Around the SUNY Oswego campus

Pragya Pahari (center) demonstrates her virtual reality project during the opening reception for 11 students in the Bachelor of Fine Arts exhibition at Tyler Art Gallery this past December to Ekta Siwakoti (left), a junior computer science and cognitive science dual major. The art piece, "Virtual Nature," allows the user, via VR goggles and a pair of hand controllers, to paint an immersive environment of intense colors, spectacular lights and fantastic objects which seem to float in nearby space. At right is Asli Kinsizer, a 2018 master’s graduate and an adjunct faculty member in the art department.

NBC “Today” show co-host and weather anchor Al Roker came to his alma mater on Dec. 10 to see final presentations by students in the BRC 497 “Camera Ready: Developing Your On-Air Persona” class, which is co-taught by Roker, Vanessa Richards and Michael Riecke.

Dr. Marnie LaVigne, the president and CEO of Launch NY, gave the keynote address Dec. 14 at SUNY Oswego's December Commencement. More than 500 students were eligible to take part in the ceremonies in the Marano Campus Center convocation hall and arena.

At the December Commencement ceremony on Dec. 14, SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley (right) and Provost Scott Furlong congratulate Casey Raymond (center), associate professor of chemistry at SUNY Oswego and acting director of the college’s Honors Program, for receiving a 2019 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

At the December Commencement ceremony on Dec. 14, SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley (right) and Provost Scott Furlong congratulate Fehmi Damkaci (center), professor and chair of SUNY Oswego's chemistry department and founder and director of the GENIUS Olympiad environmental competition, for receiving a 2019 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service.

At the December Commencement ceremony on Dec. 14, SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley (right) and Provost Scott Furlong congratulate Richard Buck (center), director of digital services in the Office of Communications and Marketing, for receiving a 2019 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service.

At the December Commencement ceremony on Dec. 14, SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley (right) and Provost Scott Furlong congratulate Dr. Irene Scruton (center), assistant dean and director of MBA programs in the School of Business, for receiving a 2019 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service.

At the December Commencement ceremony on Dec. 14, SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley (right) and Provost Scott Furlong congratulate Holli Stone (center), director of Campus Life event management, for receiving a 2019 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Professional Service. 

At the December Commencement ceremony on Dec. 14, SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley (right) and Provost Scott Furlong congratulate Alexandra Sorbello (center), artist designer with SUNY Oswego's Office of Residence Life and Housing, for receiving a 2019 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Classified Service.

Two SUNY Oswego ROTC students each received U.S. Army commissions at the first commissioning ceremony at SUNY Oswego in over 20 years. ROTC cadets Second Lt. Catherine Guilliams (center) and Second Lt. Joseph Thomas (second from left) stand with SUNY Oswego President Deborah F. Stanley (right); Syracuse University Vice Chancellor Mike Haynie (left); and Col. Jason Williams (second from right), who delivered the keynote address during the official ceremony on Dec. 13 in the Marano Campus Center auditorium.

The college's Winter Breakout workshops, annually hosted by the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, under the direction of John Kane of the economics department, coordinated a slate of sessions Jan. 13 to 23. Pictured is the Jan. 17 workshop presented by Rodmon King, the college's chief diversity and inclusion officer, who discusses "Inclusive Pedagogy and Practice" in 215 Penfield Library.

The Planetarium Lab (Astronomy 390) is a newer course offered by Scott Roby, a physics faculty member and director of the Shineman Center planetarium. Students learn how to create accurate, entertaining and educational planetarium shows, designing three shows each with development times of about 20 hours or more per show using robust software. Pictured with Roby (far right) in the planetarium, in front of imagery of Jupiter and one of its moons Callisto with its icy "blue" mountain surface, are the five students who completed the fall semester course. From left are Nicholas Proietti, junior physics major; Ryan Jordan, senior electrical and computer engineering major; Anna Constantini, senior public justice major; Brett Meerdink, senior physics and math major; and Natalie Miller, junior physics major. They are planning a Quest planetarium session in April to show some of the innovative class work and how they developed planetarium shows.

As part of his visit to campus for the “Camera Ready: Developing Your On-Air Persona” class he co-teaches, NBC “Today” show co-host and weather anchor Al Roker filmed a live weather segment from campus for “NBC Nightly News.” It was a great way for the 1976 Oswego alumnus to continue showing students aspects of the field they want to enter.

The SUNY Oswego Wind Ensemble’s early December concert offered a Waterman Theater audience a program that included Julie Giroux's "Symphony No. IV: Bookmarks from Japan," Zdechlik's "Chorale and Shaker Dance," Grainger's "Irish Tune from County Derry," Reed's "The Hounds of Spring," Galante's "God's Country" and Sousa's famous "Manhattan Beach" march. Trevor Jorgensen of the music faculty conducted.

The annual Jazz Ensembles Fall Concert in Waterman Theater just before the end of the fall semester showcased the college's various instrumental groups, such as the Jazz Small Group, Latin Jazz Ensemble and Oswego State Jazz Ensemble. The student musicians, directed by music faculty member Eric Schmitz, performed a variety of works featuring student soloists. The evening of musical performances was free and open to the public. (Photo by Megan Briggs)

Culkin Hall won the building award during the annual State Employees Federated Appeal/United Way baskets of caring fundraiser for the 2019 year. Fourth-floor staff gathered to accept the plaque presented by Mary Toale (standing second from left) of the President's Office. Seated from left are Kate Percival, John Trombly, human-computer interaction graduate student Bharati Mahajan, Tammy Lunkenheimer, Dawn Greenier and Becky Waters; and standing, from left: Lisa Sassone, Toale, Rick Buck, Pranay Chapagain, Lisa Vinciguerra, Michelle Higgins, Leslie Hollenbeck and Melissa Miller.

Oswego sororities were among the many entities who supported the college’s 32nd annual Toy Drive and other campaigns to support the community around the holidays. The National Panhellenic Council, which governs over national sororities on campus, initiated a campaign where each sorority bought toys for three children to support the toy drive and donated at least 20 canned goods to the Human Concerns Center in Oswego. Pictured are members of Phi Sigma Sigma, Delta Phi Epsilon, Kappa Delta Phi NAS, and Alpha Epsilon Phi. The toy drive, in partnership with the Oswego County children’s fund, served around 1,300 children in 800 families.

Oswego residents Daine Chesare, foreground left, Sally Clarke and other community members took advantage of the indoor track at Romney Field House Jan. 17 during the college's winter Cruisin' the Campus. Open facilities for enjoyment by the community during Cruisin' the Campus, which runs from mid-December to late January, included Lee Hall basketball court and pool, skating at the Marano Campus Center rink, and snow-themed events at Rice Creek Field Station.