O S W E G O ParentsS P R I N G 2 0 0 7

A Publication of the

Office of Alumni and

Parent Relations

Non Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDPermit No. 317

Oswego, NY

STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK

Office of Alumni and Parent RelationsKing Alumni HallSUNY Oswego Oswego, NY 13126

IN THIS EDITION:•Student Quality Continues to Rise•Business of Learning•Oswego FANs Links Students, Alumni•Graduates Give Back

OSWEGOParents

Oswego State students just keep gettingbetter and better. By whatever criteria —standardized test scores, high school

averages and class rank — the incomingclasses of the last four years (the college’scurrent students) outpace the previous fourentering classes.

“I think it shows the value that Oswegoplaces on academic achievement,” said Dr.Joseph Grant, vice president for studentaffairs and enrollment management.

Over the last four years Oswego has madesignificant strides in increasing the qualityof the incoming class. There are twice asmany students now who entered with highschool averages in the 90s and SAT scoresover 1,200 than the students enteringbetween 1998 and 2001, he explained.

This means more students in the HonorsProgram and more Presidential Scholars. Italso means a difference in the classroomatmosphere, benefiting all students.

“The faculty report that classes are morelively with students more committed toacademic work,” Grant said.

He has also noticed that more incomingstudents are interested in science areasthan in the recent past. As incoming fresh-men, they seem more motivated to do well.

While those interested in science majorshave always been in the applicant pool,Grant said, because of the college’s meritscholarship program, more of these stu-dents are choosing to attend Oswego.

“Their presence helps raise our visibility,so that other people who may not havethought about attending Oswego are begin-ning to think about us,” he said.

Meteorology and zoology are two popularmajors attracting students from New Yorkstate and beyond.

Also attracting top students are over $1million in renovations to Lanigan Hall, result-ing in new digital radio and television studios.

“The ‘wow’ factor on the facilities sidemakes a big difference” in attracting topstudents, according to Grant.

Another important factor is the college’scommitment to providing merit scholar-ships to worthy students. In 2006, Oswegoawarded over $2.6 million in merit scholar-ships and new recipients totaled 616.

Grant also sees a very positive trend inthe student body becoming more diverse.Not only are students coming from theurban, suburban and rural areas of NewYork state, but the numbers of Hispanic and

Asian students continue to rise on campus.Grant said increasing the diversity on cam-pus gives students an opportunity to sharetheir experiences. “This is important interms of student learning,” he said.

A strong applicant pool is important inincreasing the diversity and quality of theincoming class, according to Grant.

This year’s recruiting was so successful,there were six applicants for every space inthe incoming class, Grant said.

And if applications coming in by the endof the fall semester are any indication, nextyear’s class will see more applicants thanin recent memory. –Michele Reed

Fresh FactsOswego had 8,432 applicants forthe 2006 freshman class, accepted4,430 and 1,340 enrolled.

Sixty-one percent of freshman stu-dents received financial aid this year.

Freshmen were awarded over $2.6million in renewable scholarshipsover a four-year period, this year.

Incoming freshmen received 177Presidential Scholarships ($17,600over 4 years). Other merit scholar-ships awarded to freshmen included75 awards of $5,000 over 4 years and196 awards of $2,000 over 4 years.

Ninety-three percent of freshmen(1,250 first-year students) lived oncampus for fall 2006.

Student Quality Continues to Rise

Orientation leader Amanda Acobes ’08, a theatremajor, works with a group of incoming students atorientation last summer in the quad between HewittUnion and Penfield Library.

“Hello, my name is…” Incoming students introducethemselves in a summer orientation activity.

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Business of LearningDuring the annual School of

Business Symposium Nov. 11 and12, Oswego students were intro-duced to alumni who hold presti-gious positions in large firmsknown across the globe.

James Wainright ’78, seniorvice president of global operationsfor A.O. Smith Corp., ElectricalProducts Division, stressed that ina business like his, selling electri-cal motors, people must be trulyimmersed in what they are pursuing.

“Whatever industry you getinto, you’ve got to be excited andpassionate about it,” Wainrightsaid in an interview. “You have tohave a very clear vision, strategy,enthusiasm and leadership.”

As senior vice president of a$900 million company, Wainrightis responsible for managing 30manufacturing facilities located inthe United States, Mexico, Europeand China as well as 15,000 man-ufacturing employees.

“It’s exciting traveling aroundto plants,” he said. “And to seepeople around the world focusedon similar objectives, workingtogether to make our companybetter.” —Emily King ’05

For the Tascarellas, givingback runs in the family.

Ron ’79 and CynthiaDickerson Tascarella ’79 andtheir sons Ron ’06 and Dan ’07have made their presence feltboth on campus and in theOswego community.

As students, Ron and Danshared their time and talents:Young Ron, a Sheldon Leader,was involved in the Chamber ofCommerce’s “Warm Up Oswego”program. He has graduated andis now employed by Community Bankas a commercial loan analyst.

Dan, the current president of StudentAssociation, is active on the College-Community Relations Committee,among other things.

So for father Ron and motherCynthia, supporting Oswego Statefinancially was a natural choice.

“I think the university provides agreat value for its students and if I canhelp strengthen some of the programs,like the Honors Program andPresidential Scholars, then I am happyto help,” said Ron. He hopes those pro-grams will continue to enable the col-lege to attract stronger students andmore diversity to campus.

Ron, senior vice president and ChiefCredit Officer at Pathfinder Bank inOswego, and Cynthia, an accountant,are naturally drawn to the School ofBusiness in Rich Hall. Ron wasimpressed with the school’s successfuleffort to obtain AACSB accreditation.

Ron compares the business classes inSheldon Hall in those early years of the

program (listening to lectures bounceoff the 20-foot-high ceilings or strug-gling to hear them over the banging ofthe pipes) to today’s state-of-the-artlearning environment in Rich Hall.

Ron is also impressed with the “bal-ance” in recent college renovations.

“There’s an understanding that it’s acollege, and a lot of work is going intoacademic facilities and programs.” Justas important, he says, are recentimprovements to residence facilities,including Johnson, Riggs and Harthalls, “evidence of an appreciation thatthe college is the students’ home aswell as a place of learning.”

And while they have a vision thattheir gift will ultimately benefit stu-dents, the Tascarellas are happy todonate and leave the distribution of thefunds to the college administration.

“I have watched the campus becomealmost reborn under the leadership ofPresident Deborah F. Stanley,” saidRon. “I certainly trust her to do what-ever is best with my donation. I don’thave to worry about it.”

— Michele Reed

2 O S W E G O P A R E N T S

Now is the time for your student to help the class of 2007 decide whatevents to plan for Senior Week as well as the perfect gift to give back totheir alma mater.

The Senior Class Planning Committee has yet to decide what their finalgift should be, planning committee member and Vice President ofProgramming for FANs Marybeth McMenemon ’07 said.

“Whatever we do, we want to do something around the Campus Center becauseit’s so new and we want to be a part of it,” she said.

Each year the graduating class is asked to donate money to the college as theirgift. Each member of the class of 2007 will be asked to donate $20.07.

Gift ideas include sponsoring a row of seats in the new Campus Center oradding a memorial garden or bench.

The class will host a T-shirt sale, in which parents can purchase Class of 2007hooded sweatshirts, long sleeved and T-shirts for their students beginning inMarch. All proceeds go toward the senior class gift.

As an active Senior Class Committee member, your student can also helpchoose Senior Week activities. Suggestions include an end-of-the-year barbeque, asenior sendoff night at a local establishment and a faculty-student luncheon. Alsobeing considered are a networking night to bring back local alumni to meet withstudents as well as a trip to Niagara Falls, Boston or New York City.

Seniors also will have the opportunity to vote on a class logo. For more information, log onto www.oswegoalumni.oswego.edu/seniorclass.

— Emily King ’05

Graduates Give Back

OSWEGO PARENTSPublished each semester by the

SUNY Oswego Office of Alumni and Parent Relations

Michele Reed, Editor

Emily King ’05, Writer/Co-Editor

Jim Russell ’83, Photographer

Brian Phares ’07, Contributing Writer

Meagan Smith ’07, Intern

Midstate Litho, Production and Printing

Office of Alumni and Parent RelationsKing Alumni HallSUNY Oswego

Oswego, NY 13126

Betsy Oberst, Executive Director

Phone: 315-312-2258FAX: 315-312-5570

E-mail: alumni@oswego.eduwww.oswego.edu/alumni/

Ron ’79 and Cynthia Dickerson Tascarella ’79 and theirsons Dan ’07 and Ron ’06.

Giving Back a Family Affair

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Students Share Writing with Seniors

During the fall semester, creative writing majors Quinn Etchie ’08, Michael Gruosso ’06, Kirsten Konowich ’07 and Brian Phares ’07,along with faculty mentor Brad Korbesmeyer, completed a month-long workshop with some of the residents of the Springside inde-pendent retirement community at Seneca Hill, located about five minutes south of Oswego.

The residents spent the time writing monologues, with the student mentors editing their work and helping them progress as writers. The participating residents, May Hale, Jan Brown, Robert Wood, Bob Canfield, Marion Motis, Alison Wood, Sophie Ferens, Barbara McCormack

and Alice Herrman, wrote short pieces that were collected and assembled into a book by Creative Writing Program secretary Rosalie Battles.On the final day of the workshop, the students read the residents’ final pieces back to them at a small party.The students seized the opportunity to do something for the community. “I enjoyed their company. I was more than happy to help them with their projects, plus I made some new friends,” said Gruosso. “I loved working with the Springside residents, they were incredibly talented and very interested in our project,” said Etchie. “I was surprised at

how grateful they were that we took the time to review their work, and how interested they werein what we had to say about it.”

When asked, most of the residents had nothing but good things to say about the pro-gram. “I thought it was wonderful,” said Marion Motis. “(The students) gave me a lot ofgood ideas.”

Sophie Ferens agreed, saying, “It was beautiful…I really enjoyed it and I loved thehelp the students gave us.”

Past chair of the former SUNY Oswego reading education department and Springsideresident Bob Canfield said it is “good to have the opportunity to share our work and knowsomeone cares.”

The residents enjoyed the program so much, some of them were discussing contin-uing the workshop after the scheduled visits had ended. Some student mentors havealready volunteered their time if more meetings are arranged. –Brian Phares ’07

Every student is one of SUNY Oswego’s future alumni.FANs— Future Alumni Network —was formed to developconnections between current students and alumni, enhance

the lifelong link among the past, present and future of the col-lege, and create future alumni leaders.

The program follows the slogan:You are future alumni and this is anetwork for you, Associate AlumniDirector Michelle Tackett Spinner’98 said.

FANs is the only organization oncampus whose sole purpose is to tiecurrent students with alumni,Spinner added.

Maggie Dolly ’07, student alumniliaison, was introduced to the FANsprogram through friends who invitedher to one of the monthly meetings.

“Being the student representative on the Oswego AlumniAssociation board of directors, I have met many influentialalumni,” Dolly said in an e-mail.

One of Dolly’s most enjoyable experiences as a part of FANswas the “Oswego Challenge,” an opening weekend event to helpacclimate incoming students to the Oswego campus.

The event was a scavenger-hunt-meets-team-building

challenge, which showed students some of the “ins” and “outs”of the Oswego campus, Dolly said. The “Road Rules” style chal-lenge took students to several campus buildings where theylearned about their history and purpose.

FANs organizes networking events to bring alumni to cam-pus. They also publish a newsletterfor current students each semester.

Through FANs, Dolly attended aSUNY Oswego alumni communica-tion studies event in New York Citythis past fall. A broadcasting major,Dolly was able to meet some verypowerful alumni in her area of study,including Louis A. Borrelli Jr. ’77,the CEO of NEP Broadcasting andthe founder of the Louis A. BorrelliJr. Media Summit.

“Through FANs you can meetalumni and create a group of people who automatically have alink to you because they want to help you succeed in life.”

Meetings for FANs are held monthly, with the first meeting ofthe upcoming spring semester set for Sunday, Feb. 4, at 7 p.m.in room 235A of Hewitt Union.

For more information about FANs, visit www.oswegoalumni.oswego.edu/fans. –Emily King ’05

Career Advice? Just ASK

“Tomorrow you begin a new journey,”alumni speaker Lisa Niescierenko ’04told December graduates at a dessertreception Dec. 15, sponsored by theOswego Alumni Association. “A journeyinto the world of professionalism and ajourney that your time here at Oswegohas more than prepared you for. But,when you pack up the car or boardthe plane for a new chapter in your life,don’t leave Oswego behind. Stay con-nected to the Alumni Association.” Above,Barbara Cohn ’06, a business administra-tion major, raises a toast with her parents,Susan and Michael.

S P R I N G 2 0 0 7 3

Now is the time for your student to learn asmuch as possible about a specific career. SUNYOswego’s ASK — Alumni Sharing Knowledge pro-gram — can provide a plethora of informationregarding future goals.

“The program has led to internships and jobs,but it is mainly a way for students to start theirnetworking base,” Associate Alumni DirectorMichelle Tackett Spinner ’98 said. “ASK providesstudents with the opportunity to correspond withalumni out in the field, go for on-the-job visits,have their resumés critiqued and talk with alumniat different stages in their careers.”

From business to art careers, around the coun-try there are about 300 Oswego alumni volun-teering their time in the ASK program.

Lauren Dascher ’07 learned about the ASK pro-gram through a presentation given in one of herclasses. Dascher was a junior broadcasting andmass communications major actively looking for aninternship in the New York City area. She wasplaced with ASK mentor Jennifer Heftler ’81, asuccessful producer working in Los Angeles.

Heftler gave Dascher advice on her resumé andeven sent it out to other producers in New York

City. Dascher’s resume made it to places such asComedy Central, MTV, “The Daily Show with JonStewart” and the Oxygen Network.

Dascher was contacted by several of themregarding a summer internship and ultimatelychose to work with the Oxygen Network.

About 200 SUNY Oswego students connectwith alumni through ASK each year, Spinner said.

“The connections you are able to make withthose in your field of study through the involve-ment and existence of this program will last longafter you have graduated from Oswego State,” isDascher’s advice to students. “The more connec-tions you can make during your years here willgreatly enhance potential careers, internships, andopen many doors of opportunity for your future.”

If your student is interested in moving acrossthe country and would like information on thecost of living or a starting salary, the ASK pro-gram can help. Students can ask alumni mentorsin their area of interest their questions and getgood reliable feedback.

For more information about the ASK programvisit www.oswegoalumni.oswego.edu/ask.

— Emily King ’05

December Grads Honored

Students complete a “human knot” as part of the Oswego Challenge hosted by FANs, Future Alumni Network, during opening weekend.

Oswego FANs Links Students, Alumni

Creative Writing Professor Brad Korbesmeyer looks over monologues by Springside residents Jan Brownand Sophie Ferens, as student Quinn Etchie ’08 looks on.

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SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLENow’s the time for students to applyfor scholarships for the 2007-2008

academic year. Over 140 scholarships are avail-able through the Oswego College Foundation.Find the listing of scholarships and awards, alongwith instructions for applying and applicationforms online at http://www.oswego.edu/giving/scholarships. Only a portion of the scholar-ships have an online application, so it is benefi-cial to obtain a scholarship newspaper, whichcontains a full listing of awards and applicationforms. Scholarship newspapers are available inmost academic departments, Penfield Library or the Office of University Development, 219 Sheldon Hall. For more information, call 315-312-3003 or e-mail knopp@oswego.edu.

GET CONNECTED, STAY CONNECTEDVisit the Oswego Alumni

Association Web site at www.oswego.edu/alumni to find out about association servicesand activities.

PLAN NOW FOR GRADUATIONIt’s not too early to make

reservations if you are traveling to Oswego forCommencement May 19. Plan to attend thelongest-standing tradition on campus at theannual Torchlight Ceremony the evening ofMay 18. The ceremony allows the graduatingclass to come together one last time as they arewelcomed into the Oswego Alumni Association.The event includes a reception and dinner,along with passing on the light of knowledge tothe new alumni. For more information or tomake dinner reservations call 315-312-2258 ore-mail seniors@oswego.edu.

Commencement ceremonies will be heldin the new Campus Center May 19 at 9 a.m.for graduates of the College of Arts andSciences, and 1:30 p.m. for those from theSchool of Education and School of Business.Find more information at www.oswego.edu.Look under the A-Z Index, under the letter C,and click on Commencement.

FILE TO GRADUATE!The Registrar’s GraduationOffice sends letters in the

spring semester to all prospective gradu-ates, (all students with junior or seniorstanding who have not yet filed to gradu-ate) with instructions and information onhow and when to file online for gradua-tion. The deadline for filing for this year’sMay and August 2007 graduation class isFeb. 15. Students expecting to graduatein December 2007 may file online fromApril 1 to Sept. 30. Students expecting tograduate in May or August 2008 will alsobe able to file online from April 1, 2007,to Feb. 15, 2008. Students are not auto-matically placed on a graduation list. It isthe student’s responsibility to make surehe or she initially applies to graduateonline by the appropriate deadline date,or contacts the Registrar’s GraduationOffice for help in doing so. Students mustfile by the deadline dates listed above toensure that their name will be printed inthe commencement program. Informationregarding the graduation process and alldeadlines are also available and linkedfrom the Registrar’s Web site athttp://www.oswego.edu/.

VISIT OSWEGO ONLINE!Oswego’s new Web site

has a place just for you! Go to www.oswego.edu andclick on Information for

Parents. It will link you to pages aboutacademics, entertainment, sending a treatto your student, campus events and muchmore. Sign up for SUNY Oswego newsand events e-mail lists atwww.oswego.edu/news/mailinglists/subscribe.php.

4 O S W E G O P A R E N T S

Campus Clips CalendarSPRING 2007Jan. 25 Spring semester begins

Jan. 31 Vincent Mantsoe’s Men-Jaro “Friendship”Waterman Theatre,Tyler Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 14 “Devils, Soldiers and Souls”Sheldon Hall Ballroom,7:30 p.m.

Feb. 21 “Technology, Changeand The Arts,” withJames Burke, SheldonHall Ballroom, 8 p.m.

Feb. 2- “The Unbroken Circle:March11 Recent Work by Mary Giehl,”

Art Facility Exhibition,Tyler Art Gallery

March 1-11 “Lost in a ViralParadise,”Waterman Theatre,Tyler Hall, 8 p.m. / 2 p.m.

March 7 The Eastman Jazz Trio,Sheldon Hall Ballroom,7:30 p.m.

March 14 Hungarian State FolkEnsembleWaterman Theatre,Tyler Hall, 7:30 p.m.

March 19-23 Spring Recess

March 30- 44th Annual JuriedApril 25 Student Art Exhibition

and Spring MA ThesisExhibition,Tyler Art Gallery

March 30 “Collage,” MusicScholarship Concert,Waterman Theatre,Tyler Hall, 7:30 p.m.

April 5-6 Good Friday andSpring Break Day

April 10 College AdmissionsOpen House

April 11 The Miró QuartetWaterman Theatre,Tyler Hall, 7:30 p.m.

April 18 Quest ’07, no classes

April 20 Honors Convocation, 3 p.m.

April 24-29 “The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,”Waterman Theatre,Tyler Hall, 8 p.m./2 p.m.

May 4-18 Spring BFA Exhibitionand Generations:Highlighting the MATArt Program, Tyler Art Gallery

May 11 Last day of classes

May 14-18 Final Exams

May 18 Torchlight ceremonyand dinner

May 19 CommencementCampus Center,9 a.m. College of Artsand Sciences,1:30 p.m. School ofEducation and School of Business

Oswego graduate Bill O’Toole ’01 is proud tobe one of 3,000 deputy U.S. marshals in thecountry. He issues warrants for fugitives whohave fled prosecution, assists with prisonertransportation and helps with the witness secu-rity and judicial program as well as courtroomsecurity. Most days, O’Toole can be found inWashington’s District Court or the District ofColumbia Superior Court, where he transportsbetween one and a dozen prisoners a dayfrom their holding cell to the courtroom. OnOct. 30, O’Toole returned to campus to sharehis experiences with students as part of theAlumni-in-Residence Program, sponsored bythe Oswego Alumni Association.

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