News

Phi Theta Kappa Hosted its 2022 Induction Ceremony

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Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society

December 21, 2022 – Stone Ridge – The Alpha Rho Delta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa hosted its 2022 Induction Ceremony in the Quimby Theater at 6 p.m. on Monday, December 19, 2022. SUNY Ulster’s Alpha Rho Delta Chapter is the international honor society for community college students. Membership is lifelong and offers numerous benefits including scholarships, letters of recommendation, and recognition of academic prestige. SUNY Ulster would like to congratulate all newly inducted members listed below.

Accord:  Celeste Atkins, Daniel Milov, Daniel Palladino.

Bloomington:  Maya Todd.

Connelly:  Colton Arenella.

Ellenville:  Sameea Khan, Janeliz Pellot-Hilerio.

Gardiner:  Cassidy Thacker.

High Falls:  Hiroshi Sawka Hamaguchi.

Highland:  Alexander Papazov.

Highland Mills:  Alice Rodriguez.

Hopewell Junction:  Jennifer Elie.

Hurley:  Hannah Bear, Thomasina Citron, Christina Osterhoudt.

Hyde Park:  Mary Phillips.

Kerhonkson:  Danny Fallaha, Catarina Lutin, Amber Shamson.

Kingston:  Autumn-Lynne Aarons, Lea Avery, Jeffrey Belardo, Moira Cleary-Dwyer, Cheyanne Corbin, Iad Elmassalemah, Trinity Wilson.

Lake Katrine:  Robert Stoutenburg.

Marlboro:  Jozef Lisiecki.

Middletown:  Devon Pelton.

Napanoch:  Michelle Cruz, Megan McGovern.

New Paltz:   Ivelisse Cabrera, Bryce Casamento, Mark LaBorde, Julia Whitworth.

Newburgh:  Dakota Wolff.

Port Ewen:  Chase Deising.

Rochester:  John Jones.

Rosendale:  Aurora Gill.

Saugerties:  Tiffany Appollonia, Joann Bathrick, Adam DiVenere, Ethan Montfort, Gordon Vought, Derek White.

Shokan:  Hannah Gritman, Catherine Stafford.

South Richmond Hill:  Ayesha Ilyas, Maryam Ilyas.

Tillson:  Devon Lanman.

Tivoli:  Aliana Pegelow.

Ulster Park:  Georgia Johns, Rileigh O’Brien.

Wallkill:  Sabrina Hickey, Penelope Rose, Yulissa Rosello, Joleah Russell.

West Park: Lilyanna Palumbo.

Woodridge: Sierra Barbiani.

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Phi Theta Kappa group photograph

SUNY Ulster Art Students and Faculty Showcase in SUNY Annual Exhibits

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Arianna Moore still life of various objects

December 20, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – Margaret Melanson (Ellenville, NY) and Arianna Moore (New Paltz, NY) have been selected for the Chancellor’s Gallery Exhibition for 2023. Arianna Moore’s, The Apple and the Pear and Margaret Melanson’s, Portrait of a First-Year were selected for this exhibit. In addition, Margaret Melanson’s piece, Finally, Home has been chosen for the 2023 SUNY Best of the Year Student Art Exhibition.

Margaret Melanson is a Fine Art/Visual Arts student whose artwork, Finally, Home was part of the Spring 2022 SUNY Student Exhibition. This exhibition was then juried by four prominent art experts from around the state who made the selections for the Best of the Year exhibition in the summer. The exhibition has cash awards for the best art works. Margaret was chosen amongst students of all levels from 2- and 4-year art programs in the SUNY system, and judges chose her work as one of the best of the year in the entire SUNY system.  After graduation, Margaret plans to pursue a BFA in Animation/Film.

Arianna Moore, a Sophomore in the Fine Art/Visual Arts program and works as a student aide and intern for both the Community Relations and Fine Arts departments. She plans to apply to SUNY New Paltz as a Graphic Design major after her graduation in the spring.

The two art faculty members chosen to exhibit two pieces each are Joan Ffolliott and Chris Seubert. Courses taught by Joan Ffolliott include printmaking and 3 dimensional design. Chris Seubert teaches drawing and composition and advanced studio, among others.

SUNY creates three exhibitions annually of student and faculty artwork from all the SUNY campuses and creates a fall exhibition & spring exhibition that takes place in SUNY Plaza in Albany. In addition, a Best of the Year exhibition takes place in the NY State Museum.

The Best of SUNY Art Show takes place at the H. Carl McCall SUNY Building in downtown Albany in January 2023. The building is open to the public Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Those who are interested in viewing the works in the Chancellor’s Gallery are asked to make an appointment by emailing specialevents@suny.edu.

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SUNY Ulster Receives Reimagine Workforce Preparation Grant

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SUNY Ulster Press Release

December 19, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY- The State University of New York granted SUNY Ulster a Reimagine Workforce Preparation Training Grant to deliver an enhanced Certified Pharmacy Technician training program tuition-free to people who were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The New York State Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that employment for pharmacy technicians is expected to grow 5 percent annually through 2031 with an average of approximately 43,000 job openings per year through the decade.  These jobs can be full time or part time and are ideal for those looking to start a career or to return to the workforce.

This enhanced training program will include building math and soft skills such as problem solving and communication as well as information needed to pass the Pharmacy Technician Certification exam. Upon completion of coursework, students will be prepared to take the ExCPhT Pharmacy Technician Certification exam.

The Pharmacy Technician program will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 5 – 8 p.m., beginning January 23 and will run until May 10. Monday classes are in person at the Kingston Center of SUNY Ulster, Room 204; Wednesday classes are remote via Zoom. In addition, there will be 5 hours of asynchronous learning assigned per week.

Scholarship applications for this program are now being accepted. To apply for a scholarship, please complete the online application. For more information, contact SUNY Ulster’s Career and Continuing Education division at 845-339-2025 or visit www.sunyulster.edu/ce.

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SUNY Ulster PR – National Science Foundation Grant – Environmental Studies

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SUNY Ulster Press Release

The grant will help satisfy the growing need for environmental STEM workers in the Hudson Valley region

December 5, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster announces it has been awarded a three-year $349,838 National Science Foundation Grant to Support Applied Learning in its Environmental Studies program. The goal of the project is to improve student retention and career readiness in environmental STEM students to fill a growing industry need for qualified workers in the Hudson Valley.

SUNY Ulster offers one of the most affordable Environmental Studies degrees in the region, serving many nontraditional students who may be working, and have limited funds for college, or first-generation students as well as traditional graduating high school students. This grant will offer these students the opportunity to conduct field research during class time, giving them the skills to work for the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and in other environmental careers.

SUNY Ulster is augmenting its General BIO II lab with in-class and in-the-field research activities that mirror industry settings and standards. To accomplish this, faculty will work with industry partners, including the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and the Ulster County Executive’s Office. This collaboration will result in students learning technical skills such as GIS, water quality, and safety as well as soft skills such as problem-solving, effective communication, and collaboration.

Environmental Studies program coordinator and professor, Dr. Jennifer Guiher, states, “We are looking for students who see a career in Environmental Studies as a calling. As these students progress through the program, they will be gaining specific hands-on skills needed by the environmental industry. These skills will make these students desirable to many potential employers. Whether students further their education at a four-year college or university or decide to move directly into a job upon attaining their Associate’s degree, they will be in a position to earn a liveable wage.”

Chris Marx, Vice President for Workforce, Economic Development, and Community Partnerships believes, “This program is exactly what community colleges were designed to do. Working with our partners at the NYCDEP, our faculty can build modern, real-world skills into their curriculum. Our students complete the program ready to move into competitive jobs in this field. Our local employers are able to hire talent right from the community. It is a win-win for our students and the community.

Former Ulster County Executive Patrick Ryan, now U.S. Congressman, and his Ulster County team, further fostered the connection between NYCDEP and SUNY Ulster in Environmental Studies and water quality programs.

National, state, and local employment projections indicate a growing demand for skilled workers for those with Associate degrees and higher. A recent article for science.org  by practicing scientist and author Adam Ruben, Ph.D. reveals, “We often looked for fresh-out-of-college candidates who had worked in a lab for at least a year and finding them wasn’t easy.

To help support interested students with financial needs, the Ulster Community College Foundation will award $1 million in scholarships this year. Students fill out one application to be considered for over one hundred scholarships.

The NYCDEP, one of the largest employers in the region and charged with the important role of maintaining the quality of New York City’s drinking water, and SUNY Ulster have had a longstanding relationship. For over 20 years each summer, the DEP has taken on about eight SUNY Ulster students for paid internships, some of which have resulted in permanent positions with them.

To learn more about SUNY Ulster’s Environmental Studies program visit sunyulster.edu/enviro_studies.

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Photo caption: SUNY Ulster students conducting fieldwork at Tivoli Bay Marsh on the east side of the Hudson River.

Approaching the finish line: Discussion on self care around finals

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pitcher of water pouring into glass

By Ashley Brown, LCSW-R

Crisis Counselor at SUNY Ulster

April 7, 2022

For everyone on campus, we are approaching the finish line of the semester. Some are also approaching the culmination of their time at SUNY Ulster, graduating and are venturing further into their “start here, go far” journey.

If we think about marathons, the message tends to be to pace ourselves. Don’t rush, find balance, take water and snack breaks to keep ourselves going and maintain stamina. The same can apply to the course of the semester. The final stretch often requires us to pace ourselves leading up to it to support our highest potential. Here are some tips that many have found helpful to support success and overall wellness:

Routines: plan to go to sleep and wake up at the same times everyday. Be mindful of how much caffeine you are drinking and avoid this and sugar later in the day so you can rest.

Eat well: instead of captain crunch for breakfast, consider something more sustaining such as eggs, oatmeal (being mindful of sugars) keep snacks handy for your day that support brain health and energy (nuts, berries, bananas, yogurt, leafy greens).

Hydrate: water, water, water. Many experts believe that anything other than water is not hydrating. Water is like the WD40 for our skin, muscles, joints etc

Take breaks: stand up, stretch, take a walk, look outside your window, give your eyes and being a break from the computer. Even if you don’t have a lot of time, take a walk to your mailbox, around your house, if you are on campus…walk to the furthest restroom or go talk with someone face to face rather than sending an email. The change of perspective for both body and mind can really make a positive difference.

For any questions or other tips, please feel free to contact me at brownas@sunyulster.edu. Better yet, come on by to my office in Van 128. As always, consult with your doctors about what plans and food best suit you.

SUNY Ulster faculty and staff are here to support you to “start here and go far.” Best of luck on finals and all of your endeavors!

The SUNY Ulster Music Department presents the 2022 Fall Concert Series

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Students singing in Choir

The SUNY Ulster Music Department presents the 2022 Fall Concert Series

November 30, 2022 – December 8, 2022

November 16, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster will host its annual series of winter concerts beginning November 30, 2022. Students, music educators, and faculty and staff will perform in the following two holiday concerts. Both concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Quimby Theater in Vanderlyn Hall on the Stone Ridge Campus. The concerts are free and open to the public. Donations are greatly appreciated. 

November 30, 2022 Concert
This invigorating annual concert directed by Vic Izzo will feature holiday favorites with songs including Let it Snow, Silent Night, and In the Bleak Midwinter. In addition, SUNY Ulster is thrilled to welcome Guest Conductor, Sue Lichtenberg who will be conducting the College/Community Band in their performance of Kilimanjaro. 

Wednesday, November 30
COLLEGE/COMMUNITY BAND & ENSEMBLES

Vic Izzo, Director

December 8, 2022 Concert
The holiday spirit continues with the second half of the SUNY Ulster Music Department Fall Semester Concert Series. Music from around the world is the theme of this performance including Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy, Gavotte en Rondeau, and Cantate Domino. 

Thursday, December 8

COLLEGE CHORUS

Janet Gehres, Director
Edward Leavitt, Accompanist

MIXED INSTRUMENT ENSEMBLE

Greg Dinger, Director/Arranger

HONORS RECITAL WINNERS

For more information, contact Janet Gehres at gehresj@sunyulster.edu. COVID-19 screening for audience members will be in the Quimby Theater Lobby on the evening of the event. 

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SUNY Ulster Hosts Veterans Day Tribute on Thursday, November 10, 2022

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SUNY Ulster Press Release

SUNY Ulster Hosts Veterans Day Tribute on Thursday, November 10, 2022

November 7, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster will honor veterans on Thursday, November 10 at 10 a.m. in Clinton Hall on the Stone Ridge campus. Hosted by SUNY Ulster’s Student Government and the SUNY Ulster Military Affiliated Club, the event will include speakers, student reflections, and musical performances. This event is free and open to the public.

SUNY Ulster President, Dr. Alison Buckley will provide remarks. Manny Torres, Director of Military-Affiliated students and a student from the SUNY Ulster Student Government will speak. Students will share reflections and thoughts.

In addition, America (My Country Tis of Thee) will be performed by SUNY Ulster students, Hannah Irwin, Penelope Rose, Mark LaBorde, and Daniel Palladino. Danny Boy will be performed by Mark LaBorde.

SUNY Ulster has, for over a decade, been designated as a Top Military-Friendly School and has earned a Gold designation for the College’s commitment to veterans and veteran dependents. Manny Torres, Director of Military-Affiliated students states, “SUNY Ulster veteran students and their dependents benefit from a broad array of College-wide support as they work toward a degree including a Battle Buddy Center on campus which provides a quiet place for veterans and veteran family students to connect and work, and a Military Affiliated Community (MAC) Club.”

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Enrollment & Success Center Hosts Two Events

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SUNY Ulster Press Release

The Enrollment & Success Center at SUNY Ulster Presents Discover the Arts and SUNY Financial Aid Day 

Discover the Arts November 9, 2022, 4 -7 p.m. 

SUNY Financial Aid Day November 12, 2022, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.

November 4, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – The SUNY Ulster Enrollment & Success Center invites you to the Stone Ridge campus to learn about the Arts programs at SUNY Ulster as well as Financial Aid.

 During Discover the Arts, prospective students are invited to participate in an optional Portfolio Review of their work and preview a SUNY Ulster Student Works Showcase. The schedule includes a presentation about the Fine Arts Program, a Student Works Showcase, and an Application Workshop. Art Area Tours featuring the Gallery, Print Shop, Mac Lab, Mac Studio, and Inner Space. Registration is required .

During Financial Aid Day, SUNY Ulster will offer area high school seniors with plans to attend any SUNY school in fall 2023 with hands-on assistance completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). SUNY Ulster’s Admissions staff will also be available to speak with those interested in learning more about SUNY Ulster and its programs. Campus tours will be offered. Registration is required.  To complete the FAFSA with a SUNY Ulster specialist, bring the following:

  • Federal Student Aid ID and Passwords for parent and student. Register for an FSA ID at studentaid.gov.
  • 2021 Tax documents including your federal and state tax returns, W-2 statements, and other income statements
  • 2021 untaxed income information, such as child support paid or received
  • Asset information
  • Driver’s license (student)
  • Social security numbers for student and parent
  • Alien registration card (permanent residents of US)

The Enrollment & Success Center team is dedicated to helping you every step of the way through your college journey, from admissions through graduation. For more information, email esc@sunyulster.edu.

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New York Times Bestselling Author Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah to Read at SUNY Ulster Stone Ridge Campus Tuesday, November 8, 2022

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Portrait Photograph of Nana Kwame Adjei Brenyah

New York Times Bestselling Author Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah to Read at SUNY Ulster Stone Ridge Campus Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Herbert H. & Sofia P. Reuner Library Writers Series

October 25, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – Join us on Tuesday, November 8 at 1:15 p.m. in the Quimby Theater for the Herbert H. & Sofia P. Reuner Library Writers Series event with author, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah.

A discussion and interview will be moderated by Dr. Ivan Godfrey, Associate Professor in the Criminal Justice & Human Services department. Adjei-Brenyah will read from some of his works, and participate in a Q&A session with the audience. A book signing will follow and books will be available for sale.

Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is the New York Times-bestselling author of Friday Black (Mariner Books, 2018). His debut novel, Chain-Gang All-Stars, is forthcoming in 2023 with Penguin Random House.

Adjei-Brenyah’s books are described by award-winning author, George Saunders as “a wonder: strange, crazed, urgent and funny, yet classical.” And, BuzzFeed writes,

“Reading Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah is like being shaken awake. Adjei-Brenyah skewers the ways we brush past racism and injustice, making the absurdity of the rhetoric around both impossible to ignore.” 

Adjei-Brenyah was selected by Colson Whitehead as one of the National Book Foundation’s “5 Under 35” honorees, the winner of the PEN/Jean Stein Book Award, and a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Award for Best First Book and the Aspen Words Literary Prize. His work has appeared or is forthcoming from numerous publications, including the New York Times Book Review, Esquire, Literary Hub, the Paris Review, Guernica, and Longreads.

The SUNY Ulster Herbert H. & Sofia P. Reuner Library Writers Series is a special program sponsored by The Ulster Community College Foundation, begun in 1998, that brings renowned writers to campus every fall. This is a truly unique opportunity for SUNY Ulster students and community members to hear award winning authors read from their work.

This event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. Register Now.

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Marieken Cochius at Muroff-Kotlter from November 4 from 4 to 6 p.m.      

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Yellow and gray abstract art piece

Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery at SUNY Ulster Presents ‘Guiding the Currents’ works of Marieken Cochius from October 7 through November 29, 2022

Opening Reception Scheduled for Friday November 4 from 4 to 6 p.m.           

October 24, 2022 – Stone Ridge, NY – The Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery begins its fall season with an exhibition of the works of Marieken Cochius entitled, Guiding the Currents running from October 7 through November 29, 2022. A reception is scheduled for Friday November 4, from 4 to 6 p.m. The event is free and is open to the public.

Marieken Cochius’ works are described as meditative, intuitive and often explores growth forms, movement of light and wind, root systems, and animal architecture. The exhibition will include; sculpture, drawings, and paintings.

Marieken Cochius is a Dutch-born artist currently residing in the Hudson Valley. Cochius is recognized for her features in the New York Times, Elle Decor, Columbia Journal, and in over 40 Art/Literary/Poetry/University publications and magazines in the USA and abroad. Many of Cochius’ works have been shown in group exhibitions in local galleries such as Holland Tunnel Gallery, Newburgh, NY and the Lockwood Gallery, Kingston, NY.

The Muroff-Kotler Visual Arts Gallery is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For special viewings, call 845-687-5134. For more information, contact Chris Seubert at seubertc@sunyulster.edu.

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