Around the SUNY Oswego campus

The 33rd Annual Welcoming Torchlight Ceremony officially welcomed the newest members of the SUNY Oswego community in a ceremony Aug. 19 in the Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall in Marano Campus Center. SUNY Oswego Officer in Charge Mary Toale and Thomas Ehrhard, the Student Association president and torchbearer for the event,  sing the alma mater from the platform along with faculty, staff and students in attendance.

Students proudly hold their candles during the Welcoming Torchlight Ceremony Aug. 19.

The Oswego Alumni Association hosted its 33rd annual Torchlight Ceremony on Friday, Aug. 19. The ceremony is an honored tradition during which faculty, staff and current students pass the flame of the Torch of Learning to incoming undergraduate and graduate students. This event serves as our welcome to the newest members of our SUNY Oswego community. This year, student speaker Aziz Sarimsakov highlighted his journey to the United States from Uzbekistan and expressed what being a SUNY Oswego student means to him. Learn more about Sarimsakov through this Video Spotlight.

Thomas Ehrhard, Student Association president and a member of the Class of 2024, lights the candle held by Kathleen Kerr, vice president for student affairs, while serving as Torchbearer for the 33rd Annual Welcoming Torchlight Ceremony. The event is an honored tradition during which faculty, staff and current students pass the flame of the Torch of Learning to more than 2,400 incoming undergraduate and graduate students and officially welcomes the newest members of the SUNY Oswego community.

New students were busy across campus Aug. 16 as they moved into their residence halls helped by their families as well as residence hall and volunteer staff. While first-year students moved into Johnson Hall on Monday, Aug. 15, perfect weather greeted new and returning students all that week.

Students dance to popular tunes played by a DJ during the Welcoming Picnic where they shared great food, ice cream, music and games to welcome them to campus for the start of the new academic year.

Students challenged their skills against the popular Great White Shark mechanical rodeo ride at the Welcoming Picnic on Aug. 19, part of Laker Launch, held in the academic quad prior to the Welcoming Torchlight.

A group of friends capture some fun in front of the photobooth during the Welcoming Picnic on Aug. 19.

First-year students had the opportunity on Aug. 19 to informally meet with faculty members for information sessions about their majors and programs. Richard Back (pictured) of the Biological Sciences Department and many more faculty hosted discussions with small groups of students in and around the Shineman Center.

New international students attend in-person orientation Aug. 19 in the Shineman Center. Kaushal Joshi (pictured at left), a dual major in anthropology and global and international studies and Laker Leader captain from Nepal, helps scan their immigration documents during orientation.

Joshua McKeown (pictured) and other staff from the Office of International Education and Programs explained program requirements, how to keep their visas current and more useful information Aug. 19 while welcoming our new international students. Over 120 new international students arrived at SUNY Oswego, adding to the global mix with current students.

The college welcomed several tenure-track faculty members and others in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and School of Business during New Faculty and Professional Staff Orientation on Aug. 15 and 16. Top row from left are Arsalan Mirjafari, Chemistry; Matthew McCleskey, Criminal Justice; and Michael Raicht, English and Creative Writing; second row from left, Erik Wade, English and Creative Writing; Celinet Duran, Criminal Justice; Sari Fordham, English and Creative Writing; and Lindsay Ruckel, Psychology; third row from left, Gonul Hilal Kuscul, Human Development; Greg Churchill, Mathematics; Craig Gilkey, Psychology; and Brock Ternes, Sociology; and front row from left, Natalia Lewandowska, Physics; Gerard Kelly, Marketing and Management; Katelyn Barber, Atmospheric and Geological Sciences; and Jared Peterson, Philosophy.

The college welcomed several tenure-track faculty members from the School of Communications, Media and the Arts; School of Education and Penfield Library during New Faculty and Professional Staff Orientation on Aug. 15 and 16. Top row from left are Christopher Stein, Technology; Nathan Eaton, Art and Design; and Daniel Miller, Counseling and Psychological Sciences; second row from left, Ron Alexander, Technology; Krystal Kennel, Theatre; Benjamin May, Music; front from from left, Nicole Westerdahl, Penfield Library; Amanda Li, Music; and Samantha Quinn, Communication Studies.

The college welcomed several professional staff members during New Faculty and Professional Staff Orientation on Aug. 15 and 16. Top row from left are Amy Dumas and Nora Anderson, both from Extended Learning; second row from left, Sonja Henson, Human Resources; Tim Taylor, Communications and Marketing; Kimberly Foster, Human Resources; third row from left, Brittany Dickerson, Human Resources; Amy Hannahan, Office of Learning Services; Jon Mills, Sustainability; and Elise Allington, Career Services; fourth row from left, Pierce Hurd, Campus Technology Services; International Education and Programs; Carey Barnette, Fitness and Well-Being; Rebecca Fisher, School of Education/Clinical Practices and Partnerships Office; Kelsey Jones, Student Engagement and Leadership; and Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs Gabriel Marshall; and in front, Sarah Townsend, University Development.

The college welcomed several visiting assistant professors during New Faculty and Professional Staff Orientation on Aug. 15 and 16. Top row from left are Kamal Sharkas, Chemistry, and Jon Fox, Atmospheric and Geological Sciences; second row from left, Whitney Emerson, Theatre; Elizabeth Hunt, Art and Design; and Alex Valez, Anthropology; front row from left, Melanie Licatese, Psychology; Rosali Rojo, PRODiG Fellow/Modern Languages and Literatures; and Cynthia Thomas, Career and Technical Education.

Paint the Road Green and Gold, as part of Laker Launch activities, begins a new campus tradition to paint the Marano Campus Center bus loop with the college's colors.

First-year students take part in the Aug. 18 event Paint the Road Green and Gold, part of Laker Launch activities.

The college's Centennial Arboretum, located near Moreland Hall, gained renewed roots with new tree plantings in 2021 in honor of Arbor Day. SUNY Oswego's Office of Sustainability and Rice Creek Field Station collaborated with Oswego Tree Stewards to revitalize the Centennial Arboretum established in 1961 by planting 21 new and diverse trees. The area now hosts 45 trees and over 30 different species chosen specifically for their resilience to anticipated climate changes, their ability to provide habitat and food for native fauna and/or food for humans and their contributions to upholding the Aaboretum’s original mission of providing beauty and knowledge to the surrounding landscape. Pictured watering an Ohio buckeye tree is Kristen Haynes (center) of Rice Creek Field Station, with Sustainability Office interns, from left, Deiarra Canty, Liz Triana and Mariah Sackey-Mensah.

SUNY Oswego students had the opportunity to learn about and join many of the college's more than 200 student clubs and organizations during the annual Student Involvement Fair held Aug. 24 in the Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall in Marano Campus Center. Pictured at right are Asian Student Association members Poe Shwe, treasurer, and Nathalie Wijerathna (holding the parasol), president, providing information about the ASA as well as the upcoming annual ALANA (African, Latino, Asian and Native American) Conference and other campus events.

Students at the Student Involvement Fair gather information about It's On Oz, the SUNY Oswego chapter of the nationwide It's On Us movement to raise awareness about sexual violence.

Oswego Robotics Club members Mustafa Ahmed (left) and Mahmoud Elhenawy, club president, provide information during the Aug. 24 Student Involvement Fair about opportunities to engage in the design of robots. Both students major in electrical and computer engineering.

On Saturday, August 27, the team in Residence Life and Housing hosted LakerFest to celebrate the end of the first week of classes. Students enjoyed treats from food trucks, inflatable attractions, a zipline, and the always popular Stuff-A-Buddy. (Photo by digital storytelling Intern Kashaun Blackman)

On Friday, Aug. 26, Campus Recreation and the Dean of Students Office hosted an annual favorite in the Color Oswego run/walk. Participants had the opportunity to run, walk or wheel their way through the 1.5-mile course and while navigating colorful powder along the way. (Photo by digital storytelling Intern Zac Nusimow)

New incoming students took part in a series of programs, workshops and experiences that taught more about SUNY Oswego -- including the fan-favorite Whiteout Weekend hockey tradition. Women’s hockey player Joanna Hiebert (at left) and men’s hockey player Ryan Dickinson (at right) hyped up the crowd with the wave while students learned Oswego hockey traditions like the popular song “Sweet Caroline” heard at many Laker hockey games for audience sing-a-longs. See SUNY Oswego women’s and men’s hockey schedules and more Laker athletics at www.oswegolakers.com.