Faculty at the State University College of Agriculture and Technology at Cobleskill seemed proud to tell of their students' successes. Two lists of some recent graduates show interesting opportunities with employers throughout the state and nation.
Bachelor of Wildlife Technology graduates of 2007 and 2008 reported securing jobs with the state Department of Environmental Conservation; Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife; Ducks Unlimited in North Dakota; and a National Wildlife Reserve in California.
The SUNY agriculture division reported that fisheries majors found jobs as a charter boat captain on Hilton Head, S.C.; an educator at Yellowstone National Park; a seafood manager and educator at a Wegman's grocery store; and in various positions with the state Department of Environmental Conservation.
SUNY Cobleskill requires students earning bachelor's degrees to do internships, which helps in creating paths to careers, said Lisa Lopez, assistant director of career development.
``It's exciting to work with young people and create a vision for their future,'' she said.
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An Oneonta firm is among companies to receive funding for clean-energy projects, the governor announced Wednesday.
Ioxus Inc. was awarded $200,000 through the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, a media release from Gov. David Paterson said.
The total award of $3 million to projects throughout the state will support the development of clean-energy technologies.
Ioxus Inc. manufactures ultracapacitors, which are high-efficiency electronic energy storage devices that can lower the peak-power requirements and extend the life of batteries. They also can be used to temporarily store energy from intermittent renewable energy sources.
The award will allow the company to launch its high-voltage device, accelerate sales growth and access new markets, the media release said.
Ioxus, previously called Renewable Energy Development Inc., is a growing business. The company had three employees last year. In September, officials said the firm had 16 employees, with more hires pending.
Ioxus staff levels are projected to be 30 to 35 employees by mid-2010, 60 to 65 the following year and about 95 workers in the third year, Chief Operating Officer Chad Hall said.
The governor's office said the awards, which total up to $200,000 per company and require an equal match from the businesses, will help firms create jobs, develop business plans, reach customers in the global marketplace, raise capital and build infrastructure.
"Public partnerships with private industry are absolutely critical to foster our economic growth, and these investments in cutting-edge companies will help these businesses grow and prosper in New York state," the governor said in the release.
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A Morris woman wishing to send holiday cheer to her son serving in the Army in Iraq collected about 10 DVDs of Christmas movies this past week. Linda Smith said donors also gave three compact discs of Christmas music.
``It's great,'' Smith said. She planned to send them by Friday to her son, Lt. Christopher Kennedy, 27. In a recent e-mail exchange, Kennedy answered his mother's inquiry by saying he and other soldiers would appreciate being able to see Christmas movies. Copies of ``Elf'' and ``Christmas Vacation'' were among the contributions added to her copy of ``It's a Wonderful Life.''
The Daily Star was the drop-off site.
Kennedy, a 2000 graduate of Morris Central School, studied political science at the State University College at Geneseo and is working in civilian affairs during his tour in Iraq, his mother said.
Smith said she was mailing the entertainment media with hopes the packages would arrive in about seven days _ well before Christmas Day.
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Staff writer Denise Richardson covers health, business and local colleges.
