O S W E G O A Publication of the Office of Alumni and Parent Relations
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Student Quality Continues to Rise
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Orientation leader Amanda Acobes ’08, a theatre major, works with a group of incoming students at orientation last summer in the quad between Hewitt Union and Penfield Library.
While those interested in science majors have always been in the applicant pool, Grant said, because of the college’s merit scholarship program, more of these students are choosing to attend Oswego. “Their presence helps raise our visibility, so that other people who may not have thought about attending Oswego are begin“Hello, my name is…” Incoming students introduce ning to think about us,” he said. themselves in a summer orientation activity. Meteorology and zoology are two popular Over the last four years Oswego has made majors attracting students from New York significant strides in increasing the quality state and beyond. of the incoming class. There are twice as Also attracting top students are over $1 many students now who entered with high million in renovations to Lanigan Hall, resultschool averages in the 90s and SAT scores ing in new digital radio and television studios. over 1,200 than the students entering “The ‘wow’ factor on the facilities side between 1998 and 2001, he explained. makes a big difference” in attracting top This means more students in the Honors students, according to Grant. Program and more Presidential Scholars. It Another important factor is the college’s also means a difference in the classroom commitment to providing merit scholaratmosphere, benefiting all students. ships to worthy students. In 2006, Oswego “The faculty report that classes are more awarded over $2.6 million in merit scholarlively with students more committed to ships and new recipients totaled 616. academic work,” Grant said. Grant also sees a very positive trend in He has also noticed that more incoming the student body becoming more diverse. students are interested in science areas Not only are students coming from the than in the recent past. As incoming fresh- urban, suburban and rural areas of New men, they seem more motivated to do well. York state, but the numbers of Hispanic and
Asian students continue to rise on campus. Grant said increasing the diversity on campus gives students an opportunity to share their experiences. “This is important in terms of student learning,” he said. A strong applicant pool is important in increasing the diversity and quality of the incoming class, according to Grant. This year’s recruiting was so successful, there were six applicants for every space in the incoming class, Grant said. And if applications coming in by the end of the fall semester are any indication, next year’s class will see more applicants than –Michele Reed in recent memory.
Fresh Facts Oswego had 8,432 applicants for the 2006 freshman class, accepted 4,430 and 1,340 enrolled. Sixty-one percent of freshman students received financial aid this year. Freshmen were awarded over $2.6 million in renewable scholarships over a four-year period, this year. Incoming freshmen received 177 Presidential Scholarships ($17,600 over 4 years). Other merit scholarships awarded to freshmen included 75 awards of $5,000 over 4 years and 196 awards of $2,000 over 4 years. Ninety-three percent of freshmen (1,250 first-year students) lived on campus for fall 2006.
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swego State students just keep getting better and better. By whatever criteria — standardized test scores, high school averages and class rank — the incoming classes of the last four years (the college’s current students) outpace the previous four entering classes. “I think it shows the value that Oswego places on academic achievement,” said Dr. Joseph Grant, vice president for student affairs and enrollment management.
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IN THIS EDITION: • Student Quality Continues to Rise • Business of Learning • Oswego FANs Links Students, Alumni • Graduates Give Back Office of Alumni and Parent Relations King Alumni Hall SUNY Oswego Oswego, NY 13126
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Giving Back a Family Affair or the Tascarellas, giving back runs in the family. Ron ’79 and Cynthia Dickerson Tascarella ’79 and their sons Ron ’06 and Dan ’07 have made their presence felt both on campus and in the Oswego community. As students, Ron and Dan shared their time and talents: Young Ron, a Sheldon Leader, Ron ’79 and Cynthia Dickerson Tascarella ’79 and their was involved in the Chamber of sons Dan ’07 and Ron ’06. Commerce’s “Warm Up Oswego” program. He has graduated and program (listening to lectures bounce is now employed by Community Bank off the 20-foot-high ceilings or strugas a commercial loan analyst. gling to hear them over the banging of Dan, the current president of Student the pipes) to today’s state-of-the-art Association, is active on the Collegelearning environment in Rich Hall. Community Relations Committee, Ron is also impressed with the “balamong other things. ance” in recent college renovations. So for father Ron and mother “There’s an understanding that it’s a Cynthia, supporting Oswego State college, and a lot of work is going into financially was a natural choice. academic facilities and programs.” Just “I think the university provides a as important, he says, are recent great value for its students and if I can improvements to residence facilities, help strengthen some of the programs, including Johnson, Riggs and Hart like the Honors Program and halls, “evidence of an appreciation that Presidential Scholars, then I am happy the college is the students’ home as to help,” said Ron. He hopes those pro- well as a place of learning.” grams will continue to enable the colAnd while they have a vision that lege to attract stronger students and their gift will ultimately benefit stumore diversity to campus. dents, the Tascarellas are happy to Ron, senior vice president and Chief donate and leave the distribution of the Credit Officer at Pathfinder Bank in funds to the college administration. Oswego, and Cynthia, an accountant, “I have watched the campus become are naturally drawn to the School of almost reborn under the leadership of Business in Rich Hall. Ron was President Deborah F. Stanley,” said impressed with the school’s successful Ron. “I certainly trust her to do whateffort to obtain AACSB accreditation. ever is best with my donation. I don’t Ron compares the business classes in have to worry about it.” Sheldon Hall in those early years of the — Michele Reed
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Graduates Give Back ow is the time for your student to help the class of 2007 decide what events to plan for Senior Week as well as the perfect gift to give back to their alma mater. The Senior Class Planning Committee has yet to decide what their final gift should be, planning committee member and Vice President of Programming for FANs Marybeth McMenemon ’07 said. “Whatever we do, we want to do something around the Campus Center because it’s so new and we want to be a part of it,” she said. Each year the graduating class is asked to donate money to the college as their gift. Each member of the class of 2007 will be asked to donate $20.07. Gift ideas include sponsoring a row of seats in the new Campus Center or adding a memorial garden or bench. The class will host a T-shirt sale, in which parents can purchase Class of 2007 hooded sweatshirts, long sleeved and T-shirts for their students beginning in March. All proceeds go toward the senior class gift. As an active Senior Class Committee member, your student can also help choose Senior Week activities. Suggestions include an end-of-the-year barbeque, a senior sendoff night at a local establishment and a faculty-student luncheon. Also being considered are a networking night to bring back local alumni to meet with students as well as a trip to Niagara Falls, Boston or New York City. Seniors also will have the opportunity to vote on a class logo. For more information, log onto www.oswegoalumni.oswego.edu/seniorclass. — Emily King ’05
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Business of Learning During the annual School of Business Symposium Nov. 11 and 12, Oswego students were introduced to alumni who hold prestigious positions in large firms known across the globe. James Wainright ’78, senior vice president of global operations for A.O. Smith Corp., Electrical Products Division, stressed that in a business like his, selling electrical motors, people must be truly immersed in what they are pursuing. “Whatever industry you get into, you’ve got to be excited and passionate about it,” Wainright said in an interview. “You have to have a very clear vision, strategy, enthusiasm and leadership.”
As senior vice president of a $900 million company, Wainright is responsible for managing 30 manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Mexico, Europe and China as well as 15,000 manufacturing employees. “It’s exciting traveling around to plants,” he said. “And to see people around the world focused on similar objectives, working together to make our company —Emily King ’05 better.”
OSWEGO PARENTS Published each semester by the SUNY Oswego Office of Alumni and Parent Relations Michele Reed, Editor Emily King ’05, Writer/Co-Editor Jim Russell ’83, Photographer Brian Phares ’07, Contributing Writer Meagan Smith ’07, Intern Midstate Litho, Production and Printing Office of Alumni and Parent Relations King Alumni Hall SUNY Oswego Oswego, NY 13126 Betsy Oberst, Executive Director Phone: 315-312-2258 FAX: 315-312-5570 E-mail: alumni@oswego.edu www.oswego.edu/alumni/
SPRING 2007
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Oswego FANs Links Students, Alumni very student is one of SUNY Oswego’s future alumni. challenge, which showed students some of the “ins” and “outs” FANs— Future Alumni Network —was formed to develop of the Oswego campus, Dolly said. The “Road Rules” style chalconnections between current students and alumni, enhance lenge took students to several campus buildings where they the lifelong link among the past, present and future of the collearned about their history and purpose. lege, and create future alumni leaders. FANs organizes networking events to bring alumni to camThe program follows the slogan: pus. They also publish a newsletter You are future alumni and this is a for current students each semester. network for you, Associate Alumni Through FANs, Dolly attended a Director Michelle Tackett Spinner SUNY Oswego alumni communica’98 said. tion studies event in New York City FANs is the only organization on this past fall. A broadcasting major, campus whose sole purpose is to tie Dolly was able to meet some very current students with alumni, powerful alumni in her area of study, Spinner added. including Louis A. Borrelli Jr. ’77, Maggie Dolly ’07, student alumni the CEO of NEP Broadcasting and liaison, was introduced to the FANs the founder of the Louis A. Borrelli program through friends who invited Students complete a “human knot” as part of the Oswego Challenge Jr. Media Summit. hosted by FANs, Future Alumni Network, during opening weekend. her to one of the monthly meetings. “Through FANs you can meet alumni and create a group of people who automatically have a “Being the student representative on the Oswego Alumni link to you because they want to help you succeed in life.” Association board of directors, I have met many influential alumni,” Dolly said in an e-mail. Meetings for FANs are held monthly, with the first meeting of One of Dolly’s most enjoyable experiences as a part of FANs the upcoming spring semester set for Sunday, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m. was the “Oswego Challenge,” an opening weekend event to help in room 235A of Hewitt Union. acclimate incoming students to the Oswego campus. For more information about FANs, visit www.oswegoalumni. oswego.edu/fans. –Emily King ’05 The event was a scavenger-hunt-meets-team-building
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Students Share Writing with Seniors uring the fall semester, creative writing majors Quinn Etchie ’08, Michael Gruosso ’06, Kirsten Konowich ’07 and Brian Phares ’07, along with faculty mentor Brad Korbesmeyer, completed a month-long workshop with some of the residents of the Springside independent retirement community at Seneca Hill, located about five minutes south of Oswego. The residents spent the time writing monologues, with the student mentors editing their work and helping them progress as writers. The participating residents, May Hale, Jan Brown, Robert Wood, Bob Canfield, Marion Motis, Alison Wood, Sophie Ferens, Barbara McCormack and Alice Herrman, wrote short pieces that were collected and assembled into a book by Creative Writing Program secretary Rosalie Battles. On the final day of the workshop, the students read the residents’ final pieces back to them at a small party. The students seized the opportunity to do something for the community. “I enjoyed their company. I was more than happy to help them with their projects, plus I made some new friends,” said Gruosso. “I loved working with the Springside residents, they were incredibly talented and very interested in our project,” said Etchie. “I was surprised at how grateful they were that we took the time to review their work, and how interested they were in what we had to say about it.” When asked, most of the residents had nothing but good things to say about the program. “I thought it was wonderful,” said Marion Motis. “(The students) gave me a lot of good ideas.” Sophie Ferens agreed, saying, “It was beautiful…I really enjoyed it and I loved the help the students gave us.” Past chair of the former SUNY Oswego reading education department and Springside resident Bob Canfield said it is “good to have the opportunity to share our work and know someone cares.” The residents enjoyed the program so much, some of them were discussing continCreative Writing Professor Brad Korbesmeyer looks over monologues by Springside residents Jan Brown uing the workshop after the scheduled visits had ended. Some student mentors have and Sophie Ferens, as student Quinn Etchie ’08 looks on. already volunteered their time if more meetings are arranged. –Brian Phares ’07
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Career Advice? Just ASK Now is the time for your student to learn as much as possible about a specific career. SUNY Oswego’s ASK — Alumni Sharing Knowledge program — can provide a plethora of information regarding future goals. “The program has led to internships and jobs, but it is mainly a way for students to start their networking base,” Associate Alumni Director Michelle Tackett Spinner ’98 said. “ASK provides students with the opportunity to correspond with alumni out in the field, go for on-the-job visits, have their resumés critiqued and talk with alumni at different stages in their careers.” From business to art careers, around the country there are about 300 Oswego alumni volunteering their time in the ASK program. Lauren Dascher ’07 learned about the ASK program through a presentation given in one of her classes. Dascher was a junior broadcasting and mass communications major actively looking for an internship in the New York City area. She was placed with ASK mentor Jennifer Heftler ’81, a successful producer working in Los Angeles. Heftler gave Dascher advice on her resumé and even sent it out to other producers in New York
City. Dascher’s resume made it to places such as Comedy Central, MTV, “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and the Oxygen Network. Dascher was contacted by several of them regarding a summer internship and ultimately chose to work with the Oxygen Network. About 200 SUNY Oswego students connect with alumni through ASK each year, Spinner said. “The connections you are able to make with those in your field of study through the involvement and existence of this program will last long after you have graduated from Oswego State,” is Dascher’s advice to students. “The more connections you can make during your years here will greatly enhance potential careers, internships, and open many doors of opportunity for your future.” If your student is interested in moving across the country and would like information on the cost of living or a starting salary, the ASK program can help. Students can ask alumni mentors in their area of interest their questions and get good reliable feedback. For more information about the ASK program visit www.oswegoalumni.oswego.edu/ask. — Emily King ’05
December Grads Honored
“Tomorrow you begin a new journey,” alumni speaker Lisa Niescierenko ’04 told December graduates at a dessert reception Dec. 15, sponsored by the Oswego Alumni Association. “A journey into the world of professionalism and a journey that your time here at Oswego has more than prepared you for. But, when you pack up the car or board the plane for a new chapter in your life, don’t leave Oswego behind. Stay connected to the Alumni Association.” Above, Barbara Cohn ’06, a business administration major, raises a toast with her parents, Susan and Michael.
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Campus Clips SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE Now’s the time for students to apply for scholarships for the 2007-2008 academic year. Over 140 scholarships are available through the Oswego College Foundation. Find the listing of scholarships and awards, along with instructions for applying and application forms online at http://www.oswego.edu/ giving/scholarships. Only a portion of the scholarships have an online application, so it is beneficial to obtain a scholarship newspaper, which contains a full listing of awards and application forms. Scholarship newspapers are available in most academic departments, Penfield Library or the Office of University Development, 219 Sheldon Hall. For more information, call 315-312-3003 or e-mail knopp@oswego.edu.
GET CONNECTED, STAY CONNECTED Visit the Oswego Alumni Association Web site at www.oswego.edu/ alumni to find out about association services and activities.
PLAN NOW FOR GRADUATION It’s not too early to make reservations if you are traveling to Oswego for Commencement May 19. Plan to attend the longest-standing tradition on campus at the annual Torchlight Ceremony the evening of May 18. The ceremony allows the graduating class to come together one last time as they are welcomed into the Oswego Alumni Association. The event includes a reception and dinner, along with passing on the light of knowledge to the new alumni. For more information or to make dinner reservations call 315-312-2258 or e-mail seniors@oswego.edu. Commencement ceremonies will be held in the new Campus Center May 19 at 9 a.m. for graduates of the College of Arts and Sciences, and 1:30 p.m. for those from the School of Education and School of Business. Find more information at www.oswego.edu. Look under the A-Z Index, under the letter C, and click on Commencement.
FILE TO GRADUATE! The Registrar’s Graduation Office sends letters in the spring semester to all prospective graduates, (all students with junior or senior standing who have not yet filed to graduate) with instructions and information on how and when to file online for graduation. The deadline for filing for this year’s May and August 2007 graduation class is Feb. 15. Students expecting to graduate in December 2007 may file online from April 1 to Sept. 30. Students expecting to graduate in May or August 2008 will also be able to file online from April 1, 2007, to Feb. 15, 2008. Students are not automatically placed on a graduation list. It is the student’s responsibility to make sure he or she initially applies to graduate online by the appropriate deadline date, or contacts the Registrar’s Graduation Office for help in doing so. Students must file by the deadline dates listed above to ensure that their name will be printed in the commencement program. Information regarding the graduation process and all deadlines are also available and linked from the Registrar’s Web site at http://www.oswego.edu/.
Calendar SPRING 2007 Jan. 25
Spring semester begins
Jan. 31
Vincent Mantsoe’s Men-Jaro “Friendship” Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 14
“Devils, Soldiers and Souls” Sheldon Hall Ballroom, 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 21
“Technology, Change and The Arts,” with James Burke, Sheldon Hall Ballroom, 8 p.m.
Feb. 2March11
“The Unbroken Circle: Recent Work by Mary Giehl,” Art Facility Exhibition, Tyler Art Gallery
March 1-11 “Lost in a Viral Paradise,” Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall, 8 p.m. / 2 p.m. March 7
The Eastman Jazz Trio, Sheldon Hall Ballroom, 7:30 p.m.
March 14
Hungarian State Folk Ensemble Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall, 7:30 p.m.
March 19-23 Spring Recess March 30April 25
44th Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition and Spring MA Thesis Exhibition, Tyler Art Gallery
March 30
“Collage,” Music Scholarship Concert, Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall, 7:30 p.m.
April 5-6
Good Friday and Spring Break Day
April 10
College Admissions Open House
April 11
The Miró Quartet Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall, 7:30 p.m.
April 18
Quest ’07, no classes
April 20
Honors Convocation, 3 p.m.
April 24-29
“The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,” Waterman Theatre, Tyler Hall, 8 p.m./2 p.m.
May 4-18
Spring BFA Exhibition and Generations: Highlighting the MAT Art Program, Tyler Art Gallery
May 11
Last day of classes
May 14-18
Final Exams
May 18
Torchlight ceremony and dinner
May 19
Commencement Campus Center, 9 a.m. College of Arts and Sciences, 1:30 p.m. School of Education and School of Business
VISIT OSWEGO ONLINE! Oswego’s new Web site has a place just for you! Go to www.oswego.edu and click on Information for Parents. It will link you to pages about academics, entertainment, sending a treat to your student, campus events and much more. Sign up for SUNY Oswego news and events e-mail lists at www.oswego.edu/news/mailinglists /subscribe.php.
Oswego graduate Bill O’Toole ’01 is proud to be one of 3,000 deputy U.S. marshals in the country. He issues warrants for fugitives who have fled prosecution, assists with prisoner transportation and helps with the witness security and judicial program as well as courtroom security. Most days, O’Toole can be found in Washington’s District Court or the District of Columbia Superior Court, where he transports between one and a dozen prisoners a day from their holding cell to the courtroom. On Oct. 30, O’Toole returned to campus to share his experiences with students as part of the Alumni-in-Residence Program, sponsored by the Oswego Alumni Association.