General

May 19 will be one of the brightest days in Samantha Wackford's life. The 27-year-old Guyana native will cross the stage with fellow Morrisville State College classmates and receive her diploma during the college's commencement ceremony at 1 p.m. in the recreation center. She will receive an associate degree in human services from the college's Norwich campus. Wackford views graduation like every other journey in her life—with bold optimism.

Not a day goes by that Morrisville State College equine student Katrina McAllister doesn't think about her best friend, Laura Janson. She remembers most her driving spirit and how much she loved animals. The promising Morrisville State College student, who naturally connected with everyone, was a role model to McAllister who was four years younger and boarded her horse at the Janson home in North Chittenango.

Two Morrisville State College faculty/staff members have been recognized by their colleagues for their years of distinguished service. Receiving the Morrisville State College Distinguished Faculty Award is Patricia Elko, of Clinton, formerly of Syracuse. 

The best and brightest eleventh- and twelfth-grade student automotive technicians from across the state will race against the clock to correctly identify and fix vehicles that have been “bugged” on purpose. When it is all said and done, one team will drive away the winner of the FORD/AAA Student Auto Skills Competition being held at Morrisville State College on May 15.

Two Morrisville State College students were recently recognized for their volunteer efforts. Receiving the Rays of Light Servant Leadership Award was Thomas Longland, of Dunnville, Ontario, a human performance and health promotion bachelor degree program major. Longland also has an associate degree in sports, nutrition and fitness management from Morrisville State College. Alana Brandon, of Greenville, N.Y., , an agricultural business major, received the college's Rays of Light Award.

Once a day, Pretty Lopin Machine, “Purdie,” gets a 20-minute workout in the large underwater treadmill in Morrisville State College's equine rehabilitation facility. As she walks in a relaxed motion against the resistance of the water, her ears perk in the direction of students coaching her with words of encouragement. “Good girl. You're doing a great job,” said equine student, Cassie Clark, of Rochester, N.Y.

Morrisville State College students Thomas Longland, of Dunnville, Ontario, and Adam Houck, of Vernon Center, were recently honored with 2012 SUNY-wide Chancellor's Awards for Student Excellence. The prestigious award is based on outstanding academic achievement and service and leadership on campus and in the community. Longland and Houck are among candidates set to graduate during the college's 101st commencement ceremony May 19 at 1 p.m. in the recreation center.

Morrisville State College will host Ag Day on April 19. The event, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Most events will be held in the academic quad (in front of Marshall Hall). Participants can learn more about agriculture, pet a calf, guess the weight of a horse, walk through a hay maze, take a hay ride around campus, and sample Morrisville State College's homemade ice cream during the annual event.

The relationships between society, technology and transportation will be the focus of Morrisville State College's sixth annual Science Technology and Society Symposium, “Alternative Futures: Transportation,” taking place Thursday, April 19.

A team of Morrisville State College students brought home a third-place finish from the 11th Annual North American Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge (NAIDC) held recently in Roanoke, Va. The NAIDC is a two-day competition that enables students to apply theory and learning in a real-world situation. It also facilitates an exchange of ideas among students and dairy producers to help maintain and develop the industry. This year's event attracted 128 students from 32 colleges from across the United States and Canada.