Oswego Pride. Thanksgiving. These two seemingly unrelated random thoughts are both on my mind as I write this issue’s column.
Thanksgiving is a time when we celebrate family and the many blessings in our lives. I think often of how thankful I am for the privilege to work at SUNY Oswego, engaging members of our Oswego Family in all of the good things happening on our campus, and in helping our current students.
Our incredibly bright and dedicated students will make our world a better place. They are passionate about their work and they find purpose in what they hope to do and become. And like generations of Oswego students who came before them, they love Oswego and their experience here.
Oswego Pride fills my days here. Pride in our students, for sure. Pride in what we can accomplish all working together. Pride in our alumni, many of whom I count as friends. Pride in the knowledge we can change lives with what we do here.
October 16 was a day full of Oswego pride as we launched the public phase of our ambitious $40 million fundraising campaign With Passion and Purpose.
Loyal alumnus Al Roker ’76 returned to campus once again to showcase his alma mater and to work with and provide opportunities to our current students. Our good friend Steve Levy ’87 sponsored a 24-Hour Challenge to secure the most donors ever in a single day, as we publicly launched our campaign.
Our annual Dr. Lewis B. O’Donnell Media Summit, founded by Lou Borrelli ’77, provided a classic example of our founder’s hands-on learning model. Today, we call it experiential learning, but the bottom line is it’s been about learning while doing since 1861.
And “The Tomorrow Show,” hosted by college President Deborah F. Stanley and the multi-talented and always supportive Steve Levy, showcased many of our accomplished, passionate, articulate students, faculty and staff and their work.
What a day! Oswego Alumni Association board president Keith Chamberlain ’87 summed it up best: “SUNY Oswego was the place where we went, but now, it’s the place where people want to go. I’m so proud to say Oswego State is my alma mater.”
You are all a part of what we can do here every day. You show your pride in giving back, paying it forward and helping our current students. I am thankful for all you do, and we look forward to bringing our message of passion and purpose on the road to you in coming months.
–Betsy Oberst
Executive Director
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