There was no containing the excitement in Sarah Dickinson’s voice — her lifelong dream of helping horses finally coming true as she checked in as a new student during SUNY Morrisville’s Welcome Weekend events, Aug 24-27.
The 18-year-old SUNY Morrisville student, from Ripley, followed her passion for horses, enrolling in the college’s equine science, equine rehabilitation program.
She was among new and returning students registering and moving in during the college’s myriad Welcome Weekend festivities. SUNY Morrisville President David Rogers rolled up his sleeves, assisting with moving students into residence halls.
“We’re happy to have you here!” he said as he greeted Dickinson and asked about her journey to Morrisville.
“I am thrilled to be here,” Dickinson said. “This is what I have wanted to do my whole life and I can’t wait to see where it takes me.”
It wasn’t any surprise to Dickinson’s mother, Mariann, when she selected SUNY Morrisville as her college choice.
“As a toddler, she led a pony away from a zoo,” Mariann joked. “It started her love for horses, which never ended. When we came to the campus for open house, I knew she belonged here.”
A similar sentiment was shared by Aniyah Smith, who made the 13-hour drive, from Georgia, with her mother.
Smith, recruited to play lacrosse, is studying exercise science, a degree that will lead to her ultimate goal of becoming an athletics director.
“I am so excited to be here and to meet my fellow teammates,” she said.
It was déjà vu for LaConda Graham, a 1996 individual studies alumna, who was helping her niece move in from Rochester.
“I know how well SUNY Morrisville prepared me,” Graham said. “I was an Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) student and received so many opportunities through the program.”
Kara Teal, an equine science, equine rehabilitation freshman, from Averill Park, has been riding horses since she was 4 years old.
“I fell in love with the facilities when I visited and I am so excited to be here,” she said while moving into Mohawk Hall.
Along with a couple of sentimental stuffed animals from home, she brought her riding gear.
“This is a new opportunity for her to do something she really wants to do,” said her father, Brian Teal.
Alexander Streeter is ready to start the semester in the horticulture, cannabis studies minor program.
“This is a huge field to get into and I’m glad Morrisville is providing me this opportunity,” he said.
More than 720 new students checked in during move-in and more were expected throughout the weekend.