Senator Peter Oberacker Visits with LPP Students at the Cobleskill-Richmondville HS
March 22, 2024: Senator Peter Oberacker visited with LPP students at the Cobleskill-Richmondville High School to learn more about the impact of the Liberty Partnerships Program in their lives. With their LPP Advocates, Diana Kutinsky and Leslie Thorington, and HS Principal, Brett Barr, looking on, each student took the opportunity to tell their LPP story. It soon became apparent that the greatest benefit of membership in LPP is the unwavering support and guidance of their LPP Advocate. Having a trusted adult in a safe space within the school building is the overarching reason LPP works for these, and so many other LPP students. Other valuable benefits mentioned were academic help and motivation, college and career exploration activities, support through mental health crises, and advice navigating relationships. Senator Oberacker represents the 51st Senate District, which includes every district served by the SUNY Cobleskill LPP. Additionally, he serves as a member of the NYS Senate's Education and Higher Education Committees, among others, demonstrating his commitment to improving the educational opportunities afforded to youth in all of New York State, but particularly those in rural upstate New York. We are grateful for the time he took to listen to these high school students' stories and for his promise to continue to champion the Liberty Partnerships Program at the State level.
2024 Youth Leadership Conference
March 20, 2024: Nearly 150 6th through 12th grade Liberty Partnerships Program students took part in a Youth Leadership Conference at SUNY Cobleskill representing all 7 districts in our program. Motivational speaker, Jared Scott, shared his message of hope, inspiring students to recognize the power they have to take action and bring about change to improve their lives as well as the lives of others. Following the address, Mr. Scott facilitated an in-depth workshop giving our high school students an opportunity to work together in small groups to address the challenges they face and brainstorm solutions. While that took place, our younger middle school students had an opportunity to engage in cooperative play to build self-confidence and learn teamwork skills led by students involved in the Schoharie County Youth Bureau's Youth as Leaders Project. We happily hosted 30 students from three other LPPs -- SUNY Morrisville, Fulton Montgomery Community College, and the University of Albany. Conference expenses were covered by funding from the NYS Department of Education (as are all LPP activities!). You can learn more about Jared Scott at https://www.jaredscottspeaks.com.
2016 Annual LPP Youth Conference
Nearly 70 middle through high school students from the seven districts in the SUNY Cobleskill LPP participated in an annual LPP Youth Conference on the SUNY Cobleskill campus on March 23, 2016. This year's theme had to do with empowering youth to become engaged in their own education through the power of their own voice and their ability to make good choices. Students were treated to an amazing, touching, and motivating keynote by Carlos Ojeda, Jr., founder/owner of CoolSpeak: The Youth Engagement Company, out of Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Mr. Ojeda's personal story of perseverance and, ultimately, life success in the face of nearly insurmountable barriers was inspiring. Students then attended workshops put on by CoolSpeak and the Schoharie County Youth Bureau, all meant to help students define and reach college and life goals, increase self-awareness, develop leadership skills, embrace their uniqueness, and recognize their self-worth. As a daily reminder to follow their dreams, students received a wristband with these words of encouragement, "Success occurs when your dreams are bigger than your excuses. You can sleep with your dreams…or wake up and chase them." Wristbands were provided by Rapid Wristbands.
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2014 Marathon for a Better Life
On Saturday, June 7, 2014, members of the SUNY Cobleskill LPP participated in the annual Marathon for a Better Life to raise funds for Schoharie County residents fighting cancer. Two LPP teams raised nearly $450 and walked during this 12-hour-long event. Team 1, sponsored by Aidone Eye Care, was made up of Cobleskill-Richmondville High School students: Alonzo O'Dell, Michelle Jordan, Angela Easley, David Jackson, and LPP Tutor/Mentor Tom Elliott. Team 2, sponsored by R. Sherwood Veith, CPA, was made up of members of the LPP Youth Leadership Council: Tarynna Fitzpatrick, Nikki Peckham, Anna Sager, Nate Shuart, Savannah Bell, Chas Decker, LPP Program Coordinator Shivaun Schulte, and LPP Project Director Deborah Veith.
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2014 LPP Bowl-a-Thon
On May 17, 2014, members of the LPP After-School Club of the Cobleskill-Richmondville High School raised $302 during a Bowl-A-Thon at the Best Western Lanes to benefit the Marathon for a Better Life. Participants in the Bowl-A-Thon: Alonzo O'Dell, Charles Thompson, Dan Thompson, Michelle Jordan, and Nathaniel Shuart.
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Animal Shelter Benefit
In the fall of 2013 while undertaking a service-learning project, LPP students held a bake sale at the Cobleskill Stewart's to raise funds for the Schoharie Valley Animal Shelter, raising $136.00. On June 10, 2014, students toured the new Animal Shelter facility and learned about the animals at the shelter, how the shelter cares for the animals it takes in, and what people can do to help out. Students also walked a dog, pet a lot of kittens, and presented the check. The students involved in this venture are members of the LPP After-School Club in the Cobleskill-Richmondville High School (Alonzo O'Dell, Aimee Oathout, Michelle Jordan, James Myers, Ashley Oliver, Kaylie-Ann Ward, and Dan Thompson).
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2014 Youth in Government Advocacy Day
On February 11, 2014, sixteen SUNY Cobleskill LPP students joined other LPP students from across the State to participate in the NYS Student Alliance Advocacy Day in an effort to remind legislators of the importance of student aid and opportunity programs, such as the Liberty Partnerships Program. Our students met with Senator James Seward and Assemblyman Peter Lopez to discuss the importance of the Liberty Partnerships Program in their lives and the impact it has had on their academic and social growth. Participants by school district - Cobleskill–Richmondville CSD: Harmony Cole, Jaykob Roe, Thaddeus Sager, Anna Sager, Nathaniel Shuart. Jefferson CSD: Alexis Helmer, Kaylyn Helmer, Michael Greiner, Nick Scarpellini, James Musella, Ian Heney, Evan Fyfe, Nick Fyfe, Cory Wyble. Sharon Springs CSD: Tarynna Fitzpatrick, Nikki Peckham.
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