SUNY Oneonta

SUNY Oneonta's Hunt Union Ballroom was transformed into a high-energy assembly line of beans, rice, spices, bags and recipe cards on Saturday, Sept. 7, as more than 50 student volunteers packed 25,602 meals to be donated to 22 Otsego County food banks. The students' efforts are part of a larger goal organized by 9/11 Day, a national nonprofit that founded the federally recognized September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. With grant funding from AmeriCorps, 9/11 Day is supporting service activities for college-age students. SUNY Oneonta is one of 11 college campuses across the country working together to pack nearly 1 million nonperishable meal kits for those in need in their local communities. "It's been an awesome privilege to be a part of this," said Samuel Cox, Operations Manager for the Pack Shack, an organization that partnered with 9/11 Day to work with college students across the country on the meal-packing project. The Pack Shack sent SUNY Oneonta a sampling of the pre-packaged meals ahead of time, and staff from Sodexo (the university's dining service provider) cooked up a tray of the meals so that at the end of the event, the volunteers got to taste the meal they were packing. SUNY Oneonta's service day was led by the university's Center for Volunteerism and Community Engagement, which organizes large community service events and connects students with service learning and volunteer opportunities in the region throughout the year. "By the end of the day, we will have packed 123 boxes of meals to distribute to people in need in our community through the Otsego County Hunger Coalition," said Linda Drake, Executive Director of the CVCE. "This is the first time we have done a project like this, and it's been a wonderful experience seeing so many students having fun while supporting a great cause." Over the past 23 years, the 9/11 Day nonprofit has transformed the anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks into the largest annual day of service in American history, now recognized under federal law. The mission of 9/11 Day is to inspire millions of Americans to rekindle the spirit of unity and compassion that arose in the immediate aftermath of 9/11, and to encourage good deeds and other acts of service in tribute to the 9/11 victims, survivors, first responders and members of the military who rose in service in response to the attacks.

Twenty-five SUNY Oneonta students are studying abroad during the fall 2024 semester through programs offered by the university. SUNY Oneonta offers summer and semester programs through study abroad and exchange international partner universities and many short-term faculty-led programs through the Office of Global Education (OGE). Of the available programs, these students are studying abroad at the American College of Greece in Greece, Seinan Gakuin University in Japan, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies and Yonsei University Mirae Campus in South Korea, Instituto Lorenzo de' Medici and John Cabot University in Italy, Univesitat Politecnica de Valencia, Universidad de Granada Centro de Lenguas Modernas, University of Salamanca, University of Barcelona, University of Granada and Study in Valencia in Spain, Study in Portugal Network (SiPN), Linneaus University in Sweden, Bond University in Australia and University of Toulouse - Jean Jaures in France. Thirteen students received scholarships from SUNY Oneonta to study abroad, including the Bill and Khuki Woolever Scholarship, Caroline Turner '53 Study Abroad Scholarship, David '77 and Nancy Frick Global Connections Scholarship, David Daly '82 & Arthur Dauria Scholarship for International Travel, Gary '71 and Pamela '73 Tutty Study Abroad Scholarship, Gerald J. Ferrante '77 Scholarship in Memory of Margaret A. Ferrante, Julia D. Galusha '71, '75 Endowed Fund for Global Connectedness, Klaritch Family International Education Scholarship, Tracey (Wolf) '86 & Keith '87 Drayer Annual Fund for Global Experiential Learning and the Global Connectedness Fund. One student received a scholarship from their study abroad university after being nominated by SUNY Oneonta. More than 20 scholarships were established by the SUNY Oneonta Foundation to provide support for students who might otherwise not have the financial means to study abroad. Scholarships are made possible through gifts from alumni, faculty, staff and community members, and are awarded each semester to qualifying students.

Pitching tents, cooking and camping under the starry night sky, jumping into swimming holes, hiking and seeing the geology of the Adirondack Region first-hand? All in a day's work during this year's GEOFYRST trip, an immersive outdoor experience for new SUNY Oneonta students. Fourteen first-year SUNY Oneonta students participated in GEOFYRST (Geologic Experience Outdoors: First-Year Regional Summer Trip), a week-long, one-credit, pre-semester field experience for incoming students. While exploring New York and the Northeast from Aug. 15-21, students were introduced to various geologic materials, landscapes and field technologies to understand our planet better. They were back in time for the first day of classes on Aug. 26. The annual trip, which began in 2007, is open to all first-year students, regardless of major. Before any other students move onto campus, GEOFYRST students are immersed and engaged in the outdoors, building friendships and connections and gaining an appreciation of geology and, in turn, the Earth.

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.

Lindsey Blankenship, of Hauppauge, NY, became a Making Cent$ Peer Mentor in the Fall 2024 semester. Blankenship is studying Media Studies at SUNY Oneonta. 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. Blankenship started her Making Cent$ Internship in August of 2023 and has excelled throughout her entire internship. Daily, she demonstrates a dedication to helping her peers with financial literacy and other aspects of their daily lives.

Twenty SUNY Oneonta students were selected to serve as Dragon Guides for the 2024-2025 academic year. In addition to leading activities for new students and their parents during six daylong summer 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.

SUNY Oneonta students are getting firsthand experience in their fields of study this summer through research and creative projects on topics ranging from endangered turtles to an abroad Shakespeare-intensive. Thirty-six SUNY Oneonta students are involved in research and creative projects on and off campus through the university's Summer Research Fellowship Program. Fellowship grants assist undergraduate and graduate students with costs related to participating in summer research and creative activity in either an independent or group project. SUNY Oneonta faculty are mentoring students in projects ranging from investigating heat disparities in smaller urban zones to a Shakespeare-intensive study in Prague in the Czech Republic. Some of the research projects are continuations of projects from previous summers, such as the "Synthesis Completion of Melicopteline Derivatives," "Characterization of Seiche in Regional Lakes" and "Detecting Exoplanets and Obtaining Stellar Spectra from the SUNY Oneonta Observatory." Other summer research projects like "Implementing an Emotion Management in Sport Program: Training Staff for Summer Camp" and "(Re)Telling Stories of Change with Artificial Intelligence" are the first of their kind. The 2024 Summer Research Fellowship recipients receive financial support from University Advancement's Student Research and Creative Activity Grant Fund, with additional funding from Alumni Engagement. Students receive grants of up to $3,000 each, with a maximum of $6,000 for two or more students working together on a single project. Students who must remain on campus for their research stay at SUNY Oneonta for free this summer. The students will share their projects with the campus community during the Summer Research Fellowship Showcase from Sept. 23 to 26.

Two-hundred nineteen SUNY Oneonta graduate students completed the requirements for a master's degree, Certificate of Advanced Study, or Advanced Certificate Program following the Spring 2024 semester. Family, friends, faculty and staff gathered on campus to celebrate the scholars, athletes, activists, artists and leaders who make up SUNY Oneonta's Class of 2024 during Spring Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 18.

One thousand thirty-one SUNY Oneonta students completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree following the Spring 2024 semester. Family, friends, faculty and staff gathered on campus to celebrate the scholars, athletes, activists, artists and leaders who make up SUNY Oneonta's Class of 2024 during Spring Commencement exercises on Saturday, May 18. The day before commencement, seniors took part in the Pass Through the Pillars tradition. With friends, family and 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.

Four SUNY Oneonta students have spent the last month digging into the past and honing skills for the future during the Pine Lake Archaeological Field School, now in its 21st year. A collaborative effort between SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College, the Archaeological Field School introduces students to the basic methods archaeologists use to identify, excavate, record and interpret archaeological sites. SUNY Oneonta provides most of the equipment, while Hartwick provides the place - Pine Lake Environmental Campus, located in West Davenport, NY. Tucked away in a field nestled between Pine Lake and Charlotte Creek, students work each day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., sifting through excavated dirt and searching for evidence of ancient hunter-gatherer communities in an area believed to have been a gathering place for Native American people thousands of years ago. The school, which began May 29 and runs until June 28, drew students from Adelphi University, St. Lawrence University, and out of state college students from Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Connecticut. This is the only prehistoric field school in the region, according to SUNY Oneonta Anthropology Professor Renee Whitman, who started the field school in 2003 and co-directs it now. It's also one of the only field schools where students spend time in the field and in the lab, processing found artifacts, analyzing and completing data entry. Students also use the same database system as the New York State Museum to gain an understanding of the curation process. "You become an archeologist here - you're really doing it," said Whitman. "Students learn everything they need to know in order to work in archaeology, setting up units, mapping, recording, the lab component, data entry, report writing, sometimes exhibit design, all of it!" Over the years, Archaeological Field School students have found hundreds of artifacts that give us a glimpse into the past, from 4,000-year-old cooking hearths to fire pits, with some artifacts dating back to about 8,000 years ago. Students have also found hundreds of flakes of chert (a type of rock used to make tools and weapons), pieces of pottery, nutting stones and a full projectile point, known to most as an arrowhead. Past Archaeological Field School students have found quartz that was not local to the region, indicating that it had been traded. Field school students learn skills that can be applied to all kinds of disciplines. Many are anthropology majors, but the program is open to all and often attracts students studying history, geoscience, biology, geography, chemistry and other fields. Even if a student isn't interested in going into the field of archeology, they leave with basic skills applicable for every career option. "It's a bit like boot camp," said Hartwick Assistant Professor of Anthropology Namita Sugandhi, who co-directs the four-week session alongside Whitman. "It teaches students work ethic, how to work with others and independently, and how to be observant and detail-oriented. But it's also an amazing opportunity to build connections. There's no cell service out here, so everyone becomes incredibly close." Students begin their excavation by marking out small sections of undug land at Pine Lake that are approximately 5 feet long by 5 feet wide. Digging 5 to 10 centimeters deep at a time, students collect the dirt and flatten out their excavation site, then record any findings and sift through the dirt they collected for any artifacts. By the end of the field school, students dig as deep as 80 centimeters, and have found thousands of artifacts since the beginning of the field school in 2003, according to Whitman. When they're not in the field or the lab, students cook and have meals together, have the opportunity to fish or kayak, hang out and stay in cabins at Pine Lake. The SUNY Research Foundation provides $500 in grants to the SUNY Oneonta students to help defray the costs of attending the Archaeological Field School. Class of 2013 alumnus Kasey Heiser majored in anthropology and attended the field school as a student in 2011. After graduating, he earned his master's degree in anthropology at Binghamton University and, like many other field school alumni, has worked in Cultural Resource Management or CRM (required archaeology before construction can begin to mitigate impact) since then. Although Heiser wasn't there this year, he has returned to Pine Lake almost every year to serve as a field assistant. "The field school taught me so much, from how to work with others to the basics of what I needed to know for CRM," Heiser said. "Now, working with FEMA and other organizations on grant applications and other projects, whenever there is a historical aspect, I'm the one who gets asked those questions."

Two hundred fifty-seven SUNY Oneonta students earned Provost's List honors for the spring 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 1,100 SUNY Oneonta students earned Dean's List honors for the spring 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.

SUNY Oneonta students were recognized for attaining gold-level leadership milestones in the spring 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.

It may be summer break, but learning at SUNY Oneonta is certainly not on pause, with 11 students having recently returned from a short-term study abroad opportunity in Greece and Turkey. From May 23 until June 10, students in the course "PHIL 3500: Ancient Philosophical Thought: Rediscovering the Art of Living Well" explored Greece and Turkey, the birthplace of Western philosophy, led by Dr. Daniel Patrone. Participants immersed themselves in the history and culture of the region, from "balancing their humours" in geothermal waters a la Hippocrates to performing Sophocles' "Antigone" in an Athenian amphitheater to continuing philosophical discussions late into the night, under the stars on the beach. Lasting anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks, SUNY Oneonta's faculty-led programs (or FLPs) incorporate coursework, cultural experiences and often service-learning opportunities. The trips give students the opportunity to learn and earn credit in a completely new setting, often covering unique subject matters not regularly taught on campus. "Faculty-led programs are wonderful because they allow our students a 'mini study abroad', if you will," said Office of Global Education Director Michelle Lopez. "We're incredibly happy to be able to offer these life-changing opportunities. Faculty-led trips mean invaluable experiential learning for students, something we prioritize at SUNY Oneonta!"

It may be summer break, but learning at SUNY Oneonta is certainly not on pause, with six students having recently returned from a short-term study abroad opportunity in China. From May 23 to June 5, students in the course "Experiencing Cities and Architecture: China" explored the Guangzhou and Hong Kong regions with Dr. Matthew Hendley and Dr. HoHon Leung to study the cities and architecture in the context of the history of urbanization and modernization in modern China. Students could choose either a history or sociology focus. The goal of the trip was to understand and analyze the relationship between the nature and development of cities and the functionalities, meanings and symbolic power of architecture from a cross-disciplinary approach. Key themes included the integration of Guangzhou/Hong Kong into the Greater Bay area (which includes Shenzhen), the impact of tourism and trade on the region, and the balanced development between the built- and natural-environment there. The group traveled to Kowloon Tsim Sha Tsui tourism shopping district, Wailing Ding Island, Shamian Island, Weiyuan Ancient Fort, Chen Clan Ancestral Hall and Temple of Six Banyan Trees, Liurong Buddhist Temple, and more! They were able to meet with Guangdong University and Huangpu Military Academy students, and even learned how to make dumplings with the Huangpu students. Lasting anywhere from 1 to 4 weeks, faculty-led programs (or FLPs) incorporate coursework, cultural experiences and often service-learning opportunities. The trips give students the opportunity to learn and earn credit in a completely new setting, often covering unique subject matters not regularly taught on campus. "Faculty-led programs are wonderful because they allow our students a 'mini study abroad', if you will," said Office of Global Education Director Michelle Lopez. "We're incredibly happy to be able to offer these life-changing opportunities. Faculty-led trips mean invaluable experiential learning for students, something we prioritize at SUNY Oneonta!"

It may be summer break, but learning at SUNY Oneonta is certainly not on pause, with numerous students participating in faculty-led programs abroad. Assistant Professor of Photography Wesley Bernard and 10 of his students spent from from May 20 to May 31 taking photos and touring Madrid for the course "Documentary Photography." With cameras in hand, students used photography to witness and document the rapidly changing Spanish culture regarding cattle and beef production, sustainable food practices, global warming's effects and cultural celebrations. Students visited museums and the Royal Palace of Madrid and saw a flamenco show, enjoyed delicious tapas, paella and gelato, visited a ranch, and witnessed firsthand what goes into the tradition of Spanish bullfighting, even getting to attend a live event. Short-term, faculty-led programs incorporate coursework, cultural experiences and, many times, elements of service learning. The trips give students the opportunity to learn and earn credit in a completely new setting, often covering unique subject matters not regularly taught on campus. "Faculty-led programs are wonderful because they allow our students a 'mini study abroad', if you will," said Office of Global Education Director Michelle Lopez. "We're incredibly happy to be able to offer these life-changing opportunities. Faculty-led trips mean invaluable experiential learning for students, something we prioritize at SUNY Oneonta!"

It may be summer break, but learning at SUNY Oneonta is certainly not on pause, with numerous students participating in faculty-led programs abroad. Dr. Ann Fradkin-Hayslip and 10 of her students spent from May 19 until May 28 studying Finland's educational system, consistently ranked the best in the world, for the field course "Cross Cultural Comparisons of Educational Systems." The group visited schools in Finland, from pre-K through high school, observing in classrooms and meeting with administrators, teachers and students. They discovered a completely different educational system, one where teachers "are highly revered and respected, on par with doctors" and have "tremendous autonomy," Fradkin-Hayslip said. In Finland, standardized testing, homework and school buses do not exist, and shoes are not worn inside the school. Instead, students are encouraged to play, walk to school or ride their bike. In addition to their academic courses, students take cooking and carpentry classes that let them learn important life skills. Short-term, faculty-led programs incorporate coursework, cultural experiences and, many times, elements of service learning. The trips give students the opportunity to learn and earn credit in a completely new setting, often covering unique subject matters not regularly taught on campus. "Faculty-led programs are wonderful because they allow our students a 'mini study abroad', if you will," said Office of Global Education Director Michelle Lopez. "We're incredibly happy to be able to offer these life-changing opportunities. Faculty-led trips mean invaluable experiential learning for students, something we prioritize at SUNY Oneonta!"

Five SUNY Oneonta students were inducted into the Triota, Delta Beta Chapter, Honor Society during an induction ceremony on May 3. Triota (Iota Iota Iota) is a national honor society dedicated to recognizing and encouraging academic excellence in Women's and Gender Studies. With more than 50 chapters nationwide, the Triota Honor Society strives to maintain the feminist values central to Women's and Gender Studies by encouraging diversity, egalitarianism and a supportive academic environment for all students. SUNY Oneonta students must complete six credit hours in Women's and Gender Studies courses and have a minimum grade point average of 3.0 to be inducted into the Triota Honor Society.

It may be summer break, but learning at SUNY Oneonta is certainly not on pause, with numerous students participating in faculty-led programs abroad. Each year since 2013, Dr. Tracy Allen has taken students to Guatemala for the interdisciplinary course, "Water and the Environment of Guatemala." The course touches on the geography, geology and environmental science of the region and prepares students to find solutions to contemporary water resources issues in the developing world. From May 22 to June 4, students took water samples and analyzed water quality data from Lake Atitlan and the surrounding watershed in order to share the results with the community. They also toured solid waste and wastewater treatment plants, visited Mayan homes to install water filters, sampled city and school wells, and taught school children about water quality. In their free time, they enjoyed boat rides, toured Mayan ruins and a coffee plantation, hiked volcanos and even visited a butterfly conservatory. Short-term, faculty-led programs incorporate coursework, cultural experiences and, many times, elements of service learning. The trips give students the opportunity to learn and earn credit in a completely new setting, often covering unique subject matters not regularly taught on campus. Allen said FLPs "open students' eyes to cross-cultural understanding and change lives. For students to be successful, they must be globally aware." "Faculty-led programs are wonderful because they allow our students a 'mini study abroad', if you will," said Office of Global Education Director Michelle Lopez. "We're incredibly happy to be able to offer these life-changing opportunities. Faculty-led trips mean invaluable experiential learning for students, something we prioritize at SUNY Oneonta!"

Twenty-seven SUNY Oneonta students and recent graduates are presenting work created in their upper-level Studio and Digital Art Capstone courses during the spring 2024 semester. "The Capstone: 2024" is the inaugural exhibition of the best work created by SUNY Oneonta students across multiple disciplines in the arts, and will become a staple end-of-year showcase for future upper-level students. "The Capstone: 2024" exhibition is located in the Martin-Mullen Gallery on campus and opened to the public during SUNY Oneonta's Commencement. The exhibition will be open to all without an appointment from June 7-9 for Alumni Weekend from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is open by appointment only from May 22 to June 6. Admission to the gallery is free, 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.

Twenty-four SUNY Oneonta student volunteers and Sport and Exercise Sciences faculty partnered with EDD Adaptive Sports to host the first Adaptive Field Day on campus this spring. Over the past few years, SUNY Oneonta's Sport and Exercise Sciences department has developed a relationship with EDD Adaptive Sports, a non-profit organization that offers adaptive sports programs to children and adults with any disability. EDD Adaptive Sports' programs allow people of all ages to participate in a variety of free athletic and sport-related activities, including basketball, biking, kayaking, soccer, swimming, pickleball, rowing and yoga. The field day took place May 4 in the Alumni Field House and Red Dragon Field. The event allowed area residents who have varying intellectual and adaptive disabilities, including people from local organizations Springbrook and Pathfinder Village, to participate in a variety of athletic activities. "It's been a really great partnership so far," said Gretchen Owens, executive director at EDD Adaptive Sports. "I appreciate the ideas the Sport and Exercise Sciences department brought to us for things to do and ways to expand what we offer. By building this partnership with SUNY Oneonta, we're building what we can offer our athletes and getting them more engaged in the community and everything SUNY Oneonta and the greater community has to offer." Among the student volunteers were Exercise Science seniors Graham Wooden and Sarah Faulisi, who provided training to the other student volunteers on how to interact and work with the EDD participants. Faulisi and Wooden received a Student Research and Creative Activity (SRCA) grant funded by the SUNY Oneonta Foundation and SUNY Oneonta Alumni Association for their project to develop a national online training program on educating volunteers working with athletes with disabilities. Faulisi and Wooden provided training for volunteers from the SUNY Oneonta basketball, soccer, club rugby, swim and softball teams, students from the Terpsichorean dance club and students from Dr. Katherine Griffes's Ethical Considerations in Exercise Science course. The day's activities included ladder toss, Spikeball, yoga, cornhole, soccer, wiffle ball and golf. "I hope that they can take away recognizing the value of just the intrinsic joy of being an athlete, of playing a sport, and can see the importance that they play in the world around them," said Dr. Griffes of the student volunteers. "I hope they feel a sense of empowerment, that they can do something, that they can make a difference in the world and that their ideas matter." The Adaptive Field Day concluded with EDD Adaptive Sports Board Director Barbara Mackey and Executive Director Owens announcing the awards each athlete won. The event's award ceremony finished with athletes running through a tunnel of encouraging arms created by the student volunteers, reaching Wooden and Faulisi at the end for a fist-bump, hive-five or hug.

More than 50 SUNY Oneonta students received an Academic Achievement Award on May 8, 2024, during the 36th annual recognition reception on campus. Each academic department chooses one to three students who stand out from the rest of their peers in their major to receive this award. Undergraduate Academic Achievement Awards recognize exceptional seniors after reviewing their scholarly accomplishments. To be eligible for an Academic Achievement Award, seniors need a 3.5 GPA in their major. Faculty nominate students in their department at SUNY Oneonta based on further academic or professional pursuits and a demonstration of leadership on- and off-campus. Graduate Academic Achievement Awards recognize academic performance, leadership and excellence in scholarship. Awards are made to post-baccalaureate students at SUNY Oneonta, whether they do most of their work on campus or through a distance-learning format. Awardees may excel in various areas, including exemplary work on a thesis or other capstone project, leadership and involvement in department, campus or community activities, or exceptional academic or professional performance in the classroom and beyond.

One hundred twenty-five SUNY Oneonta students participated in the 2024 Student Research and Creative Activity (SRCA) showcase from April 24-25 in the Morris Conference Center. The annual SRCA showcase allows students to participate in academic conference-style presentation sessions on campus where the community can learn about students' creative projects. The two-day event featured 85 presentations held in the Morris Conference Center on campus. Students presented research for completed and ongoing projects on topics representing a wide variety of academic disciplines such as science, history and art. Projects were completed under the mentorship of 54 faculty sponsors. Twenty-eight of the 85 projects received grants through the Student Grant Program for Research and Creative Activity, funded by the University Foundation and the SUNY Oneonta Alumni Association. "This has been a great celebration of the research and creative activities that our students have been engaged in," said Associate Director of Scholarly Activities Audrey Porsche, who coordinated this year's SRCA showcase. "It's made possible through charitable gifts to the University Foundation and Alumni Association and the showcase provides a great opportunity for our students to share what they have accomplished alongside their faculty sponsors. These students are getting research and creative experiences that will help them post-graduation, whether they are going on to graduate school, internships or careers. It's all great experiential learning in action!"

Four SUNY Oneonta students were inducted into the Omicron Delta Epsilon honor society on Friday, May 3, during an induction ceremony held in Morris Hall on campus. Omicron Delta Epsilon is an international economics honor society with 717 chapters located in 11 countries. It is one of the world's largest academic honor societies. To become a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon, SUNY Oneonta undergraduate students must complete 12 credit hours of economics courses, have a GPA of at least 3.0 overall and in economics courses and have a B in an economics honors program (if the chapter's college or university offers it). Graduate students must complete one semester of full-time work with a major or minor in economics and have a 3.0 GPA.

Fourteen SUNY Oneonta students were inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society on Friday, May 3, during an induction ceremony held in Otsego Grille on campus. Beta Gamma Sigma is an international business honor society with over 830,000 members and 600 chapters throughout more than 190 countries worldwide. This is the highest recognition a student anywhere in the world can receive in an undergraduate program at a school accredited by AACSB-The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. Students in the top 10% of baccalaureate programs and the top 20% of graduate programs are eligible for this invitation.

Twelve SUNY Oneonta students were recently honored for their dedication to sustainability efforts on campus thanks to the Green Dragon Recognition Program. The Green Dragon Recognition Program (organized by the Office of Sustainability) seeks to celebrate and recognize students who have shown commitment to sustainability during their time at SUNY Oneonta. Honorees were recognized during an invitation-only reception on Friday, May 1, on campus. To earn an invitation to the 2024 recognition, students had to earn a B or above in a sustainability-focused or two sustainability-related courses, attend six sustainability-themed events and participate in at least one sustainability leadership activity by May 1. Awards were presented, appetizers were served, and students, faculty and staff networked with one another. The reception was one of the culminating events of SUNY Oneonta's annual Green Dragon Week, which showcases the campus's commitment to sustainability through various events and activities and celebrates Earth Day. Sustainability is a core value at SUNY Oneonta, and it is infused into all aspects of campus life, from academics to operations and engagement. Evidence of the university's commitment to sustainability can be seen in the student-run Red Closet Thrift Shop, courses with sustainability designations in more than half of the academic departments, an active University Advisory Council made up of faculty, staff and students, and an overall commitment to supporting a community that is socially just, environmentally healthy and economically stable.

Eight SUNY Oneonta students are among the first to complete an innovative new program at SUNY Oneonta that aims to prepare students for life outside the classroom and after college by focusing on professional and social maturity and growth. Noticing that many seniors lacked professional awareness, communication skills and confidence, history professor E. Howard Ashford had an idea and a goal: to create a program rooted in mentoring that would help students become the best version of themselves by focusing on these skills. With this vision, the "Kings of Excellence" initiative was born. When it started in fall 2022, there were just a handful of male student participants, as one goal was to address the barriers that hinder recruitment and retention of male students from underrepresented populations. Now, there are about 25 students involved, including women and students of all backgrounds. Following one semester as a "King-in-Waiting," students are inducted as Kings during a special ceremony. After fulfilling their "10 Missions"-requirements that include maintaining at least a 3.0 GPA, completing community service and professional development, creating a job portfolio, and actively participating in student organizations and events-Kings graduate from the academy. This semester, eight students have graduated from the program.

Jessica Davis, of Oceanside, NY, was one of four students attending a NY university to receive an Association of Mathematics Teachers of New York State (AMTNYS) scholarship in the 2023-24 academic year. The AMTNYS awards are presented to outstanding undergraduates enrolled in a Teacher Education Program in New York state and who have completed at least 18 credit hours of Mathematics. The cumulative GPA must be at least 3.25 and applicants can be in their senior year. AMTNYS began the scholarship program in 1987, and the money is primarily raised by donations given by members and friends to the AMTNYS Scholarship Fund. Davis, who is studying Adolescence Education: Mathematics and Mathematics, is a member of the class of 2026, is one of seven SUNY Oneonta students to receive the AMTNYS scholarship since 1988. Awards are based on a committee evaluation of each student's academic achievement, and their involvement and contributions to their school and the mathematics community. Davis was encouraged to apply by Professor of Mathematics Dr. Toke Knudsen, who also wrote a letter of support for her application.

Nineteen SUNY Oneonta students volunteered at the annual Adaptive Basketball Clinic on campus, created through a partnership between the Sport and Exercise Sciences department and EDD Adaptive Sports. The event, held in the Chase Gym on April 14, from 12 to 1:30 p.m., allowed area residents who have varying intellectual and adaptive disabilities to hone their skills in basketball through different technical and shooting drills. Over the past few years, SUNY Oneonta's Sport and Exercise Sciences department has developed a relationship with EDD Adaptive Sports, a non-profit organization that offers adaptive sports programs to children and adults with any disability. EDD Adaptive Sports' programs allow people of all ages to participate in a variety of free athletic and sport-related activities, including basketball, biking, kayaking, soccer, swimming, pickleball, rowing and yoga. This was the second year that SUNY Oneonta and EDD Adaptive Sports worked together to make the basketball clinic a successful day for everyone involved.

Three SUNY Oneonta students were named Milne Library Scholars for the 2023-24 academic year and were honored at a banquet dinner on campus on April 17. The Milne Library Scholar program supports student scholarship at SUNY Oneonta by offering resources and opportunities specifically tailored to undergraduate and graduate researchers. Only four Milne Library Scholars are named at any time, three undergraduate students and one graduate student, and students from any discipline are encouraged to apply. To become a Milne Library Scholar, students must submit an application that indicates their research project meets specific criteria such as evidence that the project can be completed within the academic year with enough initial work already being completed at the time of the application, the research project must align with the mission of the Milne Library, whether or not their project will make use of library resources, demonstrates clear and focused research agenda and communication skills. Milne Library Scholars receive access to private furnished study spaces in the library, regular consultation from librarian experts on scholarly research and publication, an invitation to a banquet honoring them, eligibility for selection as Milne Library Scholar of the Year and special opportunities to showcase their scholarship to the campus community. Students are expected to produce a completed research project to show the campus community at the end of their time as Milne Library Scholars.