Eighteen SUNY Cobleskill students are serving the campus this academic year in new job positions created through SUNY’s Empire State Service Corps.
Announced by Governor Kathy Hochul in May as the sixth proposal from her 2024 State of the State agenda, the Empire State Service Corps—led by Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado and SUNY—aims to increase civic and public service opportunities for students by creating paid service positions for more than 500 students across the SUNY system. The program is funded by a $2.75 million expansion of community service endeavors.
Participating students engage in paid public service work for 300 hours over the course of this academic year. Students at SUNY Cobleskill are serving campus in positions focused on Sustainability (7 students), Anti-Hate and Bias Prevention (6), K-12 Tutoring (2), Peer Mental Health (1), Civic Engagement (1), and SNAP and Basic Needs Outreach (1).
Empire State Service Corps has been formally accepted as an AmeriCorps partner. Upon completion, participating students will be considered AmeriCorps alumni and will be eligible for the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, a scholarship they can use for graduate school or to repay student loans.
In Their Own Words: Why is service important to you?
Karlee Bishop (K-12 Tutoring)
“Service is important to me because it provides a sense of purpose and fulfillment by helping others and positively impacting them. It fosters connections, empathy, and personal growth, allowing you to better understand yourself and the world. Service also aligns with many spiritual and moral values, offering a way to contribute to causes you care about.”
Cristian Gilces (K-12 Tutoring)
“Service is important to me because it is always greater than me. I do it because service work is my passion. I prioritize being an intentional leader which means serving my community in any capacity possible.”
Charlotte Lezama (Anti-Hate, Bias & Discrimination Prevention)
“From the Bronx, it teaches you that community thrives on kindness, respect, and the power of lifting each other. True belonging comes when we celebrate diversity and build equity together.”
Fiony Liau (SNAP and Basic Needs Outreach)
“I have always loved giving back to the community. Especially the community that I benefit from as a college student. I’m looking for new opportunities to help other people within the communities I benefit from, which can also benefit other students who are in need of these services.”
Khalil Lewis (Sustainability)
“It is important to reside in a strong community. Every strong community has leaders who raise other leaders to keep the community strong and running. I think service is important to provide support to fellow community members.”
Jocelyn Mack (Sustainability)
“In the summer of 2023, I was a part of the Youth Conservation Corps with the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. It introduced different ways to connect nature and civilization to inform ways to preserve and conserve. When you perform service, you don’t only impact your own life positively, but other citizens and the environment as well.”
Katherine Mohan (Sustainability)
“Being in service to others was a big part of my life growing up, and, still, in my adult life, I choose to serve and help where I can. I value giving back to my peers and community as a way to be there for a community that has been there for me. I also strongly believe it’s important to serve our planet because if we don’t, who will? Being a steward for our environment is a way in which I can be a voice for our planet and where I feel I can make an impact.”
Christopher Parlato (Peer Mental Health)
“I have always been a volunteer with my local Knights of Columbus, local special needs classes, and with the Best Buddies Program at school.”
Brienne Basford (Sustainability)
“Sustainability is vital to our society. I am eager to be involved in both learning and activities that support sustainability programs on campus.”
Adrienne Carter (Sustainability)
“Service is important because it allows you to do something and make something better of a problem that you know is happening. It also makes you a better person and gives you more experience with real-world issues.”
Suzzy Kotoku (Anti-Hate and Bias Prevention)
“I get to be involved in my community and create a positive impact.”
Ceilia McFarland (Anti-Hate and Bias Prevention)
“Service is important to me because it’s a way to create meaningful connections, contribute to something greater than myself, and grow as a person.”
Deborah Oyede (Civic Engagement)
“It’s important, as a community, to help each other and provide each other with needed resources. It helps grow the community socially and physically, provides a solid support system, and makes it more comfortable for people to ask for help.”
Mekhai Woodson (Anti-Hate and Bias Prevention)
“When you serve the community, you are serving yourself and vice versa. The interconnected nature of human life makes community service vital for people.”
