COLLEGIANS

Two area residents attending the State University of New York at Oswego — Derek Dalleo of Saugerties and Sophie James of Napanoch — are participating in internships during the spring semester.

Dalleo, a senior majoring in psychology, is interning with the Oswego County Child Advocacy Center in Fulton. James, a psychology major, is interning with Counseling and Healing Arts in Fulton. Kendall Leggett of Wallkill, a student at the State University of New York at New Paltz, volunteered for the community as part of the college’s eighth annual Alternative Spring Break.

Alternative Spring Break gives SUNY New Paltz students an opportunity to participate in leadership activities and to serve on seven different community service projects during their break. This enables them to network with an array of different organizations in the Hudson Valley, and develop vital teamwork and leadership skills.

This year’s participants completed a total of 470 hours of leadership and volunteer activities in the community, generating $12,196.26 in time and other donations.

The participants held a donation drive at Tops in New Paltz to collect donations for Chiz’s Heart Street in Kingston, collecting 148 items in the first three hours. They also volunteered with Chiz’s Heart Street, Seed Song Farm, Scenic Hudson, Safe Harbors of the Hudson, the New Paltz Youth Program and Horses for a Change. James Bethel of Saugerties, a student at the State University of New York at Oneonta, was among eight student athletes at the college who won an award for their participation in the college’s eighth annual “Canstruction: event April 8 at the Southside Mall in Oneonta.

Teams made up of local business employees, community members and SUNY Oneonta students used design and problem-solving skills to create canned food structures and give back to the community. Participants had to use cans with original labels, and they couldn’t use glue or anything that would affect the cans during construction.

Bethel’s team won the “Best Meal Award” for their donations.

Canstruction is a national charity committed to ending hunger one can at a time. The drive collected 6,336 cans this year, according to organizer Linda Drake. In eight years, it has totaled more than 32,000 cans. The donations will be delivered to 15 local food pantries when the displays are taken down.

Bethel is majoring in adolescent education. Two area residents attending the State University of New York at New Paltz — Elana Kellerhouse of Rosendale and Noah Pomerselig of New Paltz — performed in the Chamber Music Hour on the campus on April 4.