Two SUNY Morrisville students are making a meaningful impact through their dedication to community service.
Michael Roberts, a game programming B.Tech. student from Brooklyn and Harper Callard, an aquaculture and aquatic science associate degree student from New Hartford, were honored with Empire State Service Corps Awards for their significant contributions.
Roberts received the Leadership in Service Award for his commitment as a Morrisville-Eaton Middle-High School K-12 tutor with the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP).
“I wished I would have had this (tutoring) in middle and high school,” Roberts said. “I enjoy being a resource in students’ lives. It’s pretty fulfilling.”
Beyond tutoring, Roberts is actively involved on campus as a resident assistant (RA) and is a former public relations director for the Student Government Organization.
Callard was recognized with the Innovation in Service Award for her on-campus sustainability initiatives, including a campaign to promote reusable water bottles and reduce reliance on single-use plastics. As a member of the college’s Sustainability Council, she collaborated with faculty to introduce new recycling initiatives and advocate for environmentally friendly practices. She is also an RA.
“I have always loved volunteering and helping others, so when I saw the position, I knew I had to apply,” Callard said about applying for the Empire State Service Corps.
Roberts and Callard are part of the inaugural cohort of the Empire State Service Corps, launched by Gov. Kathy Hochul in 2024 to expand service opportunities for students across New York. Nearly 2,000 SUNY students applied, but only 515 selected to participate in the program. Among them were seven SUNY Morrisville students.
The Empire State Service Corps offers SUNY students paid public service opportunities in areas such as K-12 tutoring, sustainability and mental health support. Participants commit to 300 hours of service throughout the year, gaining valuable hands-on experience while strengthening their communities.
Roberts and Callard’s awards were presented at the Service & Civics Summit in Syracuse, which brought together student corps members from more than 40 SUNY campuses, as well as campus leaders, local officials and state representatives. SUNY Morrisville President David Rogers also took part in civic engagement breakout sessions, emphasizing the importance of service in higher education.
