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2020: The Year in Photos
SUNY Geneseo staff photographer Keith Walters '11 shares some of his favorite photos of the year.
Happy Birthday, MacVittie College Union
Back in March, the MacVittie College Union celebrated 50 years with a festive cake and a historical exhibition in the lobby and ballroom. Kathy Trainor, former director of college union activities, and Chip Matthews, director of student life, had the honor of cutting the cake for hundreds of students.
A Bittersweet Three-Peat
The Geneseo Ice Knights were crowned SUNYAC champions in March for the third consecutive year in front of a packed Ira S. Wilson ice arena. These two pictures are hard for me to look at, even now, for two reasons.
First, this was possibly the most talented group of Ice Knights we've ever seen—consistently ranked within the top three in national polls all season. Expectations were high for a national championship run starting the following weekend, but those hopes were squashed when the season was canceled as the nation and world locked down due to the coronavirus.
Second, looking at all those faces in the crowd really hits me hard. No one in that building guessed that six days later they'd be packing their bags for home. It's also strange to look back at such large gatherings of people now that we have lived our lives in such a different way for the past nine months. Did we really used to do that?
Looking Up
This photo was made for an article in the alumni magazine on the restorative power of spending time in nature. Pictured: my wife Joanna Walters '13 and our dog Lady at Cumming Nature Center in Naples, NY.
Muons over Letchworth
Faculty and students in the physics department built and deployed muon detectors for a citizen-science project aimed at raising awareness of the subatomic world. This fun assignment took me underground to the American Rock Salt Mine, through Letchworth State Park, and *almost* in a hot air balloon (timing didn't work out for the last one). Learn more about the Muons over Letchworth project here.
Welcome Back
Face masks, temperature checks, and social distancing—move-in day looked a little different this year. A lot of uncertainty surrounded the return of students—would our new safety protocols be enough to stop the spread and keep the community safe? I'm proud of how our campus pulled together to make it work.
Still Grinding
While no games were played this fall, our student-athletes still practiced and trained. Left: Noelle Staso '21 demonstrates how to get a good workout at home. You can read more about her tips in Scene magazine's Summer 2020 issue here. Right: Jordan Penkitis '21 poses for a portrait appearing in the Winter 2021 issue.
Testing
To keep our community safe, SUNY Geneseo conducted rigorous testing of faculty, staff, and students throughout the fall semester, and our student-run EMT service, Geneseo First Response, played a huge role in making this a success.
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