the Cortland Memorial Foundation held their annual Nightingale Benefit Concert at the Homer Center for the Arts The annual event is to celebrate and recognize nurses at Guthrie The event benefits the Memorial Foundation who supports Guthrie Cortland Medical Center’s continuous efforts in providing high-quality All nurses at Guthrie will be honored with one nurse presented the Nightingale Award The award is named after Florence Nightingale who is considered the mother of modern nursing who is the Vice President of Nursing and Chief Nursing Officer with Guthrie Cortland Medical Center She said the night is a great way to celebrate and recognize a nurse within the Cortland Community who not only does her role as a nurse but makes a difference and an impact in peoples lives in and out of the hospital This year’s Nightingale Award was presented to Tammy Small Tammy works in the OB Department at Guthrie Cortland Medical Center and has been in nursing for 23 years Underwood went on to say how Nurse Small has not only triplets she’s a lactation consultant she actually does lactation coaching and counseling She also volunteer’s her time way after the kiddos have left middle school and is still volunteering her time at the bookfair She’s just invested in the spirit of nursing and this community.” Underwood said to X101 on how Tammy Small does so much more than just nursing The annual Nightingale Benefit Concert and the Nightingale Award begin the week-long recognition of National Nurses Week Advertise Here! “Alexa, Play X101 Always Classic” Cookie ConsentWe use cookies to improve your experience on our site Essential cookies enable basic functions and are necessary for the proper function of the website Statistics cookies collect information anonymously This information helps us understand how visitors use our website Marketing cookies are used to follow visitors to websites The intention is to show ads that are relevant and engaging to the individual user You can find more information about our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy pictured here at syracuse.com’s spring sports media day with coach Ben Albright threw a 42-pitch no-hitter on Thursday.Marilu Lopez Fretts but he looked like a seasoned vet on the mound Thursday at Gutchess Lumber Sports Park The 2024 second-team All-CNY selection dominated with a no-hitter in the Purple Tigers’ 12-0 win in a five-inning game against Marcellus The sophomore was locked in all game and displayed extreme confidence throwing just 42 pitches with 37 of them being strikes We use the word ‘arete,’ which means excellence present yourself in the best mquicklynner possible,” Cortland coach and Cal’s father “And our whole team‘s just really bought into that whoever’s on the mound that day to the hitters Cal struck out seven batters and walked none on Thursday The only thing that separated him from a perfect game was an errant throw in the top of the fourth inning Despite the error taking away the opportunity at a perfect game Cortland’s defense stepped up in other parts of the game to preserve the no-hitter First-year catcher Jaheim Robinson was also important “(Robinson) has just been unbelievable for us this year,” Albright said So Jaheim‘s really stepped into a role that we knew would be a question mark and he’s really answered that question for us So catching a no-hitter last night as a first-time catcher is pretty special.” so the game only had to be five innings long Cal’s efficient and fast innings on the mound and the fact that Cortland had to play a second game after the Marcellus game didn’t give the Purple Tigers or their fans a lot of time to realize what was taking place because he worked so quickly,” coach Albright said “That I don’t think many people on the stands knew really shows how dialed in Cal was and how he was able to command his mix of pitches on Thursday hit his locations and got them to chase pitches when he needed to,” coach Albright said This was Cal’s first no-hitter at the varsity level and coach Albright said in his 15 years of coaching Cortland baseball Being the first no-hitter he’s been part of as a coach for Cortland and it coming from his son with his other son on the field was a special moment for Ben not only as a coach it’s just a tough one to look ahead and know this will be the last year I’ll get to coach him,” coach Albright said “And then he’s on the field and his brother throws a no-hitter It’s no doubt one of those moments I’ll remember forever.” Cal’s dominance on the mound was aided by Cortland’s potent offense Teammate Owen Johnson went 3-for-4 with three RBI and Zach Muir went 2-for-3 with three RBI Cortland went on to win part two of its doubleheader, 8-0, against Homer Muir and Johnson combined to throw a shutout Muir surrendered three hits in 5.1 innings pitched and Johson gave up no hits and struck out three in 1.2 innings of work The Purple Tigers (8-1) — ranked No. 12 in Class A in the NYSSWA poll — are off until Tuesday when they travel to Skaneateles for a date with the Lakers Contact Kenny Lacy Jr. anytime: Email | X | Bluesky | Threads Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices The 29th annual Corn Ducky Derby took place this past Saturday at Suggett Park organized by the Cortland Community Service Club And new this year featured a 5K as part of the YMCA of Cortland’s Race Series Rain though didn’t stop those ducks or ticket sales From ticket sales $42,880 was raised with all of the money going to youth groups in Cortland County printing and advertising and covers the prize monies And the Last Place ‘winner’ of $10 is Cheryl Smith and her duck The Corn Ducky Derby since 2014 has raised a total $487,914.48 for Youth Groups The Cortland Community Service Club provides opportunities for members from the greater Cortland Community to meet and work together providing service to the greater Cortland Community To raise and provide funds for selected greater Cortland Community needs with an emphasis on youth programs The City of Cortland Common Council will meet tomorrow evening at 6pm on the third floor of City Hall a public hearing will be held regarding the proposed fiscal year 2025 Community Development Block Grant Program and upcoming funding round The City of Cortland will also recognize the Cortland County Historical Society for their Centennial Anniversary Items on the agenda include: appointing a member to the ethics committee and declaring police material as scrap and authoring its sale a presentation by the City of Cortland’s independent auditors will take place The meeting is open to the public and available to watch online via Zoom You can also try using the search feature at the top right of this page We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your website experience and help us understand how you navigate our website. By using this site, you agree to our Privacy Policy While one of SUNY Cortland’s central buildings a new residence hall is planned to rise for the first time in 15 years.  associate vice president for facilities management said that the university center for conferences and student activities will receive updates slated for completion in 2028 Other than a first floor that was renovated approximately five years ago the rest of Corey Union will undergo a major redesign that changes the interior layout and exterior facade to make the student union brighter and more inviting.  “A new open stairway connects the lower floor dining to the main entrance floor which is technically the second floor,” Maroney said “We’re opening up the interior of the building with a little more of an open floor plan so students can move between different spaces and have their own private spaces that have different purposes but still be engaged in what’s going on in other parts of the building.”  Construction on Corey Union is estimated to begin in Spring 2026 and finish close to 30 months later.  Most of the Corey Union staff and offices will temporarily be moved to Cornish Hall and Van Hoesen Hall More information will be provided closer to the renovation’s start date.  a second construction project will build a yet unnamed residence hall beginning in 2026 with hopes for a soft opening to residents in the spring of 2028 and a formal opening in fall of 2028.  The new hall will be located at the intersection of Pashley and Folmer drives with a target of 200 beds set up in apartment-style rooms It will be the first new housing for students since 2013 Maroney said that the main reason for the new building is to replace apartments on West Campus with similar style housing located on the main campus not to add more housing than the university currently offers The eventual plan is to phase out regular use of West Campus rooms entirely with some being updated for use as backup housing when residential renovations take place on the main campus.  A decision on the location of the new residence hall was largely based on a student survey that requested proximity to the Student Life Center and onsite parking.  “We’ve heard the students out there tend to feel more isolated from the campus so we wanted to try to find a way to bring that housing on to the main campus proper.”   New locations to offset the parking to be lost through construction are being reviewed.  Both projects will embrace renewable energy and energy efficient design The residence hall will be built with the infrastructure to install solar panels and Corey Union’s new design will make it more heat efficient Cortland decided to dig deep for a solution.  “(It) will include a new geothermal well field which will be located at the south end of the Bowers (Hall) parking lot” Maroney said “It will use geothermal heating and cooling .. using heat pumps and ground source heating and cooling from the well field.”   The $70 million Corey Union project is paid for through the SUNY Construction Fund at no added expense to the university Costs for the residence hall are estimated at around $36 million with Cortland using low interest state-issued bonds to cover construction costs that will be repaid over time through student room fees.  Cortland chosen as model for student success SUNY Cortland is one of the nation’s highest-value universities offering an affordable education that leads to good-paying careers according to the latest rankings from the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.  The university was one of 479 schools across the country — about 16% of the total schools ranked — named Opportunity Colleges and Universities The designation also marks Cortland as a Higher Access Higher Earnings institution that can serve as a model for fostering student success “The majority of students apply to college with the hope it is a path to opportunity and the job they’ve dreamt about,” said Timothy F.C “This work is about ensuring that institutions are recognized when they empower students to reach their goals and succeed.”  Median earnings data eight years after entry to Cortland for undergraduates who received federal financial aid was calculated at $56,579 About 21% of those Cortland students were from underrepresented groups.  “Being named a university of opportunity is one of the best ways to describe SUNY Cortland,” said President Erik J our campus has helped graduates reach their greatest potential and make a difference in their chosen professions affordability and excellence have long been institutional hallmarks and they continue to define the educational experience that students discover at SUNY Cortland.”  The Carnegie Classification framework was created in 1973 to support research and policy analysis within higher education The most recent version of the system measures schools in ways that include their size the types of degrees they award and the fields of study in which students receive their degrees.  Data collected by ACE and the Carnegie Foundation included statistics from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System Department of Education College Scorecard and the U.S Institutions are measured on student access defined by the number of Pell Grant recipients and students from underrepresented backgrounds as well as on students’ post-attendance earnings eight years after enrollment.  Tickets for the Spring Fling concert with A Boogie Wit da Hoodie sold out in less than a week guaranteeing a big end to Spring Fling week 2025 The popular rapper and singer-songwriter will perform in Park Center Alumni Arena on Saturday Opening for A Boogie will be Boston-based DJ Frank White “This year’s Spring Fling is going to be nothing short of amazing — a week full of exciting events leading up to the biggest concert Cortland has seen in years,” said Abigail Loiselle president of the Student Activities Board (SAB) This will be the fourth and final Spring Fling concert for Loiselle a senior therapeutic recreation major who became involved with SAB during her first year at SUNY Cortland “It’s been an honor to help bring joy and unforgettable experiences to our campus community through these events,” Loiselle said “I’m so proud to be part of a group that is not only dedicated but truly passionate about creating something special for our students.” on the lawn behind the Student Life Center An evening of laughter with teacher-turned-comedian Jay Black starts at 7 p.m Make a new friend — literally — at Spring Fling Stuff-A-Plush at 6 p.m Next Level Video Game Night with giant gaming screens from 7 to 9 p.m on the Corey Union southwest patio (Rain location: lobby level) games and other attractions will be available from 11 a.m (Rain location: Corey Union Function Room) Any changes to this schedule will be communicated accordingly Please keep an eye on SAB’s Instagram for more info/posters The 2025 Cortland Challenge was one for the record books raising $633,714 from 4,104 generous donors in a single day Both of those numbers set new records for the Cortland College Foundation’s yearly 24-hour fundraiser “This level of support is unbelievable and if you’d have asked me a few years ago I would have said it was impossible,” McFadden said of the April 9 effort “I wish I had the capability of putting my immense gratitude into words right now because there’s no 'thank you' big enough to share how much I appreciate each and every person on our team for helping us get to this incredible accomplishment.” The record fundraising effort was led by $230,000 in matching gifts unlocked every time a new fundraising benchmark was hit Participants could specify what they wanted their gift used for Athletics led the way with $283,652 in designated gifts followed by the Cortland Fund with $123,463 and university academic departments with $120,273 A total of $43,859 was raised for scholarships and awards More details are available online. Cortland is the second-largest North Carolina landlord of the ones Attorney General Jackson sued Once the settlement is entered by the court Cortland will stop using non-public data from other landlords either through RealPage’s software or by other means making this one of the first settlements to restrict a major landlord from unlawfully using RealPage “Today’s settlement means one less landlord is using RealPage’s unlawful AI software to charge North Carolinians unfair rents,” said Attorney General Jeff Jackson “We’re going to keep fighting this case to make sure all landlords and property managers play by the rules and people can afford rent.” As a result of this settlement with Attorney General Jackson and the Attorney General of Colorado The agreement requires Cortland to report to the Attorney General’s Office on its efforts to comply with the consent judgment allows the Attorney General to conduct inspections to ensure Cortland is in compliance and permits the Attorney General to enforce the terms of the agreement in court or extend the term of the agreement Attorney General Jackson’s bipartisan case against the other five landlords and software company RealPage continues He is suing RealPage for allegedly exploiting landlords’ competitively sensitive information to create a pricing algorithm that inflated rent prices and violated antitrust laws Attorney General Jackson’s case alleges that these landlords communicated with RealPage and each other to share non-public information about rent prices and discounts – resulting in higher prices for rent than competitive market forces would have set These landlords own or manage more than 70,000 units throughout the state The alleged illegal conduct harms North Carolinians who are struggling to pay rent and stay in their homes as rental prices increase and they harm landlords who are trying to play fairly and follow the rules A copy of the settlement with Cortland is available here © 2024 | all rights reserved | Website by AndiSites Inc. a longtime Cortland resident and former administrator in the Cortland County Schools The son of Joseph and Josephine (Rongo) Savino He would go on to earn a Master of Science in Educational Administration from Syracuse University in 1954 Carl served as captain of three men’s sports teams: soccer the university honored him with the Hall of Fame Award for his leadership in baseball Olga – both distinguished Geneseo alumni – helped to support cancer research at the college Carl enjoyed a long career in education in various New York State school systems where he also coached varsity baseball and JV basketball at Interlaken Central School He taught special education in the Rochester City School District and 9th-grade teacher at Chittenango High School He was later appointed as Elementary Supervisor in the Poland Central School District as well as the West Canada Valley Central School District in Newport He continued his career as a school administrator in Groton where he served as Principal of Groton Elementary School from 1958-1965 The Cortland County School District hired him in 1965 he served for 18 years as the Direction of Elementary Education and later as the Assistant to the Superintendent for Elementary Education He also served for a time as the Interim Acting Superintendent of Schools Carl built a strong and impressive reputation as an innovator and received several grants (including Ford Foundation grants) for the benefit of children in the Groton and Cortland schools Carl dedicated a significant portion of his time to civic roles and interests he was the President of the Southern Tier Elementary Administrators serving as President of the Groton Chapter Following his retirement from the Cortland Schools he served in the mid-1980s on the Cortland Memorial Hospital Board he was also an officer of the Cortland Country Club Board Carl turned his passion for golf into a business venture contributing to the development and management of the Walden Oaks Country Club he became the club’s principal owner Anthony’s Catholic Church and became longtime parishioners there Anthony’s his church home for more than 60 years Carl (Susan) and David (Caroline); and his daughter He was the proud grandfather of Andrew Savino He recently welcomed two great-grandchildren Friends and relatives may call on the family from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday A funeral mass will be held at 11 am on Saturday the family asks that donations be made to St Since the first Sharing Smiles Day nine years ago Benevis has provided dental relief that has positively impacted more than 3,400 patients across 13 states and the District of Columbia thanks to the dedication of over 1,200 volunteers The event has helped break down barriers to care that influence children and their family’s ability to access dependable oral healthcare “Cortland Dental & Braces’ team members recognize the community need for resources to help children and their families achieve a healthy smile regardless of their financial circumstances,” said Dr “That’s why we are proud to volunteer our time and efforts through Sharing Smiles Day on May 18 providing much-needed oral healthcare services and education at no cost to children and adults in the New Bedford community.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the U.S. more people are unable to afford dental care than other types of healthcare The CDC also found that untreated cavities were almost three times more common in children aged two to five years old living in low-income (18%) versus higher income households (7%) Data such as this inspired Benevis to establish the Sharing Smiles Day event nearly 10 years ago to enable its locally branded dental homes and their volunteer dental professionals to welcome community members into their practice to help address their oral health needs “Benevis continuously works to improve access to essential dental healthcare and create access to care for families with various forms of insurance including Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) plans Our mission enables us to stand out from other dental healthcare and orthodontics delivery organizations,” shared Bryan Carey “I’m proud of our network of dental homes across 120 communities that’s uniquely made up of like-minded and administrative team members that place patients at the center of care our dedication to underserved children and families is making a national impact.”  To learn more about the annual event, please watch our video About BenevisBenevis is a leading dental healthcare delivery organization for practices focused on delivering life-changing oral care and orthodontics to underserved communities Through comprehensive care and operational services that expand access to dentistry Benevis has a 20-year history of providing the highest quality care to approximately 5 million children and adults Its network reaches more than 100 locally branded dental offices across the U.S that deliver treatment through 1.4 million visits each year Benevis also advocates for programs and legislation that ensure all families have access to the oral healthcare they need and deserve “Anything Goes” for SUNY Cortland performers From songs belted out by some of SUNY Cortland’s best, to some of the toughest dance routines on Broadway, it will truly be “Anything Goes” when the classic show comes to the Dowd Fine Arts Center Theatre.  The musical about hijinks on an ocean liner bound for London will have six performances on:   Tickets are on sale at Cortland’s online Box Office Described by the Performing Arts Department as a “masterful mashup of musical comedy screwball antics and social satire,” this musical has found success on Broadway since its debut in1934 The play centers on nightclub singer Reno Sweeney and stockbroker and stowaway Billy Crocker A core of classic songs by Porter has kept toes tapping to “Anything Goes” for 90 years including “I Get a Kick Out of You,” which has been embraced as a standard by the likes of Frank Sinatra Porter himself is a member of the Great American Songbook Hall of Fame.  along with other early Tin Pan Alley composers such as (Jerome) Kern helped pave the way for later musical theater both musically and culturally,” said Ben Kapilow music director for the show and assistant director in the Performing Arts Department.  “Classic musicals like ‘Anything Goes’ tend to emphasize acoustic instruments making the focus all about the notes and rhythms with no technology or effects to hide behind.”  That timeless quality has proven true in Cortland’s own revival as “Anything Goes” returns after a first run in 2003 Longtime fans will notice a few updates to the script and differences in the sets and choreography it’s an amazing score,” Halpin said “Every song in it is a great song and Cole Porter was of course a genius — there’s power and energy in all of them It’s about the silliness of what we do in terms of finding our romantic partner.”  Halpin described it as an exceptionally demanding show with dance-heavy numbers that demand the best from its cast and crew while also bringing out the best in the audience It’s a formula that has led “Anything Goes” to win Best Revival of a Musical twice at the Tony Awards “It’s a fun way to get away for a couple of hours in the evening and just laugh and feel good about life,” Halpin said.  takes on the challenging lead role of Reno Sweeney played on Broadway by the likes of stage icons Sutton Foster and Patti LuPone.  While Hayes said that she’s dreamed of doing this show half her life — and that Foster was her first idol and her inspiration to begin tap lessons — she most of all wants to make the character her own.  “This show is so funny and lighthearted and I can’t do that if I’m trying to copy other people,” Hayes said.  she’s ready for the curtain to rise.  “I’m most excited to show everyone what the cast and crew have put together,” she said and I can’t wait to see it all celebrated On this week’s edition of Meet Cortland County X101’s John Harrison is joined by Courtney the Home Finder for the Children’s Home for Wyoming Conference Courtney joins to raise awareness about the local foster care system and what you can do to support as well as promoting an upcoming awareness event she will be hosting John Harrison: [00:00:00] Good morning everybody It’s John Harrison back for another edition of Meet Cortland County on X101 Courtney from the Children’s Home of Wyoming Conference wanting to appear on Meet Cortland County and the specific subject matter we had to get you on here and for me it’s something a little close to home we’re talking about foster care.Courtney: Yeah but New York State is in a huge crisis finding suitable foster homes Came to our family through the foster system.Um I think it’s something super important I think a lot of the reason people [00:01:00] aren’t what’s kind of like a little bit of background So my job as the home finder with the foster care program is to recruit foster parents I train and license them through New York State and then I match youth to appropriate homes after they’re removed from their birth families.I also provide support to the licensed foster parents throughout their entire foster care journey where they can start is just by contacting me here at the Cortland office and I’ll provide my contact information towards the end I’ll be having a large scale information session providing snacks and some beverages just to discuss foster care the program that we have and what we offer the children’s home isn’t just foster care a family serving agency that just [00:02:00] wants children and families to be successful a little bit of training and and stuff that goes into it you must be able to pass the background check and a couple other clearances if there’s something from your past and um you’re not sure it’s best to just call and ask anyway.People with lived experience tend to be amazing foster parents and if you’ve experienced something in the legal system or family court you might be able to help out a foster child or even birth families and partnering with them to help them be successful but it’s okay to ask just to see if you would pass the background check.There’s also the 10 week course I usually have them about 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM and their virtual or in person And throughout that whole 10 weeks we talk about trauma and attachment and how you can be resilient and help these kids through probably the toughest parts of their life the background stuff doesn’t sound like too hard to clear just enough that you’re making sure you’re getting the right people in it for anyone out there on the fence or you know or maybe it’s just been in the back of your mind for a couple of years do something fantastic that’ll really help out John Harrison: Any kind of next steps thing the people that I’m looking for to provide foster care are [00:04:00] people that are kind realistic about kids appreciate diversity and have a sense of humor.Uh having a sense of humor is the most important part for me ’cause I think a laugh can make a day a whole lot better and I also want to tell people out there that are on the fence or they’re thinking that They’re gonna get too attached to kids and them reunifying with their families is going to be too hard for them.I want them to know that if your fear of getting attached is what’s stopping you from doing this that it probably means you’re gonna be a fantastic foster parent ’cause these kids deserve attachment and they deserve people that love them and want to be around them of people in the past where either it is that fear of getting attached they kind of do get into it and they do get attached but it’s those attachments that really change just kind of being a roof over their head to being a true we’re starting to run a little bit at a time but if you wanted to share some of that contact information so people know and also mention the details of the event you got coming up at the end of the month again.Courtney: Absolutely You can reach me at (607) 743-2185 or you can text And then the event that we’re having is again Wednesday May 28th at 6:00 PM at 165 South Main Street We’ll be having some light snacks and beverages and there’ll be a presentation on foster care at the process and any other questions that you might have.You can [00:06:00] ask and they’ll be answered there at that event you can again call me to register for the event and my number again thank you so much for joining us for a wonderful edition of Meet Cortland County It’s been a pleasure having you in the studio.Courtney: Thank you so much They left about 20 minutes before the tree fell," said Luke Stucke of Cortland Time has not weathered the storm that displaced Nick and his family last year—when the aforementioned tree carved its way through their home "It continues to rain; it's been through a winter in Ohio We've had raccoons in our house; we learned that is not covered by State Farm I'm very good at it now." Stucke mentioned who has had to take matters into his own hands Stucke tells 21 News that local insurance agents and contractors have been extremely helpful but getting clarity from State Farm headquarters has been anything but easy The inside of the home looks much like it did eight months ago leaves and insulation hanging from the rafters It would cost approximately $360,000 to reconstruct the home; however Luke says it's been a battle to get State Farm to hold up their end of the bargain telling 21 News the latter is $20,000-30,000 apart on the estimate "As much as I pay and everyone else pays for their home insurance I shouldn't have to worry." he explained the family has been sharing a 400 square-foot space at a relative's place...eager to come home "I just hope the person at the desk approving my claim maybe sees this and says they're a family and not just a claim number," Stucke stated adding that they don't care about the money Mark your calendars for Cortland Challenge 2025 The clock starts ticking for SUNY Cortland’s annual This year the Cortland Challenge donors could unlock more than $200,000 in matching gifts — $70,000 more than last year — thanks to pledges made by numerous generous alumni Until midnight on Challenge Day, students, faculty, staff, alumni and friends can give to the Cortland Challenge cause of their choice at give.cortland.edu/2025-Cortland-Challenge That same website allows supporters to learn more about the challenge and follow its progress throughout the day “Last year’s Cortland Challenge brought an extraordinary and record-breaking day,” said President Erik J “But if there’s one thing I know to be true about our Cortland alums and friends it’s that their competitive spirit always rises to the moment Our challenge day reminds us that special things can happen when Red Dragons come together in support of our current and future students I am excited to reach for new heights in 2025.” More than $50,000 in matching gifts for SUNY Cortland will be unlocked throughout the day as certain donor milestones are met: Every unique donor will count toward unlocking matching gifts “These gifts will be awarded at multiple levels,” McFadden said “with our ultimate goal being a record-breaking 3,827 donors to unlock all awards.” These matching gifts are made possible by generous supporters who have pledged to provide them Peter Kachris ’56 and Susan Paul ’64 a dollar-for-dollar match for gifts made to The Cortland Fund will be available all day thanks to a pledge by the Cortland College Foundation Board of Directors several timed challenges will be made throughout the day presented as opportunities to unlock awards of $1,000 if 100 donors give within the hour These are made possible by the following generous donors: Cheryl Barredo M ’81 Michael Wallace ’82 and Mark Zeller ’82 The 20 teams have been broken into four categories: small Individual teams will compete in their category to win up to $2,500 in awards by unlocking various fundraising achievements including most donors and most dollars raised In addition to those available matching funds through donor generosity select athletic teams will have extra match money available Donors for specific teams include Chris ’79 and Terry ’80 Grady 34 participating academic and campus departments will be competing for the most donors hoping to win awards of $500 to $2,000 for their programs each participating academic and campus area that reaches 15 donors is eligible to win $100 Dedicated donors also have offered to match contributions to particular academic or campus departments The Lynne Parks ’68 SUNY Cortland Alumni House Parks Family Center for Environmental and Outdoor Education at Raquette Lake Supporting this friendly competition is the President’s Cabinet Vice President for Institutional Adancement Richard Coyne ’07 Gregory Sharer and Vice President for Finance and Management Mark Yacavone ’94 Additional match donors include Marcia Anderson ’73 Joel Tiss ’85 and Ghirish Bhat and Sharon Steadman Additional supporters of this year’s Cortland Challenge include the SUNY Cortland Alumni Association Board of Directors and the Metcalf Board of Directors the entire campus community is encouraged to: takes a celebratory photo with her staff after selling a winning Mega Millions jackpot ticket worth a whopping $349 million CORTLAND – After more than a month, a Mega Millions jackpot ticket worth $349 million sold at a Cortland gas station has been claimed, Cortland’s mayor said Wednesday. Mayor Mark Pietrowski shared the update on his mayoral Facebook page Wednesday morning. He said he’s been asked regularly about the ticket since it was sold in a drawing March 25 at Casey’s General Store, 70 S. Somonauk Road. “The winners right now still wish to remain anonymous,” Pietrowski said. “The winners mention wanting to do good. It is completely up to them what they want to do with their own winnings. If they decide they want to do something in Cortland, they can always talk to us. If not, that is fine too. Just wishing them the best moving forward.” It’s not known whether the winners are from the area. The winning numbers for the drawing were 1-5-17-39-62, plus the gold Mega Ball of 8. The cash option, as opposed to the annuity, is $161.4 million. Winners have a year from the draw date to come forward and claim their prize. They can do so anonymously. For selling the winning ticket, the Cortland Casey’s also received a $500,000 cash bonus. The Illinois Lottery offers tips for newly minted millionaires, including signing the back of their ticket to keep it safe, seeking professional financial and legal advice, and calling the Lottery Player Hotline to arrange a private appointment to claim the prize. Mega Millions is played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The game is coordinated by state lotteries. Copyright © 2023 Shaw Local News Network Local sales tax collections are up 3.2% totaling $5.8 billion dollars for the first quarter of year according to New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli DiNapoli says each of the state’s 10 regions saw year-over-year increases in collections “Local sales tax collections grew in the first quarter compared to last year but this growth could be threatened by economic disruptions and uncertainty,” DiNapoli said “I encourage local officials to take advantage of the financial tools and guidance my office offers to help shore up their finances and build resilience against the challenging headwinds we face.” This is now the second straight year sales tax collections were below the pre-pandemic average increase of 3.5% Cortland County saw an increase of 2.7% for first quarter collections when compared to 2024 the county has collected $9.9 million in sales tax January saw the highest percentage increase at 14.2% totaling $3.59 million collected in the month within the county and March experienced a decline of 10.1% in collections when compared to last year Neighboring Tompkins County is up 8.3% for the first quarter of 2025 when compared to 2024; the county collected $16.53 million in sales tax communitywide civic-engagement project will take place on Sunday With a total of 323 student volunteers signed up to participate registration allowing organizers to match groups with the 44 identified job sites ends today both volunteers and sites will continue to be accepted event coordinator for the Student Government Association The university’s Student Government Association (SGA) is once again organizing the event which became a Cortland tradition in 2015 by sending hundreds of SUNY Cortland students out into the Cortland community painting and otherwise sprucing up a mix of private residences and businesses in their town The Big Event is the SGA’s largest annual initiative “The Big Event is important to SUNY Cortland because it allows us to build bridges between the university and the community,” Cisneros said “It is important to me because volunteer work is something I hold close to my heart and will always encourage others to do volunteers should check in at Park Center Alumni Arena between 9 and 9:30 a.m. where there will be a light continental breakfast Participants will then organize into groups and depart for work sites through their own transportation at 9:45 a.m gardening or any other requests SGA receives from community members Volunteers do not need to bring their own equipment athletic teams and club sports is are once again committing to the annual initiative many interested students without any group affiliations have also signed up Founded at SUNY Cortland by Ashlee Prewitt ’14 the student club Actively Involved in the Community (AIC) was previously responsible for organizing this event each spring More than 400 volunteers participated in The Big Event's 2015 Cortland debut Update: A memorial service for Regina Grantham associate professor emerita of communication disorders and sciences The following message was sent to faculty and staff members on behalf of President Erik J It saddens me deeply to share that Regina Grantham Regina was an icon on our campus — someone who made a positive difference in many lives because of her excellence in speech-language pathology and her service to others and the greater Cortland community I will always remember Regina as a trusted and welcoming mentor to countless members of our campus community Featured in the university’s Beloved Community Narratives project Regina was a passionate advocate for antiracism equity and social justice at SUNY Cortland and she always had heartfelt advice for anyone in need When Regina served as a keynote speaker at SUNY Cortland’s Commencement in 2023 she told our graduates: “You’re valued every moment so value the lives of others.” Regina exemplified that advice in all her life’s work She was an innovative leader in speech-language pathology for more than 50 years at the local A member of the university’s faculty since 1993 Regina spearheaded the creation of a master’s degree program in speech-language pathology in 2013 and contributed to the success of the Center for Speech which serves the entire Cortland community Regina participated in many university-wide committees and initiatives She also was a founding member of Women of Color and the Cortland County Community of Color a collaborative venture between SUNY Cortland and Tompkins Cortland Community College Her extensive involvement in the community included serving on the boards of the Tompkins Cortland Community College Foundation Cortland Loaves and Fishes and Grace & Holy Spirit Episcopal Church The American Speech Language and Hearing Association honored Regina with the title of fellow one of the highest awards given by the profession’s international organization She was recognized with honors by the Central New York Speech Language and Hearing Association the New York State Speech Language Hearing Association and was named Zonta’s Woman of Achievement in 2014 She also received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Faculty Service in 2004 Regina was very fond of the work of American memoirist and poet Maya Angelou and I will always recall a quote that she shared with our graduates: “The desire to reach for the stars is ambitious but the desire to reach hearts is wise.” Regina touched many minds and hearts I hope you will join me in supporting her colleagues and loved ones and always remembering her legacy at SUNY Cortland New internship program will help Cortland businesses Distinguished Teaching Professor Kathleen Burke of SUNY Cortland’s Economics Department was one of only 28 educators throughout the country chosen for the Business-Higher Education Forum’s 2025 Faculty Innovation Fellowship.  But the real winner might be Cortland-area businesses.  The fellowship will allow Burke to create the Business Assistance Internship Program which will use the skills of SUNY Cortland students to help local businesses meet some critical needs that could include marketing “Most of the businesses here are small businesses,” Burke explained “They're considered micro — five or fewer employees It's not that the business couldn't take it on themselves it's just they don't have the capacity because they don't have enough people to actually work on that project as well as run the business.”  Part of the idea for the new internship program came from Burke’s Community Innovation Lab course in which students work on projects for local small businesses and nonprofits as part of a class.  Burke found that some projects were too small in scope to last an entire semester as part of a course but could be done outside class as part of an internship program Interdisciplinary teams of students will work anywhere from a half to multiple semesters while getting a unique applied learning experience.  “We have a synergistic relationship with our community our students are here and they're learning within this community and they're giving back through this all of the skills that they're learning.” Burke said “They're able to help our community grow.”  The idea is that the internship would ultimately be housed in a larger entrepreneurship designed to help local businesses in many ways.  The fellowship project will also let Burke and her students target specific needs based on an assessment by Cortland County’s Business Development Corporation.  will give students hands-on experience that also supports the plans of those local businesses.  Burke’s fellowship began in January and lasts until September Nineteen student interns are helping to build an economic indicator dashboard that breaks down local and national data into more easily understood components.   The dashboard will not only help existing Cortland-area businesses but be an asset for businesses that may want to see the perks of setting up shop in Cortland.  “We hope it will be used not only by our current businesses … but also for businesses that want to locate to Cortland,” Burke said “We will have economic indicators and also some socio-economic indicators there so they can see what Cortland is about and why would they want to locate their business here.”   The organization sponsoring the fellowship is a national network that connects corporate and higher education leaders to work together to develop solutions to talent needs in employment  Burke and the other new 28 new fellows represent 18 institutions across 11 states chosen through a competitive national search Their programs are designed to bolster student success align education with local industry needs and grow innovation and leadership skills for faculty Game Recap: Men's Lacrosse | 3/26/2025 9:17:00 PM Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here Student research showcased at Transformations 2025 The best of SUNY Cortland’s student academic projects will be highlighted when the annual Transformations: A Student Research and Creativity Conference returns this month a total of 96 students will showcase their work mentored by 47 faculty members That will include 45 students presenting talks and 66 students presenting posters including in those numbers some students doing both the conference lets students share the results of their hard work throughout the school year on an array of topics It was renamed Transformations in 2012 to emphasize how research transforms the studied subjects the students’ lives and the world at large This year's Transformations conference kicks off Thursday Transformations begins with the annual keynote address at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, in Sperry Center Hobson Lecture Hall (Room 104). The speaker will be Teagan Bradway a SUNY Cortland associate professor of English and recipient of the 2025 Dr Peter DiNardo ’68 and Judith Waring Outstanding Achievement in Research Award More information is available on the Transformations website Each year the university sends out a campuswide call for presentations and uses faculty members serving as mentors to encourage students to participate All students given a summer fellowship from the Undergraduate Research Council are expected to contribute For questions about Transformations, please contact the Arts and Sciences Dean’s Office at 607-753-4312 or email SchoolOf.ArtsandSciences@cortland.edu where the university is celebrating sustainability and the protection of the environment for the entire month of April and from film screenings to the annual Big Event this month is a big Red Dragon celebration of sustainability “SUNY Cortland's approach to sustainability has always involved the entire campus so it makes sense that our Earth Day celebration is no different,” said Megan Swing the university’s energy and sustainability engagement coordinator “With all of our over-achievers on campus we need a full month to fit all of our celebrations in!” You can see a full calendar of SUNY Cortland environmental events on the Sustainability Office website Game Recap: Men's Baseball | 4/1/2025 5:49:00 PM Thanks for visiting Description:  Two SUNY Cortland students attempted to start a Turning Point USA chapter at their school but the student government and school faculty denied them group status because of the group’s political views The students are challenging school officials for violating their First Amendment rights.  ADF attorneys reach favorable settlement agreement on behalf of Turning Point USA chapter at SUNY Cortland CORTLAND, N.Y. – Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing two students and the Turning Point USA chapter they started at the State University of New York Cortland reached a favorable settlement agreement Monday with a college official and the student government association after they denied the conservative group recognized status because of its views including implementing an appeal process if a group is denied recognized status the student government and SUNY Cortland will also pay $42,000 “Colleges are meant to be marketplaces of ideas where students learn to respect and defend diverse beliefs but many college officials are encouraging students to silence opposing views SUNY Cortland ultimately decided to do the right thing and that’s good for everyone,” said ADF Legal Counsel Mathew Hoffmann “Students Gabriella Delorenzo and Megan Rothmund worked hard to form a TPUSA chapter at the university to bring together students who value freedom After Gabriella and Megan pursued legal action the Student Government Association rightly decided to officially recognize the group and revise its policy to promote First Amendment freedoms for all students.” “The Student Government’s revised club recognition policy is a necessary correction to its previous discriminatory stance,” said TPUSA Public Relations Manager Aubrey Laitsch “The $42,000 compensation acknowledges the unjust challenges faced by our chapter We remain steadfast in our mission to protect free speech and ensure fair treatment for all student organizations nationwide.” The Student Government’s Student Senate withheld recognized group status to the TPUSA chapter because it disagreed with the national TPUSA organization’s views Student senators questioned and demeaned Turning Point’s views for approximately 100 minutes When the students raised the issue with SUNY Cortland President Erik Bitterbaum he warned that they would likely be denied if they re-applied “We silence voices all the time in this country That’s the tragedy and also the greatness of democracy.” one of more than 4,500 attorneys in the ADF Attorney Network served as local counsel on behalf of the TPUSA chapter The ADF Center for Academic Freedom is dedicated to protecting First Amendment and related freedoms for students and faculty so that everyone can participate freely in the marketplace of ideas without fear of government censorship Mathew Hoffmann serves as legal counsel in the Center for Free Speech at Alliance Defending Freedom where he works to defend free speech and combat global censorship and coercion He has represented clients in free expression cases across the country and has argued cases before the U.S Courts of Appeals for the Seventh and Ninth Circuits and the Alabama Supreme Court Hoffmann clerked for the Honorable Robert J Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit and served as an associate at a large law firm from the University of Notre Dame Law School in 2018 He graduated summa cum laude and served as an editor for the Notre Dame Law Review Hoffmann graduated from Georgetown University with a Bachelor of Science with honors in chemistry and a double major in government Hoffmann is admitted to practice before the District of Columbia and Virginia bars as well as numerous federal appellate and trial courts Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom © 2025 Alliance Defending Freedom is a registered 501(C)(3) Charity. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions marking the end of an era for the second-oldest family-owned newspaper in New York The closure comes amid declining readership and rising costs including an anticipated 25% tariff on newsprint the publisher highlighted a grim statistic: of the estimated 6,000 newspapers in the United States "I had hoped this day would never come," he said The news of the closure sent shockwaves through the community and Godspeed," read the headline atop the last edition "My problem is I just renewed my subscription for $195 for six months." "That’s an anchor building for our community and it's a beautiful building," said Scott Steve The closure has prompted local leaders to address the need for an official paper Democratic Minority Leader Beau Harbin expressed the community's loss "It's unfortunate when anybody loses a job particularly these long-standing employees in our community who've really worked so hard to bring us our local news," he said "I think there's still gonna be something missing from being able to receive a regular newspaper with local interest." The Cortland Standard's closure is attributed in part to President Donald Trump's imposition of a 25% tariff on foreign steel and aluminum the largest foreign supplier of these metals to the U.S "One of the reasons for their having to go out of business and close up the Cortland Standard is that the President's trade war with Canada in the imposition of a 25% tariff on newsprint where we get a lot of that lumber products from Canada." The newspaper will file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection with all business and legal decisions to be managed by a court-appointed trustee As the city of Cortland prepares to celebrate its 125th anniversary it faces the reality of existing without the Cortland Standard for the first time in its history Former Marcy Corrections Officer pleads guilty to manslaughter in case involving the death of an inmate in December 2024 Two former employees confirmed the shutdown to CNYCentral Wednesday evening The last issue of The Standard will be Thursday Employees were informed around noon Wednesday it would be their last day of work According to the paper’s website, CortlandStandard.com The Cortland Standard was the oldest and largest news media organization in Cortland County it was New York’s second-oldest family-owned news organization and the eighth oldest in the United States Game Recap: Baseball | 4/22/2025 8:45:00 PM | Jayden McClellan '26 athletics communications student assistant Thanks for visiting English Department scholar honored for research Teagan Bradway, a SUNY Cortland associate professor of English, has been awarded the 2025 Dr. Peter A. DiNardo ’68 and Judith Waring Outstanding Achievement in Research Award.   Teagan’s internationally recognized scholarship stood out for its productivity and its influence on undergraduate and graduate students at SUNY Cortland and worldwide,” said Ann McClellan provost and vice president for academic affairs Bradway will present a lecture on her scholarly work Thursday as part of Transformations: A Student Research and Creativity Conference SUNY Cortland’s annual celebration of student research and creativity The award is given to an outstanding SUNY Cortland faculty or professional staff member for their record of research achievements In addition to scholarly productivity and publication in journals evidence for research achievements may include accomplishments in the creative and performing arts The awardee is recommended by the Faculty Research Committee and selected by the provost based upon at least five years of research-related activities at Cortland Bradway previously was honored with the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Creative Activities and the SUNY Cortland Excellence in Teaching Award for Tenure-Track Faculty.  she earned a master’s degree and a Ph.D in literatures in English from Rutgers University Since joining the Cortland’s English Department in 2014 Bradway has released three published textbooks on the ways LGBTQIA+ people write and read literature in the 20th and 21st centuries Her work includes her own book on Queer Experimental Literature (2017) She is co-editor of two collections including and Sexuality in the 21st Century (Cambridge Bradway is the author of dozens of articles in national and international journals the journal of the Modern Language Association of America Her important work has also had a global impact as reflected by invited talks at University of Manchester in the United Kingdom An outstanding mentor — a key aspect of the DiNardo Waring Award — while at Cortland she has directed 15 undergraduate and graduate thesis projects in English She also has served on external thesis and dissertation committees in the U.S As graduate coordinator for SUNY Cortland’s M.A Bradway has mentored at least six cohorts through the process of proposing and presenting their original research at regional and national conferences She has served as an important mentor and speaker for SUNY Cortland’s Pride Club as well.   Bradway was the Hunt-Simes Visiting Junior Chair of Sexuality Studies at the Social Sciences and Humanities Advanced Research Centre at the University of Sydney in 2024 She will be one of six Society for the Humanities Fellows next year at Cornell University The Dr. Peter A. DiNardo ’68 and Judith Waring Outstanding Achievement in Research Award is named in honor of the late Peter A. DiNardo ’68 a widely respected clinical psychologist and SUNY distinguished teaching professor The endowed award’s creation in 2015 replaced the university’s Outstanding Achievement in Research Award DiNardo-Waring Award honorees committed to a campus named lecture Select an image below to begin a slide show Teagan Bradway's co-authored collection with Elizabeth Freeman Teagan Bradway's co-authored collection with Elizabeth Freeman Teagan Bradway's co-edited collection with E.L Teagan Bradway's co-edited collection with E.L The top quarter of the USA Lacrosse Division III Men’s Top 20 is filled with teams that refuse to blink as every team ranked 1-7 maintained perfect records The rub is that the bottom half is the transitive property's worst nightmare Lawrence was stunned during the week by SUNY Cortland Lawrence’s tendency to ride the lightning early in the season Its three games prior to a 17-5 win over Nazareth were all decided by two goals or less Cortland will be rewarded for its efforts with a spot in the Top 20 The Dragons’ lone loss came at the hands of No Senior netminder Travis Wagner has been critical to their success averaging 14 saves a game and saving 64 percent on the season Cortland’s last two wins are by a combined three goals so it’s not an exaggeration to say that Wagner’s efforts are winning games Lynchburg has returned to the Top 20 after a 15-9 win over Denison The Sunday late afternoon games have been treacherous for a number of Top 20 squads Salisbury’s four-goal win over Wesleyan puts the Cardinals into the loss column for the first time this season but losing to Salisbury is something that most teams do the top teams in that conference will be battling for spots in the Top 20 Swarthmore made its biggest jump this season though its ascendance is more of a leapfrog effect of being consistently in the win column It’s a banner week ahead for Division III fans. The Callum Robinson Classic takes center stage next week Three teams in the top five and nine of the 10 teams participating are ranked or also considered It’s a statement time for teams that fancy themselves contenders for Tufts’ throne.  which is compiled by USA Lacrosse Magazine staff and contributors USA Lacrosse is a 501(c)3 tax-exempt charitable organization (EIN 52-1765246) Four students earn SUNY Chancellor’s Awards Four SUNY Cortland seniors received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award — the highest student honor presented by New York’s public university system — at a ceremony held Tuesday The university’s recipients of the 2025 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence are: The Chancellor’s Awards are given each year to students from SUNY’s 63 campuses who have demonstrated academic excellence while balancing leadership roles community service and achievements in the arts 113 SUNY Cortland students have earned the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence since the program began in 1997 More information about each 2025 SUNY Cortland recipient is included below: Vinny Aquino shines as a student leader who embodies advocacy for the LGBTQIA+ community and other individuals treated as being part of a minority Aquino’s lived experiences as a non-white trans man and a person with cerebral palsy who sometimes uses a wheelchair have brought an intersectional perspective to his work on behalf of the university’s Pride Club for more than three years he helped organize Pride Homecoming events a New York City trip to the Stonewall Inn and campus dialogues considering the challenges that LGBTQIA+ students face Aquino established Pride Club’s annual fall trip to the university’s outdoor campus at Raquette Lake He consistently advocates for accessibility as a trusted student voice in the Disability Resources Office keeping a 3.92 cumulative grade point average as a psychology major while working in Memorial Library to fund his education His current fieldwork with geriatric adults in residential and rehabilitation care centers demonstrates his service to others he plans to pursue a master’s in social work and public health with a long-term goal to advocate for individuals from multiple minority groups dual major adolescence education: social studies and history who currently serves as president of the university’s Student Government Association is always willing to advocate for people in need especially through her training as a future teacher Diggs embodies what it means to prioritize diversity inclusion and belonging in her life’s work Her success as SGA president can be attributed to the many skills she brings to the classroom: listening Her high-level president’s role also reflects the admiration she has earned from her peers she has served as president of the Black Student Union secretary for Men of Value and Excellence and the public relations representative for the Curly Kinky Coily hair club She also has raised funds and awareness to address student food insecurity at SUNY Cortland while continuously advocating for the needs of underrepresented peers Diggs tutors her classmates through both the university’s Learning Center and the Cortland Educational Opportunity Program She is a counselor for YMCA after-school and summer programs in her hometown Diggs has accomplished all this while excelling in the classroom with a 3.82 grade point average She stands out as a star scholar in Cortland’s Urban Recruitment of Educators (C.U.R.E.) program a research-driven opportunity on the campus that helps future teachers address inequities in education Named the School of Education’s 2023 Black Lives Matter at School Promising Professionals Award recipient Diggs’s field experiences have been diverse introducing her to students of all abilities in urban settings from Ithaca Hunter Martorella builds bridges and makes a difference Martorella’s extraordinary service on executive boards aims to assist marginalized groups including Pride Club and Students Active for Ending Rape (SAFER) Martorella has initiated experiences for his peers across the state from the university’s outdoor campus in Raquette Lake to the Stonewall Inn and from the New York City AIDS Memorial to the YWCA in the local community He helped lead a community clean-up through The Big Event the university’s annual day of student service An at-large senator for the Student Government Association as well as treasurer for the Cortland Writers’ Association he participates with Men of Value and Excellence Martorella facilitates a COR 101 class for new students and is a consistent President’s List member with a 3.90 grade point average Professors note Martorella’s excellence in the classroom and his willingness to far exceed the expectations of his field placements in teaching He shined at nearby Groton Elementary School and he joined multiple school district events outside of traditional school day hours Martorella also helped lead a campus tour of SUNY Cortland for fourth grade students Martorella works at the SUNY Cortland Child Care Center and volunteers with multiple organizations including Syracuse Prevention Network where he helps peers develop healthy lifestyle habits He plans to pursue a master’s degree in school counseling after graduation dual major in history and adolescence education: social studies Riley Meckley has long championed the interests of college students such as increased New York state student funding her involvement with organizations including the Galpin Institute for Civic Engagement and the Student Government Association (SGA) has been impressive Meckley encouraged student participation and reviewed organizational bylaws with members of various clubs while also representing student concerns on the SGA’s Campus Safety Committee and Academic Grievance Tribunal Her efforts both in Albany and on campus have earned her SUNY Cortland’s Democracy Engagement Leadership Award in addition to twice capturing the Student Campus Leadership Award Meckley was presented the Vice President for Student Affairs Award and the Michael C reflecting her academic success and commitment to classmates A future teacher who embodies academic excellence and meaningful participation in campus life Meckley has maintained a 3.94 grade point average — the highest among classmates in her discipline She received the President’s List and Top 5% distinctions every semester and was inducted into two honor societies Meckley has also participated in the university’s Education Club and the women’s cross country and track teams she traveled to Singapore and the United Kingdom afterward serving as a study abroad ambassador Meckley has earned certification as an American Sign Language interpreter further proof of her talent and willingness to assist others she is a fashion influencer with an Instagram channel called “Always Dress Best” that has more than 164,000 followers We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your 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