Around the SUNY Oswego campus

Three graduate students in the human-computer interaction program -- (from left) Khushboo Panchal, Joseph Gray and Bharati Mahajan -- display the certificates they won Feb. 24 for finishing first in Penfield Library’s inaugural Grand Challenges Makeathon. The team developed the concept for an app called Nero to monitor personal water usage. Also pictured (from left) are judges and event organizers Zelly Vargas, a senior human development major; Chaoliang Jing, visiting scholar in marketing and management, School of Business; Panchal; Leigh Allison Wilson, director of creative writing and chair of the Grand Challenges Oversight Committee; Gray; Pamela Caraccioli, deputy to the college president for external partnerships and economic development; Mahajan; Sharona Ginsberg, learning technologies librarian; and Sarah Weisman, Penfield Library director.

Caitlin Moriarty, who serves as the learning experience design manager for the Tech Garden in Syracuse, a program of CenterState CEO, leads a workshop Feb. 22 on the role of ideation for teams in the Grand Challenges Makeathon, a weekend-long interdisciplinary event that encouraged students to put their talents and interests into action to support the concept of the college’s current Grand Challenge, Fresh Water for All.

Having spent the weekend polishing a prototype for an app called Nero to monitor personal water usage, teammates (from left) Bharati Mahajan, Khushboo Panchal and Joseph Gray make their winning presentation Feb. 24 in Marano Campus Center auditorium during the first Grand Challenges Makeathon. The competition was judged on use of research, data and citations; community impact; business and promotional considerations; interdisciplinary connections and collaborations; and feasibility as a solution addressing some aspect of the Grand Challenges Project: Fresh Water for All.

Students from the School of Business won the second-place team trophy in the CFA Research Challenge for Western New York over such other entrants as Syracuse University and University of Rochester. Here the student team presents it to Richard Skolnik, dean of the School of Business (third from right). Team members, from left, are Amy Alba, Sami Rajput, Dillon Nimako, Ahmed Albajari and Sean Paul Owen. Mary Tone Rodgers (not pictured), the college’s Marcia Belmar Willock Professor of Finance and previously a Wall Street analyst for three decades, is the team’s faculty adviser. The Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute Research Challenge is an annual global competition that provides students with hands-on mentoring and intensive training in financial analysis and professional ethics.

SUNY Oswego welcomed members of the New York State Council on Women and Girls to campus March 1 to present the 2019 Women's Agenda. Students, faculty, staff and administration were all in attendance to hear from participants (seated from left to right) Mary McCune, SUNY Oswego associate professor and chair of the history department; Janice Brown, president of the American Association of University Women of New York State; Kelli Owens, director of women affairs in the Office of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo; and Monique Owens, an Empire Fellow for women’s affairs. Also in attendance were Governor Cuomo's Central New York Representative Colleen Deacon (back row, far left); Kristi Eck (back row, second from right), chief of staff to President Deborah F. Stanley; and Lisa Glidden (back row, far right), associate professor and Faculty Assembly chair -- who were joined by several Oswego student leaders.

The Image Step Team performs at the 51st annual Black Student Union Dinner on Feb. 23 in Hewitt ballroom. The gala also featured African Student Organization dancers, the Latin Student Union's Ritmo dancers, the Vocal Effect show choir, the Gospel Choir and spoken-word poets. One of many events during February’s Black History Month, the dinner put an exclamation point on "Black Her-story Month,” the BSU’s theme focusing on black women in leadership roles from the civil rights movement to the present. (Photo by Gregory Caster)

Guest panelist déqui kioni-sadiki leads a workshop Feb. 21 in 114 Marano Campus Center at “Spring Colloquium: From Panther 21 to 21st Century Revolutions.” Speakers shared stories of political prisoners around the world, as well as their personal experiences in prison. Guest speakers and workshop participants also engaged in discussion about community development initiatives created nationally to assist political prisoners who have been released from prison.

Students, faculty, staff and administrators gather for a group photo with featured guests following the “Spring Colloquium: From Panther 21 to 21st Century Revolutions” on Feb. 21 that welcomed guest speakers (seated from left to right) déqui kioni-sadiki, a black feminist, educator for liberation, artist, poet, and chair of the Malcolm X Commemoration Committee; Sekou Odinga, an original member of the Black Panther Party (Harlem Chapter), who has continued to build awareness of and advocate for the release of political prisoners and prisoners of war; and Matt Meyer, a senior research scholar at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst Resistance Studies Initiative with a lifelong pursuit of bridging gaps between academics and activists. The event was sponsored by a Humanities New York Grant, the college’s Public Justice - David F. Cutler ’74 Fund for Excellence, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences’ Dean’s Office, the gender and women’s studies program, Syracuse Peace Council and ArtRage Gallery in Syracuse.

Provost Scott Furlong (left) and college President Deborah F. Stanley (right) flank this year's honorees Feb. 27 at the annual Full Professors Dinners. Promoted to the rank of professor are (from left) Fehmi Damkaci, chemistry; and Arvind Diddi and Taejin Jung, both members of the communication studies faculty.

Students (from bottom left) Kaylandra Woodside, Ashley Brunache, Aaron Thomas, Dazne James, Tyreek Trapp, Karen Najera and Brallan Rabanales take advantage of free swimming lessons for students Feb. 19. The instructor is student Erin Niland, SUNY Oswego’s head lifeguard for Lee Hall pool. (Photo by Erin Niland)

In addition to the Laker men’s basketball and men’s hockey teams earning their way into the NCAA Tournament, the college’s student media outlets also put on all-star performances. This includes the WTOP-TV production crew, which gathered for a photo following their livestream broadcast of the Feb. 23 Oswego win over Plattsburgh in a SUNY Athletic Conference semifinal men’s hockey game. This crew may not be done yet though, as the Oswego State men’s hockey team (19-6-2 overall) earned an at-large bid and a bye into the NCAA Division III Championships quarterfinals at home on March 16, playing the winner of an opening-round game, Plymouth State vs. Hobart. (Photo by Gregory Caster)

The student honors production -- which opened with a sold-out preview last night and runs tonight through Sunday, with matinees on the weekend dates -- will feature 10 vignettes in one hilarious and surprise-filled package by the late Broadway playwright Neil Simon titled "The Good Doctor." Based on works of 19th century Russian writer Anton Chekhov and set to music, the production offers multiple characters for its stars (from left) Megan Campbell, Shana Weiss, Adam Sommer and Evan Ribaudo; as well as (not pictured) Tim Brenner, whose key role is The Writer. For tickets, visit tickets.oswego.edu.

Students interested in speaking with local property owners (landlords) about opportunities to live off campus attended the Off-campus Housing Fair on Feb. 27 on the Marano Campus Center concourse. Here Kariya Buckshot talks with Matt Brancato representing Matt Brancato Properties. The fair was sponsored by the Student Association and the Campus-City Relations Committee. (Photo by Erin Niland)

Fans and cheerleaders show their appreciation for the resilient Lakers men’s basketball team in games over the weekend at Laker Hall. The team won two games on the opening weekend of the NCAA Division III tournament, moving on to the Sweet 16 for the second time in four seasons. The Lakers will play No. 22-ranked Marietta College at 8:30 p.m. (EST) Friday, hosted by No. 2 Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois. (Photo by Gregory Caster)

Joe Sullivan launches a three-point shot as the nationally ranked men's basketball team takes care of business in the first two rounds of the NCAA Division III tournament last weekend in Laker Hall’s Max Ziel Gymnasium. The 25th-ranked Lakers handled Salem State, 72-59, on Friday, March 1, then defeated Baldwin Wallace, 75-71, in overtime, in a Saturday game that featured seven lead changes and nine ties.

Oswego men’s hockey players Jody Sullivan, Joey Scorpio, Carter Allen, Josh Nenadal and Tyler Currie celebrate Sullivan's game-opening goal at Geneseo on Saturday in the SUNY Athletic Conference championship game. While the Lakers fell just short of the title, 4-3, they received a first round bye in the NCAA Tournament, and will host a quarterfinal game at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 16, in Marano Campus Center arena, against the winner of the Hobart-Plymouth State game. Tickets for the general public are available starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the box office in Marano Campus Center, online at tickets.oswego.edu or by calling 315-312-3073. Tickets are $8 ($4 for SUNY Oswego students with valid ID).