Summer Campus Visitors Bring Vibrancy, Economic Impact to Region

This summer, the Geneseo community welcomed a broader than usual array of visitors to campus, from mushroom lovers to fans of the Memphis Belle and other WWII aircraft, and from reunions to orientations. Close to 10,000 people attended events or took part in activities held in College facilities, bringing to the greater Geneseo area, tourist revenue and an economic impact of approximately $180,000.

“SUNY Geneseo is well-known for its friendly and supportive community,” said Andrea Klein, director of scheduling, events and conference services. “And as a result, many of the groups and organizations who spent time on our campus this summer are return visitors. For example, the Flying Aces, who build specialized model airplanes and compete at the airfield across the street, have been with Geneseo for more than 20 years. They appreciate the close proximity to the airfield but also to the quaint and historic options that Main Street and the local area have to offer.”

In College events and activities, the campus hosted:

• SUNY Geneseo Reunion, which drew nearly 800 alumni.

• Six first-year and two transfer orientation sessions that were attended by close to 1,400 students and nearly 1,100 parents and family members.

• For the first time, a group of 18 McNair scholars spent time on campus.

• The AOP Summer Scholars Program welcomed upwards of 140 students.

• The National Science Foundation (NSF) Summer REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) drew close to a dozen students from eight from different institutions to campus labs to work with Geneseo faculty.

• The New York Association for College Admission Counseling returned to campus after a successful regional conference held here last June 2017. The program brought over 100 upper-level high school students to Geneseo and offered college-prep workshops and activities.

In programs and events for school children:

•  Over 900 people filled Wadsworth Auditorium for the Geneseo Central School graduation ceremony.

• Two athletic camps — soccer and volleyball — put nearly 80 students through their paces.

• A lacrosse goalie camp netted 10 students.

• The Rochester Young Scholars Academy brought 60 youth and 20 counselors to campus for a two-week program.

• Empire Soccer held training camps for 40 students in the College stadium.

• One hundred and fifty high school students and professional mentors from across New York State attended Camp College, a three-day college-access experience for upper-level high school students. The program, which is free to participants, is coordinated by the New York State Association for College Admission Counseling.

• Bronze Bear Soccer hosted 20 travel teams with 75 players and parents in attendance as well as eight microsoccer games (pee wees), which drew about 250 players and parents to each game.

In training and seminar activities, the campus played host to:

• A Small Business Development Center workshop drew 50 local business owners.

• A consolidated funding workshop hosted by the Empire State Development office attracted 75 business owners.

In celebratory events:

• The Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, through the support of the Chanler family, entertained over 1,000 music-lovers in a Summer Spectacular celebration concert that featured a fireworks display.​​​​​​

In one-of-a-kind programs, Geneseo welcomed:

• Nearly 160 pilots associated with the 1941 Historic Aircraft Group who were in the region for the annual airshow.

• The Northeast Mycological Federation, which brought 180 individuals to the region. Attendees spent time in Letchworth State Park foraging for mushroom specimens. This year, they discovered 57 new species.

• The Great FANY Ride, which included 150 cyclists, used the campus as one of their stops on their 500-mile journey across New York state.

• Cycle America and its 50 cyclists also used the campus as a stop on their coast to coast ride. Geneseo was the final leg of their journey, which concluded in Boston.

For information about scheduling events on the SUNY Geneseo campus, contact the Office of Scheduling, Events and Conference Services via e-mail, at (585) 245-5500 or stop by room 23 in Erwin Hall during normal business hours.