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When he came to Morrisville as assistant professor of environmental & renewable resources in 2019, Mohammadali Azadfar had a dream — and a plan. Azadfar — ‘Ali’ to most who know him — was thrilled with the opportunity to teach in the wood products technology and residential construction degree programs. His plan started with fundamental instruction for the students in his classes — and grew beyond measure with the addition of industry research in his courses.

As most of you journalism (J-grads) now know, Dan Reeder, 74, former Morrisville journalism professor, died Sept. 20, 2023 from complications of lung cancer. In June, Dan and his wife, Janet, relocated from his beloved Lawrence, Kansas, to Texas, to be closer to their son, Tim.

Doyen “Dolo” Grant’s past is always present in his professional life. Hanging on the wall of Dolo’s Fitness — a gym Grant ’09 owns and operates in his hometown of Canarsie, New York — is a dark green SUNY Morrisville football jersey. When his gym opened in 2019, the former Mustangs football captain and star wide receiver had his No. 9 home uniform, flanked by two action photos, mounted in a customized black frame. 

This past summer, the SUNY Morrisville Athletics Department decided to make a bold move. Needing to replace the turf playing surface of Drake Field for the first time since 2006, what set the project apart was the installation of a one-of-a-kind black turf.

Chris Pelrah ’06 and his wife were hiking in the Adirondacks when they came upon a forest ranger heading out to check on a complaint.    “There was some bear activity with people camping in the High Peaks area and the bears were getting into people’s food,” Pelrah said. “I remember the feeling I got — of the ranger helping others — and doing so outdoors. It was an interaction that changed my life.”

Country music bounces non-stop off the concrete bleachers in the cavernous Syracuse Coliseum as the show ring gate swings open and the announcer crackles to life. “Here’s draw number 20, back number 591, Holy Cannoli Katie and RE Sears.” The chestnut mare jogs into the center of the ring and, with nearly invisible cues from Sears — a tap on the neck, a touch of the spur — spins four times to the left, four to the right.

Nova Cadamatre’s time at SUNY Morrisville is etched in her memory. She lived on campus with a roommate before moving to a cozy attic apartment in a house off Route 20 and she appeared in musical theater productions of “Cabaret’’ and “Godspell.’’ The South Carolina transplant recalled the connection she instantly felt with her fellow horticulture classmates.

From a simple knock at the door to knocking on the door of greatness.  From “arriving with nothing” to leaving with everything. From honoring previous Mustang legends to now becoming one.  Those were just some of the memorable storylines highlighting the SUNY Morrisville Athletics Wall of Fame Class of 2023, which honored seven Mustangs:

View the latest issue of Momentum Each issue of Momentum magazine speaks to the energy that moves the college forward, featuring news about alumni, students, faculty, staff and community members who are making a difference in the classroom, community and the world. 

Malcolm Ivers isn’t wasting any time making his mark on the world. He’s jumping right into the renewable energy field after graduation, working as a wind turbine technician for one of the leading onshore wind companies.

It’s an experience they will never forget. A team of SUNY Morrisville automotive students and their coach set out to win it all. And they did! SUNY Morrisville’s Mopar Career Automotive Program (MCAP) students were crowned champions in the first-ever Mopar® Career Automotive Program (CAP) Bracket Challenge, a competition that featured 16 schools across the country.

SUNY Morrisville’s 14th annual induction ceremony for the Alpha Phi Sigma, Mu Beta Chapter Criminal Justice Honor Society was recently held to celebrate and recognize 23 students. Alpha Phi Sigma recognizes academic excellence of undergraduate and graduate students of Criminal Justice, as well as Juris Doctor students. The goals of Alpha Phi Sigma are to honor and promote academic excellence, community service, educational leadership and unity.

SUNY Morrisville graduates Anastasia Edwards, of Morris, and Steven Frerichs, of Wilson, have been honored by the State University of New York (SUNY) with the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence (CASE).

The data Professor Bill Snyder and his environmental science students gather from in-field fish collections gets reported to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) for the state database of fish distributions. Their rare bird sightings and the presence of invasive species are uploaded to global databases such as iNaturalist and iMapInvasives.

SUNY Morrisville celebrated more than trees on National Arbor Day, April 26! It also planted roots in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s new statewide initiative to plant 25 million trees by 2033 and touted its eleventh year receiving Tree Campus Higher Education recognition.  

SUNY Morrisville animal science – dairy student Timothy Van Lieshout, of Verona, is the recipient of a 2024 Premier Select Sires Scholarship. The scholarship, through the Premier Future Ag Leaders Scholarship Program, provides financial assistance to eligible students pursuing agricultural education and supports the next generation of young people pursuing careers in the agriculture industry.

SUNY Morrisville student Jeffrey Monette didn’t hesitate when asked if he could help with this year’s annual Earth Day celebration. His table filled with wooden pieces was a popular choice for participants interested in building owl boxes to help cavity-nesting owls whose loss of nesting has threatened their survival. “We are here helping to secure their future, giving them a place to live,” Monette said.

SUNY Morrisville is gearing up for the solar eclipse on Monday, April 8, inviting students and the community to watch this once-in-a-lifetime experience together.   A tent will be set up in the academic quad (near Charlton Hall) beginning at noon, where free solar eclipse glasses will be given away along with pamphlets about the event and safe viewing information. A limited number of stress relievers, shaped like the galaxy, will also be available.

SUNY Morrisville Professor Christopher Scalzo is making his mark not only in the classroom, but also around the world. His global philanthropy was recently recognized with a President’s Volunteer Service Award from Winrock International. It is the second time he has received the award, a prestigious national honor which lauds international volunteer service.

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand secure funding for SUNY Morrisville to purchase three robotic milkers SUNY Morrisville’s dairy program will be getting new equipment that will help put its ag students on the cutting edge in the industry.

A new partnership with Syracuse University’s School of Information Studies and SUNY Morrisville will allow more students to enroll in master’s degree programs at the iSchool. The agreement provides a smooth pathway for SUNY Morrisville undergraduate students to enter residential graduate degree programs at the iSchool to earn masters’ degrees in data science, information sciences and librarianship.  

While most SUNY Morrisville students were packing their bags for spring semester return to campus, Corey Evans was filling a duffle bag heading 3,000 miles in a different direction, on a different mission. The 23-year-old SUNY Morrisville nursing student and Canastota resident flew to Nicaragua for a medical mission, a lifelong calling that impassioned his career helping others.

Angela Petersen started cooking imaginary cuisine on a kitchen playset her mother bought her when she was four years old. She has since traded her plastic pots and pans for real cookery as she pursues her passion in SUNY Morrisville’s culinary arts management program. Classes like culinary restaurant, taught by Associate Professor Anthony Lupino, are flavoring the Bronx resident’s skillset.  

SUNY Morrisville students and staff were among those who ventured to the Capitol to advocate for continued Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) funding and support from state legislators during EOP Advocacy Day. Students met with New York State Sen. Rachel May, Assemblyman Bill Magnarelli, as well as other elected officials, sharing their EOP experiences and expressing the importance of continued funding for the program in the New York State budget.

Preparing a skilled workforce for careers in the emerging offshore wind industry will be part of SUNY Morrisville’s renewable energy plans thanks to a $500,000 grant. The college is among eight SUNY institutions to receive a grant from the Offshore Wind Training Institute (OWTI), nearly $4 million announced by Gov. Kathy Hochul recently, to prepare students for careers in the growing offshore wind industry.