University Celebrates Third Annual Founder’s Weekend

University Celebrates Third Annual Founder’s Weekend

Several hundred members of the Laker community gathered together on campus to learn about the president’s vision for the university, share their school pride, reconnect with each other and expand their networks.

The Third Annual Founder’s Weekend packaged together several events that included students, alumni, faculty, staff, donors, board members and external partners.

The weekend kicked off Sept. 28 with President Peter O. Nwosu’s inaugural State of the University Address that highlighted accomplishments from last year and laid out his Vision 4040 — an ambitious plan to double the number of students from 2,000 to 4,000 annually, or 40,000 a decade, by 2040. See related story.

Later that afternoon, President Nwosu accompanied Jim Triandiflou ’88 on the benefactor’s first visit to the Triandiflou Institute for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Transformative Practice on the second floor of Penfield Library. He was greeted by the institute’s staff, including Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer and interim institute director Kendra Cadogan, and several students.

That evening, diversity strategist and author Curtis Hill delivered a keynote address for the 37th annual ALANA Multicultural Student Leadership Conference, “Planting Seeds for Tomorrow’s Leaders.” The conference also featured a networking reception of ALANA student leaders with members of the Oswego Alumni Association Board of Directors, break-out sessions and alumni panel.

On the following day, Syracuse City history teacher Don Little ’91 M’94 M’15 presented “Honoring our Founder: The Life and Legacy of Edward Austin Sheldon.”

During his hour-long discussion, he shared highlights from the university founder’s life as well as some of Sheldon’s biggest contributions to the field of education.

“Graduates from this university went on to build schools around the world,” Little said. “Dr. Sheldon literally transformed the educational system not only in our country but in places as far away as Japan.”

Attendees left Little’s presentation with a surge of Oswego pride, just in time to share it with hundreds of other Lakers who gathered for the annual Green and Gold Campus Photo.

Several dozen alumni also connected Sept. 29 for the start of an EOP Reunion, which included a welcome, tour, reception, interactive alumni presentations to current EOP students and a dinner/dance Saturday night.

President Nwosu welcomed back the EOP Reunion attendees during a reception that night in the Hearth Lounge of the Marano Campus Center.

EOP Reunion attendee and member of the Oswego Alumni Association Board of Directors Thaina Gonzalez ’92 shared how she and many other students from diverse backgrounds were thrilled to see SUNY Oswego appoint its first Black president and that his appointment represents another glass ceiling shattered.

More “firsts” were celebrated the next morning during the Scholars Brunch, as first-generation college student and scholarship recipient Courtney Wood ’24 and scholarship benefactor Jim Triandiflou ’88 delivered inspirational messages before a crowd of 275 student scholars, scholarship donors and board members.

“We are grateful to Oswego. We are grateful that Oswego created a foundation that we build our lives on. We’re grateful for the friends that we have,” said Triandiflou, who spoke on behalf of all the scholarship benefactors. “Something happened at Oswego that means a lot to us, that made us grateful. And gratitude is one of the greatest emotions in the world. If you want a happy life, you want to feel like that.

“To the students, we believe in you,” he said. “We believe in you and we want to help you fulfill all that’s ahead of you. So that you can feel some of the gratitude that we feel, years from now.”

On the Laker Turf field, former men’s lacrosse players squared up for an alumni versus current players game during the program’s reunion weekend.

“It feels good to be back,” Bryce Saba ’21 said. “I don’t get to play a whole lot anymore and have a lot of good memories playing on this field, so it’s always good to be around the guys again.”

Throughout the afternoon of Sept. 30, hundreds of students connected with alumni at ALANA and EOP events. Alumni presenters included: Justin Brantley ’15 M’16, Tori Kammer ’20, Dresden Engle Olcott ’88, Sheneya Wilson ’15 M’16, Dana Segall Murphy ’99, Thaina Gonzalez ’92, Ted Metellus ’97, Phillip White ’76, Denise Jordan ’77, Lawrence Watson ’74, Daniel Clark ’86 and Khadija Kulmiya ’21.

That evening, EOP Reunion attendees enjoyed dinner and dancing in The Space beneath Swetman Gymnasium in the Marano Campus Center.

Meanwhile, Communication Studies alumni, emeriti and current faculty, staff and students gathered for a festive evening in the Sheldon Hall Ballroom.

The event featured student emcee, Clarissa Karki ’25, as well as student remarks delivered by Nivieria Spearman ’24 and the presentation of the Graduates Of the Last Decade Award to Justin Dobrow ’17.

During the program, School of Communication, Media and the Arts (SCMA) Dean Jennifer Knapp announced plans to launch a campaign to help keep the newly renovated Tyler Hall and soon-to-be-finished Hewitt Hall equipped with the latest technology and media tool for students.

Fritz Messere ’71 M’76, dean emeritus of SCMA, provided an animated history of the Communication Studies Department and the evolution that led to the creation of the school in 2008.

The Founder’s Weekend celebration concluded Oct. 1 with the ALANA Peace Walk from Oswego City Hall to SUNY Oswego’s Marano Campus Center and remarks by alumna Magic Washington ’18, senior talent acquisition associate at Lattice.

 

 

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