Alumni
Ask any automotive student at Ƶ about their most memorable experiences and they’ll likely point to the faculty at the heart of it all.
“Their devotion to seeing us succeed is what I love so much about them,” said Dan Betsinger, an automotive technology - Ford Automotive Student Service Educational Training (ASSET) Program student from Cobleskill, New York.
When Ƶ cross-country head coach Derek Powers approached Nikko Recchio about joining his program four years ago, the high school senior from Waterville, New York, saw himself as a very mediocre athlete who had fallen out of love with running.
Carrie Wafler’s dreams started small. She loved riding horses, gardening and spending time outdoors. And she had an entrepreneurial spark that set her apart.
When those passions came together at Ƶ, something extraordinary blossomed — quite literally.
Today, Wafler owns Barn Blooms Flower Farm, in Wolcott, a thriving floral business that blends artistry, horticulture and agriculture. A proud two-time graduate of Ƶ, she now gives back as an adjunct instructor, teaching courses in equine science, agricultural business and horticulture.
Three Ƶ faculty and staff members were recently honored with Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence by the State University of New York and SUNY Chancellor John B. King.
Receiving the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service is:
Laura Pierie, of Morrisville, associate professor of humanities
The SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service recognizes the consistently superior service contributions of full-time teaching faculty.
Step into Ƶ professor Elisa Livengood’s classroom and you’ll find yourself surrounded by oversized tanks teeming with vibrant fish, anemones, clownfish, seahorses and a world of aquatic wonder.
Here, hands-on projects and cutting-edge research aren’t just part of the curriculum — they’re the foundation of an immersive learning experience that brings marine science to life.
This engaging approach has earned Livengood the admiration of students, colleagues and industry professionals and, most recently, the 2024-25 Ƶ Distinguished Faculty Award.
Each spring, the Ƶ greenhouse comes to life, overflowing with vibrant blooms in all shades imaginable.
Students move with purpose — trimming, watering, transplanting and caring for flowers and plants in preparation for the college’s annual spring plant sale, a tradition that has become a favorite for the campus and local community.
This year’s sale will be held at the Spader Horticulture Complex, May 8-9, from noon-5 p.m.; May 10, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; May 15-16, from noon-5 p.m.; and May 17, from 8 a.m.-noon. It is open to the public.
It’s a unique hands-on learning experience. Students in Ƶ’s residential construction program are rolling up their sleeves to build a small house right inside their lab.
The ambitious 14-week project is more than just an exercise in construction — it’s a lesson in teamwork, problem-solving and real-world application of classroom concepts.
Building the 15.6-by-40-foot house indoors is the vision of Michael Gridley, associate professor of residential construction.
Two Ƶ students are making a meaningful impact through their dedication to community service.
Michael Roberts, a game programming B.Tech. student from Brooklyn and Harper Callard, an aquaculture and aquatic science associate degree student from New Hartford, were honored with Empire State Service Corps Awards for their significant contributions.
Roberts received the Leadership in Service Award for his commitment as a Morrisville-Eaton Middle-High School K-12 tutor with the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP).
Ƶ is hosting a Renewable Energy Spring Institute on Friday, March 14, for current high school and BOCES students, educators, guidance counselors and college transfers, to learn more about renewable energy.
The free event, from 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., at the college’s Agricultural & Clean Energy Technology Center (ACET), features demonstrations in the center’s six state-of-the-art renewable energy labs.