Bulletin News

11/09/2015 

SUNY Cortland’s oldest students often produce some of the finest examples of achievement in the face of adversity, which is why the College is celebrating Non-Traditional Students Week from Monday, Nov. 9, to Friday, Nov. 13.

Special activities will take place throughout the week for a group that is defined by its unique path to SUNY Cortland. The College considers non-traditional undergraduates to be those who are at least 24 years old or who have experienced a break in their education since high school. Regardless of their age, non-traditional students might have dependent children and families. Many also work full-time jobs while others have served in the military. Nearly all of them juggle major commitments with their classes.

Campus community members can contribute to the week’s success by providing nominations for the “Celebrate a Non-Trad” campaign organized by Advisement and Transition. A form is available online or nominations can be sent to Cheryl Hines, the coordinator of non-traditional student support, in Memorial Library, Room A-111. Nominations should include the student’s name, contact information, the nominator’s relationship to the student and comments about the nominee. Students also can recognize supportive faculty and staff members. Submissions will be accepted through Monday, Nov. 16, with deserving awardees receiving a certificate as well as campus-wide recognition.

For more on the weeklong celebration, visit the Non-Traditional Student Support page or contact Hines at 607-753-4726.

Approximately 300 non-traditional undergraduates attend SUNY Cortland. Here are just a few of them:

Friday, Nov. 13
Jason Blayda

Jason Blayda found the silver lining in the unexpected lay-off from his most recent full-time job. The U.S. Navy veteran saw it as an opportunity to further his education and change careers at the same time.

“The lay-off was a blessing in disguise,” says Jason, 44, who served nine years in the military before establishing a career in the electronics manufacturing industry. “It led me somewhere where I know I can succeed.”

Jason Blayda

Today, he’s a sport management major with aspirations of working in college athletics — hopefully one day as an athletics director. He’s made significant strides since he first took college-level courses at Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3) in the early 1990s. Back then, he feared social activities like public speaking. Now, he’s confident in his skills and abilities.

“I discovered a lot about myself and my personality when I was in the Navy — who I was and who I wanted to be,” says Jason, a proud husband and father of two. “One thing that I’ve learned is that I’m a jack of all trades, master of none, and that it serves me well.”

He’s gathered a wealth of experience in the college athletics field by taking advantage of SUNY Cortland’s sport management event practicum, which stresses the ins and outs of events and facilities management. He’s tackled videography, game ticketing and sports information tasks among other responsibilities. Add to those his experience as a coach and referee, and he’ll be well prepared for a career change when he graduates in December 2016.

Thursday, Nov. 12
Tammy Anderson

Changing healthcare regulations prompted Tammy Anderson to return to school after working more than 20 rewarding years as a licensed practical nurse (LPN). It became clear that her career growth options would be limited as an LPN, and that she no longer would be able to provide critical care as a nurse.

“My focus has always been underserved populations,” Tammy says. “I want to help more people, especially those who need it the most.”

Tammy Anderson and daughter Emma

That led her to Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3), where she experienced what she calls an “epiphanic moment.” After a guest speaker presentation in one of her classes, Tammy knew she wanted to continue to change lives in the medical field as a physician assistant (PA). Fast-forward to today and she’s on track to graduate this spring with a bachelor’s degree in community health from SUNY Cortland.

“Every building I walk in on campus, I see someone who I’ve helped,” jokes Tammy, who spent 18 years at Cortland Regional Medical Center as a “jack of all trades” nurse. She worked in nearly every setting imaginable, from the emergency room to the cardiology unit to the telemetry team.

She’s done it all with three daughters of her own and now a stepson. It means a lot of running around, but Tammy’s well prepared for it. She’s an avid explorer of the outdoors and an endurance athlete, having completed countless races and triathlons up to the Ironman 70.3 distance (which includes a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and 13.1-mile run).

“I like being busy,” she says with a smile. “I like being active.”

Wednesday, Nov. 11
Sheryl Holbrook

Sheryl Holbrook has a simple way of explaining how she’s able to juggle so many personal commitments with an optimistic outlook and a smile on her face.

“Life happens,” the Cortland native says. “You can’t control what life hands to you, but you can try your best to look at things differently. In my mind, I’m blessed.”

Sheryl Holbrook

Sheryl took her first classes at SUNY Cortland in 1979 but began working in the legal field before completing her degree — first as a paralegal and for the past 22 years in the unified court system. A mother of three adult children, she returned to the College in 2006. She’s excelled as a sociology/anthropology major despite encountering some of the unique challenges that many non-traditional students face.

Sheryl’s oldest son was seriously injured after being hit by a car in March. Her elderly father passed away in May. And still, Sheryl balanced being a full-time worker, a part-time student and an attentive mother through all of it. 

“When you preach to your children the importance of an education, it becomes personally important to complete that step yourself,” says Sheryl, who has two children currently enrolled in college.

She credits Hon. Robert C. Mulvey ’77 for allowing a flexible alternative work schedule as well as her family for providing emotional support. In truth, that’s exactly what Sheryl does for those around her, including fellow non-traditional classmates. 

“I like to give back any way I can,” she says. “Even if it’s as simple as listening or encouraging other non-trads.”

Tuesday, Nov. 10
Kodey WhiteWolf

Kodey WhiteWolf

Kodey WhiteWolf knows she’s one of the older non-traditional students at SUNY Cortland, but that doesn’t slow her down in any way.

“Who would have thought I'd be fulfilling a life’s dream of acquiring a college degree at this time of my life,” Kodey says. To me, age is just a number marking time.”

She’s traveled extensively and picked up a variety of skills along the way, including woodworking, pottery and leather work. But well into adulthood, when she could have retired, Kodey set her sights on a longtime goal to earn a college degree. Today, she’s an anthropology major with minors in Native American studies, studio art and women’s studies who’s on track to graduate in 2017.

“I’ll be ecstatic just to frame that degree and say ‘I did it,’” Kodey says.

She credits her academic advisor with helping to determine the coursework she would enjoy the most. Classmates are sometimes surprised by her age but they’re always supportive, she says.

“At times, I take my time interacting with other students until they are comfortable with me,” Kodey says. “To me I’m just like one of them — doing the best I can as a college student and looking to them for assistance because they know more than I do on this level of my journey here at the College. Just being ‘one of the guys’ is actually fun.”

She plans to move to Asheville, N.C., after graduation and settle near the Smoky Mountains, a place with personal and spiritual importance.

“I’ve always said life is one big adventure … that it’s important to explore as much as possible,” she says. “And I’m happy knowing I have lived life like no other.

“If you believe in yourself, you can accomplish anything any time in your life.”

Monday, Nov. 9
Sara Sampson

Sara’s example offers proof that the most rewarding path to a college degree doesn’t always immediately follow high school.

She began her undergraduate studies as a psychology major at a different four-year school a decade ago and excelled at the outset — achieving close to a 4.0 grade point average in her first semester. But she also recognized that something was off.

Sara Sampson

“I knew deep down that I wasn’t in the mode to learn,” Sara says. “I wasn’t enjoying it. I just wasn’t ready to go from high school to a four-year college.”

She worked clerical jobs in business offices of New York state’s prison system instead. In 2013, Sara settled into her current position as a calculations clerk in SUNY Cortland’s Memorial Library, where she handles finance work. She also discovered writing as an outlet for her talents. This “epiphany,” as she refers to it, encouraged her to begin pursuing a professional writing major at the College last fall.

Today, Sara is 29 years old and excelling in her studies just as she did a decade ago. Now, however, she’s enjoying her college experience more than the first time around because it reflects her passion and values. 

“I tell people that I’m not just here for the degree,” Sara says. “I’m here for the education.”

Non-Traditional Students Week schedule

• Monday, Nov. 9: A “Non-Trad Gab” talk takes place at 2 p.m. in the Non-Traditional Students’ Lounge, located in Cornish Hall, Room 1221. This informal event offers an opportunity to chat with adult learners.
• Tuesday, Nov. 10: Campus nutritionist Andrea Hart will present “Healthy Eating on the Go” at 1 p.m. in the Non-Traditional Students’ Lounge. Healthy snacks will be served.
• Wednesday, Nov. 11: The Non-Traditional Student Organization (NTSO) hosts a Veterans Day brunch for all non-traditional students and veterans from 10 a.m. to noon in the Non-Traditional Students’ Lounge. This group also is invited to the College’s Veterans Day ceremony at 3 p.m. in Brockway Hall Jacobus Lounge.
• Thursday, Nov. 12: A group of four non-traditional students — Steven Hernandez, Sheryl Holbrook, Karyn Scott and Brittany Smith — offers a Sandwich Seminar at noon titled “This is My Story,” in Brockway Hall Jacobus Lounge.
• Friday, Nov. 13: All non-traditional students and their family members will receive free tickets to the College’s men’s hockey game against Potsdam, which starts at 7 p.m. in Park Center Alumni Arena. Tickets can be picked up in the Non-Traditional Students’ Lounge or from Advisement and Transition, located in Memorial Library.