SUNY Sullivan School Scene 2015

SCHOOL SCENE A Special Supplement to the Sullivan County Democrat

A look at activities at Sullivan County Community College

SECTION S • APRIL 24, 2015 CALLICOON, NY

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Powering Up SUNY Sullivan’s evolution Progress depends on smart growth, sustainable practices and the support of the community

F

lipping the switch to power up the new 12 acre solar array at SUNY Sullivan on Earth Day was symbolic in many ways: It not only represented the advent of a bold new step toward sustainability, a mission of the college, but it also represents the dawn of a new era for growth and change at this small SUNY school.

The 7,000 panel array is constructed, owned and operated by Sullivan Solar Garden LLC, and will provide 57 percent of the energy utilized by the college and help reduce overall energy costs. The array is part of an overall plan to propel the college toward its goal of becoming a carbon-neutral campus.

“We want to be a model for others on many different levels,” explains SUNY Sullivan President Karin Hilgersom. “Through sustainable energy best practices, offering degree and accreditation programs in green technology and building; to offering the community beneficial and useful programs, we are striving to be a productive and instrumental part of the future of Sullivan County.”

In her third year at the helm of SUNY Sullivan, Hilgersom has been an energetic force when it comes to getting things done. Not only did the solar farm become a reality under her watch, but new programs in theater

SUNY Sullivan President Dr. Karin Hilgersom hopes to cap her tenure with an ambitious Healthy World Institute.

The newly remodeled chemistry labs are now a state-of-the-art facility.

arts and a grant-funded SMARTT Business & Industry technology facility were implemented. In addition, the chemistry lab was completely refurbished to include green, ecofriendly fume hoods, adjustable work spaces and surgical grade flooring and the second floor of the library was redesigned to create a centralized tutoring and career center.

The SMARTT facility, which stands for SUNY Manufacturing Alliance for Research and Technology Transfer was established through the center

School Scene A Look at Activities at

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for Global Advancement Manufacturing and created to provide New York manufacturers with access to state-of-the-art technologies and training in how to use them.

“This year marks the first series of courses at our Process Control Systems Lab,” explains Hilgersom, “and it's the first time we've been able to offer courses that support advanced manufacturing in New York State. It's really exciting.”

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Center on the second floor of the library debuted this past fall, and Hilgersom credits Rose Hanofee and Dean Sara Thompson Tweedy with taking the lead in creating the new Learning Commons. The centralized, common-style space ties together many facets of student life outside of the classroom and provides academic advisement, placement testing, tutoring, counseling, orientation, PLEASE SEE POWERING UP, 4S

Credits: All photographs and stories for this special School Scene are by Sullivan County Democrat Photographer/Reporter Allison Ruef.

The Democrat would also like to thank the SUNY Sullivan for all its cooperation in this project.

Fred W. Stabbert III Dan Hust Frank Rizzo Ken Cohen Matt ShortallJeanne Sager, Kaitlin Carney, Kathy Daley, Guy Harriton, Allison Ruef, Alex Rau Liz Tucker Sandy Schrader Cecilia Lamy, Barbara Matos Tera Luty Susan Owens Patricia Biedinger, Joanna Blanchard Michelle Reynolds Janet Will Ruth Huggler, Tracy Swendsen, Rosalie Mycka, Elizabeth Finnegan, Petra Duffy, Nyssa Calkin Bill Holmes

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rooms and a large lobby area with student-friendly seating.

The project has the formal approval of the SUNY Sullivan Board of Trustees, the backing of the Sullivan County Partnership for Economic Development, which has made it one of its priority agenda items; and has 50 percent of the necessary funding ($10.5 million) secured through a SUNY matching capital projects grant. The only catch is that the county must fund the other half and time is running out – the grant funding will be revoked if the county does not agree to fund the program in the coming months.

“The Healthy World Institute represents the next chapter in our book,” says Hilgersom. “It has the potential to take the college and the County to the next level and give more students who stay local a reason to choose SUNY Sullivan. We don't want our students to travel out of the county for their education. By providing a campus that meets the needs of a growing and changing work force, we have the potential to exceed expectations. But we can't do that without support.”

Presidential Scholar Program attracts high-achieving grads I n 2013, SUNY Sullivan’s then-new President Dr. Karin Hilgersom announced the expansion of the college’s Presidential Scholar Program. The revised program would now award Sullivan County high school students who achieved a 90 or better GPA the opportunity to attend Sullivan tuition-free.

Previously, the scholarships were only offered to the top ten percent of all Sullivan County high school graduates.

The program is a great example of a mutually beneficial relationship – the college is able to cast a wider net for high-achieving, serious students, and more local kids are eligible for this opportunity. As the SUNY Sullivan Class of 2015 prepares to walk down the aisle, the first cohort of the revised scholarship program recipients will be moving on as well.

Was it worth it? For Anna Dexheimer,

SUNY Chancellor Award winner and soon-tobe SUNY Sullivan graduate Anna Dexheimer shows off one of the puppies that the Psychology Club brings in during finals week to help students de-stress.

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career development, job placement and transfer services.

“The idea was to tie together the support services students need and rely on in one place,” says Hilgersom.

“We're especially proud to bring back the Career Center, reinvented by Klu Padu, Career Placement and Transfer advisor, and Eileen Howell.”

Although Dr. Hilgersom has spearheaded an enthusiastic and impressive array of programs and services at SUNY Sullivan, the accomplishment of a state-of-the-art Healthy World Institute would be a capstone, not just for the college, but for the community. The institute would be located in a new building on the knoll in center of the main campus and house the current Health Services Program (Nursing, Respiratory Therapy, Medical Assisting) as well as several new programs, including Ultrasound Technology and Nourishment Arts & Sciences.

Other plans for the facility include a restaurant to be run in collaboration with second year Culinary Arts students, a community learning kitchen, applied entrepreneurship studies, research labs, community class-

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it certainly was.

As a scholarship recipient, choosing SUNY Sullivan was a no-brainer.

“How could I turn down the chance to go to college for free? Especially since I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to study?” asked Anna, already knowing the answer. Not only will she graduate this spring with an Associates of Science Degree with Honors in Psychology, but she will also walk down the aisle wearing her SUNY Chancellor’s Award, one of the highest honors bestowed upon students in the entire SUNY system.

The Chancellor’s award recognizes students throughout the SUNY system who have integrated academic excellence with other aspects of their lives, including leadership, campus involvement, community service, the arts, athletics, or career achievement.

Nominated for the award by her professor, Dr. Susan Rogers, it was more than just Anna’s grades that made her stand out among her peers.

“It’s more than just her academics and grades, which are impressive, but its her desire to be involved on campus and in the greater community,” explained Rogers. “She’s a wonderful role model. She volunteers and takes on projects, inspires her classmates, is kind to everyone, works three jobs and does it all with a smile on her face and a great attitude. She’s the whole package.”

As the secretary for the Psychology Club, which won last year’s Student Activities Award for their work with the student body, Anna has the chance to do what she loves best – help others and provide comfort.

Working with Hollywood Dog Adoptions in Pine Bush, she helped establish the “Puppy Room,” where stressed-out students can take a COME SEE US FOR ALL YOUR AUTO SERVICE NEEDS!

time-out during finals week and relax with a room full of puppies. “It really does make you feel better,” says Anna. “People ask about it and really look forward to it.”

She also, with her fellow club members, helped establish an on-campus anti-bullying day, complete with an anti-bullying themed-movie screening. She is a member of her local ambulance squad, is active in the Sullivan County Relay for Life, performs at her church where she regularly lends her musical talents to events and services, and was part of a team of former students who painted a mural that is the foundation for a Veterans Wall of Fame at her Alma mater, Tri-Valley High School.

“Anna is bright, kind and affable and epitomizes what the Chancellor’s Award is supposed to represent: a well rounded student who excels academically and excels in service to others,” explained Dr. Hilgersom.

In other words, exactly the kind of student the Presidential Scholar Award is designed to attract. For Anna and other home-grown scholars, choosing to stay local was a personal choice and one that paid off – literally. But did she feel like she missed out by staying?

“Not at all,” she says, without hesitation. “I got an experience I wouldn’t have gotten at a bigger school. I got to know more about my community – both on campus and off. I had the chance to really get to know my roots and become involved and take the time to explore my options. I wouldn’t have been able to do that anywhere else. In fact, I don’t think I would have done a single thing different.”

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The community part of community college A

commitment to serving the whole community is what community college is about In name alone, a community college is, literally, just that – a center of education, open to anyone in the community who wants to learn. But learning means more than taking a course or sitting in a classroom, and Hillary Egeland, director of Special Events and Campus Activities makes sure our community is aware of that.

Working under the Office of the Vice President for Advancement, Partnerships and Community Learning, Egeland is like the hub of the community wheel. The spokes are the events and programs she oversees and together, they provide a vehicle for bringing both campus and community together.

Bringing SUNY Sullivan to the community and bringing the community to campus is a big job, but Egeland makes it look easy. Not only does she oversee the events that many look CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

The Circle of Hope Relay for Life Team pose for a picture at the annual event which is held in June on the SUNY Sullivan campus.

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forward to each year like the Kite Festival and the Women’s Conference, both of which have been taking place for over 20 years now, she is also responsible for all community learning programs and foundation events.

“Our whole purpose is to reach out to the community,” explains Egeland. “We are here to educate, create a workforce and let people know that there are opportunities here. It’s not just about a degree or certificate programs, we offer enrichment programs and other activities.

There are many ways we try to reach the citizens of our county.”

Through the Community Learning Program, the enrichment courses offered by the college, kids can take cooking and acting classes and adult participants can learn how to make sushi, or stay fit with Zumba, Piloxing and even tap dancing. Starting in the fall of 2015, some enrichment classes will even allow participants to earn continuing education contact hour credits.

Annual events such as the 25th Annual Kite Festival, taking place this year on Saturday, May 2, draws thousands of people regionally and has become the college’s unofficial celebration of spring. The free event features live music, craft and food vendors, bouncy houses for the kids, professional kite flyers and free kites for the first 200 children.

Each year, the event expands and now includes the Fisher Film Festival and Student Art Show, where student work is showcased. This year, the Kite Festival will also include an alumni homecoming, featuring a Kentucky Derby themed reception (reservations required).

“This year, we’re also incorporating the ‘Discover SUNY Sullivan’ open house, where accepted and conditionally accepted students are invited to visit the campus for a look at the school and to learn more about the programs,” explains Egeland. “A lesstraditional glimpse of campus life while highlighting the amazing programs we offer is what we hope

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CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Local Chef Andy Yeomans instructs a participant at the 19th annual Women’s Conference, held this year on April 11, on how to make a sushi roll.

Chef Andy also teaches a class in sushi making as a part of SUNY Sullivan’s Community Learning Program.

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but it helps showcase the many benefits offered here.

The American future students will take Cancer Society, away from the event.� which organizTo help raise money for es the Sullivan scholarships given to stuCounty Relay dents each year, Egeland for Life (an also organizes and runs annual event the SUNY Sullivan that raises Foundation Golf money to fight Tournament, which will cancer) and be held at Grossinger’s on holds a weekTuesday, June 23. “We Hillary Egeland end-long fundrealize that there are a lot Director of Special Events and raising event of tournaments through- Campus Activities | on campus out the region and we are each June has so grateful to all who parheld their ticipate,� says Egeland. The tourna- event at SUNY Sullivan for years. ment helps raise approximately “It provides the perfect setting and $25,000 for the scholarship program. facilities for an event like the Relay,�

Working with outside organiza- says Egeland. “Truly, that is a goal tions, Egeland says that opening the and a priority of what I do – to facilcampus to groups, conferences, itate and organize the many ways events and other organizations not SUNY Sullivan can be helpful and only brings people to the campus, beneficial to our community.�

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