Dear Paul Smith’s Community,
What a glorious month of September we had, both weather-wise and the quality and quantity of activity on and off-campus. I hope everyone has been able to find a little time to take advantage of the great weather and explore the beauty of our region. I also hope that everyone who can, has registered to vote in the upcoming election. Students can still pick up New York State voter registration/absentee ballot applications from Jill Susice through October 13. Happy fall….
· Celia Evans and students Robert DeSotle, Chloe Mattilio, Erik Yankowsky, Andre-Anne Chenaille and Alexander Whiston, published an article in the Northeastern Naturalist entitled, “A Fine-scale Examination of Larix laricina and Picea mariana Abundances along Abiotic Gradients in an Adirondack Peatland”. This work was funded by a National Science Foundation grant.
· The Adirondack Watershed Institute received a $175,000 grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation for a state-of-the-art real time water quality and weather monitoring platform to be installed in Upper Saranac Lake.
· Several PSC alumni graduated from the NY State DEC training academy – a huge accomplishment, for which we’re all proud! Newly-minted Forest Rangers are Nathan Shea, Hannah R. O’Connor, Jared Booth, Andrew Lewis & Adam Baldwin, and Environmental Conservation Officers are Katie Jakaub, Benjamin Tabor, Zachariah Brown & Jason Smith.
· The 2016-2017 Coming Home Challenge has begun! Your donation will instantly become twice as generous with a match on all gifts up to $1 million by an anonymous donor. Click here if you would like to give.
· Three PSC alumni and current NYS DEC wildlife technicians used rocket-powered nets to demonstrate some hands-on job skills with Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences students.
· Our Natural Sciences Seminar Series kicked off with Chad Eyler, a wildlife conservation officer with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
· Students, faculty, and staff came together for the well-attended Soup or Salad: Diversity is the Main Entrée on-campus forum.
· The first installment of our new “Smitty Talks: What’s YOUR Experience” speaker series on September 28 was outstanding and featured insightful presentations from Dan Kelting and Vanessa Case. This is a new series focused on presentations by and for our community. Pay attention for an announcement of the next one and plan to attend!
· Pied for Suicide, A Walk in Her Shoes, and Out of the Darkness were highlights of the ongoing efforts made by the Counseling Center to raise awareness and funds for serious causes such as suicide prevention and awareness, and sexualized violence against women.
· PSC’s intrepid paddlers raced the historic “Adirondack Highway” in the annual 90-miler canoe race. Congrats to Tyler Dezago, Lauren Brieant, Brian Lane, Lenore Marcuson, Matt Williams, Louis Ferrone, Sam Annable, Robbie McDermott, and Celia Evans for a job well done!
· The Apollos is back with a new feature: Smitty List! Buy, sell, or seek stuff & services, or give a shout-out to someone you admire. Contact apollos@paulsmiths.edu to participate.
· Family Homecoming Weekend welcomed 150+ families of current students as well as several alumni to campus. Chef Neveu and students made instant ice cream with liquid nitrogen, DECA sold refreshments during the Carnival, and Whiteface Mountain sold season passes.
· This year’s VIC Photo Shoot-Out included an open invitation for photographers to submit their work to be featured on the college’s website. Check out the amazing results!
· Speaking of stellar photographers, student Tyler Keim’s image of The Point at sunset went Smitty-viral on social media with more than 36,000 people reached.
· Hospitality 101’s Annual Fresh-Squeezed Lemonade & Hot Dog Stand brought together a happy crowd on a beautiful Adirondack afternoon.
· VIC Director Kendra Ormerod was featured with a bio in the current issue of Adirondack Explorer.
· Members of PSC Pride were in Plattsburgh on Saturday (October 1st) participating in the Plattsburgh Pride Parade. Also on Saturday, October 1, we celebrated the 5th Annual Rural Skills and Homesteading Festival with a wide variety of activities at Osgood Farm and the VIC.
· “Census day” yielded our official tally for Fall ’16 enrollment and retention. Student headcount for the fall is at 851. Our current first-time, full-time freshman retention rate is 75.3% – a record high. Recruiting for spring and fall 2017 is already well-underway. Admissions is ahead of schedule with our earliest-ever Open House and another well-attended event at Cabela’s in Buffalo with Chef Breyette and students on hand for culinary and woodsmen’s demonstrations.
· Student Affairs hosted an outstanding diversity awareness seminar featuring Marvin Worthy, Founder and President of Worthy Consulting Diversity Services. Approximately 320 faculty, staff and students attended.
· Our successful Club Fair helped students explore the 23+ active clubs and organizations on campus.
· Nearly 300 students have been hired for positions across campus covering a wide range of duties. Students still interested in working on-campus can find more information online. It is continuously updated so check often.
· Approximately 20 alumni and friends showed up for a recent Smitty event in Concord NH. October’s calendar includes alumni and Compass Club events in the Finger Lakes Region, Baltimore, Boston, and the Mid-Hudson Valley.
Upcoming Events of Note
· Natural Sciences Seminar Series with Curt Karboski – October 7
· Inaugural art reception in the Heron Marsh Gallery at the VIC – October 8
· Admissions Open House – October 15
· Lake Placid Brewfest – October 15 (age 21+ event)
· Board of Trustees Meeting – October 15
· Alumni Board Meeting – October 15
· Fall Career Fair – October 20
· Halloween @ the VIC – October 30
Cathy S. Dove
President
Cathy S. Dove is the 10th president of Paul Smith’s College. She began serving Sept. 1, 2014.