Elmira College

The 15th Annual Student Research Conference showcased 12 research projects involving 24 students. The students presented projects from the natural and social sciences, delving into biology, chemistry, psychology, sports, data analytics, and more.

The Center for Mark Twain Studies (CMTS) announced this year's winners of the "Portraying Mark Twain" art competition. In its ninth year, the annual competition is open to all Elmira College (EC) students, regardless of academic major. Four final images were selected for their representations of Mark Twain, his literature, or aspects of his life in Elmira and at Quarry Farm.

During the Annual Student Research Conference, a panel of judges awarded special prizes to students based on the clarity and depth of their information.

Recently, 120 members of the Elmira College Tenacious Class of 2025, 12 associate students, and 22 graduate students earned their degrees and set forth to find their place in the world.

The Honors Program provides students with an opportunity to study in an interdisciplinary environment that brings together students and faculty from across the liberal arts and sciences to explore both the practical and theoretical aspects of the liberal arts and sciences.

Presented to the female and male senior student-athlete with the highest grade point average (no less than 3.8) coupled with athletic accomplishments.

Elmira College released its Dean's List for Academic Achievement for the 2024-2025 academic year. The Dean's List recognizes part-time undergraduate students who were registered for at least 12 computable credit hours throughout the academic year and who earned a term grade point average of 3.6 or higher.

Twenty-seven students were inducted into the Beta Beta Beta National Biological Honor Society during the 2024-2025 academic year.

The Iron Eagle Award is presented to a student-athlete who displays the greatest dedication, perspective, and work ethic during individual and team workouts throughout the year.

Elmira College students completed the Soaring Higher Leadership program. Over the course of eight weeks, the students learned about the importance of knowing their values and skills, listened to speakers talk about their leadership journeys, and helped each other grow as leaders.

The Elmira College Office of Admissions recently announced the awardees for this year's Elmira College Scholars Program.

Each year students in the Elmira College graduating class vote for one male and female speaker to represent the experiences, hopes and dreams of the graduating class at the annual Candlelight Ceremony, held the evening before Commencement. This event marks the final night for Elmira College graduates just before they Commence or begin a new part of their lives. This year's Candlelight Speakers are Rachel Bortnick '25 and Ryan Trenholm '25.

Rachel Bortnick '25, a Biology and Environmental Science major, wasn't particularly interested in bees before the summer. She was even a little afraid of them. That was before Dr. Daniel Kjar, Professor of Biology at Elmira College, encouraged her to intern with the North Carolina State University BeeMORE (Bees and Microbes in Organized Research Experiences) summer research program, Bortnick's love for the small pollinators blossomed, as did her confidence in her research skills.

The 2024 Obler Summer Research Program at Elmira College included nine students.

Members of the Callisophia Society published a print edition of Callisophia, the student-run magazine that includes fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and visual arts pieces from students and faculty.

NOAA Office of Education has selected 130 Ernest F. Hollings undergraduate scholars and 15 Jose E. Serrano Educational Partnership Program with Minority Serving Institutions (EPP/MSI) undergraduate scholars for the classes of 2024.

Two of Elmira College's top women's wrestlers turned in an impressive weekend at the USA Wrestling USMC World Team Trials.

The Friends of the Chemung River Watershed recently thanked Elmira College students for volunteering to clean trash and debris along the Chemung River by presenting them with a Volunteer Award. While any student could volunteer, members of the EC Environmental Club spearheaded the clean-up sessions with assistance from Dr. Trevor Browning, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science and EC Environmental Club Advisor

Elmira College was pleased to welcome students to the Fall 2022 Term!

During ceremonies prior to Commencement, members of the graduating class were recognized with multiple honors and prizes, including officer commissioning with the United States military.

Elmira College celebrated the graduation of 202 students during its 165th Commencement on Sunday, June 4. The Class of 2023 included 75 honor graduates receiving summa cum laude, magna cum laude, and cum laude honors.

On November 13, 2021, Dr. Jim Twombly, Professor of Political Science at Elmira College, presented his latest research into the dynamics of votes in the U.S. Senate on presidential appointments to the Cabinet. At the annual meeting of the Northeastern Political Science Association, held virtually for the second year in a row, Twombly presented his findings that presidential approval ratings are related to the number of votes a president's nominees get during their confirmation by the senate. The paper, " The Rise of Dissent: The Relationship Between Presidential Cabinet Nomination Dissenting Votes and Polarization," also suggested that recent increases in the level of political polarization were related to the increasing number of votes against presidential cabinet nominees. Noting that some nominees face extra scrutiny because of scandal or controversial positions, Twombly concluded "There will always be those occasional circumstances that bring negative attention to a cabinet nominee that cause her or him to withdraw or be withdrawn. Given, however, how rare those events are, it may be better to look more closely at the apparently rising number of dissenting votes on presidential cabinet nominations." Twombly noted that this paper was part of a series of papers he has presented at recent political science conferences and plans for it to serve as the centerpiece for his next book, which, if published, would be his fifth.