Around the SUNY Oswego campus

President Peter. O. Nwosu with Kathleen Kerr, vice president for student affairs, Sara Rebeor (pictured in background), assistant vice president of residence life and housing, and Jamal Coleman, director of operations for the Office of the President, greeted incoming students and their families as they moved into west-end Oneida and Cayuga first-year residence halls, and then visited lakeside Johnson and Riggs halls.

The Welcoming Torchlight Ceremony includes incoming students lighting candles, symbolic of taking up the Torch of Learning as they begin their Laker journey.

The Welcoming Torchlight Ceremony, led by President Peter O. Nwosu on Aug. 21 in the Marano Campus Center’s Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall, is an annual ceremony that signifies the start of a new beginning in students’ lives. The Commencement Eve Torchlight Ceremony for graduating seniors in May serves as a bookend to this tradition. Oghenetega “Tega” Adjoh ’26 (pictured) served as Torchbearer, lighting the candles held by students, faculty and staff.

At the Welcoming Torchlight Ceremony, President Peter O. Nwosu stands on the platform with, from left, torchbearer Oghenetega “Tega” Adjoh ’26, student emcee Kenneth “Kenny” Girard ’26 and student speaker Alexandra “Alex” Teitelbaum ’26.

President Peter O. Nwosu greets Cleane Medeiros of the Advisement Center and other SUNY Oswego campus community members at the opening picnic held Aug. 21.

The Opening Picnic on Aug. 21 provided an opportunity for the newest Lakers to enjoy a variety of food and make new connections.

Students have some fun at the photo booth during the opening picnic held Aug. 21.

Students gathered for food and fun at the Opening Picnic on Aug. 21.

Students enjoyed sampling a variety of food during the Taste of Oswego picnic on Aug. 22 with a variety of local vendors offering regional favorites.

Students attending the Taste of Oswego picnic Aug. 22 also got to relax along the nearby Lake Ontario shore on a beautiful summer day.

Students enjoyed sampling a variety of food and meeting members of the local business community during the Taste of Oswego picnic Aug. 22.

The newest Lakers quickly found their way to the university’s picture-postcard setting on nearby Lake Ontario.

The Taste of Oswego picnic, featuring samples from local businesses, plus a warm summer day provided a backdrop for the newest Lakers to gather.

Students, along with faculty and staff, came together for the annual “O” Photo, an annual tradition where the newest Lakers form a giant “O” while wearing white shirts. Faculty and staff wearing gold T-shirts provide the outline.

Students, faculty and staff start making the letter “O” for the annual photo, this year on the Lee Hall field.

President Peter. O. Nwosu and Jamal Coleman, director of operations for the Office of the President, join students in waving to the aerial drone camera for this year's “O” Photo, an annual tradition.

The finished “O” photo, captured by an aerial drone.

President Peter O. Nwosu speaks during the 2025–26 Opening Breakfast held Aug. 19 in the Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall.

Austin Wheelock, executive director for Operation Oswego County, gives an invited update during the 2025–26 Opening Breakfast held Aug. 19 in the Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall.

New faculty and professional staff gather for a photo at Sheldon Hall during their orientation, which unfolded Aug. 18 and 19 with a variety of activities allowing them to get to know the campus, each other and university leadership.

Ten technology teachers from across New York state visited SUNY Oswego to train on new robotics curriculum, thanks to a partnership between the university and Micron Technology to bolster K-12 STEM education in Central New York and beyond. Pictured are some of the participants operating the robots they built as part of a friendly competition.

Before the start of classes in Hewitt Hall, Jennifer Knapp -- dean of the College of Communication, Media and the Arts -- and Michael Riecke, chair and associate professor of communication studies, led a media tour, pausing here for a photo in a new broadcasting studio. The first day of classes brought a renovated and revitalized Hewitt Hall back online to prepare a range of communicators, storytellers and artists for today’s and tomorrow’s technologies, jobs and opportunities.

Jennifer Knapp, dean of the College of Communication, Media and the Arts, speaks to members of the media in a second-floor classroom lab which overlooks the quad between Hewitt Hall and Penfield Library during a tour of fully renovated Hewitt Hall.

New international students assembled in Lanigan Hall on Aug. 21 for orientation sessions. The programs are organized by the Office of International Education and Programs’ International Student and Scholar Services, and beginning this year, in collaboration with the Student Orientation and Family Engagement Office, to enhance the overall experience.

Oswego Town Volunteer Fire Department held training Aug. 13 for residence hall assistants on procedures in case of fire. Also included were demonstrations on the use of fire extinguishers in and outside Oneida Hall. The training and awareness are part of ongoing efforts that have resulted in a dramatic reduction in calls to Oswego Town firefighters.

The Educational Opportunity Program summer program running in July included ice skating for students of all skill levels July 22 in the arena. On July 23, students met with Career Services in the Shineman Center for presentations and breakout sessions.

The popular Student Involvement Fair on Aug. 27 in the Deborah F. Stanley Arena and Convocation Hall provides the chance to meet some of Oswego's hundreds of campus clubs and student organizations. President Peter O. Nwosu enjoyed a moment practicing a martial arts lesson with members of the Karate Club while visiting.

During the popular Student Involvement Fair, President Peter O. Nwosu meets with students involved in the It's on Oz program.

The Student Involvement provided new and returning students the chance to meet some of the hundreds of student campus clubs and organizations. The Women In Business Club, one of the many business organizations, nicely frames their enthusiasm.

During the popular Student Involvement Fair, President Peter O. Nwosu talks with a group of first-year students from African nations.

At the popular Student Involvement Fair, Club Softball swung for the fences with their table display.

At the fall Student Involvement Fair, President Peter O. Nwosu talks with Harrison Feldman, a junior technology education major and an emergency medical technician with the Student Association Volunteer Ambulance Corps.

Staffing the Student Involvement Fair’s Student Association table are Luke Kapczak (left, gray hoodie), a senior finance major and SA director of finance, and James Clough (right), a junior majoring in computer science and in electrical and computer engineering, as well as SA secretary.

The annual Paint the Road Green tradition took place this year on Aug. 22, helping kick off the new academic year by painting the Marano Campus Center bus loop green by the newest Lakers. This symbolic activity reflects united Laker pride and enthusiasm for the year ahead.

Many students wrapped the first week of classes by participating in the 1.5-mile fun-filled Color Oswego Run/Walk held Aug. 29 around SUNY Oswego's west campus.

Volunteers, including the Laker women’s hockey team (pictured) and men’s basketball team, helped distribute powder during the Color Oswego run/walk on Aug. 29.

It was pretty easy to see which students participated in the Color Oswego run/walk.

Wrapping up the first week of classes, the annual Color Oswego run/walk unfolded with picture-perfect weather conditions on the west side of campus.

Move-in volunteers stationed around campus directed traffic and greeted the newest Lakers and their families coming to residence halls. This group located near Shady Shore is, from left: Kinjal Gurung, a sophomore broadcasting and mass communication major; Chloe Emestica, a senior creative writing major; and Lark Lee, a junior psychology and human development major.

Move-In Day greetings welcomed first-year students around campus Aug. 21, including here in the first-floor lounge of Oneida Hall.