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SU’s Hendricks Chapel dean to become next president of Valparaiso University in Indiana
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Rev. Brian Konkol, who has been serving as VP and dean of Syracuse University’s (SU) Hendricks Chapel, will become the 20th president

Design phase set to start for $450M annex at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The design phase is set to begin for the $450 million hospital annex at Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. The design will

MMRI accepting applications for 2026 summer fellowship program
UTICA, N.Y. — College students interested in a summer fellowship at the Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI) in Utica can now apply for consideration. The program is open to both local and national undergraduate and graduate students. The MMRI Summer Fellowship is a 10-week, hands-on training program designed to get undergraduate and graduate students involved
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UTICA, N.Y. — College students interested in a summer fellowship at the Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI) in Utica can now apply for consideration.
The program is open to both local and national undergraduate and graduate students.
The MMRI Summer Fellowship is a 10-week, hands-on training program designed to get undergraduate and graduate students involved in scientific research.
The upcoming fellowship will run from May 11, 2026, through July 17, 2026 at MMRI, which is located at 2150 Bleecker St. in Utica.
Fellows will gain hands-on laboratory experience, mentorship from some of the nation’s leading scientists and “valuable insight into the process of scientific discovery,” MMRI said. The program also offers opportunities to network with peers and experts, attend educational workshops, and receive guidance on medical and graduate school applications.
“The summer fellowship helped me to decide on my future career path that I wasn’t necessarily sure of prior to the program,” Gianna Frank, a 2024 summer fellow and pre-medical student at Syracuse University, said in the MMRI announcement. “Participating in this fellowship not only taught me skills necessary for hands-on benchwork, but it also showed me the ‘behind the scenes’ of the entire research process.”
Undergraduate and graduate students pursuing science-related programs, including biology, chemistry, genetics, molecular biology, nanomedicine, physiology, drug delivery and other life sciences, are encouraged to apply.
The application deadline is Friday, Feb. 6, 2026. To learn more about MMRI’s summer fellowship program, visit mmri.edu/summerfellow.

Syracuse football fires four assistant coaches following disappointing season
SYRACUSE, N.Y. — After posting a 3-9 record in the 2025 season, Syracuse University football head coach Fran Brown has parted ways with four assistant

Griffiss Institute produced $15.4 million economic impact on Mohawk Valley in FY24
ROME, N.Y. — The Griffiss Institute (GI) in Rome generated a $15.4 million impact on the Mohawk Valley economy during fiscal year 2024 (FY24). That

SUNY Oswego president named to board of national association for state schools
OSWEGO, N.Y. — SUNY Oswego President Peter Nwosu is now serving on the board of directors of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU). Nwosu was one of five educational leaders elected to the AASCU board on Nov. 17 during the organization’s annual conference for presidents and chancellors in Nashville, Tennessee. AASCU is
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OSWEGO, N.Y. — SUNY Oswego President Peter Nwosu is now serving on the board of directors of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).
Nwosu was one of five educational leaders elected to the AASCU board on Nov. 17 during the organization’s annual conference for presidents and chancellors in Nashville, Tennessee.
AASCU is a Washington, D.C.–based higher-education association representing more than 500 regional public colleges, universities, and systems.
Nwosu’s appointment to the AASCU board “places him among a select group of national leaders who guide the association’s strategic direction and advance its mission,” SUNY Oswego said in its announcement.
The board provides oversight to ensure AASCU continues to promote access, student success, and inclusive excellence across regional public institutions. In this role, Nwosu will help develop policies and initiatives that strengthen the impact of state colleges and universities nationwide.
Besides serving on the board of directors, Nwosu also is chair of AASCU’s committee on student success, a position he has held since December 2024.
“I am deeply honored to serve on the AASCU Board of Directors and to help advance our shared commitment to expanding access and elevating student success,” Nwosu said in the school’s announcement. “This opportunity highlights SUNY Oswego’s role in shaping the future of public higher education and strengthens our efforts to ensure that every student — from their first days on campus to graduation and beyond — has the support and pathways necessary to thrive.”

Lewis County businesses recognized during Naturally Lewis awards event
LOWVILLE, N.Y. — Red Barn Meats, Inc. of Croghan is this year’s Naturally Lewis Outstanding Business Award recipient. The meat processor, located northeast of Lowville

Understanding How Premium Dollars Are Used
Health care costs continue to rise, impacting premium rates and putting pressure on small businesses. With the complexity of the health care system, it can

Val Bialas Ski Center in Utica breaks ground on a snowmaking project
UTICA, N.Y. — The City of Utica is embarking on a $2 million renovation project at the Val Bialas Ski Center. New York State Assemblywoman

UHS Chenango Memorial wins federal funding for Sidney practice
NORWICH, N.Y. — UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich will use federal funding of more than $667,000 for infrastructure improvements to its multi-specialty practice on Pearl Street in Sidney in Delaware County. The hospital received word that its funding request to help replace the facilities aging roof, windows, and doors had been included in the
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NORWICH, N.Y. — UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital in Norwich will use federal funding of more than $667,000 for infrastructure improvements to its multi-specialty practice on Pearl Street in Sidney in Delaware County.
The hospital received word that its funding request to help replace the facilities aging roof, windows, and doors had been included in the 2026 federal budget. It credited U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D–N.Y.) with securing the money.
The federal money for the project will cover 75 percent of the total project cost, estimated at $890,000.
“We are deeply grateful for Senator Gillibrand and her staff’s advocacy on our behalf and for this federal investment, which will help us create a safer, more comfortable, and energy-efficient environment for the patients and families we serve through our health center in Sidney,” Cecil Miller, president and CEO of UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital, said in the announcement. “These improvements strengthen our ability to provide high-quality primary, pediatric, and specialty care as well as diagnostic imaging and laboratory services close to home for residents of Sidney and the surrounding communities.”
UHS Chenango Memorial purchased the 44 Pearl Street property that houses the multi-specialty practice in 2010 to better serve patients in western Delaware and Otsego counties, Miller added. Work on the project is expected to begin sometime in 2026.
Over the last 15 years, more than $1.8 million has been invested in the facility to support the growth of offered services. That list now includes primary care, pediatrics, women’s health services, orthopedics, cardiology, general surgery, laboratory services, and diagnostic imaging, including 3-D mammography.
It is one of 15 projects to receive funding in New York State in the FY 2026 Agriculture-Rural Development and Military Construction- Veterans Affairs funding bills.
“UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital is a critical health care hub, serving thousands of individuals in the area,” Gillibrand said. “I am proud to have secured funding for this modernization project to ensure that UHS Chenango Memorial Hospital can continue providing health care services for New Yorkers [at its Sidney location] while reducing energy costs and improving safety and security for patients, their families, and staff.”
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