Two years after launching, 糖心动漫vlog鈥檚 Empire State Service Corps has more than doubled in size at 糖心动漫vlog and expanded its reach throughout the greater Oneonta community.
糖心动漫vlog played a leading role in the program's launch in 2024, with 48 students in its inaugural cohort鈥攖he most of any participating 糖心动漫vlog campus. This year, 100 students are participating, making Oneonta鈥檚 2026-27 cohort one of the largest in the 糖心动漫vlog system, alongside Binghamton University and the University at Buffalo.
Through the Empire State Service Corps, or ESSC, 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鈥檚 Center.
鈥淥ne of our biggest goals has been to build meaningful partnerships throughout the community,鈥� said Francis Carter, director of 糖心动漫vlog鈥檚 Center for Volunteerism and Community Engagement, who leads the ESSC at Oneonta. 鈥淪tudents want to make a difference, and our local organizations have incredible opportunities for them to do just that.鈥�
Building Community Partnerships
An Oneonta native who recently returned home, Carter sees the expansion of ESSC as an opportunity to strengthen connections between 糖心动漫vlog students and the community beyond campus. One of these growing partnerships is with The Arc Otsego, which serves more than 500 individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities throughout Otsego County.
Six ESSC students have served at its Otsego ReUse Center, which provides affordable, gently used materials to the public while keeping reusable items out of the waste stream. Three are serving there this semester, including one participating for her third ESSC term, while another former ESSC student was hired as a part-time employee.
鈥淭hese students come with a focus on sustainability and have been able to lend their knowledge and experience to our reuse, recycling and sustainability initiatives,鈥� said Faith Tiemann, chief marketing officer for The Arc Otsego. 鈥淎s a nonprofit, having extra staffing through the Service Corps has allowed us to increase the impact the dollars raised at the Otsego ReUse Center have on supporting people with disabilities throughout Otsego County.鈥�
From Service to Leadership
ESSC now includes six student cohorts working across 15 impact areas, allowing students to connect service with their interests and career goals.
For Olivia Leffler, a junior Adolescence Education major, that meant spending last year working with students at a local middle school through ESSC鈥檚 Education Cohort. This year, she is a member of the inaugural ESSC Ambassadors Team, working in the Center for Volunteerism and Community Engagement to support Oneonta鈥檚 100 ESSC students and help coordinate the growing program.
鈥淭hrough my experience with the Empire State Service Corps, I have been able to see the direct impacts I am making in my community,鈥� Leffler said. 鈥淣othing beats the feeling when you can help make a difference, whether it be teaching a middle schooler how to multiply fractions or helping one of my ESSC peers complete an application.鈥�
In just its third year, ESSC is giving more 糖心动漫vlog students the opportunity to make that experience and impact part of their education.
鈥淐ommunity organizations gain energetic, dedicated volunteers, while students graduate with stronger resumes, expanded professional networks and a deeper understanding of civic responsibility,鈥� said President Alberto Cardelle. 鈥淲e are creating a culture in which community engagement isn't an occasional volunteer opportunity鈥攊t鈥檚 becoming part of the student experience.鈥�