SUNY Oneonta

1,150 SUNY Oneonta students completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree following the Fall 2023 semester. Graduates were honored and recognized during ceremonies held Saturday, May 20, 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 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.

Twenty-four SUNY Oneonta students have been selected to serve as Dragon Guides for the 2023-2024 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 Student Experience, the Dragon Guides will reach out to their mentees to revisit their goals from orientation and offer support on reaching those goals. They will also be sponsoring connection groups for new students to participate in, which will encourage and support engagement.

Lukas Svrcek of Pawling, NY, presented at the National Association for Collegiate Directors of Athletics conference on June 12 in Orlando, Fla, with SUNY Oneonta Assistant Professor of Sport and Exercise Sciences Dr. Katherine Griffes. Dr. Griffes and Svrcek, an Exercise Science major, presented in front of athletic administrators, including directors, fundraisers, compliance officers and other stakeholders for college athletics. Their presentation, titled "Student Athlete Leadership Development: A Pilot Study," discussed the implementation and results of a one-credit leadership course developed by Svrcek and Griffes, for which Svrcek was a teaching assistant. The presentation contained data that Svrcek and Griffes collected nearly a year ago, looking at the concerns, educational needs and challenges that Division III athlete leaders face while taking on the role of team captain. The course ran for the first time in the first mini-session of spring 2023 and will run twice in the fall at SUNY Oneonta. Athletes who take part in the course are nominated by their coaches and get opportunities to implement new leadership strategies during their season. To assess the course, Griffes and Svrcek collected pre- and post-test data from the students and their coaches before and immediately after the class concluded and at the end of the athletic season. The data provided baseline information about each athlete's current leadership behaviors and allowed Svrcek and Griffes to document the changes the athlete leaders and their coaches saw in a variety of areas, including communication, athlete wellness, team culture, inspiring vision, challenging old ways and encouraging athletes. "Overall, we saw approximately a 20 percent increase in leadership behaviors reported from both the athletes and coaches from the beginning of the course to the end of the season," said Griffes. "This tells us that the athletes adjusted their behaviors during the class and continued to display those behaviors after they completed the course." Svrcek received financial support for the experience through the Caroline '67 and D'Antonio Student Travel for Excellence Fund, which provides up to $30,000 each year in grants is available to assist undergraduate and a limited number of graduate students with expenses incurred during professional travel.

One hundred and twenty-one SUNY Oneonta students participated in the 2023 Student Research and Creative Activity (SRCA) showcase from Wednesday, April 26, to Thursday, April 27. 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 69 presentations and was 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 45 faculty sponsors. Eighteen of the 69 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 was 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 all supported by our generous alumni through the University Foundation and Alumni Association, which is really amazing. Their support helps provide the wonderful opportunity to recognize the work our students have done and are completing under faculty mentorship. With the students and faculty working together, they're getting experiences that will help them post-graduation, whether it's going on to graduate school, internships or careers. It's all applied learning!"

Sixty-two SUNY Oneonta students and the Sport and Exercise Sciences department partnered with Special Olympics to host a regional track and field event at Oneonta High School on Sunday, May 7, 2023. The event allowed area individuals who have varying intellectual and adaptive disabilities, including clients at local organizations Springbrook and Pathfinder Village, to showcase their athletic ability in a competitive setting. Athletes ranged from ages 10 to 53, and the day included an opening ceremony with remarks by City of Oneonta Mayor Mark Drnek and SUNY Oneonta President Alberto Cardelle. Lecturer of Sport and Exercise Sciences Andrea Fallon-Korb and her two interns organized the event. The interns were the coordinators for the 60 student volunteers, 28 Special Olympic athletes and three adaptive athletes who participated in the day-long competition. This year was the second time that SUNY Oneonta students and the Department of Sport and Exercise Sciences volunteered to coordinate the Special Olympics Track and Field event. To be eligible to participate in Special Olympics, athletes must be at least eight years old and identified by an agency or professional as having one of the following conditions: intellectual disabilities, cognitive delays as measured by formal assessment, or significant learning or vocational problems due to cognitive delay that requires or have required specially designed instruction. Student volunteers fell into three categories for those who: helped run the track meet, organized an obstacle course and outdoor activities through the Exercise Science Club and those from an exercise science course taught by Assistant Professor of Sport and Exercise Science Dr. Katie Griffes. The students from Dr. Griffes's class helped by hosting pre- and post-competition workshops and education sessions. Workshop volunteers were tasked with educating the athletes on the importance of several athletic principles. These included pre-competition stretching, hydration, mobility and agility training, yoga, and mindfulness and breathing exercises. Each workshop combined information with entertainment, allowing athletes and volunteers to join everyone's stations. "Volunteering for the Special Olympics allowed our students to understand and appreciate sport inclusion at a deeper level," said Dr. Griffes. "This event provided students with a chance to give back to their community, to make sure we are creating space for everyone to be included and benefit from sport participation, and see the impact their time, energy and efforts can have on others."

SUNY Oneonta recently recognized students who have attained silver-level leadership milestones through the university's LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) 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 attain 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. Completion of 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.

Three students were recognized at an award ceremony for participating in an online financial investment competition, the SUNY Oneonta Stock Market Game, on May 10, 2023, in Fitzelle Hall. The students invested virtual cash of $100,000 in a live market, buying and selling stocks while using other financial instruments to practice their investment skills. The top three winners received $50, $30, and $20, respectively. The competition was open to all students and was offered through www.wallstreetsurvivor.com, an online stock market simulator.

More than 50 SUNY Oneonta students received an Academic Achievement Award on May 10, 2023, during the 35th 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.

A total of 20 graduating SUNY Oneonta students received 2023 Senior Service Awards recognizing their commitment to volunteerism. Seniors who completed at least 350 hours of service through the university's Center for Social Responsibility and Community (CSRC) were recognized during a reception in May. Depending on the amount of volunteer hours served, students received either a pin, cords or a medal to wear during Spring Commencement, which will take place Saturday, May 20, on campus.

SUNY Oneonta recently recognized students who have attained platinum-level leadership milestones through the university's LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) 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 college 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 attain 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. Completion of 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.

Congratulations to the six peer tutors who earned National Tutor Association Level 1 Certification this academic year through SUNY Oneonta's Student Learning Center (SLC). Tutors have completed the courses for which they are tutoring at SUNY Oneonta and have received a B+ or better in the course. All tutors complete a 2-hour training workshop before working with tutees, and they complete additional training throughout the time they work at SLC. Effective Fall 2023, all newly hired tutors are working toward completing National Tutoring Association (NTA) basic level certification.

Ten students were recognized with awards as part of the 2023 Kente Graduation Recognition Ceremony at SUNY Oneonta. The ceremony took place on campus in the Alumni Field House on April 27. Sponsored by the Department of Africana and Latinx Studies and the Center for Racial Justice and Inclusive Excellence (CRJIE), the annual ceremony recognizes the achievements of SUNY Oneonta's diverse student population-African American, Latinx, Asian and Native American (AALANA) students and non-AALANA students and allies.

Twenty-five SUNY Oneonta students were recently honored for their dedication to sustainability efforts on campus, thanks to the new Green Dragon Recognition Program. The Green Dragon Recognition Program (organized by the Office of Sustainability) seeks to celebrate and recognize students who have shown a commitment to sustainability during their time at SUNY Oneonta. Honorees were recognized during an invitation-only reception Friday, April 21, on campus. In order to earn an invitation to the 2023 recognition, students had to earn a B or above in a sustainability-focused or two sustainability-related courses, attended six sustainability-themed events and participated in at least one sustainability leadership activity by April 21. 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 a variety of 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 President's 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.

Thirty-five SUNY Oneonta students were inducted into the Tau Sigma National Honor Society for the 2022-23 academic year on April 14, 2023. Tau Sigma is designed exclusively for transfer students. The mission of the organization is to recognize and promote the academic excellence and involvement of transfer students. The minimum academic average required for membership is either a 3.5 on a 4.0 scale (or the equivalent thereof) or an academic average that places the prospective candidate in the top 20 percent of all incoming transfer students during their incoming semester.

SUNY Oneonta inducted its second class of 69 first-generation students into the Alpha Alpha Alpha national honor society during a ceremony on April 23, 2023, at Morris Hall. Alpha Alpha Alpha, known as Tri-Alpha for short, was founded in 2018 to recognize and celebrate the hard work and academic success of first-generation university students. Students qualify for induction into Tri-Alpha if they meet the following criteria: The student has earned at least 30 credits/semester hours in the academic year toward an associate degree or baccalaureate degree; the undergraduate student has achieved an overall undergraduate GPA of at least 3.2 on a 4.0 scale; and neither of the student's parents, stepparents, nor legal guardians, completed a bachelor's or associate's degree.

Three SUNY Oneonta students have been named 2023 recipients of the prestigious SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence. Melissa Rose "Rosie" Garrecht, Jamie Crique and Robert C. "Bobby" Lang were among a select group of State University of New York students recognized by SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. during a reception in their honor Monday, April 24. All three students are seniors and will graduate in May. "These are exceptional student leaders who have served as role models for their campus peers," said SUNY Oneonta President Alberto Cardelle. "We're extremely proud of Rosie, Jamie and Bobby, and I am confident that their exemplary service and achievements here will be the groundwork for wonderful things beyond SUNY Oneonta." The Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence, or CASE, is the highest honor that SUNY bestows upon students. It is presented annually to SUNY students who demonstrate academic excellence and integrate it with accomplishments in other areas, such as leadership, campus involvement, community service and the arts.

SUNY Oneonta recently recognized students who have attained gold level leadership milestones through the college's LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) 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 college 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 attain 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. Completion of 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.

Sixteen students and the SUNY Oneonta Theatre Department will present "EVIL DEAD: The Musical," a theatrical rock performance based on the "Evil Dead" franchise. Beginning Wednesday, April 26, the production stars Ash, the housewares employee turned demon-killing hero, and its plot and characters are a mix of the "Evil Dead," "Evil Dead II" and "Army of Darkness" films. "EVIL DEAD: The Musical" features five unsuspecting college students who travel to an abandoned cabin in the woods for a weekend getaway, accidentally unleashing an evil force that turns the group into demons. With the help of his iconic chainsaw, Ash must defeat the demons as all characters sing and dance to songs specifically written for the musical. The SUNY Oneonta Theatre Department will perform the production several times throughout the week with help from the Mask and Hammer student theatre club. Faculty and staff make up the show's director, light designer, technical director, costume designer, costume shop manager and assistant technical director. The choreographer, sound designer, stage manager, production coordinator, dance captain, assistant light designer, assistant stage managers and cast are SUNY Oneonta students. "The musical fits a mostly student-populated audience well and has an excellent score. It is a rock musical, and the songs are quite popular," said "EVIL DEAD: The Musical" Director and Associate Professor of Acting, Directing and Movement Kiara Pipino. "I hope to see more people coming to see the production, considering its popularity. It is time to see theatre make a real comeback after the pandemic. A live theatrical experience is so much more fulfilling than what any streaming service can provide." "EVIL DEAD: The Musical" can be seen in the Goodrich Theater at SUNY Oneonta from Wednesday to Friday, April 26-28, at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, April 29, at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at https://oneonta.universitytickets.com/, in person at the Hunt Union Information Desk from Monday to Saturday between 1 and 10 p.m. and in person at the box office in the Fine Arts Center one hour before each scheduled performance. View ticket pricing and additional information online at https://suny.oneonta.edu/theatre-department/season-shows.

Six SUNY Oneonta students won the highest possible honor at the 2023 National Model United Nations conference in New York City from April 10-14. SUNY Oneonta students represented Cambodia this year, and they were one of just 24 delegations to receive the Outstanding Delegation Award. The National Model United Nations (NMUN) is a non-governmental organization formally associated with the United Nations. The first simulated conference of the NMUN, known at the time as the Model Assembly of the League of Nations, took place nearly 100 years ago at Syracuse University in 1927. Since 2005, SUNY Oneonta political science majors have learned about global issues and the United Nations through a Model United Nations course that culminates in a trip to the NMUN Conference in New York City, where students have the opportunity to engage with peers from around the world. "The conference was an amazing opportunity to collaborate with other amazing college students and aspiring leaders from across the world and negotiate and problem solve with them about complex topics, such as safe nuclear waste management, nuclear facility safeguards and the United Nations sustainable development goals," said August Heminway, a dual-major in Criminal Justice and Political Science at SUNY Oneonta. More than 90 colleges and universities participated in the 2023 NMUN conference, each representing a different country. Each nation's delegates join one of 13 committees focusing on issues such as environmental impact, atomic energy, human rights and peacebuilding. Before the conference, students prepare for the Model UN by researching and learning about their committee's topics. This year, Oneonta students Aliyah Abdelsalam and Daniela Suarez were members of the General Assembly First Committee, and John Furgele and August Heminway were members of the International Atomic Energy Agency. Angela Wayman and Alex Headley served on the United Nations Environmental Assembly committee and won an Outstanding Position Paper Award for their work. "The Outstanding Position Paper Award is for the two-page papers each committee submitted before the conference started, based on the work we did in class," said Matt Murphy, associate professor of international relations and comparative politics and the Model UN course instructor. "Angela and Alex's submission was among the top ten papers of about 90 teams on that committee." All six SUNY Oneonta students won the Outstanding Delegation Award based on their performance and preparedness. "There were a couple of unusual instances at the Model UN where students from other universities became swept up in the bargaining and competitiveness, leading to arguments and highly escalated tempers," said Murphy. "Our students were consistently pushing for diplomacy and reasonable discussion. I believe that's one of the reasons we were recognized for Outstanding Delegation."

SUNY Oneonta senior Samuel Rodriguez is one of just 46 students in the SUNY system to receive the Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for Student Excellence. Awardees were recognized during a ceremony in Albany on Monday, April 17. Now celebrating its fourth class of awardees, the award recognizes outstanding Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) students for their academic merit and perseverance. 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.

The SUNY Oneonta 2023 Juried Student Art Show features more than 80 works by 50 talented student artists. The exhibition opened on March 28 and will run through May 13 in the university's Martin-Mullen Art Gallery on campus. Featured artwork was submitted by students and selected by Art Department faculty members. This year's award winners were chosen by invited jurors President and Founder Karen Shafer and Director of Program Initiatives Dan O'Neil at Aunt Karen's Farm. Located in Mount Vision, Aunt Karen's Farm is a quiet residency program for artists, educators, administrators, environmentalists and agrarians to incubate new work and celebrate nature. The show highlights the different mediums and themes explored by students over the academic year. Prints, 3D models, clay sculptures, digital designs, photographs, drawings and mixed media make up this year's offerings. SUNY Oneonta student Victoria Villaverde designed the show's poster. On March 30, an opening reception celebrated student talent with an award ceremony and refreshments. During the reception, Gallery Director Sarah Simpson thanked College President Alberto Cardelle, Provost Enrique Morales-Diaz, School of Liberal Arts and Business Dean Elizabeth Dunn, Vice President for University Advancement and Executive Director of SUNY Oneonta Foundation Paul Adamo and Art Department Chair and Assistant Professor Katherine Spitzoff for their continued support of the galleries. "In addition, we would like to thank the faculty who work hard every day to teach and inspire our students, the staff for their crucial help and of course, our students, who put in hard work, thinking both critically and creatively, and sharing their art with us," Simpson said. "A special thanks to Audrey Porsche, Associate Director of Scholarly Activities, and Ben Wendrow, Director of Development, for their support in making these awards a reality." Winners of the following special awards were announced: Jean Parish Art on Campus Award, Excellence in New Media Award, Helen and George Zimmerman Memorial Award, Golden Artist Colors Inc. Award and the Martin-Mullen Creativity Award. Faculty Emerita Jean Parish enjoyed a lengthy teaching career at SUNY Oneonta, leaving behind a gift to provide financial assistance to students studying art. One of the two endowed funds she set in place supports the Jean Parish Art on Campus Awards, facilitating the purchase of student work to be displayed on campus. Excellence in New Media is a new award celebrating the work of students who excel in newer and non-traditional art practices. A permanent virtual gallery space to display the digital art that is purchased through this award is being built, mirroring the beautiful examples of physical art purchased for display across campus through Jean Parish. Professor George Zimmerman was a teacher at SUNY Oneonta for 32 years and was instrumental in developing the Art Department. Helen and George's family has generously made donations in their memory for the awards. Golden Artist Colors is an artist materials manufacturer founded in 1980 and is dedicated to creating and sharing the most imaginative and innovative tools of color, line and texture for inspiring those who turn their vision into reality. They have graciously shared gift certificates for the Golden Artist Colors Inc. Awards. The Martin-Mullen Art Gallery and Martin-Mullen Creativity Awards are named after two previous faculty members, Minnie Martin and James Mullen. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Twenty students in SUNY Oneonta's Marketing Club, OnMark, traveled to New Orleans last week to attend the 2023 American Marketing Association's Annual International Collegiate Conference, where they were ranked among the Top 10 Collegiate Chapters of the Year. OnMark received this recognition among 333 competing colleges and universities. Schools are judged based on their accomplishments, with each chapter submitting an annual report detailing their fundraiser events, membership drives, community service, career development workshops, and other AMA competitions in which the club participated throughout the year. This was an improvement from last year, when OnMark was named one of the Top 15 Collegiate Chapters of the Year at the 2022 conference in Chicago. Attendance at the conference was made by possible in part by a grant from the D'Antonio Travel for Excellence Fund.

Three SUNY Oneonta students are studying abroad during the spring 2023 semester through programs offered by the university. SUNY Oneonta offers summer and semester programs through 12 study abroad and exchange international partner universities and many short-term faculty-led programs through the Office of Global Education (OGE). Of the 12 available programs, these students are studying abroad at Seinan Gakuin University in Japan, Hankuk University of Applied Sciences in South Korea and the American College of Greece in Greece. Two students received scholarships from SUNY Oneonta to study abroad, including the Bill and Khuki Woolever Scholarship, Gary '71 and Pamela '73 Tutty Study Abroad Scholarship 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.

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.

Beginning Wednesday, April 5, the SUNY Oneonta Mask and Hammer Theatre Club presents "boom," a play written by American playwright Peter Sinn Nachtrieb. This production features a character named Jules, who is a marine biology grad student, and a journalism student character named Jo. After Jo answers Jules's online personal ad that offers a "no strings attached" experience, the future of humanity rests upon them as an apocalyptic event wipes out most forms of life on Earth. In addition to the roles of Jules and Jo, a third character, Barbara, serves as an audience guide for humanity's end. The "boom" production can be seen in the Hamblin Theater at SUNY Oneonta from Wednesday to Friday, April 5 to 7, at 7:30 p.m., and on Saturday, April 8, at 2 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at https://oneonta.universitytickets.com/, in person at the Hunt Union Information Desk from Monday to Saturday between 1 and 10 p.m. and in person at the box office in the Fine Arts Center one hour before each scheduled performance. Ticket pricing and additional information can be viewed online at https://suny.oneonta.edu/theatre-department/season-shows.

SUNY Oneonta business administration and accounting students are as busy as ever this tax season as they continue to help classmates, university employees and area residents prepare and file their simple tax returns via a campus program that is nearly a decade old. A total of 19 students have been thoroughly trained through the IRS's Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program during the spring 2023 semester. The VITA program is part of a three-credit course offered for a second year at SUNY Oneonta, where students spend a large portion of the semester getting certified and preparing tax returns for those with a salary of $60k or less. "Preparing other people's tax returns gives the students experience in meeting people and interacting with them in ways that demonstrate competence, professionalism, poise, punctuality, courtesy and empathy," said Lisa Flynn, associate professor of accounting and the course's instructor. "The students have learned how to ask for sensitive financial information in ways that put the client at ease to the greatest extent possible." Students work in pairs to complete client returns, ensuring accuracy as they handle sensitive information. Among the 19 preparers are four returning student coordinators, who have been given increased responsibility and an increased sense of "ownership" in the program. The service provided by the students in the VITA program is free. VITA students who prepare returns must take and pass tax law training that meets or exceeds IRS standards. This training includes maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of all taxpayer information. Additionally, the IRS requires a quality review check for every return prepared at a VITA site prior to filing. "The students have learned the importance of attention to detail and have experienced how important it is to 'get things right' the first time," said Flynn. "There are still several open appointments that we hope to see fill up before we complete the VITA portion of the course." Students have already filed returns for 22 clients, both federal and state, with an additional 10 appointments scheduled. After all appointments conclude on April 12, the course will finish with lessons on international taxation in various countries. SUNY Oneonta has been a VITA partner organization for many years, thanks to William "Jeff" Weinell, a business lecturer and advisement coordinator who passed away in 2020. Weinell, who also served as a mentor and advisor to various campus clubs, initiated and grew the VITA program, which, was initially held off campus and was a volunteer opportunity for a small number of students.

A second Guiding Eyes for the Blind puppy is being raised on campus at SUNY Oneonta, thanks to the university's new Guiding Eyes club. "Emoji," a 3-month-old yellow Labrador retriever weighing in at just 16 pounds, arrived on campus Sunday, March 19, and is being raised by Kirstin Kavountzis, a junior Dietetics major from Washingtonville, NY. Kavountzis is the secretary of SUNY Oneonta's new Guiding Eyes for the Blind club. Guiding Eyes for the Blind is a nonprofit organization that provides guide dogs to people experiencing vision loss. SUNY Oneonta's first Guiding Eyes puppy, a black Lab named "Ink," arrived on campus in late January and is being raised by the club's president.

As a powerful Nor'easter pummeled the East Coast early this week, bringing heavy snow and damaging winds and sending service and road crews into overdrive, three SUNY Oneonta Meteorology majors were in their glory, appearing live on The Weather Channel to give their expert opinions on the storm. Although most students were home for spring break, seniors Erin Duke and Jacob Coffey and junior Eleni Konstantelos happened to be in the right place at the right time Monday, when a field producer with The Weather Channel contacted Dr. Leigh Fall, associate professor and chair of the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Department. National correspondent Justin Michaels and his team were being sent to cover Winter Storm Sage live from Oneonta, the producer had explained to Fall. They had seen that SUNY Oneonta had a meteorology program and wondered if any students would like to be interviewed on camera by Michaels. Duke, Coffey and Konstantelos, who had all stayed in town for one reason or another, jumped at the chance. With coordination and encouragement from Dr. Fall, Duke, of Rhinebeck, NY, appeared live at 9 p.m. Monday, followed by Konstantelos, of Astoria, NY, at 10 p.m. Coffey, of Patchogue, NY, appeared the following day. Stationed at the corner of Main and Chestnut streets, the students calmly and enthusiastically answered Michaels' questions, speaking about the path of the storm as well as the topography of the area and how that affects total snowfall accumulations. When the coverage was all said and done, the Oneonta students had appeared four times on national television. Off-camera, Michaels and his team asked the students about their plans for the future and encouraged them to dream big. Konstantelos said she hopes to pursue a career in aviation meteorology, air quality resources or paleoclimatology. Duke wants to earn her master's degree and study mountain meteorology and cloud physics. While she'll "always be grateful for this chance to try live tv," she thinks her dream job would be "doing research on the weather, rather than broadcasting it." Fall said she is "extremely proud" of Duke, Coffey and Konstantelos. "I'm delighted that we could shine a spotlight on these awesome students," she said. "They are proof of the caliber of SUNY Oneonta's meteorology program as a whole, and I'm so happy that they could have this opportunity."

Nearly 300 SUNY Oneonta students completed the requirements for a bachelor's degree following the Fall 2022 semester. Graduates were honored and recognized during Fall Commencement, held Dec. 11 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 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.

Twelve SUNY Oneonta students got hands-on experience with wetlands restoration during a service-learning trip in New Orleans' Lower Ninth Ward last week. Working with a nonprofit organization called Common Ground Relief, the students worked to help restore and preserve Louisiana's disappearing coastal wetlands by planting hardy, fast-growing native plants and removing invasive species in coastal areas imperiled by hurricanes, development and engineering projects that have eroded land and endangered wildlife. Using recycled Christmas trees and Tallow trees, the team built berms to help prevent erosion and stabilize newly planted vegetation, worked in a native tree nursery, visited Common Ground's Outdoor Learning Center, helped out with various projects at Docville Farm and learned about cultural complexities, the role of physical landscapes and environmental issues in the region. The New Orleans trip is a component of Disaster Geographies, a course taught by Associate Professor Wendy Lascell, who accompanied the students, along with Linda Drake, executive director of the college's Center for Social Responsibility and Community. Lascell has taken several groups of students to New Orleans, including Class of 2020 alumna Amy Shultis, who now works for the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. Shultis met up with students while they were in town. Service-learning trips such as this one give students an invaluable experience for both academic and personal growth, Lascell said. They are engaged in service, immersed in an unfamiliar culture, and confronted with real-world problems that don't have easy solutions. In conjunction with the service activities, students immersed themselves in New Orleans culture. They saw the Mississippi River and spent time in the French Quarter, heard live jazz and tried popular Cajun cuisine such as alligator, crawfish, raccoon, hog and shrimp. The students returned to New York with photographs to show and stories to tell.