Locals: People & Businesses in the News
UNITED KINGDOM TOUR: Professor Daniel Petrone led 12 students from his “Philosophy of Life and Death” class at SUNY Oneonta on a three-week tour of England, Scotland and Wales from May 24 to June 13. Starting in London, the group visited historic galleries, museums, temples, gardens, theaters, and other sites while discussing the meaning of life, the ethics of euthanasia, the rights of the terminally ill, the possibility of life after death, and more. The itinerary allowed the students to trace the history of wars, plagues and executions. They held a class on the ethics of spectator violence in the ruins of a Roman gladiator arena. The group visited Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and Stonehenge. A visit to the British Museum afforded an opportunity to discuss the ethics of returning the Elgin Marbles and Benin Bronzes to their cultures of origin. Short-term, faculty-led programs incorporate coursework, cultural experiences and service learning. “Faculty-led programs are wonderful because they allow our students a mini study abroad, if you will,” said Office of Global Education Director Michelle Lopez. Local students on the trip included Delaney Williams (above, front row, second from left) and Laine Johnson (back row, third from left), both of Oneonta. (Photo provided)
SNHU STANDOUTS: Christy Crabtree of Springfield, Jennifer Race of Worcester, and Tinasia Knowles and Elizabeth Dixon of Oneonta are among those named to the Southern New Hampshire University President’s List for the summer 2023 term. The summer semester extends from May to August. Students who maintain full-time status and earn a grade point average above 3.7 are eligible for the list.
SERVICE PROMOTION: Tyler Ives of Sidney received a promotion to the rank of specialist on Monday, August 21. Ives is assigned with the 206th Military Police Company of the New York Army National Guard. Promotions are based on a soldier’s overall performance, demonstrated leadership abilities, professionalism and future development potential.
GOLF GREATS: Congratulations to Ken Johnson (right) and Mary Diefendorf (above, third from left) for winning the men’s and women’s low gross scores at the Susquehanna SPCA’s Robert B. Schlather Golf Weekend, held at the Otsego Golf Club August 11-13. Mary is pictured with her playing partners from the event—from left, Carol Moylan, Karen Nellis, Diefendorf and Steven Bell)—and Ken is seen accepting his award with SQSPCA Executive Director Stacie Haynes. Almost 60 golfers hit the links to raise nearly $13,000.00 for the SQSPCA. “Thank you to the family of Bob Schlather, event donors and sponsors, and all golfers who came out to play,” said Haynes. “Because of your participation, everyone’s a winner, especially animals in need throughout our region. Together, we make a difference in the lives of each animal we are privileged to help.” (Photos provided)
PUPPY-RAISING PAIR: Hartwick College students Roselyn DuMerville and Gerald Ludwig are current volunteers for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a non-profit organization that creates and supports life-changing connections between people with vision loss and exceptional guide dogs, all at no cost to the recipients. DuMerville, a rising junior at Hartwick, is the Puppy Raising Club’s new president this fall. According to Guiding Eyes, she feels that raising a puppy has truly helped her interpersonal skills and forces her to open up. Ludwig, also be a junior in the fall, comes from a family who puppy-raises as well. Guiding Eyes for the Blind’s puppy raisers are responsible for nurturing a puppy to prepare it for guide dog training. Puppy raisers look after, care for, and provide hours of patient teaching and numerous socialization journeys over a 14 to 18 months period, before they return a well-socialized young adult dog to Guiding Eyes training staff. To learn more, visit www.guidingeyes.org.
STEPPING DOWN AND STEPPING UP: Community Bank System Inc. announced recently that Mark E. Tryniski will retire as the company’s president and chief executive officer, effective December 31. Tryniski has served as the president, CEO, and director of CBS and Community Bank NA since August 2006. The Board of Directors has selected Dimitar A. Karaivanov, CBS executive vice president and chief operating officer, to succeed Tryniski effective January 1, at which time Tryniski has agreed, if nominated, to serve as a director of the company and the bank until December 31, 2024. In addition, the board will expand to 13 directors and appoint Karaivanov as a director of the company and the bank effective, January 1, 2024.
CORPORAL RHODES: Samuel Thomas Rhodes, the son of Thomas and Elsie Rhodes of Cooperstown, has attained the rank of corporal in the United States Marine Corps. Congratulations, Samuel!
BUFFALO BOUND: Madeline Hansen of Oneonta and Jazmin Lapilusa of Mount Vision are enrolled in the University at Buffalo Honors College for the 2023-24 academic year. The University at Buffalo Honors College supports and challenges academically gifted students to strengthen their studies and explore their interests across the disciplines. Currently, 1,661 of UB’s 19,118 undergraduate students are enrolled in the Honors College. The college welcomed 587 first-year students for fall 2023—the largest and most diverse Honors class yet. Honors scholars must maintain a 3.300 undergraduate grade point average during the first year and at least a 3.500 undergraduate GPA in each successive year to graduate with an overall GPA of 3.500.
VIVA VICTORIA: Victoria Villaverde of Oneonta is one of 13 SUNY Oneonta students whose artwork was displayed recently in the Jean Parish Scholarship: 2022-2024 exhibition in the Project Space Gallery. Villaverde’s work featured two mixed media pieces and a print piece. Faculty Emerita Jean Parish enjoyed a lengthy teaching career at SUNY Oneonta, leaving behind a gift to provide financial assistance to students studying art. One of the two endowed funds she set in place supports the Jean Parish Scholarship, distributed by the Art Department through a competitive process every fall semester. Villaverde also designed the promotional piece for the show (above right).
TERRIFIC TRIP: Thomas Pondolfino of New Berlin (above, front row, third from left) was one of 12 SUNY Oneonta students who participated in this year’s “GEOFYRST” trip, an immersive outdoor experience for incoming students. Geologic Experience Outdoors: First-Year Regional Summer Trip is a week-long one-credit, pre-semester fall course exploring New York and the Northeast. From August 17-23, students traveled throughout the region to experience a variety of geologic materials, landscapes and field techniques. They camped, swam and hiked in addition to exploring Adirondack geology. The annual trip, which first ran in 2007, is open to all first-year students regardless of major. Before any other students move onto campus, GEOFYRST students are immersed and engaged in the outdoors, building friendships and connections, and gaining an appreciation of geology and, in turn, the Earth. (Photo provided)