General

The Morrisville State College campus will be a flurry of activity as it welcomes a new class of freshman and transfer and returning students during Welcome Weekend Aug. 20-22. Classes begin Aug. 23 at the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. Welcome Weekend is an opportunity for students to become familiar or reacquaint themselves with the campus and all it has to offer.

Dr. Emad Rahim brings more to the classroom than rich knowledge about his subject matter. The Morrisville State College professor adds elements students can relate to along with anecdotes from his personal life to teach them they can accomplish anything. That inspiration has been a motivating factor in the classroom and in his life—now it's branching out even farther.

Earning a bachelor degree moved closer to home for Chenango County residents. The Norwich campus of Morrisville State College is offering classes this semester that will lead to a bachelor of technology degree in criminal justice, and technology management. Plans are to expand offerings into other degree programs in the future. “Offering classes locally that lead to a bachelor degree provides an outlet for students who want to pursue their education, but face having to travel outside of the county,” Marsha Cornelius, Norwich campus dean, said.

Dr. Christopher Scalzo added a little international panache to his entrepreneurial portfolio this summer. The associate professor of business and entrepreneurship at Morrisville State College traveled to Kenya, East Africa, to share his entrepreneurial skills and help a soy and maize producing company enhance its operations.

Learn about microhydro renewable energy, generating power from sources of moving water, during a three-day workshop, July 23-25, at Morrisville State College's Renewable Energy Training Center (RETC). The Microhydro Power workshop, which will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., is for anyone interested in learning about microhydro electric systems, renewable energy installers/retailers and homeowners with a water resource.

Morrisville State College's Renewable Energy Training Center (RETC) is offering two one-day workshops. Grounding for Solar and Wind Power Systems—a Contractor's Perspective, will be held July 16, 9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. and Woody Biomass Markets and Wood Gasification will be held July 17, 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Morrisville State College liberal arts students/graduates were recently honored for their achievements during the ninth annual Liberal Arts Tea. The event is part of the college's annual celebration of academic excellence. The Liberal Arts Theater Participant-of-the-Year Award, given to students who excel in theater productions on campus or assisting with productions, was presented to Daniel Kavanah, of Peekskill, N.Y., a diesel technology major, and Andres Colon, of Gardiner, N.Y., a gaming and casino management major.

Learn how to use the power of the sun to kiln-dry lumber during a 5-day workshop being held June 14-18, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Morrisville State College's Wood Technology Building. During the workshop, Building a Solar Wood Drying Kiln, participants will construct a wood frame 700-board-foot capacity solar kiln using passive solar to heat the kiln and solar panels to power the air circulation system. Operating the kiln will be demonstrated during a future workshop.

Morrisville State College's Renewable Energy Training Center (RETC) is hosting a two-day workshop on Small-Scale Biodiesel Production and Diesel Vehicle Veggie Conversion, June 11-12 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Morrisville State College RETC in Shannon Hall. The workshop is an introduction to small-scale batch biodiesel production and diesel automobile modifications for all-season use of waste vegetable oil and biodiesel.

Marsha Cornelius has been named dean of the Norwich Campus of Morrisville State College. Cornelius, of Norwich, N.Y., who has served as interim dean since Sept. 2009, joined the Norwich staff in 1997, holding various positions including academic counselor and coordinator of community services. She also worked at the Morrisville Campus in the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources. In her position as dean, Cornelius provides overall direction for daily operations of the Norwich Campus.