In winning a big SUNY award –- the only undergraduate to do so –- May 2025 SUNY Oswego psychology graduate Patrycja Kulesza attributed the accomplishment to a team effort, and the accumulation of many smaller steps and interactions.

Kulesza was among 15 students across nine SUNY campuses recognized as recipients of the SUNY/OMH Scholarship Program by Chancellor John B. King Jr. 

The scholarship recognizing academic and service excellence, established in August 2022 by Governor Kathy Hochul, is part of SUNY’s partnership with New York State’s Office of Mental Health (OMH) to strengthen the pipeline of mental health professionals from diverse backgrounds, with a focus on serving New Yorkers who may have historically lacked quality mental health care. 

“It was great to be recognized for all the work I’ve done on campus for mental health but it really reflects a team effort,” Kulesza said. “It recognized all the work we’ve done as a campus. Oswego is kind of a small community and there are so many students working behind the scenes to address mental health in a variety of ways.”

Kulesza’s biggest commitment along the way involved the Counseling Outreach Peer Educators (COPE) team through Counseling Services. 

“It’s mostly a peer advocacy group that bridges the gap to mental health services,” Kulesza said. “We’re not student counselors, but we provide outreach activities, tabling, workshops and presentations about mental health concerns.”

The COPE team aims to do away with the stigma that traditionally prevents people from seeking help with their mental health. For many of today’s students, it means overcoming generational stigma where parents and others have modeled suffering in silence or not seeking help.

Yet college, while an exciting time for many, also brings many experiences, pressures and responsibilities students have never faced before. Thus, making students aware of ways to cope and deal with stress becomes even more crucial.

“Talking to people, having those conversations, even when it’s hard, is the best way to break down those barriers,” Kulesza noted.

“Breaking down that stigma is very important, as a lot of students are scared to reach out for help,” Kulesza said. “The way to bring forth our message has helped to change the climate of the campus to bring those conversations to the table. If people lack the knowledge or willingness to find resources or help, it can impede daily functioning.”

In recommending Kalesza for the scholarship, Kyle Dzintars, senior counselor and the assistant director of outreach for Counseling Services, described her as "creative, thoughtful, kind and organized in her work on the team and in our campus community."

"She excels in leadership positions, is professional, thorough, and thoughtful and takes feedback to improve her work," Dzintars noted. "She is also a wonderful supporter and empowers new teammates to navigate challenges, to bring their ideas and perspectives to conversations, and will go out of her way to support anyone who she can."

Having the important conversations and providing mental health support remains an emphasis across SUNY, something these awards underscore.

“At SUNY, we are committed to helping more students gain the education they need to be our future healthcare professionals,” Chancellor King said in announcing the winners. 

“The mental health workforce has long struggled with retaining a diverse field of professionals, which we know is essential to providing New Yorkers with the quality care they deserve,” Chancellor King added. “That is why we are proud to partner with New York State’s Office of Mental Health to help resolve this issue and empower more SUNY students to take on roles within this career path.”

Teaching and connecting

Kulesza entered Oswego planning to become a teacher, but taking a psychology class provided new insights and interests. Then, working with COPE changed Kulesza’s future direction.

“COPE hit home for me, as this was a place I could be a teacher in a different way,” said Kulesza, who will attend graduate school at the University of Rochester for clinical mental health counseling. “I found I really enjoyed having deep meaningful conversations with people about anything.”

In particular, Kulesza is passionate about awareness and education around eating disorders, and connecting with others around it strengthened this commitment.

Kulesza received training from the National Eating Disorders Association for programs including becoming a body project facilitator, delivering eight-week programs to high school students and others to “dismantle the appearance ideal,” Kulesza said. “The Victoria’s Secret model is not who you need to be. Your body is your body.”

She organized tabling events for National Eating Disorders Awareness Week and Body Acceptance Week, and also delivered programs on this topic to personal trainers in the campus Fitness Centers.

“I proposed tabling about eating disorders, and people I’d never talked to on the COPE team were interested and wanted to talk about it and work together,” Kulesza said. “Just the conversations that we had really turned something in me. People either aren’t sure what an eating disorder is or they have an awareness through their own experiences or others they know, and they really appreciate the opportunity to talk to you.”

Kulesza also coordinated Tea Talk, where students “can drop in and talk about any mental health topic they want to discuss.” Kulesza also participated in the Oswego Children’s Project, learning about and facilitating play therapy for kids; presented on mindfulness and grounding techniques; and received QPR (Question, Persuade, Response) suicide prevention training. 

"She is incredibly empathetic to the experiences of others, which helps her connect with people, offer support and use her experiences to empower others," Dzintars noted, adding "her kindness has contributed significantly to the growth and connection of the team."

"She is an incredibly intelligent, dedicated, caring, kind and thoughtful student, teammate and community member," Dzintars wrote. "She is a strong advocate who will fight for people experiencing oppression and unfair treatment, and who battle harmful societal influences."

In winning the award, Kulesza thanked psychology faculty members Ashley Moore, Paul Stewart and Brittany Meyers, as well as Dzintars and the members of the COPE team. 

Kulesza said being a bridge connecting students and meeting the needs of others via so many avenues stand out as important accomplishments.

“All these little new skills that I’ve learned about outreach, I realize I really want to do this and want to be helping people,” Kulesza said.

“One thing Kyle told me is that the small steps you take help you achieve things,” Kulesza noted. “The small steps here and there are what matter –- the accumulation of small things that happened allow me to help people in the way that they needed.”