About 75 fifth-grade students from Hannibal Central School District (HCSD) spent the day exploring science, discovery and possibility during a field trip to the Shineman Center at SUNY Oswego on Friday, April 17.
The visit, designed to spark curiosity and introduce students to a college environment, offered hands-on experiences across multiple scientific disciplines.
Students rotated through three interactive learning stations led by faculty and staff. In an engaging Chemistry Magic Show, Kristin Gublo, instructional support advisement coordinator in the Chemistry Department, demonstrated eye-catching experiments blending entertainment with scientific principles.
Students also toured the building’s greenhouse with biological sciences faculty member Eric Hellquist, gaining insight into plant science and sustainability. The visit also included an immersive experience in the Shineman planetarium, where physics and astronomy faculty member and planetarium director Natalia Lewandowska guided students through the wonders of space.
Inspiring future pathways
For many of the visiting students, the field trip was also about seeing themselves in a new environment. Fifth-grade HCSD teacher Kiera Koen emphasized the importance of early exposure to higher education.
“Growing up in a rural community, college was not a visible part of my everyday life,” Koen said. “It wasn't until much later that I even considered college as a possibility for my future. I wanted to give our students an opportunity to envision themselves on a college campus firsthand and show them that it is accessible if they want it to be.”
The impact of the visit was immediate and meaningful, Koen said, as students were deeply engaged throughout the day and left with a renewed enthusiasm for learning.
“There were so many positive impacts to come out of our tour,” Koen said. “Students were highly engaged in the activities and genuinely excited about the learning that they were doing.”
Community connections
Some of those students already felt at home on the Oswego campus as well.
“I had several students tell me that they want to go to SUNY Oswego in the future, some of which had told me previously that they didn't want to go to college at all,” Koen said. “I would say that my favorite impact was the shared learning that the teachers and students were able to engage in together, the excitement that we were able to share with our students to be learning new things, and the lesson that learning is a lifelong quest.”
Emily Estrada, associate dean in the College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Engineering, helped organize the visit and highlighted the importance of connecting the university with the surrounding community.
“The field trip was a huge success,” Estrada said. “Being a hometown university means opening our doors and making our campus feel accessible to the community we serve. When students can experience spaces like the Shineman Center firsthand, it helps them see college as something within reach – and we would love for these students to return as Lakers someday.”