Acting and Directing Andrew Kahl. "There are moments of spectacle and magic, rich poetic language, political intrigue, physical comedy and a sweet love story. Getting all the pieces together in a cohesive production felt like a meaningful challenge. Working with our professional guest artist, MaConnia Chesser, was an honor and privilege for our faculty and students." Chesser was the Theatre Department's artist-in-residence for the fall 2024 semester and played Prospero, the protagonist in "The Tempest." The artist appeared in the performance courtesy of the Actors' Equity Association, the union of professional actors and stage managers in the United States. SUNY Oneonta's production of "The Tempest" was a joint performance made possible by Theatre Department faculty and staff, and students from the Mask and Hammer Club. Rehearsals began this semester in September with cast and crew exploring the text and playing through the scenes to make sense of relationships and character intentions. Full-stage rehearsal for "The Tempest" began shortly after Chesser joined the cast in early October. "The play offered design and production challenges, including the spectacle of a storm at sea that opens the play and moments of depicted magic that will challenge our sound, light and scenic designers," said Kahl. "The island setting needed to be mutable, changing based on the characters' perceptions on stage from an inviting tropical paradise to an ominous or dangerous place. At the center of it all lies the play's language and actors' capacity to decode, express and embody the meanings and intentions of the characters so that the audience can fully understand the play."