Spotlight Series

The SUNY Poly Spotlight Series is a robust collection of camps for kids and teens as well as events and workshops for people of all ages. Showcasing the expertise of SUNY Poly faculty and staff and our Mohawk Valley community, the series provides opportunities for fun and learning in the areas of STEM, the arts, athletics, wellness, and more.

Have an idea for an event? Email us at events@sunypoly.edu and let us know!

The gold listings are workshops or camps for middle and/or high school students with specific age ranges.

The green listings are athletic camps for middle and/or high school students with specific age ranges.

The blue listings are events and workshops for community members of all ages.
 

Date: Wednesday, November 12
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Mark I. Cushman, Certified Organizational Development Coach
Description: Get ready to engage, interact, and transform the way you communicate! This dynamic workshop isn’t just a lecture – it’s a fully immersive experience. Through real-time communication-style assessments, group exercises, and powerful role-playing activities, you’ll uncover how others perceive you and discover practical tools to improve your active listening, verbal, non-verbal, and written communication.
Fee: Free/RSVP Required
Deadline: Register by Wednesday, November 12 at Noon
Participants: 30 (Max) 

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Date: Friday, November 14
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Linda Paredes ‘20, UX/UI Designer and Coding Teacher at East Elite
Description: What’s scarier than a haunted house? Leading a team for the first time—or stepping up in the middle of chaos. But just like in a hackathon, the best growth happens when you embrace the unknown. In this spirited pre-Halloween workshop, we’ll explore how collaborative challenges build real-world leadership skills. I’ll share my own journey, including some frightful flops and thrilling wins, and we’ll uncover practical strategies to help you lead with confidence—even when it feels a little scary.
Fee: Free/RSVP Required
Deadline: Register by Friday, November 14 at Noon
Participants: 30 (Max) 

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Date: Monday, November 17
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Dr. Robert Penna, Theoretical Physicist and Assistant Professor of Physics at SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Description: In November 2023, scientists released the first published images of this mysterious object, a black hole, confirming what lies at the very heart of our galaxy. In this one-hour talk, you'll learn everything you need to know, including where to find a black hole, the difference between the event horizon and the singularity and what you can do once you are inside.
Fee: Free/RSVP Required
Deadline: Register by Monday, November 17 at 4 p.m.
Participants: 30 (Max) 

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Date: Tuesday, December 9
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Dr. Emilio Cobanera, Professor of Physics and Director of the Center for Safe and Secure AI Robotics at SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Description: This holiday season, journey through the stars without leaving campus! As humanity cozies up to artificial intelligences like ChatGPT and Gemini, we must revisit one of science’s greatest mysteries: where are all the aliens? In this festive edition of his thought-provoking talk, Dr. Emilio Cobanera unwraps the Fermi Paradox in the age of AI and explores how our new relationship with intelligent machines could offer fresh insight into alien cognition, robotic civilizations, and our place in a possibly quiet galaxy.
Fee: Free/RSVP Required
Deadline: Register by Tuesday, December 9 at Noon
Participants: 30 (Max) 

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Date: Friday, February 6
Time: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Description: During Black History Month, we celebrate the artistry, identity, and cultural heritage expressed through hair. Braiding Across Cultures invites our community to explore the roots of hair braiding traditions within the African and African Diaspora experience, as well as their influence around the world. Learn about the historical and social significance of braiding as a form of storytelling, resistance, and pride—while enjoying live demonstrations showcasing a variety of braiding styles and techniques. Members of our SUNY Poly community will also give us various hair braiding demonstrations.
Fee: Free/RSVP Required
Deadline: Register by Friday, February 6 at Noon
Participants: 40 (Max) 

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Date: Friday, April 17
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Dr. Lauren Endres, Associate Professor of Biology at SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Description: Your favorite non-stick pan might make cooking easier — but at what cost to the environment and your health? This engaging talk explores “forever chemicals,” or PFAS, and how they’ve become a part of our everyday lives — from cookware and clothing to water and soil. Learn how these persistent substances may interfere with your body’s natural redox balance, contributing to oxidative stress at the cellular level. Through relatable examples and the latest research, Dr. Lauren Endres will uncover what oxidative stress really means, why it matters for your health, and the simple lifestyle choices she makes to help reduce exposure. Science has never been this accessible — or this important.
Fee: Free/RSVP Required
Deadline: Register by Friday, April 17 at Noon
Participants: 40 (Max) 

Register Now!