WHY ONEONTA:
The Music Industry program first drew Shayne to Oneonta. As a student at a music and performing arts high school, he was thinking about a career in music production, but he also wanted a liberal arts education. Shayne took advantage of the Spend-a-Night Program sponsored by the AALANA (African American, Latino, Asian, and Native American) Mentoring Program. “It had such an impact on me that I paid my deposit right there and then,” he recalls.

CAMPUS INVOLVEMENT:
Shayne started getting involved in campus life as soon as he arrived at Oneonta. He was a DJ and Music Director for WONY Radio, a Resident Advisor for three years, and a member of Chi Phi Fraternity, where he served on the Executive Board. He also was Advertising Chair for the Communication Arts Honor Society. During his college career, he also volunteered for activities ranging from the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon to the Lord’s Table soup kitchen.

“There are so many opportunities to do so much at Oneonta—nothing is closed off to you,” Shayne says. “Everyone knows you and is willing to work with you. For me, the extracurricular activities have been key. They have been relevant to my coursework and have made me into the person I am today.”

LEADERSHIP:
Last year, Shayne served as President of SUNY-Oneonta’s award-winning Marketing Club and Marketing Director for the World’s Largest Soccer Game, which drew 1,021 participants and raised money for a scholarship in the name of retiring College President Alan Donovan.

ACADEMICS:
The recipient of many academic honors, Shayne served as a teaching assistant last year in Professor Murphy’s videography and digital editing class. He was awarded a Student/Faculty Research Grant through which he conducted research on Second Life. Shayne held three internships during his time at Oneonta as a marketing intern for the independent record company IA Universal, a production assistant at the Westchester County Multimedia Department, and a marketing intern at the American Society of Composers Authors & Publishers (ASCAP).

What is your fondest memory of Oneonta?
Freshman year, moving into Littell Hall and seeing my name on the door tag. I really felt special and welcomed. I felt this way because my name was spelled correctly, and my RA knew who I was when I first walked into the building.

What kind of doors did Oneonta open for you?
Thanks to the networking and my hard work at Oneonta, I was able to land a good job. I was hired to work for Momentum World Wide, a major worldwide marketing firm a month before graduation.

What achievement are you most proud of?
I was awarded the Mass Communication Arts achievement award during my divisional graduation ceremony.

What was your most memorable extracurricular activity? Being President of the Marketing Club and being a member of the Chi Phi fraternity are my two most memorable extracurricular activities. Both helped me to grow as an individual and to give back to other students and to the community.

Finish this statement: Oneonta State has left me with…
a strong sense of belonging and pride.

What three words summarize your experience at Oneonta?
Educationally and emotionally fulfilling.

What advice do you have for high school students considering Oneonta?
Oneonta has so many opportunities to offer. You need only step outside your room to take advantage of them. Get involved in the campus programs; start with things you like, then try branching out to other clubs and programs.