suny sullivan school scene 2015

SECTION S • APRIL 24, 2015

CALLICOON, NY

A look at activities

atSullivan County

CommunityCollege

SCENESCHOOL

A S p e c i a l S u p p l e m e n t t o t h e S u l l i v a n C o u n t y D e m o c r a t

Progress depends on smartgrowth, sustainable practicesand the support of the community

Flipping the switch to power upthe new 12 acre solar array atSUNY Sullivan on Earth Day

was symbolic in many ways: It notonly represented the advent of a boldnew step toward sustainability, a mis-sion of the college, but it also repre-sents the dawn of a new era forgrowth and change at this smallSUNY school.

The 7,000 panel array is construct-ed, owned and operated by SullivanSolar Garden LLC, and will provide 57percent of the energy utilized by thecollege and help reduce overall ener-gy costs. The array is part of an over-all plan to propel the college towardits goal of becoming a carbon-neutralcampus.

“We want to be a model for otherson many different levels,” explainsSUNY Sullivan President KarinHilgersom. “Through sustainableenergy best practices, offering degreeand accreditation programs in greentechnology and building; to offeringthe community beneficial and usefulprograms, we are striving to be a pro-ductive and instrumental part of thefuture of Sullivan County.”

In her third year at the helm ofSUNY Sullivan, Hilgersom has beenan energetic force when it comes togetting things done. Not only did thesolar farm become a reality under herwatch, but new programs in theater

arts and a grant-funded SMARTTBusiness & Industry technology facil-ity were implemented. In addition,the chemistry lab was completelyrefurbished to include green, eco-friendly fume hoods, adjustable workspaces and surgical grade flooringand the second floor of the librarywas redesigned to create a central-ized tutoring and career center.

The SMARTT facility, which standsfor SUNY Manufacturing Alliance forResearch and Technology Transferwas established through the center

for Global AdvancementManufacturing and created to pro-vide New York manufacturers withaccess to state-of-the-art technolo-gies and training in how to use them.

“This year marks the first series ofcourses at our Process ControlSystems Lab,” explains Hilgersom,“and it's the first time we've beenable to offer courses that supportadvanced manufacturing in New YorkState. It's really exciting.”

The restructured Department ofStudent Learning and Development

Center on the second floor of thelibrary debuted this past fall, andHilgersom credits Rose Hanofee andDean Sara Thompson Tweedy withtaking the lead in creating the newLearning Commons. The centralized,common-style space ties togethermany facets of student life outside ofthe classroom and provides academ-ic advisement, placement testing,tutoring, counseling, orientation,

Powering Up SUNY Sullivan’s evolution

Published byCatskill-Delaware Publications, Inc.

Publishers of the

(845) 887-5200 Callicoon, NY 12723

April 24, 2015 • Vol. CXXIV, No. 89

School SceneA Look at Activities at

SUNY Sullivan

Publisher: Fred W. Stabbert III Senior Editor: Dan Hust Editor: Frank Rizzo Sports Editor: Ken Cohen Editorial Assistants: Matt ShortallJeanne Sager, Kaitlin Carney, Kathy Daley, Guy Harriton, Allison Ruef, Alex Rau

Advertising Director: Liz Tucker Advertising Coordinator: Sandy Schrader Advertising Representatives: Cecilia Lamy, Barbara Matos Marketing Director: Tera Luty Business Manager: Susan Owens Business Department: Patricia Biedinger, Joanna Blanchard Telemarketing Coordinator: Michelle Reynolds Classified Manager: Janet Will Production Associates: Ruth Huggler, Tracy Swendsen, Rosalie Mycka, Elizabeth Finnegan, Petra Duffy, Nyssa Calkin Distribution: Bill Holmes

Credits:All photographs and stories for this special

School Scene are by Sul livan CountyDemo crat Photo grapher/Reporter

Allison Ruef. The Democrat would also like to thank the

SUNY Sullivan for all its cooperation in this project.

PLEASE SEE POWERING UP, 4S

SUNY Sullivan President Dr. Karin Hilgersomhopes to cap her tenure with an ambitiousHealthy World Institute.

2S SCCC SCHOOL SCENE SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT APRIL, 2015

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

APRIL, 2015 SULLIVAN COUNTY DEMOCRAT SCCC SCHOOL SCENE 3S21

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In 2013, SUNY Sullivan’s then-newPresident Dr. Karin Hilgersomannounced the expansion of the

college’s Presidential ScholarProgram. The revised programwould now award Sullivan Countyhigh school students who achieved a90 or better GPA the opportunity toattend Sullivan tuition-free.Previously, the scholarships wereonly offered to the top ten percent ofall Sullivan County high school grad-uates.

The program is a great example ofa mutually beneficial relationship –the college is able to cast a wider netfor high-achieving, serious students,and more local kids are eligible forthis opportunity. As the SUNYSullivan Class of 2015 prepares towalk down the aisle, the first cohortof the revised scholarship programrecipients will be moving on as well.Was it worth it? For Anna Dexheimer,

Presidential Scholar Programattracts high-achieving grads

SUNY Chancellor Award winner and soon-to-be SUNY Sullivan graduate Anna Dexheimershows off one of the puppies that thePsychology Club brings in during finals weekto help students de-stress.


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career development, job placementand transfer services.

“The idea was to tie together thesupport services students need andrely on in one place,” says Hilgersom.“We're especially proud to bring backthe Career Center, reinvented by KluPadu, Career Placement and Transferadvisor, and Eileen Howell.”

Although Dr. Hilgersom has spear-headed an enthusiastic and impres-sive array of programs and services atSUNY Sullivan, the accomplishmentof a state-of-the-art Healthy WorldInstitute would be a capstone, notjust for the college, but for the com-munity. The institute would be locat-ed in a new building on the knoll incenter of the main campus andhouse the current Health ServicesProgram (Nursing, RespiratoryTherapy, Medical Assisting) as well asseveral new programs, includingUltrasound Technology andNourishment Arts & Sciences.

Other plans for the facility include arestaurant to be run in collaborationwith second year Culinary Arts stu-dents, a community learning kitchen,applied entrepreneurship studies,research labs, community class-

rooms and a large lobby area withstudent-friendly seating.

The project has the formal approvalof the SUNY Sullivan Board ofTrustees, the backing of the SullivanCounty Partnership for EconomicDevelopment, which has made it oneof its priority agenda items; and has50 percent of the necessary funding($10.5 million) secured through aSUNY matching capital projectsgrant. The only catch is that thecounty must fund the other half andtime is running out – the grant fund-ing will be revoked if the county doesnot agree to fund the program in thecoming months.

“The Healthy World Institute repre-sents the next chapter in our book,”says Hilgersom. “It has the potentialto take the college and the County tothe next level and give more studentswho stay local a reason to chooseSUNY Sullivan. We don't want ourstudents to travel out of the countyfor their education. By providing acampus that meets the needs of agrowing and changing work force, wehave the potential to exceed expecta-tions. But we can't do that withoutsupport.”

POWERING UP, CONTINUED FROM 2S

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it certainly was. As a scholarship recipient, choos-

ing SUNY Sullivan was a no-brainer.“How could I turn down the chanceto go to college for free? Especiallysince I wasn’t really sure what I want-ed to study?” asked Anna, alreadyknowing the answer. Not only willshe graduate this spring with anAssociates of Science Degree withHonors in Psychology, but she willalso walk down the aisle wearing herSUNY Chancellor’s Award, one of thehighest honors bestowed upon stu-dents in the entire SUNY system.

The Chancellor’s award recognizesstudents throughout the SUNY sys-tem who have integrated academicexcellence with other aspects of theirlives, including leadership, campusinvolvement, community service, thearts, athletics, or career achievement.Nominated for the award by her pro-fessor, Dr. Susan Rogers, it was morethan just Anna’s grades that made herstand out among her peers.

“It’s more than just her academicsand grades, which are impressive,but its her desire to be involved oncampus and in the greater commu-nity,” explained Rogers. “She’s a won-derful role model. She volunteersand takes on projects, inspires herclassmates, is kind to everyone,works three jobs and does it all witha smile on her face and a great atti-tude. She’s the whole package.”

As the secretary for the PsychologyClub, which won last year’s StudentActivities Award for their work withthe student body, Anna has thechance to do what she loves best –help others and provide comfort.Working with Hollywood DogAdoptions in Pine Bush, she helpedestablish the “Puppy Room,” wherestressed-out students can take a

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

She also, with her fellow club mem-bers, helped establish an on-campusanti-bullying day, complete with ananti-bullying themed-movie screen-ing. She is a member of her localambulance squad, is active in theSullivan County Relay for Life, per-forms at her church where she regu-larly lends her musical talents toevents and services, and was part ofa team of former students whopainted a mural that is the founda-tion for a Veterans Wall of Fame ather Alma mater, Tri-Valley HighSchool.

“Anna is bright, kind and affableand epitomizes what theChancellor’s Award is supposed torepresent: a well rounded studentwho excels academically and excelsin service to others,” explained Dr.Hilgersom.

In other words, exactly the kind ofstudent the Presidential ScholarAward is designed to attract. ForAnna and other home-grown schol-ars, choosing to stay local was a per-sonal choice and one that paid off –literally. But did she feel like shemissed out by staying?

“Not at all,” she says, without hesi-tation. “I got an experience I would-n’t have gotten at a bigger school. Igot to know more about my commu-nity – both on campus and off. I hadthe chance to really get to know myroots and become involved and takethe time to explore my options. Iwouldn’t have been able to do thatanywhere else. In fact, I don’t think Iwould have done a single thing dif-ferent.”

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The community part of community collegeAcommitment to serving the

whole community is whatcommunity college is about

In name alone, a community col-lege is, literally, just that – a center ofeducation, open to anyone in thecommunity who wants to learn. Butlearning means more than taking acourse or sitting in a classroom, andHillary Egeland, director of SpecialEvents and Campus Activities makessure our community is aware of that.

Working under the Office of theVice President for Advancement,Partnerships and CommunityLearning, Egeland is like the hub ofthe community wheel. The spokesare the events and programs sheoversees and together, they provide avehicle for bringing both campus andcommunity together.

Bringing SUNY Sullivan to the com-munity and bringing the communityto campus is a big job, but Egelandmakes it look easy. Not only does sheoversee the events that many look

forward to each year like the KiteFestival and the Women’sConference, both of which have beentaking place for over 20 years now,she is also responsible for all com-munity learning programs and foun-dation events.

“Our whole purpose is to reach outto the community,” explainsEgeland. “We are here to educate,create a workforce and let peopleknow that there are opportunitieshere. It’s not just about a degree orcertificate programs, we offer enrich-ment programs and other activities.There are many ways we try to reachthe citizens of our county.”

Through the Community LearningProgram, the enrichment coursesoffered by the college, kids can takecooking and acting classes and adultparticipants can learn how to makesushi, or stay fit with Zumba, Piloxingand even tap dancing. Starting in thefall of 2015, some enrichment classeswill even allow participants to earncontinuing education contact hourcredits.

Annual events such as the 25thAnnual Kite Festival, taking place thisyear on Saturday, May 2, draws thou-sands of people regionally and hasbecome the college’s unofficial cele-bration of spring. The free event fea-tures live music, craft and food ven-dors, bouncy houses for the kids,professional kite flyers and free kitesfor the first 200 children.

Each year, the event expands andnow includes the Fisher Film Festivaland Student Art Show, where studentwork is showcased. This year, the KiteFestival will also include an alumnihomecoming, featuring a KentuckyDerby themed reception (reserva-tions required).

“This year, we’re also incorporatingthe ‘Discover SUNY Sullivan’ openhouse, where accepted and condi-tionally accepted students are invitedto visit the campus for a look at theschool and to learn more about theprograms,” explains Egeland. “A less-traditional glimpse of campus lifewhile highlighting the amazing pro-grams we offer is what we hope


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CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

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

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future students will takeaway from the event.”

To help raise money forscholarships given to stu-dents each year, Egelandalso organizes and runsthe SUNY SullivanFoundation GolfTournament, which willbe held at Grossinger’s onTuesday, June 23. “Werealize that there are a lotof tournaments through-out the region and we areso grateful to all who par-ticipate,” says Egeland. The tourna-ment helps raise approximately$25,000 for the scholarship program.

Working with outside organiza-tions, Egeland says that opening thecampus to groups, conferences,events and other organizations notonly brings people to the campus,

but it helpsshowcase themany benefitsoffered here.The American

Cancer Society,which organiz-es the SullivanCounty Relayfor Life (anannual eventthat raisesmoney to fightcancer) andholds a week-end-long fund-raising eventon campuseach June hasheld their

event at SUNY Sullivan for years. “It provides the perfect setting and

facilities for an event like the Relay,”says Egeland. “Truly, that is a goaland a priority of what I do – to facil-itate and organize the many waysSUNY Sullivan can be helpful andbeneficial to our community.”

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

Local Chef AndyYeomans instructsa participant atthe 19th annualWomen’sConference, heldthis year on April11, on how tomake a sushi roll.Chef Andy alsoteaches a class insushi making as apart of SUNYSullivan’sCommunityLearningProgram.

‘We are here to educate,create a workforce and letpeople know that there areopportunities here.’

Hillary EgelandDirector of Special Events andCampus Activities |


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