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2025–26 COVE at a Glance

• 890 student volunteers
• 30% of 91�鶹��Ʒ students participated in COVE programs
• 124 community organization partnerships
• 794 students participated weekly or biweekly in at least one of the COVE’s 40 volunteer teams
• 21,300 volunteer service hours, valued at $837,000 of economic impact

Feedback From Community Partners

25th Anniversary Celebration

This year, the COVE celebrated a quarter century of student-led service at 91�鶹��Ʒ, as it continues to promote positive social change and contribute to the well-being of those on campus and surrounding communities through volunteerism.

The COVE’s founding in 2001 followed a legacy of service by other groups on campus. 91�鶹��Ʒ students Jeff Bates ’71 and Ralph Johns ’71 organized a group called Volunteer Bureau in 1971 to oversee 13 student service programs. There were about 125 volunteers at the end of that spring, and by winter, 225 volunteers were involved in these service activities. In 1987, students changed the name to Volunteer 91�鶹��Ʒ. Volunteerism at 91�鶹��Ʒ through the COVE has grown to 890 student volunteers in 2025-26, with an estimated economic impact of $848,000, building on the service goals initiated by the original Volunteer 91�鶹��Ʒ board.  

Georgette Manos ’25 was introduced to the COVE during a pre-orientation program where she volunteered with community partners — an experience she enjoyed so much that she later stepped up to lead similar trips. As a sophomore, she was hired as a civic engagement intern, a role she continued throughout her time at 91�鶹��Ʒ, supporting the COVE’s work as a nonpartisan center for voter education and civic engagement.

“I’m someone who really thrives on meeting people from different backgrounds and working with organizations that stand for many different things,” Manos said. “Having had the opportunity to engage at the COVE with tutoring and mentorship organizations, organizations centered on food insecurity and combating homelessness, and education and historical groups, propelled me to Washington College of Law, which is known for its public interest work. Working with nonprofits and community partners meant so much to me that I wanted to be at an institution that would have similar opportunities.”

As a volunteer, Gabriella Bianchi ’19 co-led the mentoring group Friends First, which paired 91�鶹��Ʒ students with middle schoolers at Hamilton Central School. She remains in touch with her former mentee, now a first-year college student. Bianchi also served as a program coordination intern, where she led pre-orientation, organized campuswide days of service, and coordinated alternative service breaks.

Today Bianchi is the director of BoardLead at Cause Strategy Partners, a social impact firm focused on nonprofit board governance, where she oversees board matching, placement, and training programs in the U.S., the U.K., and Hong Kong. She also serves as the co-chair of the Fiver Children’s Foundation’s Advocates, a nonprofit summer camp in Poolville, N.Y., founded by Tom Tucker ’67.

“My experiences at the COVE allowed me to build a career in the social good sector focused on building capacity for nonprofits and providing organizations with the tools and resources they need to best live out their missions,” Bianchi said. “The leaders at the COVE while I was a student were incredible mentors, and I’m grateful for their investment in me.”

Be The Change Weekend

Common Good Professional Network

Joining with alumni affairs, Career Services, and institutional advancement, the Common Good Professional Network (CGPN) offers networking and development opportunities for students and alumni. This year, the COVE’s 25th anniversary celebration coincided with our signature Be The Change weekend event. Working with the Office of Alumni Engagement and Career Services the weekend, which took place from March 7–8, fostered connections between current students and alumni connected to public service and advocacy work.

Visiting alumni included Lauren Bregman ’04, Jake Kleinmahon ’07, Stephanie McDonald ’04, Wendy Perdomo ’96, Domenico Ruggerio ’08, and one of the COVE’s founders, Adrienne Forgette ’01. These distinguished alumni returned to campus to share their journeys in law, public service, medicine, education, nonprofit leadership, and social entrepreneurship. Events also included networking opportunities, informational interviews, and group conversations. Over 50 students attended, nearly doubling last year’s number. Upon reflection, they remarked that they were grateful for how invested the alumni were in their success and belonging.

91�鶹��Ʒ Awarded Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement

91�鶹��Ʒ has been awarded the 2026 Carnegie Community Engagement Classification, an elective designation awarded by the American Council on Education (ACE) and the Carnegie Foundation recognizing the University’s continuing commitment to community engagement and partnerships.

This is 91�鶹��Ʒ’s first time receiving the classification. The application highlighted 91�鶹��Ʒ’s multidimensional approach of establishing important academic and student life programs to ensure that students develop as engaged citizens at local, regional, and global levels. This includes 91�鶹��Ʒ’s network of engagement centers: the Upstate Institute, connecting students and faculty with regional partners across central New York; the Max A. Shacknai Center for Outreach, Volunteerism, and Education (COVE) to facilitate both local and global service opportunities; and the Office of Off-Campus Study to enable students to engage meaningfully with communities worldwide.

91�鶹��Ʒ also demonstrates commitment to community engagement through its institutes of advanced study — from the Lampert Institute for Civic and Global Affairs’ focus on global issues to the Picker Interdisciplinary Science Institute’s support for collaborative research across multiple disciplines — which create multiple pathways for students and faculty to connect with communities near and far.

“This designation affirms that community engagement is central to 91�鶹��Ʒ’s mission, underscores our intentional investment in mutually beneficial partnerships, and reflects the depth, reciprocity, and sustained collaboration we share with organizations throughout our region,” said Upstate Institute Director Julie Dudrick. “We are proud that this recognition highlights not only our commitment to engagement, but the strength of the community relationships that make that work meaningful.”

91�鶹��Ʒ is one of 277 institutions recognized, and Carnegie’s announcement letter noted that the “accomplishment is especially noteworthy amid significant federal policy and funding shifts shaping the future of higher education. Applications in this cycle demonstrated how campuses nationwide are deepening partnerships, leveraging community assets, and addressing urgent societal challenges — work your institution has advanced with clarity and distinction. There is much to celebrate, and it is heartening to witness such a strong and growing commitment to community engagement across the sector.”

“As we look ahead, we remain committed to deepening these bonds with our communities through partnerships and responsive engagement,” said Provost and Dean of the Faculty Lesleigh Cushing. “Our future success depends on our ability to be both a trusted local partner and a globally engaged institution. 91�鶹��Ʒ’s connections and partnerships within the village of Hamilton and surrounding areas have long benefited both students and community members alike. Local residents have access to many of the University’s events and facilities, and we continue to be a major source of volunteers for area nonprofits and emergency services. These partnerships are invaluable, and the University will continue to strengthen these lasting connections in our third century.” The classification is valid through 2032, and 91�鶹��Ʒ will gather data for reclassification in 2030 to submit a reclassification application in 2031.

Service & Program Highlights

Volunteer Teams
The COVE’s 40 volunteer teams, comprised of 794 students, contributed in myriad ways this past year. Students tutored and mentored well over 150 schoolchildren in six different school districts (Hamilton, Madison, Morrisville-Eaton, Sherburne-Earlville, Oneida, and Otselic Valley); assisted over 50 high school students in our SAT Prep program; visited elderly residents at Madison Lane apartments and Manlius Home; provided emergency ambulance and fire response services; and contributed to local historical societies and canal trail/recreation networks. 

Three new initiatives began as well: the Ecological Preservation Society, which planted 124 trees in nearby Onondaga county and met indigenous author and environmental steward Robin Wall Kimmerer; the Carceral Reform Initiative, which collected donated books to share with incarcerated people and held panel discussions on campus to educate their peers on policy issues related to prison reform; and, the Salvagers, who supported student worker recruitment, campus education around reducing consumption and reusing items, and helped provide funding for our Salvage program.

High School Seminar
Since 1959, the High School Seminar program has introduced college-level topics that are not typically available at surrounding high schools and encouraged college attendance by providing high schoolers with the opportunity to experience a taste of life on a college campus. In the 2025–2026 academic year we ran four sessions, two in the fall and two in the spring. A total of fourteen schools/academic programs participated. The first Fall series hosted 103 students and their chaperones. The second Fall series hosted 118 high school students and their chaperones. The first Spring series saw 96 student visitors and the second Spring series hosted 105 high school attendees. Combined over the entire program year, 251 unique high school students were able to attend with a grand total of 387 attendees overall.

Days of Service 
This year, we held three Days of Service, with 130 unique participants. In October, the COVE collaborated with the Village of Hamilton. Volunteers, including the Cross Country / Track & Field and Women’s Basketball teams, gathered on the village green for a welcome from Mayor Ruthann Loveless and Dean of Students Dorsey Spencer, Jr. Speakers highlighted the special relationship between the University and the local community, and focused on celebrating service and building a sense of belonging amongst students and community members. Volunteers departed to six different sites, primarily the second annual Fall Fair and Pie Walk, where students helped with childcare and outdoor games. Other sites included historical preservation at the Madison Street Cemetery, environmental stewardship at the Schapiro reserve, and harvesting vegetables for donation to local food pantries from the 91�鶹��Ʒ Community Garden. Volunteers contributed over 300 hours of service, with one student remarking that “it’s very important to give back to the community that supports us.” Further days of service included Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service at Hope House, a soup kitchen in Utica, and a partnership with the Office of Sustainability during its 13 Days of Green programming in April. 

Civic Engagement

In partnership with the 91�鶹��Ʒ Vote Project and Democracy Matters, the COVE worked to develop our next iteration of a comprehensive Civic Action Plan for the 2026 election cycle, as well as promote nonpartisan voter registration and education through First Year Seminar class visits, open office hours, and tabling at the O’Connor Campus Center. Highlights included a student-led panel discussion and dialogue on youth voting habits and polarization, which Professor Sam Rosenfeld moderated. Over 40 students attended and had robust and respectful conversation. Additionally, we hosted Ruthann Loveless, mayor of the Village of Hamilton, as well as other local elected village trustees, in the COVE for luncheon discussions on pertinent issues affecting local governments and communities. Finally, we partnered for the second year with the Residential Commons during their induction ceremonies, where students signed voter pledge cards and shared questions they had about the voting process.

Upstate Institute Partnership Spotlight

The COVE continued to strengthen its partnership with the Upstate Institute this year, holding quarterly all-staff meetings and aligning workflow and communication with community partners. Highlights of our new and continued work include: participating in ongoing Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement conversations, conclusion our second our joint community of practice on engaged teaching and scholarship, bringing our total number of faculty participants to 18, and continuing a literacy tutoring program with eleven 91�鶹��Ʒ student workers paired one on one with elementary school children in the Madison Central School (MCS) district. Literacy program outcomes included six out of eight elementary school students improving in their Reading Accuracy, all eight MCS students improving their Word Reading and all eight participating MCS students improving their Reading Fluency scores. Tutors and students read 242 books, and continued professional development sessions known as literacy labs. 71% of 91�鶹��Ʒ student tutors reported that the program made them feel more connected to the community and helped them feel more connected to their fellow students, while more 69% of the tutors said their experience gave them a clearer sense of career options.

Service Learning Course Development Grants

This year the COVE supported two service-learning courses through the course development grant program.

Megan Brankley Abbas - Religion
Religion and Revolution in Upstate New York (Fall 2025)

Professor Abbas reflected on her course this past semester, writing, “In Fall 2025, I taught a COVE-sponsored new course entitled RELG 330: Religion and Revolution in Upstate New York. RELG 330 focused on a series of 19th century religious movements that, given their faithful fervor, earned our region a unique nickname as “the Burned-over District.” In addition to studying the history of Mormonism, the Oneida Community, and religiously motivated abolitionists, the course challenged students to think about how this religious past is represented and studied today. For example, should non-Mormons ask critical questions about the Mormon origin story, or is academic critique disrespectful or even offensive to religious insiders? Should we revere the moral absolutism of 19th century religious abolitionists like John Brown and Gerrit Smith, or should we be wary of any individual who sanctions the use of violence to purge sin from the world? By wrestling with such questions, it was my hope that RELG 330 students would not only learn to appreciate our region’s fascinating religious history but also that they would think carefully, deeply, and reflectively about the public humanities in our region today.

Thanks to COVE financial support, this course had two major community outreach components. First, there were three required Saturday field trips to the Mormon sites in Palmyra, the Oneida Community Mansion House in Oneida, and the Gerrit Smith Estate and the National Abolition Hall of Fame and Museum (NAHOF) in Peterboro. These field trips were real highlights of the class both for me and for the students! They helped to deepen our appreciation of the local history and to open up a whole range of new questions about how local historians and activists seek to represent the past to the public. Second, the final project for RELG 330 was to propose a new exhibit to members of the NAHOF board. Several board members noted that the students’ proposals gave them new ideas and hope for the future of our museum. Indeed, NAHOF plans to implement one of the group exhibit proposals in the next several months so that the exhibit is polished and accessible to the public when the museum opens again in late May 2026.”

Paul Humphrey - LGBTQ Studies and Africana & Latin American Studies
Imagining Queer Caribbean Futures (Spring 2026)

Professor Humphrey reflected on his course this past semester, writing, “In May 2026, a group of 8 students travelled with Danny Barreto (LGBTQ Studies), and me to Puerto Rico to participate in an 8-day service-learning trip focused on decoloniality, agroecology, sustainability, and notions of sovereignty through farming and artwork. This was the second iteration of this course development grant attached to my LGBT 310: Imagining Queer Caribbean Futures class, the previous trip being in May 2023.

The trip ran between 18-26 May, with one night in San Juan at the beginning and the end. Before departure, we met to reflect on what the current colonial situation of Puerto Rico has meant for sovereignty in two main areas: housing/education and food production. Our first activity was a walking tour of San Juan focused on decoloniality. Memoria (De)Colonial—who run the tour—is a community organisation that challenges participants to consider the histories masked by colonial buildings, statues, etc., drawing out the ‘the coloniality of the city and its hierarchies of race, class, gender, sexuality, spirituality, and citizenship, that emanate from colonial legacies of Eurocentrism.’ This allowed us to place our class-based learning into context in a direct and tangible way, reinforcing the complexities inherent in understanding the consequences of policy decisions as another step in colonial processes that are omnipresent in the city, should we choose to seek them out.

We engaged with both of our previous community partners in Puerto Rico: Plenitud in Las Marías (19-23 May) and Camp Tabonuco in Jayuya (23-25 May). Plenitud has developed considerably since our last collaboration with them in 2019, becoming a larger and more diverse organisation with multiple ongoing agroecology, bioconstruction and community engagement projects through which the students could participate in service. At Camp Tabonuco, our focus was very much on art and the environment and ways in which the natural world around us can nourish creativity. Upon arrival, we had a tour of the agroecological farm, understanding the premise of agroecology for growing coffee, bananas, and plantains, for example, and what pragmatic concerns need to be taken into account (shade/sunlight, supporting species, harvest methods, etc.). Our full day at Tabonuco comprised two workshops: traditional cattail (rush) weaving (to make a water bottle holder) and botanical bundle dyeing.  

Daily reflections were a cornerstone of the experience, always being an intentional part of the day where we shared our thoughts and learning. In sum, we considered the intersections between the environment, community, and sovereignty through the theme of nourishment: how do we nourish our bodies, minds, and creativity in sustainable, intentional, and site-specific ways? This was achieved on numerous levels, from the academic and structural to the interpersonal and individual. Students saw how the political and personal overlap and seemed challenged to consider this in ways directly pertinent to them.

Additional Signature Programs

Pre-Orientation Outreach Program

Each year we invite first-year students to be part of our pre-orientation community service program.  This past August of 2025, we had 16 students (twelve first-year students and four leaders) work with more than seven different community partners. In addition to direct service opportunities with the Chenango Canal Association and Hope Chapel, students reflected on important histories of the region such as alternative religious communities and indigenous movements through their visits to the Shako:wi Cultural Center and the Oneida Mansion House.

Salvage 
This year’s Salvage Program, in partnership with the Office of Sustainability, completed another successful year, providing a lifeline for local nonprofits with the redistribution of over 15,000 items and goods valued at nearly $75,000. A total of 22 student workers and 41 staff and faculty volunteers contributed their time and talents towards this campus-wide effort during May. 75 community organizations and campus partners benefited from the program, fostering positive change throughout Madison County and Central New York. Local food pantries accepted 110 boxes of nonperishable goods to assist families over the coming summer months and 465 bags of clothing will have a second life through the Worn Again program. At the end of student move out, we diverted roughly 55 tons of reusable goods from landfills.

Alternative Breaks 
The COVE organized and led five alternative break programs this year, with 31 student participants. The COVE supports communities with reciprocal exchange of knowledge and experiences, while providing students with opportunities to be involved in service. The COVE plans these alternative break trips with two goals in mind: increasing participants’ self-awareness and commitment to community engagement and supporting authentic, mutually beneficial relationships with community partners. Students can learn directly from nonprofit organizations while reflecting on their own values and practices related to community engagement.

January Trip: Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Volunteers traveled to Winston-Salem to participate in building affordable homes with Habitat for Humanity. During their time on the build site, they assisted with floor installation and foundation work alongside Habitat staff and volunteers. Additionally, participants had the opportunity to connect their service experiences to wider conversations around economic and environmental approaches to affordable housing. Students worked with a community resource center and assisted them with their used clothing shop, as well as collected donated furniture for the Habitat ReStore.

One student reflected: “Being able to work in construction really opened my eyes to how truly we should be grateful for people who labor in these areas. I always told myself, ‘I’m grateful to be in my warm room in my bed.’ Now, I have experienced the effort and care construction workers put into these houses.”

March Trips: Pathfinder Village, Edmeston, New York; Kiptopeke State Park, Virginia; Tacoma, Washington; Rural and Migrant Ministry, Lyons, New York

Pathfinder Village is a community offering independence to people living with Down syndrome and developmental disabilities. Student volunteers worked with residents in a team-building program to form relationships between the Pathfinder Village Otsego Academy students and college-age peers.

Our other NY state trip partnered with Hobart & William Smith College students and Rural and Migrant Ministry to engage in dialogue with migrant farm workers and reflect on agricultural and immigration policy. Students visited the state capitol in Albany to meet with lawmakers. One student remarked that they appreciated that they were able “...to advocate on a policy level that can improve people's lives.”

At Kiptopeke State Park, students were immersed in the natural landscape, where they were able to learn about environmental stewardship practices and what is required to maintain equitable access to public lands. Work included trail maintenance and boardwalk improvements. “I learned a lot about being able to live in a shared space with different individuals from different backgrounds,” said one participant. “Through service, I learned historical facts about the state park and how the rangers work to make the space a better place for the hundreds of thousands of visitors. It was an insightful experience to learn about the environment, the plants, the ocean, and the people who reside in the town.”

On the trip to Tacoma, Washington, students worked with three different affiliates across three counties framing walls and installing siding.

Levine-Weinberg Fellowships
The COVE selects students annually for the Levine/Weinberg Endowed Summer Fellowship, in partnership with the office of Career Services. This year, this fellowship provided three highly qualified students interested in pursuing a career in community and/or public work with summer internship funding in the field of direct community service.

Zoe Bernstein ’27 will explore her interest in psychological sciences by interning with the GO Project and the North Shore Psychology Studio. Zoe will work alongside an experienced educator to support her assigned class through lesson planning, classroom management, and instruction. She will also be entrusted to assist in overseeing the class on their weekly field trips, where she will see firsthand the impact teachers have on the academic and emotional development of students. Furthermore, Zoe will continue to pursue her professional interests through shadowing Dr. Nira Nafisi, a clinical psychologist, at North Shore Psychology Studio. Focusing her time on Parent-Child Interaction Therapy, Zoe is determined to understand the benefits of this approach on behavioral issues and selective mutism.

Anna Franzino ’28 will explore her passion for public service and engagement through interning with Becky’s Fund, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to putting an end to domestic violence through education, advocacy, and service. Anna hopes to support various initiatives, including Men of Character and Ownership Dedicated to Leading by Example (CODE), Becoming Your Own Hero, ENDOVI, College Tour, and Advocacy. Anna will conduct data analysis and facilitate programming designed to spread information and inspire action among communities to be an ally and a leader in this fight against intimate partner violence against women and girls. Additionally, she will provide direct support for survivors while gaining an understanding of the functional pillars of non-profit organizations. Navigating the challenge of informing communities about high-impact problems and providing aid to those personally impacted connects with Anna’s studies of Peace and Conflict as well as Public Health.

Adam Luse ’27 will channel his enthusiasm for healthcare by interning at The Center in Hollywood. Here, Adam will serve as an inviting and receptive face of the community health clinic by being the first point of contact that unhoused individuals receive. Furthermore, Adam hopes to be an advocate, making sure that their insurance is cleared, they can obtain housing, and offer connection to secondary resources. Adam hopes to support the wellness team in running AA meetings, the art group, and other events. Adam looks forward to gaining a deeper understanding of the healthcare landscape, while improving his patient interaction skills and his ability to foster connections in an intense environment. 

Student Leadership Awards & Honors

2026 Dean’s Community Service Award - Katie Nettles ’26
This award is given to the most worthy individual, residential unit, or group at 91�鶹��Ʒ which has given significant service to the local community. This service exemplifies an understanding that the University is part of a larger community, and that volunteer service and civic participation are part of the responsibility of well-educated people. Katie Nettles demonstrated outstanding service to the Hamilton community as a volunteer with the Hamilton Outdoor Grads and Refugee Tutors.

Max A. Shacknai Award - Sarah Sexton ’26
This award is given to an outstanding senior(s) who has exemplified the mission of the COVE throughout their four years at 91�鶹��Ʒ. This student champions direct service and has forged strong collaborations with community partners.

Direct Service Award - Refugee Tutors
This award is given to the volunteer team that displays outstanding achievement in the area of direct service. This team sustains a committed base of student volunteers and provides consistent and reliable direct service to the greater Hamilton community.

Outstanding Volunteer Award - Emilia Spina ’26 & Maddie Frost ’26
This award is given to a student that demonstrates genuine partnership within the greater Hamilton community and exceeds the expectations of their team.

Community Engagement & Advocacy Award - Friends of Manlius Home
This award recognizes a student organization for excellence in community engagement. Their community-engaged work emphasizes partnership with a specific community and demonstrates a reflection on both student learning and community impact.

Projects for Peace
Projects for Peace (PfP) is an initiative for undergraduate projects designed to find solutions to conflicts. Projects are conducted during the summer and can focus on an issue anywhere in the world, including the U.S. The Projects for Peace grant is available to students in 90 colleges and universities affiliated with the Middlebury College and the Davis United World College Program, an organization that provides scholarships to its partnered institutions. This year, 91�鶹��Ʒ was awarded one PfP project.

Amanda Ariunzaya ’27 - TakeOne Workshops - Utica, NY
This project aims to introduce refugee youth to the fundamentals of filmmaking, including visual storytelling, scriptwriting, storyboarding, basic cinematography, sound, and editing. This approach fosters community collaboration and the creative process, creating spaces where the next generation can heal and find a sense of belonging within their communities. It will also offer refugee youth opportunities not only to survive but to imagine futures beyond survival, and to gain access to creative industries where they can tell their own stories and shape their own narratives.

COVE Partnership Awards & Honors

Each year the COVE recognizes outstanding community partnerships that strengthen the common good, lead to sustained collaboration, and develop civic leadership.

The Community Partner Award - Seneca Street Elementary School, Village of Hamilton
This award is given to a community partner that has shown committed, sustained, and exemplary partnership with a COVE student volunteer team or other student group.

The Faculty Engagement Award 
Catherine Cardelús, Professor of Biology and Environmental Studies, Faculty Director, Upstate Institute
Megan Brankley Abbas, Associate Professor of Religion & Department Chair 
This award recognizes faculty who have made a sustained or significant contribution to publicly engaged scholarship, learning, or community engagement, whether as part of a course or outside of the classroom.

The Staff Engagement Award 
Whitney Harper, Assistant Director of Career Development, Common Good & Pre-Law Adviser
This award is given to the staff member who has made a significant contribution above and beyond their regular duties to advance community engagement and learning outside the classroom.