General

Approximately 900 high school students from 18 schools will have the opportunity to showcase a multitude of skills and talents in the Region II BOCES Skills USA competition being hosted Feb. 13 at Morrisville State. The annual conference features high school students from technical schools and BOCES programs throughout Central New York competing in a variety of events.

Morrisville State's Financial Aid Office will host a SUNY Financial Aid Day information session on Saturday, Feb. 22. This free event, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. in Charlton Hall, Room 002, will offer assistance with questions regarding the financial aid process and completing the online Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA asks for information about the student, student's family, and financial situation. Please be sure to bring the following information to fill out the FAFSA:

What do you get when teams of artists, hobbyists, programmers, designers and musicians throughout the world collaborate to create playable video games in the course of one weekend? An exciting event called the Global Game Jam (GGJ)—a chance to explore creativity, tout inventiveness and to let imaginations roam. Registration is under way now for the annual event and Morrisville State will again serve as a host site for this year's GGJ which will be held January 24-26.

Four Morrisville State students have been awarded Caterpillar/Milton CAT Scholarships by the Morrisville College Foundation. The $2,500 scholarships, awarded to students in the diesel technology programs, are based on academic achievement and financial need. Receiving scholarships were the following diesel equipment technology students: Jacob Drabolt, of Central Square, NY Patrick Nash, of Liverpool, NY Dean Tucker, of Chittenango, NY Cody Brundage, of Douglas, Mass.

Travelers in LaGuardia International Airport are getting a taste of the ingenuity of Morrisville State, and soon those at John F. Kennedy International Airport will too with the opening of “Taste NY” stores featuring products made by Nelson Farms and MSC students. The new stores are part of “Taste NY” launched by Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to highlight New York's food and beverage industry. The goal is to make the wide variety of foods made and grown in the state readily available and recognizable to New York residents, tourists and the world.

A variety of local goods are being touted at a new indoor farmers market at the Norwich Campus of Morrisville State.

Morrisville State is one of several schools to receive funding from the first-ever College Council Grant Program conducted by the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling (NYSAR3). Due to Morrisville State's expanded campus recycling special events and efforts to teach students to recycle, they, along with the University of Albany, SUNY Cobleskill, Orange Community College, and Colgate University were awarded a total of $4,100 in grants. This was announced recently at NYSAR's fall recycling conference in Cooperstown.

Frederico Meira had something specific planned for his end-of-the-semester wood technology project at Morrisville State. The sleek grandfather clock he crafted in class would be a reflection of his treasured pastime—sailing. As he placed finishing touches on his clock in lab, Meira explained his nautical vision. The body will be enclosed in glass with shelves inside to display his cherished collection of mini sailboats and trophies he won while sailing competitively throughout Europe.

Deep velvet red, bright red mixed with baby whites, white and peppermint—the Morrisville State College Horticulture Institute is selling its annual colorful crop of holiday poinsettias. The festive blooms are for sale through Dec. 13 at the Spader Horticulture Complex on Morrisville State's campus, Monday through Friday from noon to 4 p.m. (open to the public) and also Dec. 7 and 14, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Regional Market in Syracuse. Floral arrangements and a limited number of festive holiday wreaths will also be sold at the market.

Santa and Mrs. Claus will be making their annual arrival in the village of Morrisville on Dec. 6.   The free event, which will begin at 7 p.m. has been moved from Crouse Community Center to the MESC Elementary School. The college donated a 20-foot Black Spruce tree which was placed at Crouse Community Center this week.   The campus and village are invited to participate in the event, which will be held regardless of local weather-related school closings.