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2024–25 COVE at a Glance

• 783 student volunteers
• 24% of 91�鶹��Ʒ students (nearly one in every four) participated in COVE programs
• 89 community organization partnerships
• 730 students participated weekly or biweekly in at least one of the COVE’s 36 volunteer teams
• 22,060+ volunteer service hours, valued at $849,000 of economic impact

Feedback From Community Partners

Matthew Avis Joins the COVE Staff

Last summer, the COVE completed a successful search for a new team adviser, and we were excited to welcome Matthew Avis. Matt brings eight years of experience as a firefighter and EMT, as well as time in social services working with youth and families. Matt began advising 14 student groups that work primarily in tutoring and mentoring schoolchildren in four different school districts. He also took on leadership of the COVE’s Day of Service program and led an Alternative Break service trip to Virginia last spring.

Service and Program Highlights

Volunteer Teams

The COVE’s 36 volunteer teams, comprising 730 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. This year we began planning a new public school partnership with Otselic Valley Central Schools for the 2025–2026 academic year. We also reimagined two volunteer teams in Oneida after North Broad Elementary school closed. However, we maintained our partnership with school district staff and continued our teams’ service under the new names Seneca Street Mentoring and Seneca Sisters.

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 2024–2025 academic year, we ran four sessions, two in the fall and two in the spring. A total of 14 schools/academic programs participated. The first fall series hosted 95 students and their chaperones. The second fall series hosted 103 high school students and their chaperones. The first spring series saw 103 student visitors, and the second spring series hosted 111 high school attendees. Combined over the entire program year, 244 unique high school students were able to attend, with a grand total of 412 attendees. 

Days of Service

This year, we held three days of service, with 42 unique participants. The COVE partnered with over eight different community organizations for service day projects, beginning with the September 11th Day of Service and Remembrance and continuing with a Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service dialogue on racial justice and healing at Cornerstone Community Church in Utica. We concluded the program in April, partnering with the Office of Sustainability during its 13 Days of Green programming

Civic Engagement

In partnership with the 91�鶹��Ʒ Vote Project and Democracy Matters, the COVE worked to implement our comprehensive Civic Action Plan for the 2024 Presidential Election cycle, as well as promote nonpartisan voter registration and education through First Year Seminar class visits, open office hours, and regular tabling at the O’Connor Campus Center. We found success in our Presidential Debate Watch Party and Election Night Party, each event seeing over 150 students in attendance. We also partnered with the Residential Commons during their induction ceremonies, where 148 students signed voter pledge cards and shared questions they had about the voting process.

91�鶹��Ʒ and the COVE received recognition from our partners at the All-In Challenge, joining 471 campuses in being named a 2024 ALL IN Most Engaged Campus for College Student Voting. Additionally, we received a letter from Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado ’99 congratulating us on this designation — Delgado shared his pride in our accomplishments and encouraged us to “do our part to keep young people engaged in our democratic system.”

This fall, we look forward to receiving the results of the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement data on 91�鶹��Ʒ students’ voting rates in the 2024 election. Overall, the Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) at Tufts University estimates that 47% of young people ages 18 to 29 voted in the 2024 presidential election. This marks a slight decrease from 2020 (50%), but is still one of the highest rates of youth electoral participation since the United States lowered the voting age to 18.

Service Learning Course Development Grants

This year the COVE supported one service learning course through the course development grant program.

Justin Helepololei, Sociology and Anthropology

Cultures of Incarceration (spring 2025)

Professor Helepololei reflected on his course this past semester:

With the financial support of a COVE Course Development Grant and the intellectual and emotional support of the Cove/Upstate Institute Community of Practice, I was able to redevelop ANTH 342: Cultures of Incarceration, a course I had previously taught, into a course with more robust community engagement.

The content of ANTH 342 centers on a comparative analysis of incarceration in different communities. Students engage with scholarly and first-person texts that highlight the lived realities of incarcerated people, prison staff, and community members who have been impacted by incarceration. They read analyses of the political, economic, and cultural contexts in which prisons are embedded, and how these dynamics have differences, similarities, and shared histories with each other. Students learn about the forces that have shaped prisons as they exist today in different countries, and they learn about the people who have worked to reform incarceration since the invention of modern prisons.

With the support of the COVE Course Development Grant, I was able to put my class into conversation with prison reform advocates in upstate New York. I was also able to build a foundation for future collaborations with community organizations that focus on issues related to prison reform, prisoner re-entry, and education and diversion programs. While I began working with the organization Unchained NY in fall 2024, they did not have the capacity to work with students in spring 2025, so I pivoted to work with the broader Communities Not Cages coalition. This coalition is composed of members of different New York-based organizations, including the Center for Community Alternatives. Student projects during the year included a campus visit from the organization Unchained in October 2024, a class trip to the state capitol in Albany in February 2025 to attend an Advocacy Day event for the Communities Not Cages coalition, class meetings with Communities Not Cages coalition members and other New York-based prison reform advocates and educators, and a “knowledge exchange” in which my students shared drafts of their research papers on issues related to incarceration in different countries with the six community partners.

Additional Signature Programs

Pre-Orientation Outreach Program

Each year, we invite first-year students to be part of our pre-orientation community service program. In August 2024, we had 12 students (eight 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 Chenango Historical Society, students reflected on important histories of the region, such as the anti-slavery, women’s rights, and indigenous movements, through their visits to the Harriet Tubman Home, the Women's Rights National Historical Park, and the Skä•noñh Great Law of Peace Center.

Common Good Professional Network

Joining with alumni engagement, Career Services, and institutional advancement, the Common Good Professional Network (CGPN) offers networking and development opportunities for students and alumni. This year, our signature event was the reboot of Be The Change weekend.

For the first time since 2019, the COVE collaborated with the Office of Alumni Engagement and Career Services to host its signature Be the Change Weekend, March 7–8, fostering connections between current students and alumni. The Be the Change tradition began a decade ago but had been on pause since the pandemic. “The goal is to reignite that opportunity, that vision, and the continuation of programming in the future,” explained event panelist Betsy Levine Brown ’01.

Visiting alumni included Brown, Gabby Bianchi ’19, Chrissy Hart ’05, Steve Heath ’80, Tom Levine ’71, Claire Short ’23, Heidi Sullivan ’06, and Meghan Stanton ’07, representing fields from education to domestic violence prevention.

Many of these alumni are successful 91�鶹��Ʒ graduates and part of the history of the COVE. Betsy Levine Brown co-founded the COVE during her senior year at 91�鶹��Ʒ, and Chrissy Hart was one of the first mentors in the program. Now, they’ve passed the torch to current COVE staff and students who helped plan the weekend. Ciara Sanders ’26, once such student leader, offered introductory remarks.

On Friday, March 7, alumni and students gathered to introduce themselves and open up discussions about purpose and professional pathways. According to these alumni, their work is more than just a way to pay the bills. They endeavor toward something else: “the power of people and the power of connection,” said Bianchi, and “tangible change, healing happening in real time,” said Short.

“I don’t want it to come across that ‘Common Good’ means that other sectors of work can’t do good,” elaborates Brown. “We should be finding synergy and opportunities for good across all the things we do.” In this sector, though, success is defined by service. “It’s our unit of analysis — what are we doing for people?”

On Saturday morning, students had a chance to participate in breakout groups with alumni and ask questions about various graduates’ career trajectories. There were discussions on topics such as maintaining a work-life balance, taking care of your mental health while dealing with sensitive topics, and finding fulfillment through a career in the common good sector.

As the breakout session progressed, alumni asked students about their 91�鶹��Ʒ pursuits and how they might align with a common good career. The discussion fostered a sense of community, with various alumni mentioning how they would be willing to help students out and urging them to take advantage of 91�鶹��Ʒ connections. Students were given advice on how to develop and maintain strong relationships with possible mentors.

From Hart talking about her experience joining the Peace Corps to Bianchi noting the importance of her Institute for Nonprofit Practice fellowship, students were able to hear from a wide range of alumni who are at different stages of their careers.

“One of the most inspiring takeaways from Be the Change Weekend was hearing alumni share how their values have shaped their careers,” said Whitney Harper, assistant director of career development, common good and pre-law adviser. “It was clear that values like service, justice, and community have been a driving force behind their paths and continue to inspire them to make a positive impact in their communities.”

Steve Health remarked that “I was genuinely moved by the undergraduates — their enthusiasm, thoughtfulness, and deep desire to make an impact. We need more smart, dedicated, and energetic young people ready to pick up the torch in the name of universal goodness, and your work is clearly helping to inspire and guide them.”

Brown shared similar thoughts, saying, “You all are wickedly talented, incredibly intelligent, and highly versatile,” Brown told students. “You bring a great energy to the campus. As an alumna, that’s just fun to be around, and it gives me a lot of hope for the future.”

Avery Matthews ’27 appreciated the praise and the interaction. “It was great to hear from alumni about their experience moving into the professional world,” she said.

In 2026, the COVE plans to incorporate Be The Change weekend into our 25th anniversary celebration.

Salvage

The 2025 Salvage Program, in partnership with the Office of Sustainability, completed another successful year, providing a lifeline for local nonprofits with the redistribution of over 12,600 items and goods valued at nearly $85,000. A total of 22 student workers and 44 staff and faculty volunteers contributed their time and talents toward this campuswide effort during May. Sixty-eight community organizations and campus partners benefited from the program, fostering positive change throughout Madison County and Central New York. Local food pantries accepted 150 boxes of nonperishable goods to assist families over the coming summer months, and 443 bags of clothing will have a second life through the Worn Again program. At the end of student move-out, we diverted roughly 53 tons of reusable goods from landfills.

Alternative Breaks

The COVE organized and led five alternative break programs this year comprising 31 students.

January Trips: Taos, New Mexico and Washington, D.C. 
Volunteers traveled to Taos, New Mexico to participate in building affordable homes with Habitat for Humanity. During their time on the build site, they assisted with porch and fence construction on a new adobe home 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 toured the ecohome Earth Ship neighborhood, visited with community leaders at Taos Pueblo, and shared meals with local Habitat homeowners and neighbors.

One student reflected on their experience, saying: “One interaction that was meaningful to me during my trip was the partner family lunch. I loved hearing the powerful story of another family whose lives have been changed by Habitat, and it put into perspective how important my service was. It was an incredible opportunity to connect with the family, and helped me to understand Habitat’s mission and impact.”

Participants also spent the week exploring the history, causes and consequences of homelessness and food insecurity in the U.S. through dynamic service-learning opportunities at a variety of community and non-profit organizations, including The National Coalition for the Homeless, ONE DC, Martha's Table, and more. Service experiences included meal preparation, logistics of meal support, discussions with service providers and community leaders, exploration of DC history and neighborhood culture, and conversations with individuals currently or previously experiencing housing and/or food insecurity.

March Trips: Pathfinder Village, Edmeston, New York, Kiptopeke State Park, Cape Charles, Virginia, Asheville, North Carolina

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.

“Spending my spring break at the Otsego Academy in Pathfinder Village was the best use of my break, as I got to witness the power of inclusion and empathy in educational spaces,” says Aastha Ghimire ’27. “The importance of human connection in schools cannot be replaced by anything. If I could rewind time, I would have done this in my first semester itself.”

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 rebuilding and re-decking railings and building structural supports.

“It was just a rewarding experience getting to volunteer in the Kiptopeke State Park and a privilege to spend some time by the ocean,” says Martyn Dahl ’27. “It was a great change of pace from life at 91�鶹��Ʒ, and I met some new people.”

The spring break trip to Asheville, N.C., focused on building new homes and repairing homes in response to the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Students worked directly with the Habitat for Humanity staff in the construction process. Some students also assisted with the Habitat ReStore, which saves reusable household items and construction materials from landfills.

“Especially with rising climate issues, it becomes exceptionally important that we help each other in any way possible,” says Evangeline Atkinson ’27. “When you’re building a house, it’s a really spiritual experience. You’re indirectly contributing to someone’s childhood or a new start to someone’s life.”

The COVE supports communities with reciprocal exchange of knowledge and experiences, while providing students with opportunities to be involved in service. These alternative break trips are planned with two goals: 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.

Levine-Weinberg Fellowships

The COVE selects students annually for the Levine/Weinberg Endowed Summer Fellowship, in partnership with Career Services. This year, this fellowship provided four 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.

Nectar Mouradian ’28 interned with the AYF Internship Program in Armenia as a teacher intern. Nectar worked at a children’s center and will be in charge of leading group activities. Nectar has goals to be a teacher in the future, and this opportunity provided them with hands-on experience on how to work with children and different methods of teaching.

Naomi Siff-Scherr ’26 interned with the Child Mind Institute in NYC - ADHD Summer Program. Naomi served as a lead counselor, mentoring new counselors in effective strategies for working with children with ADHD. Responsibilities included modeling appropriate communication techniques, guiding behavior management strategies, and helping new staff build confidence and rapport with campers. Naomi’s goals were to strengthen her leadership and mentoring skills while deepening her understanding of neurodiverse learning styles.

Sarah Beth Sandifer ’27 interned with Pennypack Farm and Education Center as a farming intern. Sarah Beth worked on all areas of running the farm and education center, including but not limited to: planting crops, weeding, driving trucks, assisting in community outreach, preparing produce, learning organic farming practices, and helping monitor crop share collection. For learning outcomes, she sought to learn how a medium-sized organic farm can provide food to the local community, what logistics are involved, and learn the skills involved in bringing healthy food and farm education to her hometown.

Nhu Dang ’26 interned with the Refugee Education Center as a summer intern. Nhu’s responsibilities included assisting during class time, in addition to administrative duties. Nhu worked with the BRIDGES summer program for refugee children. She sat in and participated in lessons, as well as assisted with lunchtime. Each Wednesday, she attended field trips to act as a chaperone. She also helped the K–12 Education team develop and coordinate all logistics, such as attendance and lunch time prep. As an outcome, Nhu aimed to build her skills working with children and collaborating with individuals in a new, constantly changing environment. She also learned about the refugee experience and developed insight into the different conditions of social work regarding refugees.

Student Leadership Awards and Honors

2025 Dean’s Community Service Award 
Camille Goodhart ’25
This award is given to the most worthy individual, residential unit, or group at 91�鶹��Ʒ that 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. Camille Goodhart is recognized for outstanding service to the Hamilton community as a volunteer with the Hamilton Fire Department and 91�鶹��Ʒ High School Tutors.

Max A. Shacknai Award
Joe Mekhail ’25, Georgette Manos ’25
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
91�鶹��Ʒ Hunger Outreach Program, Seneca Street Mentors, Seneca Sisters
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
Arianna Stolowitz ’26, Senay Aktas ’25
This award is given to a student who demonstrates genuine partnership within the greater Hamilton community and exceeds the expectations of their team.

Community Engagement and Advocacy Award
91�鶹��Ʒ Vote Project, Democracy Matters, Madison County EMS
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 United States. The Projects for Peace grant is available to students in 90 colleges and universities affiliated with 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.

Harshitha Talasila ’26 - Mind Matters: Workshops and Mental Health Resources for Students - Vijayawada, India
This project aims to address the lack of access to mental health resources, specifically through a series of workshops and the distribution of a resource guide. The workshop series will consist of five sessions covering various mental health issues, training, and discussions on substance use and abuse, ways of managing health, and seeking to build more resilience. It will include lectures, discussions, and activities for a well-rounded and engaging experience.

COVE Partnership Awards and 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 - Pathfinder Village, Hamilton Food Cupboard 
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 
Justin Helepololei, Assistant Professor of Anthropology 
Ethan Bennett, Lecturer 
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 
Julia Sparks, Assistant Director, Sustainability and Program Coordinator, Environmental Studies
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.