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.
| 🆘 Aid in Dying in New York: Ethics, Policy, and the Questions We’re Afraid to Ask: 3/4/26 (18+) |
Date: Wednesday, March 4
Time: 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Christopher A. Riddle, Adjunct at SUNY Polytechnic Institute and Distinguished Professor of Philosophy at Utica University
Description: With the recent passage of New York State’s Medical Aid in Dying legislation, many individuals and families are grappling with complex questions about end-of-life care, personal autonomy, ethics, and public policy. This Spotlight Series conversation will explore what the new law means in practice, the arguments both supporting and opposing it, and the ethical questions that continue to surround aid in dying. Drawing on years of research and experience as an expert witness in multiple states and countries, Professor Riddle will offer a clear, thoughtful overview of the policy landscape while inviting respectful dialogue around one of the most challenging and deeply human issues of our time. This talk is designed for a broad audience and will prioritize understanding, nuance, and open conversation over debate.
Fee: Free/RSVP Required
Deadline: Regisger by Wednesday, March 4 at 4 p.m.
Participants: 30 (Max)
Register Now!
| 🏐 Women’s Volleyball Prospect Clinic: 3/22/26 (Ages 13 - 18) |
Date: Sunday, March 22
Time: 12:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.
Location: Wildcat Field House, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Coaches: Dan Short, Head Men's & Women's Volleyball Coach for SUNY Polytechnic Institute Wildcat Athletics
Description: Athletes will be learning from the SUNY Poly coaching staff and current members of the SUNY Poly women's volleyball team. Some of the area's we'll be looking at is ball control, group work, specific positional work, and game play. If you have any questions about the clinic, please email Dan Short at shortdk1@sunypoly.edu.
Fee: $50.00 per person (Eventbrite Fees: 3.7% & $1.79 per ticket + 2.9% Credit Card Processing Fee)
Deadline: Register by Friday, March 20 at 4 p.m.
Age Range: 13 years old - 18 years old
Participants: 40 (Max) & 10 (Min)
Register Now!
| 🪮💇🏿 ‘Braiding’ Across Cultures: A Black History Month Celebration: 3/25/26 (All Ages) |
Date: Wednesday, March 25
Time: 6 p.m. - 7:30 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 Wednesday, March 25 at 4 p.m.
Participants: 40 (Max)
Register Now!
| ⛑️ Beyond Innovation: How Maintenance Sustains What We Value Most: 3/26/26 (All Ages) |
Date: Thursday, March 26
Time: 6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Dr. Andrew Russell, Provost SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Description: Innovation is often celebrated as the driving force behind progress—but innovation alone isn’t enough to create lasting impact. Long-term success in technology, health, business, and education only can occur when innovations are cared for, maintained, and sustained over time. In this talk, the speaker introduces the concept of the maintenance mindset—a way of thinking that values upkeep, stewardship, and long-term responsibility that complements creativity and sustains novelties. Drawing on real-world examples, the talk explores why maintenance advances key humanistic values and sustainable development goals, and how leadership, culture, and continuous improvement play critical roles in long-term success. This engaging, accessible presentation invites audiences to rethink progress—not just as invention and disruption, but as the ongoing work of care that keeps our communities, organizations, and technologies functioning and thriving.
Fee: Free/RSVP Required
Deadline: Register by Thursday, March 26 at 4 p.m.
Participants: 30 (Max)
Register Now!
| 🧪 Oxidative Stress, Brought to You by Your Non-stick Pan: An Exploration of How Forever Chemicals May be Disrupting Normal Redox Balance Within Your Cells: 4/17/26 (All Ages) |
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!
| ❤️🩹 An Introduction to Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy: Clinical Practice, Trauma, and Healing: 4/20/26 (All Ages) |
Date: Monday, April 20
Time: 12 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.
Location: Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502 and on Zoom (Virtual)
Presenter: Denise Rue, LCSW
Description: Denise is a licensed clinical social worker, clinical hypnotherapist, and psychedelic-assisted therapist specializing in complex trauma. She brings a unique perspective shaped by her years as a psilocybin retreat leader overseas, during which she has had the privilege of overseeing approximately 1,800 psilocybin experiences and as many integration sessions. Denise is the founder of the New Jersey Psychedelic Therapy Association, an organization focused on advocacy and education surrounding the safe, ethical and equitable delivery of supported psilocybin services. This session will provide an introductory, educational look at how psychedelic-assisted therapy is being explored within therapeutic settings, with a focus on trauma, healing, and ethical clinical practice. This event is presented to you by the SUNY Poly College of Health Sciences and the College of Arts & Sciences.
Fee: Free/RSVP Required
Deadline: Monday, April 20 at 10 a.m. (for in-person)
Participants: 40 (Max)
Zoom Link!
| 🌍 The Origins of Life Through the Lens of a Physicist: 4/22/26 (All Ages) |
Date: Wednesday, April 22
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: Celebrate Earth Day 2026 with the Spotlight Series at “The Origins of Life Through the Lens of a Physicist.” This talk explores how the laws of physics – from the formation of stars and planets to the chemistry of early Earth – set the stage for life to emerge. Designed for a general audience, it offers a clear, accessible look at the cosmic and physical processes that made our planet habitable and what they reveal about the potential for life elsewhere.
Fee: Free/RSVP Required
Deadline: Register by Wednesday, April 22 at 4 p.m.
Participants: 30 (Max)
Register Now!
