SUNY Oneonta

On Nov. 2, 2023, 28 SUNY Oneonta students from the School of Economics and Business participated in the annual Backpacks to Briefcases event, where students travel to New York City to visit with alumni in the business and financial industries. Alumni host the students in their place of employment, and this year, the Backpacks to Briefcases program featured two alumni hosts per visiting group. Backpacks to Briefcases is a long-standing program at SUNY Oneonta that began in 2006 and is designed to help students start building their professional network before graduating. It is one of five Campus to Careers programs that offers students the opportunity to ask alumni questions about their journey from student to their current title. Its success paved the way for other programs across different majors at SUNY Oneonta like Mixing Board to Management (Music Industry), Goodrich to Broadway (Theatre), Campus to Capital (Political Science) and Academics to Agencies (Communication and Media Studies). "The value of the networking experience for students lies in the meaningful connections forged through interactions with alumni during Backpacks to Briefcases," said Laura Lincoln, executive direct in the Office of Alumni Engagement. "These connections serve as bridges between academics and real-world applications." The 2023 Backpacks to Briefcases program featured the following alumni hosts: Marco Ammirati '20 (Arrow Search Partners), Seth Crystall '80 (ION Group), Shawn Dacey '13 (Brookfield Properties), John Doherty '87 (Ernst & Young), Stiven Espinosa-Hunter '17 (ABM Industries), Dave Gaber '09 (Arrow Search Partners), Jason Konopolsky '09 (Brookfield Properties), Lyndee McCallum '07 (JP Morgan), Larry Pestana '11 (ABM Industries), Scott Salmirs '84 (ABM Industries), Richard Saperstein '81 (Treasury Partners), Michael Sternberg '18 (Treasury Partners) and Jenna Vasilakopoulos '21 (Arrow Search Partners). Backpacks to Briefcases is funded by the Oneonta Student Association and the SUNY Oneonta Alumni Association through charitable gifts to the Fund for Oneonta.

On Thursday, Nov. 9, the SUNY Oneonta Theatre Department presented "All in the Timing," a 20th century play written by American playwright David Ives. "All in the Timing" is a collection of one-act comedic plays featuring intellect and satire and won Ives the John Gassner Playwriting Award. Each act is uniquely different from one to the next in the original six plays, ranging from an awkward first date titled "Sure Thing" to "Variations on the Death of Trotsky." Eight more plays were later included in "All in the Timing," including a monologue about a man who believes he is an actual typewriter. The SUNY Oneonta production of "All in the Timing" was directed by Kiara Pipino, associate professor of acting, directing and movement. Students from the Mask and Hammer theatre club, an active and dynamic campus organization that promotes opportunities for students of all majors to become involved in theatre activities, played the role of 21 different characters. Other students involved in the production are part of the crew as stage and assistant stage managers, assistant director, sound designer, prop coordinator, painters, master electrician, costume crafts, wardrobe supervisor and several run crew members. "The Theatre Department decided on "All in the Timing" because the nature of the show will expose students to a different acting style and aesthetic than what they have been working on previously," said Pipino. "It is a way more stylized piece, too, which means the acting will need to take into consideration the design aspects of the production - as they become just as important in the storytelling as the text itself." Casting and initial rehearsals for "All in the Timing" began at the end of the spring 2023 semester. Assistant Technical Director and Theatrical Designer Nathan Elsener designed the scenery, and Technical Director, Production Manager and Theatrical Designer Scott Segar designed the lighting. Associate Professor of Theatrical Design Bethany Marx designed the costumes, and the role of "Jack" was played by Associate Professor of Philosophy Achim Koeddermann. "Because "All in the Timing" is not a full-length play, but rather a series of short plays with a similar kind of approach to style and acting, students could work on shorter pieces and really focus on details," said Pipino.

SUNY Oneonta Art and Design major Clayton Davis showcased his artwork in a solo exhibition titled "Vestiges" on campus from Oct. 17 to Nov. 11. A reception was held on Thursday, Nov. 9, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Open Space Gallery at SUNY Oneonta. "Vestiges" was a solo exhibition about the "disintegration experienced throughout our lifetimes, be it through the decay of relationships with family and friends, a fading memory, or the slow degradation of a rock turning to sand," said Gallery Director Sarah Simpson. "These experiences can be found everywhere in the known universe, and it's important to realize this and celebrate it." Through his work, Davis aimed to show viewers personal and public examples of these occurrences so they could slowly begin to accept them and understand their "inherent beauty and relation to our shared human experience." From a painting of a fading childhood home memory to photographs of old barns slowly falling through disuse, he shows the mental, emotional and physical sides of this phenomenon.

SUNY Oneonta student Cymphani Hargrave received the Director's Choice award for her exhibited artwork titled "Grandpa" at the Fenimore Art Museum as part of the LEAF Art and Poetry Contest. Hargrave's piece, along with the rest of the work in the contest, was on display from Sept. 15 to Nov. 5, and an opening gala was held on Sept. 20. Every year, the Director's Choice award is received by one artist who exhibits their work in the Fenimore Museum. The award is given to an artist by the current director of the LEAF Art and Poetry Content, and the piece is chosen by how deeply it resonates with the director. "I've only recently begun to enjoy photography and hone my skills in that art form," said Hargrave. "I am proud and honored to be the recipient of the 2023 Director's Choice award." Hargrave's inspiration for "Grandpa" came from a visit to her grandfather's highrise apartment shortly after she began studying photography. To submit her piece, Hargrave worked alongside SUNY Oneonta Assistant Professor of Photography Wesley Bernard, whom she said, "is a big inspiration to me as a photographer." "When I visited my grandpa's home after I started studying photography, I began to appreciate the details I never noticed before," said Hargrave. "I walked onto the balcony, took notice of the exposed, cured concrete, and decided that that setting would become the backdrop for taking my family's portraits. I saw his home as a location to showcase the beauty of our family."

On Thursday, Oct. 26, the SUNY Oneonta Mask and Hammer Theatre Club performed "I & U," a play written by American playwright and screenwriter Lauren Gunderson. This play features two characters named Anthony and Caroline, and is recognized as an ode to youth, life, love and the strange beauty of human connectedness. One afternoon, Anthony arrives unexpectedly at classmate Caroline's door bearing a beat-up copy of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass, an urgent assignment from their English teacher. Homebound due to illness, Caroline hasn't been to school in months, but she is as quick and sardonic as Anthony is athletic, sensitive and popular. As these two let down their guards and share their secrets, this mundane poetry project unlocks a much deeper mystery that has brought them together. The production's director was SUNY Oneonta Theatre and Psychology dual-major Katelyn Litwak. The cast and rest of the production team were also SUNY Oneonta students. "I & U" has been in development by the Mask and Hammer Theatre Club since the spring of 2023. "I knew I wanted to direct a show, but I had no idea what show to propose," said Litwak. "I turned to the professors for advice, and one suggested I and You. The show was set to open in spring 2020, but it was canceled in March when everything shut down. The director at the time, Emily Kramer ('21), never got to see her vision for the show come to fruition. After reading the play myself, I instantly fell in love with it. Theme of finding the beauty in life through "the small stuff" really spoke to me, and the ideology was something that, I believe, we all need a reminder of." Additional students who helped produce the show include stage manager Sofia Delgado, costume designer Sarah Izzo, sound designer Jessy Gardner, lightning designer Lindsey McCreadie, props coordinator Jessica Davis, assistant stage manager Renee Hooper, "Caroline" actress Evelyn Winters and set designer Gabriel Gutierrez, who also played "Anthony." The production of "I & U" was performed in the Hamblin Theater at SUNY Oneonta from Thursday to Saturday, Oct. 26-28, at 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday, Oct. 29, at 2 p.m. Information about future shows performed by the Mask and Hammer Theatre Club and the SUNY Oneonta Theatre Department can be viewed online at https://suny.oneonta.edu/theatre-department/season-shows.

Two SUNY Oneonta students had their artwork on display at the Community Arts Network of Oneonta (CANO) as part of the "Hartwick X SUNY Oneonta Student Show." The exhibition was on view from Oct. 7, 2023, to Oct. 22, and a reception was held on Oct. 22, from 2 to 4 p.m. SUNY Oneonta students Victoria Villaverde and Clayton Davis had their artwork featured, while Hartwick featured several students. Both Villaverde and Davis are both Art and Design majors and will graduate in the spring of 2024. Both Villaverde and Davis have had their work on display in multiple exhibitions at SUNY Oneonta. The students had their work on view alongside an exhibition at CANO by artists Michael Asbill and Andrea Frank titled "Adopting to Tree Speed." The "Hartwick X SUNY Oneonta Student Show" was one of several exhibitions that featured artwork completed by SUNY Oneonta students. Many of these exhibitions are on display in the SUNY Oneonta art galleries on campus throughout the academic year.

In August 2023, three students who graduated from SUNY Oneonta and one undergraduate student traveled to Kansas City, Missouri with Professor of Biology Florian Reyda for the 98th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Parasitologists. Morgan Fleming ('22) and Emily Bulmer ('23) gave a poster presentation on their research with Reyda in Texas where they conducted a fish parasite survey in 2022. Hannah Whitcomb ('21) presented a poster presentation on her ongoing MS thesis work in which she is conducting a fish parasite survey of the tributaries of Oneida Lake, New York, to use parasites as indicators of environmental change. Katerina Sawickij ('24) presented a poster presentation on her ongoing MS thesis work on fish parasites in the Florida Everglades. The student research was supported in part by Student Research Grants from SUNY Oneonta. The students' travel to these meetings was supported by the Caroline '67 and David D'Antonio Student Travel for Excellence Fund, the Student Travel for Excellence Program (STEP) and the American Society of Parasitologists.

From Friday, September 29 to October 7, 10 SUNY Oneonta students exhibited a collection of photographs from a faculty-led Documentary Photography course in Portugal. The Documentary Photography class, which took place in the summer session of 2023 in Portugal, had many things to offer the participating students, two professors and two full-time guides as they traveled and explored the cities and countryside. The trip was a mixture of students from many disciplines at SUNY Oneonta. These students hiked the hills of Lisbon and the volcanoes of Terceira Island and tasted the local cuisines such as the beef dish Alcatra, local cheeses, fresh sardines and world-famous pastries. The students interviewed and documented farms specializing in permaculture and talked with donkey milk producers on sustainability and innovative technologies meshing the old with the new. While photographing, the students were inundated with the vast history and culture of such a great European nation. Lisbon and the Azores provided crucial cultural insight into modern Portugal and its place in the world. The camera allowed them to document their individual experiences. Their knowledge of photography was utilized to create a visual reflection of how they saw the country. During the trips to markets, ranches, festivals and ancient villages, they were able to gain insight about the daily lives of the people. To successfully show the beauty and details of Portugal, each photographer had to be perceptive at the moment and be aware of the moving world around them. They were to photograph with intent and telling a story was paramount. The moments captured from this class will help them understand the global connections we share and to foster cultural sensitivity far beyond college. Understanding the diverse European perspective was made easier with the use of cameras because the students were able to communicate and interact with locals despite any verbal language barrier. The camera created a conversation and the student's voices were visual.

On Friday, Sept. 29, the SUNY Oneonta Theatre Department presented "The Imaginary Invalid" featuring 10 students in various roles. "The Imaginary Invalid" features a hypochondriac father, Argan, who wants his daughter, Angelique, to marry a doctor so he can save on his medical bills. However, Angelique is in love with another, and soon the whole household is in support of her scheme to save true love. The SUNY Oneonta production of "The Imaginary Invalid" was adapted and directed by John McCaslin-Doyle, professor of theatre history, dramatic literature and acting. Students from the Mask and Hammer theatre club, an active and dynamic campus organization that promotes opportunities for students of all majors to become involved in theatre activities, were part of the production in various cast and crew roles. "It is classical play, but it is also fun," says McCaslin-Doyle. "Both will help students with their development. "The Imaginary Invalid" is a broad, physical farce with strong language demands, something we couldn't do during COVID lockdown - and something essential for students to experience." Casting and initial rehearsals for "The Imaginary Invalid" began in April 2023. Theatre Department Chair and Professor of Theatrical Design John Bagby designed the scenery and coordinated the props for the performance. Scott Segar, technical director, production manager and theatrical designer, built the scenery over the summer, and Marjean McCaslin-Doyle, costume shop supervisor and theatrical designer, designed and built the costumes. "In this production, five actors play twelve characters, so people are busy on stage and backstage all the time," says John McCaslin-Doyle. "It's something that can be designed to travel out to high schools in the spring for recruitment. This adaptation is a short play, cut down to accommodate the brief time we have to mount this production."

A junior at SUNY Oneonta has made history as a member of both the United States' National Amputee Soccer Team and the first-ever National Women's Amputee Soccer Team, and she competed for both on the world stage last weekend. Alexia Michitti, a 19-year-old Business Administration major from Vestal, NY, took the field as goalkeeper representing the United States for both teams in Warsaw, Poland, during the international Amp Futbol Cup on Sept. 16-17. She and her teammates took on players from Poland, England, Japan and Costa Rica. Alexia is the first woman in the world to make both a national squad and the new national women's squad, and she's the only woman on the co-ed national squad. Although the American team lost in Poland, Alexia was named one of the captains and MVP of the game. "It was a game much bigger than the score," she said. "Amazing vibes from the stadium and everyone cheering from home, too!"

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. Twelve first-year SUNY Oneonta students took part 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. 17 to Aug. 23, students were introduced to a variety of geologic materials, landscapes and field technologies to better understand our planet. They were back in time for the first day of classes on Aug. 28. 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.

Five SUNY Oneonta students will show their artwork in the Project Open Call: Fall 2023 group exhibition from Sept. 12 to Oct. 7 in the Open Space Gallery on campus. An opening reception is taking place in the gallery on Thursday, Sept. 14, from 4 to 6 p.m. Project Open Call: Fall 2023 is a group show of new work submitted by SUNY Oneonta students to the Gallery's open call. Featuring work by: Lulu Q. Burkowski, Breena Nachbar, Catherine Naughton, Christine Schmitt and Lauryn Williams. 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 gallery and reception 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.

Thirteen SUNY Oneonta students have their artwork on display in the Jean Parish Scholarship: 2022-2024 exhibition in the Project Space Gallery. An opening reception will take place in the gallery on Thursday, Sept. 14, from 5 to 7 p.m. Jean Parish Scholarship: 2022-2024 is a group exhibition featuring work by the 2022-2023 and 2023-2024 student recipients of the Jean Parish Scholarship: Julia Bogart, Lulu Q. Burkowski, Clayton Davis, Kelsey Etienne, Kelsey Greene, Victoria Hallenbeck, Kento Igarashi, Nicholas Keller, Stephanie Mallen, Ashley Pink, Christine Schmitt, Paige Splendido, and Victoria Villaverde. Displayed works include inkjet print photography, knitting, digital videos and animations, mixed media and various canvases. 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 Scholarship, distributed by the Art Department through a competitive process every fall semester. Art majors already enrolled in the program are eligible to apply during or after their first semester, and the department gives several non-renewable awards for the academic year. Admission to the gallery and reception 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.

SUNY Oneonta students are getting firsthand experience in their fields of study this summer with research projects on topics ranging from theatre to natural sciences. Twenty-four SUNY Oneonta students are involved in research projects on and off campus through the university's Summer Research Fellowship Program. Fellowships 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 a Shakespeare intensive study in Prague to research that combines sustainability and video games in elementary, middle and high school education. The 2023 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 a Summer Student Research and Creative Activity Showcase from Sept. 7 to 14. "The summer fellowships provide students with a great opportunity to do concentrated, in-depth, faculty-led research without sacrificing their ability to earn money at a time when so many students are home working summer jobs," said Audrey Porsche, associate director of scholarly activities.

New applied learning programs at SUNY Oneonta give students real-world experience in board rooms and beyond, illustrating the university's emphasis on hands-on learning and commitment to community partnerships. This year, five Oneonta students within the School of Liberal Arts and Business worked with local nonprofit organizations as the third cohort of participants in the INTD 3997: Internship in Non-Profit Leadership Development program, guided by Associate Professor of Communication Studies Jacqueline Bishop. During their time with the nonprofits, students conducted research, attended board and committee meetings, and worked closely with leaders of the organizations. They gained skills in teamwork, communication, presentation, leadership, time management and more. Some even came away with portfolios to show to potential employers. "The value of internships and experiential learning cannot be overstated," said Eileen Morgan- Zayachek, Associate Provost for Academic Programs. "The American public has prioritized experiential learning, and SUNY Oneonta has really embraced this. Since opening our Experiential Learning Center in 2021, we've worked harder than ever to provide students with opportunities to test knowledge and skills and get their foot in the door. This is also part of our commitment to equity - we're creating opportunities for students who don't have built-in resources or contacts in their network." Each of the interns received a one-time $200 stipend from the Dewar Foundation.

It may be summer break, but learning at SUNY Oneonta is certainly not on pause, with numerous students participating in faculty-led programs abroad. For the course "Philosophy of Life and Death," Dr. Daniel Patrone led 12 of his students and a student teaching assistant on a three-week journey through England, Scotland and Wales from May 24 to June 13. Beginning in London, the group visited historic sites, galleries, museums, temples, gardens, theatres and more, all the while discussing, exploring and debating the meaning of life, the ethics of euthanasia, the rights of the terminally ill, the possibility of life after death, and more. The student philosophers' itinerary allowed them to trace the history of wars, plagues, executions and more, visiting "haunted" sites and having class on the floor of the ruins of a Roman gladiator arena, where they discussed the ethics of spectator violence. They took in cultural treasures in the British Museum, debated whether the Elgin Marbles and Benin Bronzes should be returned to their cultures of origin, and visited Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and Stonehenge. Their research culminated in "an impressively thoughtful and intense debate" on topics covered, Patrone reflected - "This is what deep learning looks like!" 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 again after a necessary pause during the pandemic. 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 eight of her students spent from May 20 until May 28 studying Finland's educational system, consistently ranked the best in the world, for the eight-day 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 again after a necessary pause during the pandemic. 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 June 9 to June 25 taking photos and touring the country of Portugal for the course "Documentary Photography." Cameras in hand, students traveled to Lisbon and Terceira, using photography to investigate and document the rapidly changing Portuguese culture regarding beef production and sustainable food practices, global warming's effect on the country's coastline, and vibrant cultural celebrations. Along the way, they took in the country's rich art scene, colorful museums and architecture, and delicious cuisine. Using photos they took, students produced their own small portfolios. 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 again after a necessary pause during the pandemic. 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. 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 25 to June 7, 10 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 visited Mayan homes to install water filters, sampled city and school wells, and taught school children about water quality. In their free time, they toured Mayan ruins, art galleries and a coffee plantation, and visited an active volcano and sea turtle nesting site and hatchery. 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 again after a necessary pause during the pandemic. Faculty-led trips mean invaluable experiential learning for students, something we prioritize at SUNY Oneonta!"

Two SUNY Oneonta students were coaches in the first collaborative Nike multi-sport camp held on June 11 and 12 at Hartwick College. SUNY Oneonta Assistant Professor of Sport and Exercise Science Dr. Katherine Griffes, Hartwick Head Men's Lacrosse Coach and Assistant Athletic Director Don LaSala, Cooperstown All Star Village (CASV) and Nike Sports Camp developed the multi-sport camp for young kids. Student coaches are Exercise Science majors at SUNY Oneonta who have taken courses in Human Growth and Development, Sport Psychology and Motor Learning. The two-day camp provided a wide range of sports and basic movement activities for the siblings of kids in the area for the CASV baseball tournament. Some activities included basketball, soccer, kickball and football, endurance and agility games and drills and low-intensity activities like yard games and sidewalk chalk.

A total of 232 SUNY Oneonta students earned Provost's List honors for the spring 2023 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 2023 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.

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.