General

The Morrisville College Equine Institute will hold its twenty-fourth annual Fall Yearling Sale Sept. 22 at noon at the college's Nancy Sears Stowell Arena on Swamp Road. The preview day for the sale, the largest of its kind in New York State, is Sept. 21. A total of 133 yearlings are up for sale. Fifteen of them are being sold by the Morrisville Equine Institute: two yearlings of Conway Hall; three yearlings of Cash Hall; six yearlings of RC Royalty; three yearlings of Kenneth J, and one yearling of American Ideal.

Morrisville State has been ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North in the U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges 2014 issue. The publication is renowned for its higher education rankings. The USNWR rankings are released annually and rely on data provided by universities to produce college rankings on a variety of factors reflecting academic quality.

Caitlin McPhillips of Horseheads, a senior at Morrisville State College, attended the annual New York Farm Day in Washington on Tuesday. Read more about Caitlin's trip in the Star Gazette: NY college students look to agricultural sector for jobs

Potential college students can get a preview of all that Morrisville State has to offer during open houses on Oct. 5 and Nov. 2 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Students can get answers to questions about admissions, academics, financial aid, the Norwich campus and more at the open houses, which start with a welcome at 9 a.m. in the Student Activities Center (STUAC) gym, followed by academic sessions at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. An information session on the equine programs will be held at 12:30 p.m. Lunch will be provided at Seneca Dining Hall from 12-2 p.m.

Reunions, a car cruise-in and a carnival will be among the events during Mustang Weekend at Morrisville State Sept. 20-22. Festivities kick off Friday night with a 50-year anniversary dinner for the class of 1963. “I think what is interesting about the 1963 graduates is that, for some, this will be the first time they've been back since they graduated,” said Kelly Gardner, coordinator of alumni relations. “It brings back a lot of emotions, old memories, and amazement when they realize how much Morrisville has grown.”

A Morrisville Mustang is making a spectacular debut. The jaunty college icon is the theme of this year's famed corn maze at the popular Critz Farms in Cazenovia. Critz Farms and Morrisville State partnered to design the giant Mustang Madness Corn Maze which features more than eight acres of challenging twists. The maze opens Sept. 14 and also marks the beginning of the Critz Farms Fall Harvest Celebration which runs through Oct. 27.

Sarah Steele, of Eaton, has joined Morrisville State as the Director of Human Resources, Affirmative Action and Title IX Coordinator. Steele, an Illion native, will be the lead in the Human Resources Department, responsible for administering the college's and its employee's practices and policies, as well as payroll and labor relations functions.

The work of renowned sports sculptor and painter, Jim Ridlon, former NFL star and Syracuse football standout, coach and announcer, is on exhibit at Morrisville State. The display of nine abstract collage paintings will be available for public viewing until Sept. 3 in the Donald Butcher Library Gallery. Summer viewing hours for the gallery are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The public is also invited to a reception for Ridlon on Aug. 28, from 3:30-5 p.m., in the gallery.

Devon Schott has his career mapped out ahead of him. The 19-year-old Morrisville State student wants to land his dream job as a chef and eventually open his own restaurant. His goals came into focus when a new associate degree in culinary arts management was launched by the college this semester. “I am so excited about this,” the Long Island native said. “It will bring a whole new culinary aspect to my experiences and will give me the chance to learn so much more about the hospitality industry.”

The Morrisville State campus will be a flurry of activity as it welcomes a new class of freshmen, transfer and returning students during Welcome Weekend Aug. 22-25. Classes begin Aug. 26 at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. Student athletes will be assisting with helping new students move items into their residence hall rooms. Freshmen move-in is scheduled for Aug. 22.