Campus Champion

Sophomore Honors Student Mackenzie Carroll is ‘learning by doing’ at her job at the Barbara A. Galpin ’68, M ’74 Institute of Civic Engagement. Last fall Mackenzie met a challenge by Director and Service-Learning Coordinator John Suarez — use her love for dance to demonstrate the importance of active listening. The musical theatre major passed the test and was key in educating fellow Red Dragons to become involved in the fall elections. Mackenzie will continue to inspire and inform using deliberative dialog to identify different ways policy could be addressed to make politics less divisive. She’ll unveil this three-part project, “A House Divided,” in the spring semester.

An assembly at Malcolm E. Nettingham Middle School in New Jersey promised a short break from the school’s normal routine. Instead, for Emily Litz ’10, it changed her life forever. 

Litz, a fifth-grade teacher, was announced as one of the $25,000 winners of the national Milken Educator Awards, credited with creating an “inclusive, engaging atmosphere where students feel empowered and supported.”  

The Milken Family Foundation, sponsor of the awards, praised Litz for the use of hands-on, inquiry-based, conceptual learning over memorization to develop critical thinking and scientific inquiry skills. 

When it was first revealed the assembly was a ruse to surprise Litz, she felt like her mind was playing tricks on her. Once the announcement fully registered, she was still in disbelief. 

“I couldn’t hold back my tears of joy,” she said. “And as the crowd began to chant my name, I just felt so loved and appreciated by everyone around me. It was truly remarkable.” 

Back in her classroom after the assembly, Litz said there were hugs, high fives and even some tears from her students. The excitement didn’t stop at dismissal, either. 

“I heard from so many past students, parents, friends, colleagues and family members on all ends,” Litz said. “My fifth-grade colleagues were probably my biggest supporters in the moment, and it just goes to show that this job is more than a one-man show, and that teaching is truly a group effort in the end.” 

The Milken Educator Awards’ stated goal is to inspire educators, students and communities to “celebrate, elevate and activate” the K-12 teaching profession and encourage young, capable people to pursue teaching as a career.  

Only about 45 teachers will be honored by the award this year, and Litz is the first teacher from New Jersey’s Scotch Plains-Fanwood Regional School District, roughly 30 miles west of New York City, to earn the honor. 

While she has no specific plans for the prize money yet, Litz said she hopes to spend some of it to relax with her husband, Ron, and three children, Everett, Eleanor and Cooper. 

In April 2025, she and the other honorees will attend an all-expenses-paid Milken Educator Awards Forum in Los Angeles, where they will network with new colleagues, veteran Milken Educators and other education leaders about how to broaden their impact on K-12 education. 

“Each day, Emily Litz shows us the dedication and innovative spirit that makes New Jersey educators among the nation’s finest,” said Kevin Dehmer, New Jersey’s acting education commissioner, in a statement on Litz’s accomplishment. 

Like other teachers, Litz’s schedule doesn’t allow for too many breaks — award winners or not. That afternoon following the assembly, she was scheduled for conferences with parents. 

“It was a bit surreal to have parents congratulating me in such a short time after the assembly, however, it was much appreciated and I was glad that I could still meet to discuss their child’s progress so far this year,” Litz said. “It was definitely an adrenaline rush, but I was excited to hop back into my job and to talk about my students because honestly, that’s what I know best.” 

As an educator her philosophy is simple: students learn best in a respectful, trusted and safe environment. 

“You can be smart and know all of the ins and outs of a curriculum, however, if you do not create an environment where students feel comfortable enough to learn, you will not truly be creating a successful learning environment,” Litz said. “In order to provide this environment, teachers need to be invested in knowing their students for who they are as people and as learners.” 

While teaching can be taxing mentally and physically, Litz has found that she still finds a happiness in her career she wouldn’t find elsewhere. 

“I always say to my students, ‘I can’t imagine having to work with adults all day, when I could work with kids and help them become awesome humans in the end.’” 

Litz said she first wanted to become a teacher thanks to Miss Bates, her third-grade teacher. It was a warm, welcoming class that guided Litz to the same with her own students. 

“Throughout the school year, my main focus is getting to know my students as learners and as people outside of the classroom as well,” she said. 

SUNY Cortland was another influence, with what Litz described as excellent student teaching experiences — particularly with fifth-grade teacher Karen Exelby — along with guidance from Cortland’s then-field experience coordinator and former fifth-grade teacher Caitie Sidebottom. 

“I am still grateful for these two women today and I’m sure they are still impacting more future students.” 

The methods Litz uses to inspire her students range from sprinkling students with glitter for good luck before tests to transforming her classroom into a wilderness campsite where students share their writing pieces.  

She cited a child who loves Pokémon as a chance to use characters from the franchise in math problems or in a writing workshop. 

“I want my students to know that I’m not only invested in their education, but I’m also invested in them,” she said. 

With an eye on her students’ futures, Litz also developed a job application where students must explain their qualifications in writing to be “hired” for positions ranging from attendance aide to supply manager. 

While Litz has already found herself ranked among the elite educators in the country, she isn’t letting the accolades or money slow down her plans for the future. She hopes to start new initiatives at her school to help students with literacy and social and emotional learning. 

“I’m excited for what is ahead,” Litz said. “And I’m hoping that I can continue to stress the importance of recognizing educators for all that they do.” 

SUNY Cortland’s International Programs Office recently announced the winners of its Fall 2024 photo contest.

More than 700 voters from the campus community selected 26 student photos for awards across five categories. The winning images will be posted on the International Programs website in coming weeks.

This year’s contest attracted more than 122 submissions by 20 international students and 39 returned study abroad students.

The photos captured the experiences of both SUNY Cortland students traveling abroad, and international students studying at SUNY Cortland and visiting sites in the U.S.

The university’s International Programs Office currently manages more than 45 study abroad programs in countries ranging from Tanzania to Thailand, while helping Cortland students connect with hundreds of additional opportunities throughout the SUNY system. There are also 111 international students representing 30 countries enrolled at Cortland. A total of 270 SUNY Cortland students studied abroad in 2023-24.

International Programs also announced the winner in the newly created International Education Week Photo Identification Contest, Nicole Perez, who correctly guessed the location for the most images. Last spring, Perez studied abroad at the University of Salamanca in Spain.

“Congratulations to all of our winners and thank you to everyone who submitted photos for the contest, as well as everyone in the community who voted,” said Kayla N. DeCoste, assistant director of study abroad. “We’d also like to send a special thank you to the faculty and staff members who served on our voting committee.”

A slide show of the winning entries appears at the bottom of this article. The 2024 award winners are:

World As Your Classroom Category

First place: Jennifer Kelly, “Visiting the Vatican” — Vatican City, Italy

Runner-up: Jessica Souder, “Cinque Terre, Italy” — Cinque Terre, Italy

Popular choice: Casey Duma, “Bagni Regina Giovanna” — Sorrento, Italy

Honorable mention: Sabrina Achille, “Khan El Khalili” — Cairo, Egypt

Honorable mention: Tyler Higham, “Posing with the group atop ancient Mayan archaeological site” — Belize

The Faces of Study Abroad Category

First place: Shaun Phillips, “Camel Through Sahara Desert” — Africa

Runner-up: Sophia Pugsley, “Skydiving” — Cape Town, South Africa

Popular choice: Elizabeth Dudek, “Sandy Smiles” — Sahara Desert, Morocco

Honorable mention: Victoria Quick, “Namaste” — Mangalore, India

Honorable mention: Michael Murphy, “The Elephant Experience” — Phuket, Thailand

Capture the Moment Category

First place: Elsa Agarius, “Beautiful sea (in Canada during Fall Break)” — Canada

Runner-up: Rehiva Arakino, “Horseshoe Bend, Arizona”

Popular choice: Nadia Maestro-Page, “Never stop exploring” — Antelope Canyon, Arizona

Honorable mention: Rameen Zehra, “Fall Frames (Moffett Center)” — Cortland, N.Y.

Honorable mention: Su Mon Aye, “Melodies” — Ithaca, N.Y.

Honorable mention: Shreya Dhital, “Captured Colors (Holi Event)” — Cortland, N.Y.,

Honorable mention: Simay Kaya, “NBA Day” — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

World of Wonder Category

First place: Emma Stausberg, “Moraine Lake, Banff National Park” — Alberta, Canada

Runner up: Lou-Anne Duollé, “Times Square” — New York, N.Y.

Popular choice: Maren Stachniak, “American Skies” — Cortland, N.Y.

Honorable mention: Niko Soma, “Niagara Falls, N.Y.” — Niagara Falls

Live Like a Local Category

First place: Kelly Tait, “Taughannock Falls” — Ithaca, N.Y.

Runner up: Alexandra LoVerde, “Cultural Send-off Ceremony” — Mueang Khong, Thailand

Popular choice: Célia Ravignot, “C like Cheerful (on campus)” — Cortland, N.Y.

Honorable mention: Cole Simmons, “Happiness” — Gold Coast, Australia

Honorable mention: Ashley Nazario, “Goat Moment” — Dunquin, Ireland

Select an image below to start the slideshow.

An Emmy in the entertainment industry is an honor some people chase for a lifetime. For Shannon Imbornoni ’21, it was only a few years. 

Imbornoni, an associate producer for the MLB Network and NHL Network, was part of the group that won the 2023-24 Sports Emmy for “Outstanding Studio Show, Daily” for “MLB Tonight.” It was the show’s first Emmy win since 2019. 

“I was at work and everybody said, ‘Yeah, we’re not winning. We haven’t won in a while. It’s fine.’” 

When the presenter they watched on TV accidentally slipped “MLB” into his introduction, Imbornoni and the rest of her group knew the odds of winning had suddenly gone up. 

Soon after, as they heard the magic words that made it official, Imbornoni and the rest of her crew were able to celebrate being recognized as the best in the industry, beating out longtime sport show icons like ESPN’s “NFL Live” and “Pardon the Interruption.”  

“The whole office was elated,” she said. 

That opportunity to contribute to a team is a big part of why Imbornoni loves what she does. But personally, Imbornoni was as happy as anyone to win out over the highly regarded competition at ESPN after they declined to interview her when she applied to the network. Call it evening up the score. 

“I know it’s different, but looking at your favorite actors and actresses winning Emmys, and thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I’m about to have one too,’” Imbornoni said. “I’ve grown up watching 'SportsCenter' and I looked at ‘NFL Live’ and ‘Pardon the Interruption’ and to be in that category with them and to beat them, that’s pretty cool.”

The constant flow of new stats and scenarios is never-ending. Fortunately, a job where the needed footage changes as often as the latest highlight suits Imbornoni just fine. 

“I love chaos. I thrive on it, and that’s what live television is — it’s controlled chaos,” she said. “I love doing a job going up against the clock. Having to get things in like at the last second, it’s just the thrill.” 

To anyone considering a similar career path in entertainment, Imbornoni stressed that they should be flexible. 

After graduating from Cortland with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies and a minor in sport management, she went on to Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications for a master’s in broadcast and digital journalism. 

She gave credit to the communications classes at Cortland, along with her Red Dragon cross country and track coach, Steve Patrick, for getting her started in her career. 

“Knowing toward the end this is the path I was going, he (Patrick) wrote a letter of recommendation for me to go to Newhouse,” she said. 

Once out of school, and with plans to be a reporter, Imbornoni soon chose instead to be in the control room at the ACC Network.  

Almost as soon as she began in her new role at the ACC Network, Imbornoni knew she’d found a place behind the camera where she knew she could thrive.  

She stressed the value of being open to those kind of unexpected chances. 

 “You might be going in thinking you want to do one specific thing and that’s it, that that’s your end all be all, but be open to different opportunities because it might change your mind.” 

That mindset also helped teach her to accept when things don’t go to plan. It’s all a part of a method that has led her to be part of one of the sport industry’s elite TV programs. 

“I make mistakes on live television all the time. Everybody does in a profession where you’re striving for perfection. You want to get close to it, but you’re not going to achieve it all the time. You need a short memory and the willingness to move on.” 

Chloe Loewenguth, a graduating Art and Art History Department senior at SUNY Cortland, is staging her own sculpture exhibition at the Stone Quarry Art Park in Cazenovia, N.Y., as she puts her best projects up for faculty evaluation on Friday, Dec. 6.

Loewenguth of Syracuse, N.Y., won a coveted Studio at Stone Quarry Art Park award to showcase her portfolio in what Art Park founder Dorothy Reister described as “Not an outdoor museum of sculpture placed statically in a landscape setting, but rather an ever-changing partnership between the artist and environment.”

The reception for Loewenguth’s thesis exhibition, titled “chloe loewenguth: shells” will take place that day from 4 to 7 p.m.

Loewenguth, who was chosen to display a piece of her work in the 2023 Best of SUNY Exhibition in Albany, will present her oral defense of her studio artwork at 5 p.m. The reception and exhibition are free and open to the public.

SUNY Cortland’s graduating Bachelor of Fine Arts seniors traditionally have displayed their final collection of studio artworks, writing and oral presentations to enable them to fulfill the yearlong thesis requirement in their designated programs. The audience, along with BFA committee members from the Art and Art History Department, will have a chance to interact and direct questions to Loewenguth after her presentation.

“I explore the complexities of mental health and growth by translating abstract emotions into tangible forms,” Loewenguth said in her artist’s statement for the exhibition.

“Inspired by the idea that progress is a spiral, ‘Shells’ represents the layers we build to cope with life’s challenges. Each time we encounter these familiar struggles, we revolve and evolve, revealing evolution, not repetition — reminding us that although subtle and nonlinear, progress is still progress.”

Through materials like lead, wax, iron and paper, the artist explores themes of weight, fragility, persistence and transformation. These materials, coupled with the human form, allow her to embody the shared experience of learning to navigate struggle and the endurance required to grow.

“By externalizing these feelings into form, my work invites viewers to reflect on their spirals and the strength that can be found in vulnerability.”

Loewenguth enrolled at SUNY Cortland to pursue a degree in inclusive education and to play on the varsity lacrosse team.

“I have always loved art, taking classes throughout high school and even minoring in it while still in the education program here,” she said.

“It wasn’t until I had decided to leave the school’s lacrosse team and study abroad in Florence, Italy, the center of Renaissance art, that I realized that I wanted to pursue art seriously and apply for the BFA program.”

During her time at SUNY Cortland, Loewenguth’s art has been shown in the annual 2023 and 2024 Student Select Art exhibitions, where her work earned her first place this past spring.

This past year, Loewenguth also was awarded the Gerald N. DiGiusto Award for Excellence in Studio Art, as well as an Undergraduate Research Grant in which she spent the summer building an artistic iron-casting furnace that runs from recycled vegetable oil.

She served as treasurer of the student organized Art Exhibition Association.

Loewenguth’s Stone Quarry Art Park exhibition will continue to be on display from Dec. 6 to Sunday, Dec. 22.

The show will be open to view on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. or by appointment through Dec. 22.

The park is open to the public every day of the year, from dawn to dusk. A private, not-for-profit contemporary outdoor art space founded in 1991, the 104-acre park features an approximate four miles of earthen, gravel and mowed grass trails maintained by the North Country Trail Association as part of its Link Trail. Visit the Art Park website for information and a map.

Select an image below to start a slide show.

Cortland took a 14-0 halftime lead and held off Endicott in the second half to defeat the Gulls, 17-9, in an NCAA Division III tournament second-round game at Grady Field.
 
Cortland (11-0), which received a bye in the opening round of the 40-team tournament, will face Springfield in the third round next Saturday, Dec. 7. The game is expected to be at Cortland since the Red Dragons had a higher NPI ranking (4) than Springfield (10) at the end of the regular season. Springfield defeated UMass Dartmouth, 54-27, at home in the second round. Endicott closes the season with a 10-2 record; the Gulls were 9-1 in the regular season and defeated Alfred State in last week's first round. Endicott had its season come to a close versus Cortland in the playoffs for the second straight year.
 
Cortland held a 247-66 advantage in total offense in the first half but finished with only a 316-266 edge by game's end. Ethan Gallo (Slate Hill/Minisink Valley) ran 28 times for 97 yards and a touchdown and Jaden AlfanoStJohn (Westhampton/Westhampton Beach) carried 10 times for 73 yards. Zac Boyes (Buffalo/Kenmore West) was held to 9-of-20 passing for 103 yards and a TD and he ran nine times for 30 yards. Jayson Zeva (East Northport/St. John the Baptist) caught four passes for 65 yards and a score.
 
Jack Winey (Lindenhurst) led the Cortland defense with 11 tackles, six solo, with a sack and two total tackles for loss. Jaden Martinez (Port Jefferson Station/Comsewogue) made eight tackles and forced a fumble, Matt Ferrer (South Salem/John Jay) ended with six tackles and Ryan Isom (Levittown/MacArthur) totaled five tackles and two pass breakups. Nazair Jean-Lubin (Freeport) intercepted a pass at the Cortland 41-yard line with 1:14 remaining to seal the victory.
 
Endicott quarterback Clayton Marengi ran for 54 yards and a TD on seven carries and completed 12-of-25 passes for 111 yards. Shane Aylward and Kennedy Charles each caught four passes. Zachariah Twardosky led the Gulls with 14 tackles, eight solo, followed by Joe Tirrell with nine tackles and Matthew Whelan with eight stops.
 
Cortland drove 78 yards on 16 plays on the game's opening drive, which ate up 8:24 of the clock. The Red Dragons converted three third downs during the drive, and Gallo capped the series with 1-yard TD run to give Cortland a 7-0 lead. Martinez forced a fumble on Endicott's first series and Max Llewellyn (Sayville) recovered at the Gulls' 47-yard line, but Cortland's ensuing drive was stopped when Gallo was stopped for just a 1-yard gain on 4th-and-3 from the Endicott 4.
 
Cortland's defense held on the next drive and the Red Dragons, following a punt, started their next series at the Endicott 35-yard line. Boyes hit Zeva for 23 yards on the opening play, followed by a Gallo 4-yard run and an 8-yard TD catch by Zeva to put the Red Dragons up 14-0. Cortland had a chance late in the half to extend its lead but Twardosky blocked a 24-yard field goal attempt with 20 seconds left.
 
Endicott struck on the opening drive of the third quarter when, on 3rd-and-1, Marengi broke free for a 39-yard TD run. The extra point failed and Cortland led 14-6. Endicott's next series went from its own 36-yard line to the Cortland 14 before Ryan Smith connected on a 31-yard field goal to close the Gulls' deficit to five at 14-9.
 
Cortland added a key score with a 13-play, 48-yard drive that ended with a Mike Baloga (New Windsor/Cornwall) 33-yard field goal with 11:05 left in the game. Endicott's final three drives resulted in a turnover on downs at the Cortland 35-yard line, a 3-and-out in its own territory, and a closing drive starting with two minutes left that featured two incomplete passes and a run for no gain before Jean-Lubin's interception.

Photo by Darl Zehr. Jayson Zeva catches a TD pass in the second quarter

The SUNY Cortland women's ice hockey team will be holding its fifth annual Make-A-Wish® charity game on Friday, Dec. 6, when the Red Dragons host Buffalo State at 3 p.m. in a SUNYAC game. The event will support Make-A-Wish® Central New York.

Fans can show the community their support for the charity in a number of ways:

• Bid on limited edition Make-A-Wish®/Red Dragon charity game-worn jerseys, with all proceeds going directly to the Make-A-Wish® Central New York Chapter  (Jersey Auction Web Page). The auction will run from Oct. 18 through 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 19.
• Become a donor - When you donate to Make-A-Wish® you're giving children renewed strength to fight their illnesses, bringing families closer together and uniting entire communities. You can change lives!  (Donate Here)
• Participate and encourage others to attend the game

On game day:

• Last chance to enter to win raffle items from the game-day auction
• Making a cash donation
• Purchasing a Make-A-Wish® star and/or bracelet
• Purchase 50/50 raffle tickets
• Participate in Chuck-a-Puck competition

The Red Dragons hope to reach their goal of raising $2,000 this season. Thanks to passionate supporters like you, Make-A-Wish® shines a light of hope for children fighting critical illnesses when they need it most. Together, we create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses during their darkest days. Whether you are an individual donor, corporate sponsor, fundraising advocate or volunteer, your generous support transforms lives, one wish at a time.

Any questions about the auction or the charity game can be directed to Cortland assistant coach Natalie DiMeglio at natalie.dimeglio@cortland.edu.

Jersey Auction Web Page

To make a donation to support this cause, please visit this website. 

SUNY Cortland Auxiliary Services (CAS) is now accepting Program Grant applications for the 2025-26 academic year. Applications are submitted online and must be sent by midnight on Friday, Feb. 21. Applicants are asked to read the grant guidelines carefully before applying.

Each year the CAS Board of Directors allocates funds to support grants for a wide range of purposes and projects that enhance the life of the SUNY Cortland community.

Although CAS is willing to consider a wide range of ideas, it seeks to avoid duplicating other funding sources or funding projects more properly supported by state funds. Therefore, applicants should first seek funding from primary funding sources.

CAS grant funds may not be used for salaries, honoraria, travel normally funded by the College's budget, or scholarships for SUNY Cortland faculty, staff, or students. Funds may not be used to purchase computers, related hardware or software. All purchases will be processed in accordance with CAS’s financial and related GAAP policies.  In general, Program Grant funds may not be used exclusively for food for SUNY Cortland students, faculty or staff. Funding for food may be considered if the food is deemed integral to the success of the program or event. All food shall be provided by CAS. Other grant guidelines are described in the application package and online.

For more information or assistance, contact Judy Standish by email or phone at 607-753-4325.