SUNY Morrisville: A Legacy Forged by Notable Alumni

SUNY Morrisville, a public college with campuses in Morrisville and Norwich, New York, has a rich history of fostering talent and shaping future leaders. As part of the State University of New York system, SUNY Morrisville emphasizes applied learning, providing students with hands-on experiences that prepare them for success in their chosen fields. This article explores the stories of some of SUNY Morrisville's notable alumni, highlighting their diverse achievements and lasting contributions.

A Foundation of Applied Education

SUNY Morrisville has been laying the foundation for the next 100 years of applied education. The curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses.

George and Barb Elias: An Enduring Legacy of Giving

The story of George Elias ’70 (instrument technology) and Barb Elias ’81 (horse husbandry) exemplifies the lasting impact that individuals can have on SUNY Morrisville. George endowed a scholarship in honor of his late wife, Barb, named the Barbara A. Barb left a trail of giving that spread from New York State to Colorado and many places in-between. Their commitment to giving back serves as an inspiration to current and future students.

Athletic Achievements

SUNY Morrisville's athletic program has produced numerous outstanding athletes who have gone on to achieve great success in their respective sports and beyond.

Wall of Fame Inductees

The SUNY Morrisville Athletics Wall of Fame recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the college's athletic program. Recent inductees include:

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Sonobe: A phenomenal runner for the Mustang women’s cross country team, twice earning NJCAA All-American accolades. “I’m overwhelmed with gratitude to be inducted into the Athletics Wall of Fame,” Sonobe said. “I’m so honored to have my work recognized."
Anderson: Recognized for her outstanding achievements in both women’s basketball and women’s lacrosse, Anderson finished her basketball career as the program’s all-time leader in multiple categories. “It’s surreal right now, this is such an incredible honor,” added Anderson. “Know that it’s never about your setbacks or obstacles, but the opportunities you gain and how you respond."
Hanks: The catalyst for the men’s basketball program’s most historical run, leading the Mustangs to three straight conference championships, three NCAA Division III Tournament appearances, and first-ever trips to the Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen rounds, respectively. Now a police officer in his hometown of Syracuse, New York, Hanks dedicated the honor to his head coach, Joe Smith, for setting the example that still motivates him today. “He could’ve given up on me a long time ago and he didn’t."
Johnson: Forever in Mustang lore for his famous “Morrisville Hurdle” that was named a Geico Play of the Year, Johnson had a prolific run for the football program. “Morrisville has a special place in my heart,” said Johnson, who pursued other playing opportunities following graduation. “A lot of times I think about who I would be if I never came back to school, but I came back and now we’re here - hall of famer, it’s really nice."
Rosaschi: Dominant is the best way to describe the four-year career of Rosaschi. Setting several all-time records for the women’s lacrosse program, Rosaschi earned numerous player-of-the-year and all-star selections while guiding the Mustangs to a conference title and their first bid to the NCAA Tournament. “This campus means so much,” said Rosaschi, now a high school head coach while also working at UNC-Wilmington. “I met some of my best friends here, I met my husband here and now we have two beautiful daughters."
Peckham: Was one of the most decorated four-year student-athletes ever for the men’s soccer team, collecting All-American, all-star and defensive-player-of-the-year honors. Thanking his parents, family, former coaches and various athletics administrators who were all in attendance, Peckham shared, “It feels like it was just yesterday since I was here. What an absolute journey it’s been to this point."
Utter: Former men’s head ice hockey coach, brings an impressive resume to the Wall of Fame. In each of the four national championship seasons, he was also named the NJCAA Region III Coach of the Year. As coach of the 2001-02 National Championship squad, which was inducted into the Wall of Fame, the Mustangs compiled a record of 21-0-3.
Lovett: As the preferred receiver of 2007 Wall of Fame inductee Custavious Patterson (’00), Lovett caught 79 passes for 1,230 yards and scored 11 touchdowns during his two year career at Morrisville State. After graduating from Morrisville State College, Lovett accepted a scholarship to Michigan State where he was a two-year starter for the Spartans and was awarded Most Outstanding Offensive Player honors, and was named the winner of Michigan State’s Downtown Coaches Award. Following his career at Michigan State he spent time in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers and the Cleveland Browns before concluding his playing career in the Arena Football League with the Dayton Warbirds.
Caffarelli: As a member of the Morrisville State women’s lacrosse team Caffarelli was a prolific scorer, tallying a school record of 10 goals and two assists in a single game against Ohio Weslyan College. As a freshman, Caffarelli earned first team all-region honors, all region tourney team, and NJCAA First Team All-American honors.

Recchio: Overcoming Challenges in Cross-Country

Recchio's story demonstrates the transformative power of perseverance and the impact of dedicated coaching. Still, Recchio was interested in the school’s exercise science bachelor’s degree program and, after a second call from Powers, agreed to check out the team’s summer workouts. After difficult freshman and sophomore seasons, the college senior ended his collegiate cross-country career with a series of top 10 and top 15 finishes.

Coach Powers: Shaping Athletes and Individuals

Coach Powers, Class of 1995, ran cross country and spring track when SUNY Morrisville was still a two-year school. SUNY Morrisville’s running program was discontinued for many years but returned in the fall of 1993, prompting the Morrisville-Eaton High School graduate to stay local and attend his father and grandfather’s (Richard Powers) alma mater instead of Mohawk Valley Community College (MVCC), which had a strong men’s cross-country team at the time. “I wanted to be a guitar salesman,” Powers said. “I never imagined that I’d be able to make a living here."

Powers returned to SUNY Morrisville as a coach in 1997, balancing the part-time gig with his full-time job at Stickley Furniture factory in Manlius. In 2018, former SUNY Morrisville Athletic Director Greg Carroll created a full-time position for Powers to oversee the men’s and women’s teams, which included starting the spring track teams back up. “We both love the race within the race of developing the Division III athlete. You can shape even someone with moderate talent and get the best out of a kid. “We went from winning an invitational in the Finger Lakes, to running against Cornell and Roberts Wesleyan the following week,” he said.

Powers’ role as coach includes recruiting, one of the toughest parts of his job. Unlike some team sports, there are no travel clubs with showcase recruiting competitions that coaches can attend during their offseason. “It’s all word of mouth,” he said. “Kids love watching the games. We all use each other’s sports to promote the school,” he said. “One-quarter of our student body is athletes."

Powers has witnessed significant change to his sport throughout the years, from improvements in sneakers and running surfaces to breakthroughs in nutrition and fitness that raised the performance bar for runners at all levels. Technology also helps, as well as school balance. He wears many other hats including mentor, counselor and sounding board - in an era when so many young adults are struggling with personal issues. “You are also working on them to improve as a person,” he said. “Running stays with you long after college. It’s the toughest sport mentally." Powers' dedication extends beyond athletic training; he focuses on developing well-rounded individuals. “As a coach, he’s focused and fair to every kid,” said Laura, who majors in the healthcare office coordinator degree program.

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Other Notable Alumni

While the provided text doesn't offer specific details on other notable alumni, it's important to acknowledge that SUNY Morrisville has produced graduates who have excelled in various fields, including:

Agriculture and Agronomy: SUNY Morrisville was one of the first campuses to hold a license to grow industrial hemp for grain and fiber research applications. This research program is being led by Agronomy professor Dr. Gilbert Jenkins and Morrisville students.
Technology: George Elias ’70 graduated with a degree in instrument technology.
Horse Husbandry: Barb Elias ’81 graduated with a degree in horse husbandry.

SUNY Morrisville: An Overview

State University of New York at Morrisville (formerly Morrisville State College) or SUNY Morrisville is a public college with two locations in New York, one in Morrisville and one in Norwich. It is part of the State University of New York system. SUNY Morrisville is located in Central New York, 32 miles (51 km) southeast of Syracuse in the village of Morrisville, New York. The Morrisville campus includes over 50 buildings spread across an area adjacent to US 20. The campus is in Morrisville, located in Central New York, about 30 miles (48 km) from both Syracuse and Utica. Morrisville is a small town, however a bus on a major route arrives and departs campus twice each day. The "Pond Quad" includes Helyar, Fountain View, Stewart, South, and West halls, and is located on the east side of campus. The Morrisville Commons and Morrisville Commons II, suite-style dorms completed in 2006 and 2009 respectively, are on the far south end of campus. The academic buildings are spread out across the entire campus. Donald G. Butcher Library is a multi-purpose building that provides a wide set of traditional and electronic library services and is home to a gallery space that features the work of students and local artists. The SUNY Morrisville athletic teams are known as the "Morrisville Mustangs". The Morrisville Auxiliary Corporation is a non-profit corporation that provides dining and other services to the Morrisville campus and elsewhere.

Additional Information

Establishment: 1908
Parent Institution: State University of New York
President: David E.
Location: Central New York, with campuses in Morrisville and Norwich
Focus: Applied learning and hands-on experiences

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