Discover the Arts – Wednesday, March 22 from 4 to 6 p.m.

Professor with student in art classroom

March 9, 2023 – Stone Ridge, NY – On Wednesday, March 22, come learn about SUNY Ulster’s Arts Programs, and preview student work. Prospective students are invited to participate in an optional Portfolio Review of their work, and tour the art department facilities including the Gallery, Print Shop, Mac Lab, Mac Studio, and Inner Space. This event will be held in the Muroff Kotler Visual Arts Gallery in Vanderlyn Hall, room 265. Registration is required. The snow date is March 23, 2023.

Attending SUNY Ulster for the first two years of your college journey can be beneficial and fiscally strategic. Currently, SUNY Ulster offers $1 million in scholarships to students annually, and with financial aid, many of our students graduate with zero debt. Having a tight knit college community provides our students with the opportunity to explore their interests and reinforce their strengths before entering a career in the Arts, or transferring to another college.

SUNY Ulster graduates have transferred on to attend four-year colleges such as Fashion Institute of Technology, Pratt, School of Visual Arts, SUNY New Paltz, SUNY Purchase, and much more.

For more information, contact SUNY Ulster Admissions, The Enrollment & Success Center at admissionsevents@sunyulster.edu or 845-687-5022.

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Marielena Ferrer as Spring 2023 Visiting Artist

SUNY Ulster Press Release

Broken Monarchs Exhibit: March 10 – April 14 

Artist Lecture/Opening Reception: March 10

Community Art Workshop: March 21 & March 23 

March 2, 2023 – Stone Ridge, NY – This spring SUNY Ulster welcomes Marielena Ferrer as their Visiting Artist. “Broken Monarchs” will open on March 10 in the Muroff-Kotler Gallery on the Stone Ridge Campus with an opening reception from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The artist will present a lecture at the beginning of the opening reception. This event is free and open to the public.

The public is invited to participate in two 45-minute public workshops in collective artmaking on March 21 from 10 am to noon and March 23 from 2-4 pm in the Gallery. Learn about the monarch butterfly migration quest and its symbolic connection to migrant children at the U.S.-Mexican border. Registration is required. 

Marielena Ferrer’s work “Broken Monarchs” is a unique representation of the effects of confining animals that naturally migrate and how we see similar activities in our own society today. Ferrer takes the audience on a trip through her eyes on the “zero tolerance” policy at the U.S.-Mexican border.

Marielena Ferrer is a socially engaged artist who serves as the chair for both Kingston City Arts Commission and the Alianza Cultural de Kingston. The Kingston Arts Commission’s purpose is to strengthen the local economy by attracting and promoting artists, arts venues, and arts entrepreneurs and encouraging cultural tourism. The Alianza Cultural de Kingston is a committee that is working on the findings of the Kingston Latino Cultural Study to bring programming and other activities to the Hispanic/Latino community in Kingston. Additionally, Marielena sits on the Family of Woodstock Board of Directors, Arts Mid-Hudson Advisory Board, and is a teaching artist at the Department of Regional Art Workers, the D.R.A.W., in Midtown Kingston.

Originally studying architecture at Central University of Venezuela, Marielena later earned a certificate of distinction in “Leadership and Empowerment” from Spain’s Polytechnic University of Valencia and a diploma in “Gender Leadership” through the EQUAL Transnational Cooperation Community Initiative of the European Social Fund. She also earned a University Expert Diploma in “Mental Health, Cultural Processes and Psychological Interventions With Immigrants, Minorities and the Socially Excluded” from the University of Barcelona. Marielena holds a BFA in Sculpture and is currently pursuing her MFA in Sculpture from SUNY New Paltz.

The Gallery hours are Tuesday – Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. For special viewings or more information, contact Christopher Seubert at 845-687-5134.

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Students looking at Art Exhibit

 

SUNY Ulster Holds Virtual Financial Aid Workshops

SUNY Ulster Press Release

SUNY Ulster Holds Virtual Financial Aid Workshops

February 24, 2023 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster has scheduled multiple financial aid workshops to be held on Zoom. During the workshop, students can expect to get help from a SUNY Ulster Financial Aid Counselor in completing their 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Registration is required. The workshops will be held from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the following dates:

  • March 9, 2023
  • April 6, 2023
  • May 11, 2023
  • June 1, 2023

 

Please have your 2021 tax information on hand before the workshop begins which includes your W-2 forms, federal tax returns, and any other income or asset documents. For more information, contact Kathleen Hasbrouck at 845-687-5217.

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fafsa-zoom

 

This week’s #MadeitMonday goes out to John Steup!

Portrait photograph of John Steup

John Steup graduated from SUNY Ulster in 1999, earning an AAS in Design Drafting and an AA in Math Science (Geology). Since his graduation, he has attended two colleges: Portland State University and the University of Southern California. Steup is now working toward his  Ed.D (Doctor of Education). 

Shortly after graduating from SUNY Ulster Steup began working with a  music distribution company for independent musicians called CD Baby in Woodstock. At this company, Steup was the VP of Operations from 1998 to 2006. CD Baby was built from a two-person start-up to a “model of international e-commerce.” John’s next adventure took him to Portland State University where he graduated in 2010 with a double major in Social Science and Liberal Studies before moving on to achieve his Master’s Degree in Public Administration at the University of Southern California. 

As a high school dropout, Steup was not sure that he could manage college, but the program in Design Drafting seemed to be a perfect fit. Steup focuses on how SUNY Ulster gave him “a sense of accomplishment” and how “the professors challenged [him] to think harder and reach higher”. As the graffiti Abatement Coordinator in Portland, Oregon the coursework Steup took at SUNY Ulster “continues to be a foundation to [his] daily work life”.

Check out more of John’s incredible work on LinkedIn

Portrait of John Steup and dog 

Herrington Concert Performance Returns to SUNY Ulster

SUNY Ulster Press Release

February 22, 2023 – Stone Ridge, NY – On Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. the music ensembles of SUNY Ulster will perform a concert to honor the memory of Lee Herrington. Herrington was a dedicated musician and mentor, who was the former band director at SUNY Ulster, a longtime Rondout Valley music teacher, and the former director of the Kingston local American Federation of Musicians Concert Band. The event will be held in the Quimby Theater, in Vanderlyn Hall on the Stone Ridge campus.

This annual memorial concert will have multiple performances with groups that include current SUNY Ulster students, Alumni, faculty, staff, and the community.  The College Chorus will be directed by Janet Gehres and accompanied by Edward Leavitt while they perform pieces celebrating music making. The African Drumming Ensemble will be directed by Paul Chambers and will be honoring traditional music from Nigeria and Guinea. The College/Community Band will be directed by Victor Izzo as well as guest conductor, Michael Flamhaft. Capital Brass will perform Davenport Blues, A Comedy Tonight as well as other musical pieces.

For more information, contact Janet Gehres at gehresj@sunyulster.edu. The snow date is scheduled for Thursday, March 2, 2023.

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This week’s #MadeitMonday goes out to Jess Robie

Jess Robie posing

Nursing Major

Jess Robie was a Nursing student here at SUNY Ulster before her graduation in 2016. Initially, her attendance at SUNY Ulster was planted in its convenient location, being only two miles away from her home but she soon came to realize the plethora of other advantages to attending SUNY Ulster. According to Robie SUNY Ulster “seemed like a convenient and affordable way for [her] to switch careers”. 

Since graduating Robie has worked as a respiratory nurse for Health Alliance of the Hudson Valley and a Chronic Care Manager at Medical Associates of the Hudson Valley, as well as a nurse practitioner at smaller-scale practices.  Robie still honors her original goal of being a primary care provider that is versed in both traditional and alternative medicine and is excited to embark on a new journey at Drs. Engel and Lindgren Family Medicine as a general practitioner. 

Reflecting on her time at SUNY Ulster Robie remembers being “hunkered down somewhere with friends studying used NCLEX style questions to practice”. Robie also distinctly remembers a few of her professors at SUNY Ulster listing Nancy Decker, Don Terpening, Lisa Schulti, and Ellen Tangeny as her favorites. According to Robie “the nursing faculty have been huge advocates and supporters ” of hers. Many of her classmates have now become co-workers. Of all her nursing education she believes SUNY Ulster “was both the most rigorous and intense” claiming it was “top-notch”. Not only did Robie graduate and get offered a job at the base salary of $50k a year, but she was also able to graduate with zero debt before moving on to achieving her master’s degree in nursing. 

Hats off to you Jess Robie, and enjoy the next chapter of your career!

 

jess robie

SBDC Appoints New Regional Director, Welcomes New Counselor 

SUNY Ulster Press Release

February 10, 2023 – Stone Ridge, NY – The SUNY Ulster Mid-Hudson Small Business Development Center located in Kingston, NY has appointed a new Regional Director, Sam Kandel.

Sam Kandel has been an active member of the Small Business Development Center since 2002 and has previously served as Advanced Certified Business Advisor, Associate Director, and Interim Director.

Having been nominated for Business Advisor of the Year a dozen times, Kandel had won almost half of the nominations, most recently being awarded this title in 2020. He was also selected as the New York State Star, a national honor two times. Now as SBDC Regional Director, he manages the day-to-day operations of the Mid-Hudson Regional Center, hosted by SUNY Ulster, and continues to honor the organization’s mission.  The Center works closely with local and State economic development entities; with SUNY faculty, staff and students; and with representatives from private industry, small businesses and entrepreneurs throughout the region.

Janaina Barham-Middleton, a small business owner in Walden, was hired as a full-time Small Business Development Center Counselor. Barham-Middleton’s experience as a small business owner and educator allows her to understand the unique challenges companies face. Her main goal is to help people move to the next level in their desired journey.

The SBDC provides expert management and technical assistance to start-up and existing businesses across the state. The New York SBDC is administered by State University of New York and funded by the U.S. Small Business Administration, the State of New York, and host campuses. The SBDC emphasizes counseling and training services to women, veterans, people with special needs, and minority clients.

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Janaina Barham and Sam Kandel

 

Fall 2022 President’s and Dean’s Lists

President & Dean's List illustration of block holding diploma

January 26, 2023 – Stone Ridge, NY – SUNY Ulster releases its President’s List and Dean’s List for the Fall 2022 semester.

Full-Time President’s List

A total of 114 students who attended classes on a full-time basis at SUNY Ulster have been named to the President’s List for the Fall 2022 semester, reported Dr. Alison Buckley, President, SUNY Ulster.

The list, compiled each semester, is comprised of students whose final average for the period of all courses taken is 3.75 and higher, plus other requirements.

The full-time Fall 2022 President’s List, by area, is as follows:

  • Accord: Roaa Aboueida, Sophie McCarthy, Patrick Ruger.
  • Bloomington:  Maya Todd.
  • Centerport: Justin McLaughlan.
  • Clifton Park:  Lance Eisele.
  • Cottekill: Daniel Harkin, Desmond Iaia, Gianna Koch.
  • Ellenville: Sameea Khan, Alexandra Martinez, Margaret Melanson, Jacqueline Nunez, Janeliz Pellot-Hilerio.
  • Fishkill: Kaitlyn Bochnik.
  • Gardiner:  Edison DiIorio.
  • High Falls:  Ava Allen, Michael Goodin, Rosa Onderdonk-Knaus, Hiroshi Sawka Hamaguchi.
  • Hopewell Junction: Jennifer Elie, William Rizzo.
  • Hurley:  Hannah Bear, Naava Fox, Kirsten Gudmundsen, Sarah Kiersted, Carol Ruffini.
  • Kerhonkson: Danny Fallaha, Natasha Hefele, Berlin Koehler.
  • Kingston:  Cody Baker, Heather Foster, Alexis Hanauer, Zoey Henderson, Daniel Hickey, Mudasir Khan, Pia Kinsella, Damian Nunez, Emma Odell, Samantha Olson, Cheyenne Rossler, Gabriella Sheth, Kyle Sullivan, Parvin Sultana, Justin Winkleman, Alma Zacarias Mendez.
  • Lake Katrine:  Chazz LoBianco, Nicolette Paptsikis.
  • Marlboro:  Isabella Vicari, Frank Zebrowski.
  • Modena:  Adriana Zocchi.
  • Monticello:  Jeanne VanPelt.
  • Mt. Marion:  Carmen Creisstoff.
  • Napanoch:  Michelle Cruz, Landon Hembdt, Megan McGovern.
  • Newburgh:  Michael Fernandez.
  • New Paltz:  Alicia Hagen, Yiwen Jia, Mark LaBorde, Zoe Marks, Anthony Mayne, Arianna Moore, Kieran Thomas, Patrick Traver.
  • New Rochelle:  Adrian Baginski.
  • Newburgh:  Michael Fernandez.
  • Olivebridge:  Cheyenne Newton.
  • Phillipsport:  Hannah Irwin.
  • Phoenicia:  Autumn Schouten.
  • Port Ewen:  Chase Deising, Munchash Sully.
  • Poughkeepsie:  Justice Deliz, Jorge Guerron.
  • Rosendale:  Liam Roddy.
  • Saugerties:  Tiffany Appollonia, Nicole Costello, Alison Lundy, Seth Martin, Jade Meneses, Ethan Montfort, Aiden North, Dana Parr, Ariel Reuss-Panaro, Ava Salem, Susanna Svensson, Pornchanok Tuancharoensri, Gordon Vought, Kaydee Wagor, Derek White.
  • Shokan:  Catherine Stafford.
  • South Ozone Park:  Yasmeen Zaid.
  • South Richmond Hill:  Ayesha Ilyas.
  • Stone Ridge:  Carmine Carlucci, Dominic Carlucci, Emma Gillis, Emmet JeckerByrne, Otto JeckerByrne.
  • Tillson:  Sanjay Basnet, Matt Boughton, Kaitlyn Curran.
  • Tivoli:  Jessica Perry.
  • Treadwell: Brenden Cairns.
  • Ulster Park:  Rileigh O’Brien.
  • Wallkill:  Lauren Hall, Sabrina Hickey, Tyler Porter, Penelope Rose, Yulissa Rosello, Alexandra Strock.
  • Wappingers Falls:  Aimee Baruch, Devon Hutton.
  • West Hurley:  Violet Ross.
  • West Shokan:  Donovan Edinger.
  • Woodstock:  Asia Gross.

Part-Time President’s List

A total of 36 students who attended classes on a part-time basis at SUNY Ulster have been named to the President’s List for the Fall 2022 semester, reported Dr. Alison Buckley, President, SUNY Ulster.

The list, compiled each semester, is comprised of students whose final average for the period of all courses taken is 3.75 or higher, plus other requirements.

The part-time Fall 2022 President’s List, by area, is as follows:

  • Amenia:  Rebecca Venezia.
  • Gardiner:  Cassidy Thacker.
  • Highland:  Alice Dong.
  • Hurley:  Autumn Bear.
  • Kerhonkson:  Amber Shamson.
  • Kingston:  Jeffrey Belardo, Riley Jacobsen, Luis Ramirez, Estelle Smith, Derek Snyder, Mary Sullivan.
  • Marlboro:  Michele Landis.
  • Milton:  Xin Gao, Gabrielle Minard.
  • Mt. Tremper:  Alexandra Bagensie.
  • New Paltz:  Bryce Casamento.
  • Pine Bush:  Michael Finch.
  • Port Ewen:  Ariel Sanchez.
  • Red Hook:  Sonja Heupler.
  • Rochester:  John Jones.
  • Rosendale:  Aurora Gill.
  • Round Top:  Hannah Seebacher.
  • Saugerties:  Madeline Bucci, Adam DiVenere, Dawn Hollis.
  • Shokan:  Hannah Gritman.
  • Stone Ridge:  Wendy Stewart.
  • Tivoli:  Aliana Pegelow.
  • Ulster Park:  Elizabeth Loughlin.
  • Wallkill:  Mark Crowder, Nelson Guzman, Antonio Morales, Manuel Sosa, Jamel Torres, Michael Young.
  • West Hurley:  Meleah Danner.

Full-Time Dean’s List

A total of 151 students who attended classes on a full-time basis at SUNY Ulster have been named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2022 semester, reported Kevin R. Stoner, Vice-President for Academic Affairs, SUNY Ulster.

The list, compiled each semester, is comprised of students whose final average for the period of all courses taken is 3.30 or higher, plus other requirements.

The full-time Fall 2022 Dean’s List, by area, is as follows:

  • Accord:  Olin Andrews, Logan Erlwein, Daniel Palladino.
  • Bloomington:  Alessandra Gumaer.
  • Climax:  Aurora Gandolfo.
  • Clinton Corners:  Rebecca Reed, Travis Slater.
  • Connelly:  Colton Arenella.
  • Cornwall:  William Hazard.
  • Cottekill:  Lili Vitek.
  • Cuddebackville:  Amber Martine.
  • Ellenville:  Laura Bonilla, Joseph Cortes, Cherity Hiltz, Tanvirul Islam, Douglas Lewis, Adriana Murray, Jacquelyn Nunuvero, Arianna Sarantapoulas, Ireland Travis.
  • Esopus:  Giana Bradley.
  • Gardiner:  Brooke-Lynn Caso, Aleese Crocco, Avani Schmeltz, Jacob Schwarz, Sophie Sullivan.
  • Highland:  Lawrence Dahowski, Ian Falco, Wilfred Jones, Grace Krug, Natasha Kulcsar, Hunter Lass, Mackenzie Mason, Kevin Mitto, Layla Mosbacher, Jason Willis.
  • Highland Falls:  John Magallanes.
  • Hopewell Junction:  Daniel Sica.
  • Hurley:  Michael Armanious, Erin Lindgren, Christopher Potter.
  • Hyde Park:  Amandeep Kang, Mary Phillips.
  • Kerhonkson:  Skylar Barringer, Italia DeGrote, William Hamling, Gillian Marcel, Eliza Thurst.
  • Kingston:  Sadie Albright, Lea Avery, Patricia Beader, Kaitlyn Bryngelson, Gregory Buono, Uriel Calixto, Anayeli Contreras-Pacheco, Cameron Drake, Syndell Foster, Jacob Franklin, Zamaria Frazer, Gabrielle Gallo, Jake Goodman, Colin Griswold, Brittany Guido, Jacobus Hockx, Vera Hrab, Jeremy Melenciano, Corin Mosack, Cameryn O’Brien, Taleema Platts, Joseph Safford, Joshua Selle, Ava Simonini, Anotida Taziva, Makiya Walker, Trinity Wilson.
  • Lake Katrine:  Veronica Barreto, Katherine Guerra, Brian Lopez.
  • Marlboro:  Tatiana Hickman, Jozef Lisiecki, Ashley Votta.
  • Middletown:  Samantha Maurizzio.
  • Modena:  Karley Badner, Joseph Schofield.
  • Monroe:  Victoria Rivera, Jessie Ryder.
  • Mount Marion:  Johanna Heppner.
  • Napanoch:  Nicklos Alvarado, Valentina Femia, Lya Lutz.
  • New Paltz:  Aidan Grinevics, Jason Harding, Cameryn Profous, Maria Shmarina, Andrew Sykut, Max Zurlini.
  • New York:  Jackson Newby Zavala.
  • Newburgh:  Mariah Conklin, Steven Ortiz.
  • Olivebridge:  Christian Amarilla-Barrios, Chasity Bergenn, Stevie Erceg, John Kurz.
  • Pine Bush:  Hunter DeGroodt, Nicholas Loparrino, Erin Meyerson.
  • Pine Hill:  Raven Ryan.
  • Pleasant Valley:  Joelianice Feliciano.
  • Port Ewen:  Molly Corkery, Aaron Dovel, Rayan Khan.
  • Poughkeepsie:  Kevin Coronel.
  • Red Hook:  Rodrigo Garcia-Hernandez.
  • Rhinebeck:  Michael Venturella.
  • Rosendale:  Sequoyah London, Maria Rodes Arbulu.]
  • Saugerties:  Charlize Avena, Joann Bathrick, Khristian Chauncey, William Deis, Mykhailo Dovzhynskyi, Robert Freer, Kevin Haines, Isaiah Jaegar, Daniel MacIsaac, Nicole Moorhus, Evan Olsen, Kaylie Quinn, Sabrina Whitaker.
  • Shandaken:  Samantha Berryann.
  • Shokan:  Iris Espinoza, Hayden Kothe.
  • Stone Ridge:  Andras Beke, Elizabeth Buley, Adrian Cristian-Fernandez, Naomi Koch, Kya Lowery, Sydney Nilsen.
  • Tillson:  Riley Denham, Devon Lanman, Vincent Stella.
  • Ulster Park:  Jared Carlson, Georgia Johns, Michael Whelan.
  • Walden:  Jillian Rufino.
  • Westtown:  Luke McKeon.
  • Woodstock:  Jackson DeVito, Greta Gottardello, Maria Mazariego.
  • Wurtsboro:  Alexis Ochse.

 Part-Time Dean’s List

A total of 54 students who attended classes on a part-time basis at SUNY Ulster have been named to the Dean’s List for the Fall 2022 semester, reported Kevin R. Stoner, Vice-President for Academic Affairs, SUNY Ulster.

The list, compiled each semester, is comprised of students whose final average for the period of all courses taken is at least 3.30 or higher, plus other requirements.

The part-time Fall 2022 Dean’s List, by area, is as follows:

  • Accord:  Catharina Christiana, Jeremiah Flaherty, Deowaher Rabanillo.
  • Bearsville:  Daniel Rosenfeld.
  • Bloomingburg:  Jill Sherlock.
  • Cottekill:  Emily Handschuh.
  • Ellenville:  Ottayia Humphrey, Cheyenne Mitchell.
  • Fishkill:  Alexa Ricotta.
  • Fleischmanns:  Gina Barto.
  • Gardiner:  Elizabeth Rivera.
  • Highland:  Jada Gardener, Rhiannon Lucas, Nicole Lynch, Ava Mazzetti, Erik Nelson, Clarissa Sullivan.
  • Hurley:  Elisha Slovensky.
  • Kerhonkson:  Alexus Woinoski.
  • Kingston:  Moira Cleary-Dwyer, Beverly Cullinan, Ashly Felter, Douglas Freeman, Michelle Houghtaling, Steven Maximowicz, Isaura Rivera, Veronica Ruth, Rachel Senate, Linda Williams.
  • Lake Katrine:  Stephanie McClure.
  • Napanoch:  Brooklynn Manning.
  • New Paltz:  Aidan Barritt, David Sparling.
  • Newburgh:  Monserrat Medina.
  • Rosendale:  Elana Kellerhouse.
  • Saugerties:  Ian Brady, Lorrie Carey, Shannon Gelles, Dakota McArdle, Brandon Pendell.
  • Stone Ridge:  Alexa Peck.
  • Walden:  Denise DeSantis.
  • Wallkill:  Ari Apuzzo, Pedro Ayala, Daniel Gonzalez, Joseph Patterson, Joey Reillo, Norman Risden, Rodolfo Rodriguez, Joleah Russell, Emanuel Sangoniyi, Stephen Sakai, Michael Stevens, Gregory Wright

SUNY Ulster Students Bring Awareness to Fashion Sustainability Options

SUNY Ulster students looking at the flip book for reuse reduce recycle they made.

After learning the harsh realities of the fashion industry from their professor Kristin Flynn, four first year students at SUNY Ulster sought to bring attention to the harmful impact of ‘fast-fashion’ and the steps we can all take to limit our footprint.

Rosa Onderdonk-Knaus, Jackson Zavala, Arden Johnson, and Izzy Vicari note a few issues with the industry:

  • 8% of global Carbon emissions are due to the fashion industry
  • 10% of microplastics in our oceans originate from textiles
  • 85% of all textiles end up in landfills yearly 

The Fashion industry’s global emissions are expected to double by the end of the decade. “We want to empower people to make choices that help lessen the impact” Vicari said during an interview with Blue Stone Press reporter, Anne Pyburn Craig. The foursome is promoting the old adage, “Reuse, Reduce, Recycle”. 

The students agree that a cultural transition from fast-fashion to sustainable fashion will be a tough but necessary shift. The average person in the United States discards 81 pounds of clothing each year. To put that in perspective, that’s about the weight of a twelve year old child. Instead of tossing clothing into the trash over a rip or missing button Vitari suggests learning some “simple mending”, in fact events like Repair Cafe in Kingston are a wonderful resource to learn these skills. All the students encourage people to recycle properly using Fab Scrap which picks up leftover materials or The Blue Jeans Go Green program that collects denim (made from cotton) so that it can be recycled back to its original fiber state and transformed into something new.

 In addition to reducing our closets turning door, we can all be conscientious when we buy. Pre-loved and gently used clothing from Peoples Place, Lovefield Consignment, and Rock Candy Vintage always have beautiful clothing that you can feel good about purchasing. Finally, turn those old threads into funky new items to give them a new life! 

After learning about the environmental impact of the fashion industry these students are still passionate about the field they’ve chosen, and seem to have valuable ideas and information to share about the future of the fashion industry. Cavala admits she’s “absolutely getting a solid and excellent foundation” here at SUNY Ulster.

Reuse, reduce, recycle flip book

This week’s #MadeitMonday goes out to Dina Peone!

Dina peone looking at camera

Liberal Arts: Humanities & Social Sciences and Creative Writing: Dina Peone ‘13

Since graduating with an Associate degree in Liberal Arts in 2013 Dina Peone has gone on to share her writing talents with others! Currently a lecturer at the University of Chicago,  Peone has committed herself to helping others with their writing by designing and teaching unique nonfiction writing courses.

Six years before Peone enrolled at SUNY Ulster, she sustained a severe burn injury that nearly took her life and ability to write. During her time at SUNY Ulster, she recovered some of the confidence she would need to continue pursuing her goals. “SUNY Ulster is where I discovered a structured, community-supported environment in which I could safely begin writing about the fire.”   She adds that the College allowed her to “recognize that the fire had not destroyed [her] potential”. 

With unwavering spirit, Peone continued striving for excellence. After completing her degree at SUNY Ulster Dina Peone was accepted to her top school, Sarah Lawrence where she attained a Bachelor’s degree, and swears SUNY Ulster played a pivotal role in that success, SUNY Ulster’s consistent recognition of my efforts is one reason I got accepted by seven out of eight four-year colleges”. Once enrolled at Sarah Lawrence College, Peone’s love for writing continued to flourish and enabled her to be a co-founder of a literary journal titled Cliffhanger, where she served as editor-in-chief.  

Dina went on to earn her MFA in nonfiction at the prestigious University of Iowa (’18) and then joined the Iowa faculty as a Visiting Assistant Professor and taught the Nonfiction Writing Program’s first-ever online course.

Today, Peone is teaching her own thesis workshop as well as being a thesis adviser to undergraduate students at U. Chi. Reflecting on her trials and tribulations Peone was ecstatic to share the passion SUNY Ulster had ignited in her and the tremendous gratitude she had for the college. “To my great delight, I am continuously learning what I am capable of. I now fully believe that, at any given time, I am capable of achieving far more than I can imagine.” – Dina Peone