Oswego Empire State Service Corps members part of SUNY-wide celebration  

Four students from SUNY Oswego’s Empire State Service Corps had the opportunity to speak with SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. and senior leaders in New York City about the state-sponsored program that pays students to support communities and causes. 

Isabella (Izzy) Ronacher, Albieris (Albi) Castano, Cristal Garcia Corporan and Caitlin Watters attended as Chancellor King and members of the SUNY Board of Trustees celebrated the Empire State Summer Corps’ second cohort in an event that also included leaders and program staff discussing civic engagement and service. The summer corps builds on the success of the Empire State Service Corps during the academic year.

"The Empire State Service Corps, championed by Governor Kathy Hochul, provides our students with vital, hands-on paid opportunities to serve their communities in meaningful ways," said SUNY Chancellor King. 

"Our Service Corps students are future leaders who are learning important skills that will prepare them for their careers after graduation,” Chancellor King added. “I applaud all of our Empire State Summer Service Corps members for their work to serve New York State during their summer break, and thank Governor Hochul, the legislature, SUNY Board of Trustees and our campuses for their continued support of our students."

Ronacher, a childhood education major who has been part of the program since its inception, appreciated the networking opportunities the event offered.

“I met many students from SUNY schools who are doing their service corps work this summer in NYC (5 boroughs) and on Long Island,” Ronacher said. “I made friends with people who have the same cohort as I do (sustainability) as well as met people who are studying the same major as I am in college.” 

Learning more about Chancellor King’s own journey was enlightening as well.

“I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Chancellor John B. King Jr.,” Ronacher said. “I learned more about his journey through school, colleges and life I was able to have conversations about how service can impact communities, why we need to continue with our efforts, what differences we are already making, and what the future can hold with ESSC.”

Castano, a double major in business administration and accounting, appreciated the opportunity to meet leaders like Chancellor King, SUNY Board of Trustees Chair Meryl Tisch and Ivy Poitras, the Empire State Service Corps program coordinator, “whose paths I hope to cross again on my leadership journey,” Castano noted. 

“ESSC members from other SUNY campuses and I all played games to get to know each other and enjoyed a wonderful lunch in the city,” Castano said. “This event was truly inspiring; the speeches from Chancellor John King and other student leaders motivated me to aim for higher goals. If they can achieve so much from similar situations, then so can I.”

Student service

The program has allowed Ronacher to serve many good causes, including Oswego’s Students Helping Oz Peers (SHOP) pantry, Oswego County Youth Bureau and, over the summer, the Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Team in Southold, Long Island.

“As a transfer student in the fall of my sophomore year, I wanted to have a job at school that can help me be involved and learn more about my community while also meeting people and being able to make a difference in our local communities,” said Ronacher, who will continue working with the Oswego County Youth Bureau this fall.  

“My favorite things about it are the connections I have made through my years,” Ronacher said. “The friendships I have made have been so amazing, as I have met many people with similar passions as I do for service. Additionally, the networking for post-grad has been amazing as I have met people from other SUNY schools who are in the service corps — mayors, senators, chair members and town leaders.“

Castano has gained valuable experience by managing SUNY Oswego at Syracuse's student pantry and as a museum educator for an early childhood education audience.

“What initially drew me to the program was the phrase ‘get paid for doing community service.’ I already have a passion for helping others and lending a hand whenever possible,” Castano said. 

“My favorite aspect of this program is how it places interns at sites where they are genuinely welcomed and made to feel like part of the team,” Castano added. “This shows the program's excellent ability to match individuals with work they'll truly enjoy.”

The students who attended the reception are among 50 Empire State Service Corps members at SUNY Oswego, one that has achieved notice across SUNY for its success.

The Empire State Summer Service Corps program is part of Governor Hochul’s Empire State Service Corps initiative that connects students with community service and career development opportunities through paid civic and service internships. This year, 319 students from 39 SUNY campuses, up from 224 students last year, are participating in the paid community service summer program to serve across all regions of New YorksState.

 Students participating in the Empire State Service Corps dedicate at least 300 hours to engage in paid community service and convene regularly to share and learn from each other’s experiences. As a recognized AmeriCorps program, participating students who complete 300 service hours also receive an AmeriCorps Segal Education Award of up to $1,400 for their service. 

The Empire State Service Corps is part of SUNY’s ongoing efforts to support New Yorkers in need by encouraging civic engagement and volunteerism.

For more information on SUNY Oswego’s Empire State Service Corps and other community service and service-learning programs, visit ww1.oswego.edu/experience/community-engagement.