Fall 2019

Be Inspired

salibalr — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 14:14:50 +0000

Be Inspired salibalr Fri, 11/22/2019 - 09:14

How Charles Okine is using inspiration to empower others

Charles Okine ’18 has a personal brand that could be described as: always be inspired.

“Everything around you is inspirational,” Okine said. “I try to take the best of everyone around me and try to use that to become a better me.”

Thanks to his experience at ��Ƶ, Okine becoming a “better me” helped bring out the best in those around him, as well.

Okine, who was born in Ghana, West Africa, and immigrated with his family to Mount Vernon, New York, in 2004, was initially hesitant to consider ��Ƶ as his college choice after being accepted into the institution’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). Then he met someone who inspired him.

Lakeisha Armstrong, then an EOP counselor, changed his perception of Morrisville and was “very passionate in helping us become better students.”

With her influence, Okine decided to enroll in ��Ƶ’s entrepreneurship & small business management Bachelor of Business Administration degree program. He developed an entrepreneurial appetite in high school, where his idea of using positive messaging through branded apparel helped numerous friends successfully sell a variety of products through their upstart design businesses.

Okine’s own advice eventually birthed his own inspirational clothing line. The young entrepreneur launched High Def NYC in 2011 and created a collection of brands, including the aptly named Be Inspired Collection. Motivated by the Black Lives Matter movement, the apparel features a quote attributed to one of Okine’s inspirations, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” To drive that point home, Okine uses only vibrant colors for the collection’s clothing.

Okine’s altruistic spirit in his business endeavors is no surprise to ��Ƶ associate professor Sharon Boyce, who got to know Okine well as a student in multiple courses.

“Charles has a most infectious personality, wherein his presence seemed to have brought an aura of positive radiance, regardless of the mood students may have been experiencing,” Boyce said. “I found that Charles would get along with anyone whom he came in contact with, without having to be asked.”

Okine was a regular in the EOP office, always willing to assist new students coming through the program. He was active in the college’s African Student Union Black Alliance (ASUBA) all four years he was on campus. He took on the role of public relations representative, where he helped drastically increase event attendance, before ascending to club president for a two-year term and helped increase the club budget. During his senior year, he also helped create the Culture Gala — now an annual event on campus — to provide students with the opportunity to represent and highlight their cultural backgrounds.

“All the work I did with ASUBA really helped shape me,” Okine said. “It taught me how to become a leader, how to manage time, and to hone my team-building skills and deal with different personalities.”

Tyler Wheelock, a ��Ƶ EOP counselor who met Okine as a junior, credits him for recognizing and developing the current ASUBA leadership.

“Charles was and is goal-oriented and knows exactly how he can accomplish his goals,” Wheelock said. “He was one of the best students I have had at using his resources successfully.”

Okine credits many of his professors for helping him exceed even his own expectations as a student, namely the aforementioned Boyce — “She was a very understanding professor who cared for your well-being and cared what was going on with you mentally.” — Phyllis Tucker, who “was always willing to listen,” Thomas Kimber — “He helped me a lot and helped motivate me.” — Al Muss and Chris Scalzo.

During the spring semester of his senior year, Okine landed an internship with FILA North America in New York City. He impressed the company so much that he was hired fulltime as a footwear account specialist, a position that also entails working with the product line management team and helping manage product development.

Just like his high school days, he continues to provide those close to him with ideas as they begin their various business ventures. “I want to have my hands on everything, not for the money, but to make a change,” he said.

One of those changes remains Okine’s ultimate goal: to help give back to his homeland of Ghana.

“The country has grown, and I want to be the guy who brings back technology and management skills,” he said. “It means so much to me; I want to empower men and women and just be able to help people.”

Author

Eugenio Mercurio

Published date

November 22, 2019

News Type

Building a Solar Empire

salibalr — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 14:11:28 +0000

Building a Solar Empire salibalr Fri, 11/22/2019 - 09:11

Alumni and students play a role in harnessing community solar energy

In Tompkins County, 6,804 solar panels sit on a 13-acre plot of farmland in the town of Endfield. The 2.3-megawatt solar array helps power 373 households, reducing greenhouse gases by 1,430 metric tons annually, the equivalent of removing 306 cars from the road.

The project came to life with the help of a group of graduates from ��Ƶ, who are leading the way in creating a community solar empire in Upstate New York.

The growing industry harnesses the financial benefits of solar energy without the monetary investment by individual homeowners. Instead of installing solar panels on their own homes, customers subscribe or buy into larger scale solar installations.

Community solar has been bolstered by New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s mandate that half of all electricity consumed must come from renewable energy sources by 2030. The effort to support and scale sustainable solar is already seeing results, leveraging $2.8 billion in private investments and creating more than 12,000 solar jobs across the state since 2011.

"Clean, renewable energy is critical to combating climate change and protecting our environment for current and future generations of New Yorkers," Cuomo said of the Endfield project developed by BlueRock Solar last year. "With the addition of this community solar project, we are continuing our commitment to a green future and to a more resilient, affordable energy grid."

Preparing students for the growing industry

��Ƶ professor Philip Hofmeyer has been giving his students hands-on experience in solar panel installation for years, exposing them to “real” systems through community and campus projects.

But while residential solar projects are still a big part of his curriculum, Hofmeyer has broadened his focus to include the growing industrial and community solar farms being planted across Upstate New York.

Both the two- and four-year renewable energy degree programs are preparing students for the industry, from installation and maintenance to system design, optimization, permitting and project operations.

Within the industry, the explosion of growth is referred to as the “solar coaster,” with developers trying to find ideal locations for large-scale arrays.

Hofmeyer gets requests daily from employers looking for qualified students, who go on to high-paying jobs across the country in an industry that continues to grow.

“We’ve been trying to be ahead of the curve, because this is the future,” he said. “It will help us balance out the grid.”

Buying into the future

Sam Doubleday came to ��Ƶ as an adult student wanting to learn more about the renewable energy industry. With an undergraduate degree in environmental science, Doubleday found his interest piqued with classes in wind turbines, bioenergy and micro-hydro.

His required internship connected him with BlueRock Energy in Syracuse, New York, which turned into a full-time job working for their LED lighting and efficiency division.  When the company wanted to expand into solar energy projects, Doubleday jumped at the chance. He brought on fellow ��Ƶ alumnus Stephen Sgarlata, who was one of the first students to receive a bachelor’s degree in renewable energy in 2013.

“New York is being very progressive, and we are poised for a lot of growth in the solar industry,” said Sgarlata, who also received an associate degree in automotive technology from Morrisville in 2003 before joining the military for five years of active duty. “It is definitely the future. More and more people are buying into this.”

Sgarlata pointed out that in the past, people who couldn’t install their own solar panels would pay a premium to the utility to tap into renewable options.

Now, by subscribing to a community solar project, customers can get green energy at a savings.

“Everyone can be a part of renewable energy with community solar,” said Doubleday, project coordinator at BlueRock Solar. “By signing up, you are becoming part of the green community and helping propel the state’s strategic energy goals of more green energy generation and less fossil fuel usage.”

Doubleday said the industry has also been a boon for farmers, who can contract with energy companies to put low-impact solar arrays on previously unusable land. Even the maintenance can be accomplished through agriculture; some solar projects partner with area farmers who bring their sheep to graze on the grass around the panels.

“There are no moving parts and the fuel is free,” Doubleday said. “It’s a wonderful avenue to bring more green-generated electricity to the grid.”

Connecting customers

In the 1980s, Michael Roach studied environmental science at ��Ƶ; he returned in his 50s to pursue a degree in renewable energy.

“Years ago, renewable energy was a good idea but it was far too expensive to be viable,” he said. “But now, the market changes have brought it to the forefront and New York State has created a pretty supportive ecosystem for this kind of activity.”

Now a solar project developer for RER Energy Group and its sister company, Sunvestment Energy Group, Roach helps connect potential customers — including municipalities and nonprofits — with the financial benefits associated with the community solar farms.

He also educates customers about the benefit of choosing a community solar project that hires local contractors and uses local banks to finance panels.

“We are generating electricity that goes into distribution on the grid right outside our house,” he said. “It is generated locally and it stays local. That is the model that brings the most benefit to the local community.”

A bright future

When Meghan Way began her degree in renewable energy at ��Ƶ, she was one of two women in her class.

She quickly found her place in the program, where the concepts covered in class lectures are reinforced by working on live systems on campus. Her diverse curriculum included climbing outdoor power towers and donning some unexpected accessories.

“Never in my life did I think I would ever purchase a welding helmet,” she said with a laugh. “But the whole program was a really good fit. The professors were knowledgeable and always willing to help.”

An internship during her senior year turned into her first full-time job as a permitting and development administrator for a residential wind turbine company in Western New York.

Since then, she has dabbled in a variety of green energy industries, including overseeing state certification and on-site issues for a geothermal installation company.

Currently, she works for SMSA Architectural Services as an alternative energy specialist, helping determine whether solar, geothermal, wind or other resources are a good fit for new residential and commercial builds.

Way said the future is bright in the renewable energy industry.

“There are so many more options than just burning fossil fuels,” she said. “We can do so much to generate our own electricity, to make it as efficient as possible.”

And the reputation of the renewable energy programs at ��Ƶ has also been growing.

“The program has really made a name for itself,” she said.

Internship opens doors

The explosion of community solar projects across Upstate New York had a technical assist from another ��Ƶ alumnus.

Colton Evans ’16 came to Morrisville to play football as an outside linebacker, where he was named a USA Division III College Football Preseason All-American. Initially pursuing a degree in health performance and sports nutrition, he later changed his focus to web development and management because of the career potential.

During his senior year, Evans secured a 12-week internship at BlueRock Energy with the help of fellow alumnus Sam Doubleday, who needed website assistance for the upcoming solar projects.

The relationship led to a full-time position at BlueRock as a marketing analyst upon graduation, with Evans handing the emails, digital advertisements and targeted marketing on social media for the growing solar enterprise. He worked to create a more secure online contract to help retain customers and encourage them to enroll in the upcoming arrays.

“There’s so much that people don’t think about when they turn on their lights,” Evans said.

Evans now works as a pricing manager for SmartestEnergy, tracking the electricity industry and creating pricing models.

He said his internship at ��Ƶ led him into his bright career path.

“It opened the door into this industry that I have never even thought of pursuing,” Evans said.

How community solar works

Instead of installing solar panels on their homes or businesses, customers can subscribe or invest in community solar arrays.

The large-scale installation creates electricity that is fed into the local power grid.

Subscribers will see lower monthly electricity bills, and additional benefits include reduced greenhouse gas emissions and investment in local communities.

Source: NY-Sun, a project of NYSERDA

Author

Alaina Potrikus Beckett

Published date

November 22, 2019

News Type

A Silver Lining

salibalr — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 14:06:25 +0000

A Silver Lining salibalr Fri, 11/22/2019 - 09:06

Syracuse Educational Opportunity Center offers pathway to a new life

The Syracuse Educational Opportunity Center (SEOC) building on New Street just outside the Syracuse downtown district is bustling with activity on weekdays. Students visit with tutors in the basement library and computer lab and study in quiet corners. Classrooms for Certified Nursing Assistant students are set up to mimic a hospital room, complete with beds and medical equipment; nearby, construction trades students receive on-site training to prepare them for apprenticeship positions with local trade unions.

These classes aren’t for the typical students that often come to mind, though.

Adults who didn’t finish high school or struggled with college-level courses. Dislocated workers with outdated skills or homemakers looking to return to the workforce. Immigrants and refugees trying to start a new life in the United States.

These are the students who have found a new pathway for success at the SEOC, connected to ��Ƶ and allied with local employers to provide adult education programs and workforce development programs to the Central New York community.

Now in its 50th year of operation, the center’s offerings include hands-on vocational training, academic support for high school equivalency exams and college preparation and English as a Second Language (ESL) instruction.

“These are all pathways to higher paying careers,” said Marlena Daher-Rahman, director of community engagement at the Syracuse EOC. “We want to make sure that people who train through us will end up with a job that provides them with a living wage.”

From the ground level

The program traces its beginnings to the civil rights movement in the 1960s, when early organizers lobbied the governor for more access and opportunity for urban populations.

The statewide network now includes 10 Educational Opportunity Centers and two outreach and counseling centers, each connected with a SUNY institution.

“We needed something at the ground level in these urban areas, where individuals who are underrepresented or economically disadvantaged have the opportunity to vocational training to obtain employment and can follow academic pursuits to get into college,” said Syracuse EOC Vice President Timothy Penix.

“It’s a pathway to a better life,” he added.

The goal is to train students for jobs that exist in the local economy. Meetings with local employers keep EOC staff attuned to what needs exist in the community. An example: a recent partnership with National Grid created customized training for customer meter service positions, which started at a $60,000 annual salary.

“It’s good for the employer, because they get an employee who is trained in their specific needs,” Daher-Rahman said. “And for our students, if they succeed in the classroom, they will get an interview and possibly a job at the end of the training.

“It’s a success for everyone,” she continued.

By staying in tune with the local economy, the EOCs can also react to proposed business development. A proposed warehouse project in Central New York has instructors considering new curriculum in advanced manufacturing.

“The economy is changing so fast,” Penix said. “We can be somewhat nimble and flexible to figure out how to train people for that new setting.”

Real-life results

“Each student’s curriculum is different, but instructors try to mimic the schedule of a typical workweek.

“We want to see the behaviors that would be required on the job,” said Daher-Rahman. “Being on time, being motivated, being able to complete tasks in a timely manner — we are looking at those skills as well as the overall career goal.”

Instructor Amy Kozachuk said many students are the first in their families to pursue higher education.

“I feel like my job is not just about getting content across,” she said. “It is giving students opportunities to explore future careers and decide for themselves. Everyone here wants to help them navigate that process.”

Student success is measured by more than just grades and attendance.

“We talk about poverty in Central New York and what we can do about it. This is what we are doing about it,” Daher-Rahman said. “We are putting food on people’s tables at night; that’s the bottom line.”

The next chapter for the Syracuse campus includes a $30 to $45 million renovation along with state-of-the-art laboratories and innovative classroom spaces with more capacity to serve the changing needs of students and employers.

Who uses the EOC?

The average EOC enrollee is in their 30s, has an annual income of about $16,000, and is looking for a solution to either an educational or financial goal.
About half of enrollees are unemployed at admission.
More than 53 percent of enrollees are women, and about 80 percent are minority students.
EOCs statewide enroll more than 10,000 students each year.

Source: SUNY.edu

From Afghanistan to Syracuse

Two years ago, Khalid Quraishi came to the United States from Afghanistan with a high school diploma and a dream of being a doctor.

He signed up for classes at a local community college, but struggled to keep up.

“It was so different and so hard for me,” he said.

He turned to the Syracuse Educational Opportunity Center (SEOC), starting with English as a Second Language (ESL) classes to strengthen his reading, writing and speaking skills, before moving into a full course load that includes science and mathematics.

“I think that every student comes here with some future goal that they have set for themselves — we just want to help them get there,” said instructor Amy Kozachuk. “The EOC is the step they need right now to get to the next one.”

With the help of tutors and faculty, Quraishi hopes to reenroll in college next spring, fully prepared for the rigors of a medical degree program.

“I want to be prepared,” Quraishi said. “It is an honor to be here, and I am so grateful for all of the help I have received.”

Author

Alaina Potrikus Beckett

Published date

November 22, 2019

News Type

Going Out on Top

salibalr — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 14:03:12 +0000

Going Out on Top salibalr Fri, 11/22/2019 - 09:03

Greg Carroll champions winning culture following 18-year career as athletics director

Greg Carroll still remembers his wild first day on the job as director of athletics at ��Ƶ.

Fresh off a successful 12-year run as the athletics director and director of communications for the Cazenovia (New York) school district, Carroll walked into football check-in day before the 2001 season. Nearly 150 student-athletes flooded campus looking for his assistance.

“Initially, I thought, ‘what did I just get myself into?’” Carroll recalled. “I’ll be honest, I felt a little bit over my head that first day.”

Fast forward 18 years, when news of Carroll’s retirement broke on social media in June and was met with an outpouring of support and positive feedback from current and former employees, student-athletes and their families, and the entire college community.

One Facebook comment in particular summed up the legacy Carroll leaves behind after nearly two decades at the helm of the Mustang Athletics Department: “Congratulations Mr. Carroll … You have been instrumental in the development of the winning culture and Morrisville Spirit that exist today in the athletic programs. It is an honor to say that we know you … Mustang Pride!”

That comment was posted by the late Eric Prior, whose son, Jordan Prior, currently serves as an assistant coach for the Morrisville men’s basketball team. Jordan was a two-year standout basketball student-athlete during the squad’s epic runs to the Elite Eight (2014) and Sweet 16 (2013) rounds of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Tournament, where Carroll could be spotted cheering from the sidelines each game.

Eric, who tragically passed away unexpectedly in June, and Jordan shared fond memories of Carroll as a leader, mentor and friend.

“I know Mr. Carroll meant a great deal to my father because he felt that Greg was your textbook AD: always involved, always active, always influencing excellence,” Jordan said. “It was always comforting as an athlete to know your AD chooses to be involved not because he has to, but because he wants to.”

True to the spirit of his first day, Carroll humbly credits those around him for any success gained by the department during his tenure.

“All credit goes to the people on our staff, who are tremendously committed, have tireless work ethics and share the same values for the importance of providing a positive experience for our student-athletes,” said Carroll, who always maintained an open-door policy for staff and students.

Collaboration was one of the first philosophies Carroll established in his tenure.

“It was never a ‘you’ or ‘I,’ I’ve always tried to make it a ‘we,’” he said. “I would like to think that we created a good environment for people to grow, enjoy coming to work, have success and, when they don’t have success, there are others around here to pick them up.”

He thought correctly.

Brandy Thurston, associate athletic director for compliance & sports information, started at Morrisville just a week before Carroll.

“Greg has always encouraged and made it a priority for staff and student-athletes alike to be able to seek additional leadership and learning opportunities to develop both personally and professionally through the athletics experience,” she said. “We’re so thankful for the work and dedication he has put into the department to help us develop such a quality NCAA Division III program.”

Next came building the right staff, which coincided with leading the task of transitioning Morrisville from membership in the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) to NCAA Division III to align with Morrisville’s new four-year degree offerings. Joining the NCAA typically takes four years; Carroll got it done in three.

Carroll then found the Mustangs a fitting home within the NCAA, steering the institution to full-time membership in the North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) in 2009. The Mustangs worked to the top of the conference ranks, with teams earning a collective 18 regular season titles, 22 NEAC championships and 21 NCAA Division III tournament appearances to add to eight NJCAA Region III titles and four national championships won during Carroll’s tenure.

Under his leadership, Morrisville athletics increased its full-time staff and transformed its facilities, with more than $20 million in improvements of its Recreation Center, construction of the Athletics Stadium facility featuring Drake Field and renovations to the athletics venues within the Student Activities Center.

Perhaps most importantly, Carroll always placed an emphasis on academic achievement and community service among student-athletes. The grade-point averages of Morrisville student-athletes outpace those of the general student population, while student-athletes now take part in 25 community service initiatives annually, averaging 2,600 hours and more than $7,000 in donations to charitable organizations per year.

“At the end of the day, the athletic experience has to be educational,” said Carroll, who served on numerous conference and national committees focused on student-athlete well-being. “I firmly believe that those experiences bring a team together.”

As Carroll enters retirement, he plans to spend quality time with his wife, Maureen, and their two children, Connor and Caeli, who have always supported his hectic work schedule and who “understood I only knew how to do this job one way, so they were very patient with me.”

Although he’s excited for this next chapter, Carroll knows ��Ƶ will remain a big part of his life.

“I’m looking forward to a free weekend here or there,” he said, “but I’m sure when that comes, I’ll probably be watching the webcast of one of Morrisville’s games."

Author

Eugenio Mercurio

Published date

November 22, 2019

News Type

Alumni show Mustang Pride, churn official ice cream flavor of ��Ƶ

salibalr — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 14:01:50 +0000

Alumni show Mustang Pride, churn official ice cream flavor of ��Ƶ salibalr Fri, 11/22/2019 - 09:01

Andy Lagoe ’92 and Gil Hodges ’92 wanted to come up with a way to show how proud they are to be Mustangs.

The duo, owners of Gilligan’s Ice Cream along with partner Mike Lagoe, decided the best way was to do what they do best. So they churned up an ice cream flavor contest at ��Ƶ.

“We thought, why not reach out to our alma mater to see if they would want to collaborate and create a flavor for Morrisville,” Andy Lagoe said.

��Ƶ students, faculty, staff and alumni submitted descriptions of their flavor ideas either online or on paper ballots throughout the month of March.

Suggesting both name and flavor combinations that would best represent Morrisville, Gilligan’s narrowed the list of 168 submissions to three finalists. Next, they created one batch (five gallons) of each flavor to share during Morrisville’s first-ever Giving Day held in April, where the college community sampled and voted for their favorite.

Fittingly, “Mustang Pride” — vanilla ice cream with graham cracker crumbles and cinnamon sugar banana bits — was deemed the winner and became the official ice cream of ��Ƶ. Close behind were “S’moresville” (chocolate ice cream with marshmallow swirl, graham cracker pieces and Nutella) and “Mustang Mint Madness” (mint ice cream with mint Oreo pieces, chocolate flakes and fudge swirl). No one left the contest empty-handed. All who had a hand in creating the final flavors received $50 gift cards to Gilligan’s Restaurant in Sherburne, New York.

Mustang Pride was a hit when Gilligan’s debuted it with free samples during commencement in May. Those looking to try the new confection can purchase it on campus at the Pit Stop convenience store and as a feature “flavor of the month” throughout various times of the year at Smooth Jazzy Joz, as well as at Gilligan’s, Nelson Farms Country Store and Dougherty Pharmacy in Morrisville.

Author

Eugenio Mercurio

Published date

November 22, 2019

News Type

A Budding Success

salibalr — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 13:57:43 +0000

A Budding Success salibalr Fri, 11/22/2019 - 08:57

Seeds of popular landscaping & nursery dynasty were planted at ��Ƶ

They started small, but their dreams grew big.

Throughout the past three decades, Lasnicki Landscaping & Nursery’s comprehensive services and family atmosphere have grown to reap the admiration of the local community and far beyond the reaches of its physical location on County Route 32 in Hastings, New York.

Canopies of outstretched trees, hearty ornamentals and rows of spectacular flowers amid boundless acres paint a modest picture of this multi-faceted business owned and operated by five ��Ƶ alumni.

A legion of loyal customers makes its way to Lasnicki Landscaping & Nursery every year, some seeking the perfect shrub, tree or colorful hanging basket, some desiring patios and landscaping to augment their backyard haven, and others wanting wedding and event floral design.

After studying horticulture at ��Ƶ, Andrew “Andy” Lasnicki planted the seeds of the business in 1989 on a parcel of land where he and his father grew Christmas trees.

“I remember cutting grass with 100 accounts and my dad’s lawnmower,” Andy recalls of his grassroots operation, which has flourished into one of the largest retail and wholesale nurseries in Central New York. The breadth of services includes landscaping, hardscaping, a nursery with trees, flowers, herbs and vegetables, 16 greenhouses, and wedding and event floral design.

Andy’s old pickup truck has been replaced by a fleet of massive machines — oversized landscaping equipment, dump trucks and snow plows in a spacious parking lot — reminding him just how much they’ve accomplished through the years.

Rooted in Lasnicki Landscaping & Nursery’s success is hard work and the TLC of Andy, his wife, Susan ’83 (business manager), their son Drew ’13 (operations manager), his wife, Abby (grower and floral design manager), and Addison Moran ’13 (nursery manager), Drew’s former college roommate.

The journey was similar for all five, who began their dreams on a friendly college campus which offered them hands-on experience that cultivated their careers.

“��Ƶ provided us with the roots that have played an integral role in the establishment and continued growth and success of our business,” Susan said. “Morrisville is a long line of family tradition for us. A sense of family is how it felt for all of us as students on campus and that is also what is felt here.”

“Morrisville was great in so many ways, preparing me for my future and the industry,” Drew said.

“I still utilize the skills from ��Ƶ on a daily basis.”

The beginning

Andy decided on ��Ƶ after a summer job at a local nursery piqued his interest in growing plants. He enrolled in the college’s horticulture program, where his green thumb and love for the outdoors thrived.

“Everything just seemed to come together at ��Ƶ,” he recalled, including meeting Susan in 1983, an accounting and business major who had been recruited to play on the college’s women’s soccer team.

The couple married in 1988 and settled in Mattydale, New York. A year later, they purchased the original 22 acres of the businesses, started growing Christmas trees and planned to build their home.

When an opportunity arose to buy a house down the street, they embarked on a new plan and started the landscaping end of the company on that property instead.

They purchased another 16 acres nearly 15 years later, and Susan left her job in Syracuse to join Andy full-time to expand the business.

Next came the nursery, which started small and quickly spread to serve both retail and wholesale markets.

The business continued to bloom as more hands came on board. Drew, Abby and Moran, who met while attending Morrisville, each added a new dimension and helped craft Lasnicki Landscaping & Nursery into what it is today.

Drew, a horticulture A.A.S. grad, oversees the landscaping while Abby, who studied horticulture, floral design A.A.S., runs the wedding and event floral end of the business along with her responsibilities as the lead grower. Moran, a horticulture business management B.Tech. grad, is in charge of the nursery.

Lasnicki Landscaping & Nursery’s work has earned them a loyal customer base and showcase landscaping has become synonymous with their name.

Continually growing and adapting to customer’s needs, they offer full-service landscaping, including hardscaping, construction, design, grounds maintenance, garden maintenance, mulching and tree trimming and commercial snow plowing. Mowing is also a small part.

Specializing in a broad range of landscaping techniques, Lasnicki Landscaping & Nursery works with a team of designers and horticulturists.

“We work with our clients to actualize their ideas and ensure that they have a role in the creative process every step of the way,” Drew said.

Staying on top of methods to make trees and plants thrive in an ever-changing global climate is critical and requires greater vigilance than ever before. Various strategies help them work around each season’s challenges. They keep abreast of industry standards, maintain certifications and are part of the New York State Nursery and Landscape Association.

A lot goes on behind the scenes in every aspect of the business, including carefully calculating growing times, fertilizers and integrated pest management.

“We take pride in our plant knowledge and growing techniques, broad selection and exceptional customer service,” Susan said.

That’s evident in the nursery, where customers can find something different every season.

Lasnicki’s partnerships with some of the top growers throughout the United States and abroad have helped them procure premiere plant materials at competitive prices.

“We grow a large majority of our plant materials on-site, giving us the opportunity to price competitively and provide our clients with plant materials that are hardy for the area and thrive in our climate,” Drew said. “Many of our clients assist us in their plant selection by visiting the nursery where they can work directly with our design team.”

Branching off of the nursery, wedding and event floral design added an exclusive element to the business in 2017.

“What sets us apart from other floral designers is that we grow many of the plants and flowers that we incorporate into our design,” Abby said.

Keeping up with modern and on-trend ideas is an exciting part of her work as she continues to grow that aspect of the business.

Custom Care

Passion and commitment continue to drive the family business today. Loyal customers serve as the barometer that they’re doing things right.

“I come here every year,” said Colleen Tompkins, a local resident who was at the nursery looking for something that would attract butterflies in her garden.

With Moran’s assistance, Tompkins, a 1971 ��Ƶ nursing alumna, selected a Strawberry Sundae Hydrangea, a stunning variety with clusters of showy flowerheads that change from cream to pink to dark red throughout the summer.

It’s that specialized attention that keeps many customers coming back — and the business flourishing – year after year.

“We take great pride in our workmanship,” Susan said. “We are strong believers that our employees are our greatest asset and are a key to the continued success of our organization.”

The future promises a lot more for Lasnicki Landscaping & Nursery customers.

Four more greenhouses, in the beginning stages of construction, will make way for additional nursery stock and shrubs.

“It has been exciting watching all of this grow through the years,” Andy said. “Our employees are so passionate, it invigorates my passion.”

“When you love what you — when watch something you planted grow into a perfect flower or shrub — there is nothing more rewarding,” Moran said.

Author

Franci Valenzano

Published date

November 22, 2019

News Type

Give Back Where You Start

salibalr — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 13:54:04 +0000

Give Back Where You Start salibalr Fri, 11/22/2019 - 08:54

Unrelenting spirit of giving drives Volunteer of the Year

Patricia “Patty” King ’77 is spirited by helping others. Whether it’s running, racing, volunteering, leading, hiring, mentoring or otherwise, she does all she can to support her career field, her alma mater and the people she serves through both.

Her infectious energy, enthusiasm and commitment toward making a difference in others’ lives all played a part in her receiving ��Ƶ’s Volunteer of the Year Award.

“In her service to Morrisville, Patty is the epitome of a great volunteer,” said ��Ƶ President David Rogers in his remarks at the first-ever President’s Recognition Dinner in May. “She is at EVERYTHING. She DOES everything. She does not say no. We can only assume she does the same for other organizations because she is also the busiest person we have ever met.’’

King earned her first of several degrees in nursing from Morrisville in 1977 and has gone on to have a long and rewarding career in health care. In both her work and private life, she gives abundantly, cheerfully and from the heart.

“The reason I've been so giving to Morrisville is I think it's always important to give back where you start,’’ King said. “Morrisville gave me the tools and skills to provide me with the foundation to have a rewarding nursing career. It was all because of my training there that I was able to walk out and get a job and have a wonderful career all my life.’’

King said her decision to become a nurse and her unrelenting spirit of giving come from the same place. Both of her parents died from cancer. After losing her mother at age 12 and father at 19, she knew she wanted a profession that would allow her to care for and help others.

After earning her nursing degree from Morrisville, King moved to Houston to take a position at MD Anderson Cancer Center, providing compassionate, specialized nursing care to children with cancer. She loved her work but disliked the weather and eventually returned to Upstate New York. While working at the former Rose Hospital in Rome, King earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from SUNY Institute of Technology at Utica/Rome (now SUNY Polytechnic Institute).

She worked as a rehabilitation case manager for a company in Syracuse, New York, before launching her own disability case management company and supervising a team of nurses, nurse practitioners and LMSW social workers, covering a wide swath of the state (hiring quite a few Morrisville nursing grads in the process).

After “retiring” that company, she joined the trauma team at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse and stayed there until the commute from her home in Sherrill, New York, to Syracuse became too much to bear during the winter months. She joined the executive team at Rome Memorial Hospital as director of continuum care in 2014 and was promoted to assistant vice president of continuum care a year later.

“It’s a very demanding job,’’ King said.

Still, the obligations of her work never prevent her from showing up at Morrisville. The Volunteer of the Year Award she received this spring recognizes her 12 years as a member of the college’s Alumni Advisory Board.

In July, she took the helm as the board’s president, leading efforts to engage alumni through events, connect with students and provide support to the college. She also serves on the College Foundation Board, which focuses on raising philanthropic dollars for the college, managing those funds and directing their use.

Theresa Kevorkian, vice president for institutional advancement and executive director of the Morrisville College Foundation, marvels at King’s commitment to the college and its students.

“There is nothing that Patty does not volunteer for,’’ Kevorkian said. “We started two new programs this year, the Career Connect Program and the Student Alumni Mentor Program, and she volunteered for both immediately. She served as a panelist at our second Career Connect panel and she is so determined that all of these students get jobs that she came armed with job applications for each of them.’’

In her professional life, King was honored to receive this year’s Claire Murray Best Practices Award from the New York Organization of Nurse Executives. The Genesis Group of the Mohawk Valley recognized her contributions to healthcare in the region, as Outstanding Healthcare Professional, as well. She also is a past recipient of the Outstanding National Rehabilitation Nurse of the Year Award from the International Association of Rehabilitation Professionals.

"At the hospital, we are always looking to hire Morrisville students. When I see students here, I always introduce myself to them and say, ‘You picked the best career. You're going to be able to work anywhere and be independent.’”

- Patty King, ’77.

Ask King what she does in her leisure time and the answers are running, a bit of travel — and more volunteer work. She picked up running as a hobby at age 50 and is actively involved in events, including running 14 Boilermaker Road Races and participating in 11 Rides for Missing Children. She’s completed five marathons and as a proponent of organ donation, heads up the organ donation team at Rome Memorial Hospital. But for her, all roads lead back to Morrisville.

“I just think it's so important to give back to your roots,’’ said King. “Anything I can do to help a nursing student or to help another Morrisville student in their career is the reason I participate and have volunteered through the years. So many alumni have left Morrisville and achieved such wonderful things. I just love to hear their stories about what they've done and accomplished.’’

Author

Margaret McCormick

Published date

November 22, 2019

News Type

50 Years of Equine Excellence

salibalr — Fri, 22 Nov 2019 13:33:58 +0000

50 Years of Equine Excellence salibalr Fri, 11/22/2019 - 08:33

Monday morning, the second week of classes, and in the Western barn, the nicker of horses and warmth of well-used leather replaces the starch of lectures and laptops.

A palomino named Trigger hangs his head over the stall door and poses for a selfie with a freshman whose experience with horses has been pretty much confined to cell phones. Down the aisle, another newly minted rider is trying to wrap the legs of a fidgety paint. A third is discovering that horses manage to get all sorts of interesting items caught in their tail.

Saddles on, cinches tightened, the beginning Western riding students throw a leg over their patient equine teachers and the work of horsemanship begins. “OK,” says associate professor Michelle Nyberg, “let’s talk about body position. You know the song about ‘head, shoulders, knees and toes?’ With riding, it’s ears, shoulders, hips and heels ... You have to be centered.”

In the outdoor arena, with a year of horsemanship behind them, assistant professor Julie Corey’s riders are practicing light hands, a balanced seat and the notion of working toward a goal with their horse.

“Sit down, sit deep,” Corey coaches from the middle of the ring. “Sink down into your saddle and see if you can create that one-two, one-two rhythm with your horse. That’s Western Pleasure 101. It all starts here today.”

Pause for a moment and rewind.

Taking it straight from the horse’s mouth, it all started here a half-century ago. What began at ��Ƶ in 1968 as a saddle horse program with 50 students, one barn and an indoor arena that doubled as a breeding facility, has grown into a premier equine curriculum with 300 students, dedicated breeding, training and rehabilitation facilities, and a graduation track offering a bachelor’s and two associate degrees. It’s a unique program, respected nationally for the diversity of its course offerings and the hands-on approach to learning that undergirds classroom work with practical experience.

“We introduce our students to all different areas of the industry, from riding to draft horses to breeding to rehabilitation,” said Erin Morgan-Paugh, Ph.D., chair of the Equine Science Department. “We introduce hands-on learning in every facet of the program that we can. It makes a difference. It immerses students in a real-world setting that develops and instills a work ethic that employers appreciate.”

Peek into the arena at Morrisville’s annual Standardbred yearling sale, the only one held on a college campus in New York State. The sales barn is churning with activity and, uniformed in black suits and gold vests, it is students who lead each horse in and out of the auction ring. The yearlings stand square so buyers can look them over, then take a turn around the ring. The student at the end of the lead rope has practiced this bit of choreography so often it is practically in her DNA.

Other students take on administrative roles. Some played a part in foaling and raising the seven yearlings the college consigned for this year’s sale or, as part of the Associate in Applied Science degree in equine racing management, train on the nation’s only half-mile harness racing track found on a college campus.

"I chose Morrisville because their program offered a diverse equine experience."

- Kimberley (Asher) Dougherty '02

At the Equine Rehabilitation Center, Morgan-Paugh said, students have access to the most advanced technology in the industry and perform actual treatments, working with horses on the underwater treadmill, administering laser and magnawave therapy, and learning to swim an injured horse in a pool, giving it the chance to exercise without putting pressure on its limbs.

Rehab is one of the largest and fastest-growing areas of the equine program, Morgan-Paugh said, in part because it can be applied to any facet of the industry. “It’s useful to anyone who’s interested in horses. Students can combine it with a concentration in Hunt Seat, for example, and it makes them more marketable to employers.”

Turning a passion for horses into marketable skills is a hallmark of Morrisville’s equine education, and one that alumni talk about with pride. Graduates mention studying management and business skills — everything from customer relations to finance — along with time spent in the saddle, a round pen or in a classroom learning equine anatomy, physiology and nutrition.

Graduates of Morrisville’s Thoroughbred racing management program, for example, compete at area racetracks and are prepped for licensing by the New York Racing Association, allowing them to work as a groom, an exercise rider or assistant trainer.

In the Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) degree in equine science, seniors are immersed in the industry through a full-semester, 15-credit internship. Top-tier businesses, including Hagyard Equine Medical Institute in Lexington, Kentucky; Chapman Reining Horses in Woodbine, Maryland; Diamond Creek Standardbred breeding farm in Kentucky and Pennsylvania; and Mountain View Riding Centre in Ireland; have all hosted Morrisville students.

It’s no surprise, then, that alumni are making their mark in every facet of the equine industry and giving credit to their educational foundation.

Diane Campbell ’99, a member of the first graduating class of B.Tech. students, said shortly after she graduated, “The program really provided me with a solid education and lots of hands-on experience ... (it) also gave me greater training in the business and management aspects of equine science.”

Twenty years later, they are still saying it.

“I chose Morrisville because their program offered a diverse equine experience,” said Kimberley (Asher) Dougherty ’02, head trainer and co-owner of Canterbury Stables in Cazenovia, New York. The coursework, she said, gave her the basis to become an entrepreneur. “Literally, everything I knew was saddle horses … At Morrisville I saw different paths. The program gave me a breadth of experience.”

She broke Western horses and draft horses; learned about business plans; taught Hunt Seat riding as an internship; and collected stallions, inseminated mares and helped with foaling in the breeding program. That program — housed at the college’s Equine Breeding and Training Center, a dedicated facility with 34 stalls and a separate six-stall stallion barn — was the one, Dougherty said, that taught her to “dig deep.”

“Not only were you in school all day,” she said, “but you were on foal watch all night.”

At her side, and at the side of every student since the first, are faculty and staff who build upon the college’s dedication to excellence with personal experience and expertise. Many are professionals — competitors and carded judges — who are setting some of the benchmarks in the industry.

“Our goal is to continue to produce quality students as the industry changes, and to adapt to those changes.”

- ERIN MORGAN-PAUGH

“As we look to the future, we are working to maintain our standards,” said Morgan-Paugh, herself a veterinarian. “Our goal is to continue to produce quality students as the industry changes, and to adapt to those changes.”

Author

Janis Barth

Published date

November 22, 2019

News Type