Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
ONEONTA, N.Y. – Molly Lewis, Warsaw, is among the 100 SUNY Oneonta students participating in the third class of Empire State Service Corps (ESSC) members during the 2026-27 academic year.
Lewis, who is studying museum studies and is a member of the class of 2027, is completing their "Healthy Futures" cohort and "Food Insecurity SNAP & Basic Needs" impact area at the Cooperstown Food Pantry.
Two years after launching, SUNY's Empire State Service Corps has more than doubled in size at SUNY Oneonta and expanded its reach throughout the greater Oneonta community.
SUNY Oneonta played a leading role in the program's launch in 2024, with 48 students in its inaugural cohort-the most of any participating SUNY campus. This year, 100 students are participating, making Oneonta's 2026-27 cohort one of the largest in the SUNY system, alongside Binghamton University and the University at Buffalo.
Through the Empire State Service Corps, students complete paid public service in areas ranging from K-12 education and basic needs outreach to sustainability, civic engagement and mental health. Placements now include area state parks, schools, nonprofits, food banks, Head Start programs and other community organizations, as well as on-campus services such as the Red Dragon Food Pantry and Bugbee Children's Center.
"One of our biggest goals has been to build meaningful partnerships throughout the community," said Francis Carter, director of SUNY Oneonta's Center for Volunteerism and Community Engagement, who leads the ESSC at Oneonta. "Students want to make a difference, and our local organizations have incredible opportunities for them to do just that."
