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.
| š Buzz Into Pollination: The Secret Life of Bees: 9/27/25 (All Ages) |
Date: Saturday, September 27
Time: 2 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Location: Donovan Hall, Room 2151, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Dr. Margarita Orlova, Assistant Professor of Biology at SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Description: Discover the fascinating world of pollination and the vital role bees play in our ecosystems. This āhands-onā talk in the will feature real specimens (no live bees), andāweather permittingāa guided walk outdoors to see pollinators in action. Perfect for curious minds of all ages!
Fee: Free/RSVP Required
Deadline: Register by Friday, September 26 at Noon
Participants: 24 (Max)
Register Now!
| š²šµ Make the Most Out of Your Money! Financial Literacy Workshop: 9/30/25 (All Ages) |
Date: Tuesday, September 30
Time: 4:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m.
Location: Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Chelagat Misiko, CPA, MBAā05, MSAā23, EA. Tax Principal, Misiko Tax Services LLC. Former SUNY Poly Accounting Professor and Advisor. Adjunct Faculty at Eastern Connecticut State University.
Description: You work hard to make your money, but how are you spending your hard-earned dollars? Do you want to live comfortably today, and plan for your financial future? In this workshop, learn how to make personal financial decisions, analyze how individual and economic factors can impact them, create financial goals, and identify strategies to achieve those goals. Join to explore ways to make the most out of your money.
Fee: Free/RSVP Required
Deadline: Register by Tuesday, September 30 at Noon
Participants: 20 (Max)
Register Now!
| šŖ®ššæ āBraidingā Across Cultures: 10/24/25 (All Ages) |
Date: Friday, October 24
Time: 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Location: Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Description: Hair braiding can be a fashion statement or a convenient way to manage hair, but it also carries deep cultural significance and rich traditions that extend far beyond aesthetics. This event will explore the multifaceted role hair braiding plays across various cultures, highlighting its importance in identity, community, and history. Members of our SUNY Poly community will also give us various hair braiding demonstrations.
Fee: Free/RSVP Required
Deadline: Register by Friday, October 24 at Noon
Participants: 40 (Max)
Register Now!
| š Leaping into the Wild: The Secret Life of Lemurs: 10/27/25 (All Ages) |
Date: Monday, October 27
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Adam T. McLain, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Biology at SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Description: Join us for a wild adventure into the treetops of Madagascar as we explore the fascinating world of lemurs ā leaping, lounging, and laughing all the way! From their quirky behaviors to their fight for survival, this playful presentation shines a spotlight on why these unique primates deserve our attention and protection.
Fee: Free/RSVP Required
Deadline: Register by Monday, October 27 at Noon
Participants: 30 (Max)
Register Now!
| š Trunk or Treat at SUNY Poly: 10/30/25 (All Ages) |
Date: Thursday, October 30
Time: 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Location: Parking Lot B & C, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Description: Join us for a festive Trunk or Treat event at SUNY Polytechnic University on Thursday, October 30, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. Students, staff, and community members are invited to enjoy decorated car trunks, candy, and Halloween activities in a fun and safe environment. Costumes are encouraged, and all ages are welcome to this spook-tacular celebration!
Fee: Free
Deadline: No Deadline
Participants: First-come, first-served
| š» From Hackathon to Leadership: Facing the Fear, Finding Your Strength: 10/30/25 (All Ages) |
Date: Thursday, October 30
Time: 6 p.m.
Location: Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Linda Paredes ā20, UX/UI Designer and Coding Teacher at East Elite
Description: Whatās scarier than a haunted house? Leading a team for the first timeāor 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, weāll explore how collaborative challenges build real-world leadership skills. Iāll share my own journey, including some frightful flops and thrilling wins, and weāll uncover practical strategies to help you lead with confidenceāeven when it feels a little scary.
Fee: Free/RSVP Required
Deadline: Register by Wednesday, October 29 at Noon
Participants: 30 (Max)
Register Now!
| š£ļø š Interpersonal Communication & Relationship Building Workshop: 11/12/25 (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 isnāt just a lecture ā itās a fully immersive experience. Through real-time communication-style assessments, group exercises, and powerful role-playing activities, youāll 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)
Register Now!
| ā« āØ Through the Event Horizon: How to Jump Into a Black Hole: 11/17/25 (All Ages) |
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)
Register Now!
| šš½ SETI Part 2: Aliens, AI & the Holiday Paradox - A Cosmic Winter: 12/9/25 (All Ages) |
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 scienceās 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)
Register Now!
