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.
| đ Womenâs Volleyball Camp: 8/17/26 â 8/20/26 (Athletic Camp, Ages 14-18) |
Date: Monday, August 17 â Thursday, August 20
Time: 9 a.m. â 12 p.m.
Location: Wildcat Field House, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Dan Short, Head Men's & Women's Volleyball Coach for SUNY Polytechnic Institute Wildcat Athletics
Description: Come join the SUNY Poly Men's and Women's Volleyball Coaches for four days of volleyball learning and fun! Days will consist of small group instruction in areas serving, passing, hitting & other skills. Plenty competitive games will take place throughout the four days ending in a large amount of six-on-six play. If you have more than one child that youâd like to register, please contact Dan Short at shortdk1@sunypoly.edufor a discount.
Fee: $200.00 per person
Deadline: Register by Sunday, August 16 at Noon
Age Range: 14 years old - 18 years old
Participants: 60 (Max) & 20 (Min)
Register Now!
| đ Menâs Volleyball Camp: 8/17/26 â 8/20/26 (Athletic Camp, Ages 14-18) |
Date: Monday, August 17 â Thursday, August 20
Time: 9 p.m. â 12 p.m.
Location: Wildcat Field House, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Dan Short, Head Men's & Women's Volleyball Coach for SUNY Polytechnic Institute Wildcat Athletics
Description: Come join the SUNY Poly Men's and Women's Volleyball Coaches for four days of volleyball learning and fun! Days will consist of small group instruction in areas serving, passing, hitting & other skills. Plenty competitive games will take place throughout the four days ending in a large amount of six-on-six play. If you have more than one child that youâd like to register, please contact Dan Short at shortdk1@sunypoly.edufor a discount.
Fee: $200.00 per person
Deadline: Register by Sunday, August 16 at Noon
Participants: 120 (Max)
Age Range: 14 years old - 18 years old
Participants: 60 (Max) & 20 (Min)
Register Now!
| đ Unveiling the Invisible Universe: The Search for Dark Matter: 9/14/26 (All Ages) |
Date: Monday, September 14
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Student Center, Multi-Purpose Room, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Dr. Shing Chi Leung, Assistant Professor of Physics at SUNY Polytechnic Institute
Description: Nearly 90% of the matter in our universe is invisible. It cannot be seen through telescopes, emits no light, and remains one of the greatest mysteries in modern science. Yet without it, galaxiesâincluding our own Milky Wayâcould not exist as we know them.
Join Dr. Leung for an engaging Spotlight Series presentation exploring the fascinating world of dark matter. Designed for scientists and curious minds alike, this accessible lecture will examine what dark matter is, why researchers believe it exists, and how it shapes the evolution of the universe.
Guests will learn why astronomers are convinced dark matter exists despite never having directly observed it, how it influences the formation and evolution of galaxies, and how researchers are searching for evidence through cutting-edge particle physics experiments and astronomical observations. Dr. Leung will also discuss how today's discoveries may transform our understanding of the cosmos and the fundamental nature of matter.
Whether you're a lifelong astronomy enthusiast or simply curious about the mysteries beyond our planet, this thought-provoking presentation offers an opportunity to explore one of the most exciting frontiers in modern science.
Fee: Free
Deadline: Register by Monday, September 14 at Noon
Attendees: 60 (Max)
Register Now!
| đ¤ A Conversation with Ryan Nobles, NBC Newsâ Chief Capitol Hill Correspondent: 10/3/26 (All Ages) |
Date: Saturday, October 3
Time: 6:30 p.m. (Doors Open at 5:30 p.m.)
Location: Wildcat Field House, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Special Guest: Ryan Nobles, NBC Newsâ Chief Capitol Hill Correspondent
Description: SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly), sponsored by the SUNY Poly Center for Business and Applied Ethics and in partnership with WKTV NewsChannel 2, will welcome award-winning journalist Ryan Nobles to the Wildcat Field House on Saturday, October 3 at 6:30 p.m. for an event called, âFrom Utica to the Nation: A Conversation with Ryan Nobles, NBC Newsâ Chief Capitol Hill Correspondent.â
Ryan Nobles is NBC Newsâ Chief Capitol Hill Correspondent based in Washington, D.C. He regularly appears across NBC News platforms, including TODAY, NBC Nightly News, NBC News NOW and NBCNews.com. Nobles also serves as a fill-in anchor on NBC News NOW, most often on Meet the Press NOW.
Nobles joined NBC News in 2022, covering Capitol Hill and reporting on major national and international news stories. His work has included coverage of congressional negotiations, federal policy debates, government funding discussions, and breaking political developments, with his reporting and interviews regularly drawing national attention.
In addition to his Capitol Hill reporting, Nobles has traveled internationally with congressional delegations, covering meetings between U.S. lawmakers and foreign leaders, as well as broader geopolitical and diplomatic issues. He has also led coverage of several major national investigations and legal proceedings involving prominent public figures.
Prior to joining NBC News, Nobles spent eight years at CNN as a Congressional Correspondent, where he covered some of the nationâs most consequential political stories, investigations, and election cycles. He reported extensively on Capitol Hill, presidential campaigns, and major national events, while also contributing breaking news and in-depth political coverage from across the country. Nobles began his tenure at CNN Newsource, where he covered the 2016 presidential campaign for local stations nationwide.
Ryan started his career in local news at Uticaâs own WKTV NewsChannel 2, before heading to WTEN in Albany and then ultimately WWBT in Richmond, VA. In Richmond, Nobles had a front row seat to the presidential campaigns of 2008 and 2012, and has conducted three sit-down interviews with former President Barack Obama.
Nobles has been nominated for a national Emmy award and has won two local Emmy awards and an Edward R. Murrow award for breaking news coverage. Ryan was named to the inaugural class of the WBSU Hall of Fame which honors alumni of his award-winning college radio station.
He is a native of Western New York and a graduate of the State University College at Brockport, where he served as the student body president. He also earned a Masterâs in Public Administration from the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the State University of New York at Albany. Nobles and his wife Karey live in Northern Virginia with their four children.
The conversation will be moderated by WKTV, creating a unique full-circle moment connecting his local roots with his national role. The special moderated conversation will provide students, faculty, staff, and community members with an opportunity to hear directly from one of the nationâs leading political journalists about Congress, media, public service, and ethical leadership. Organizers are also exploring opportunities for others to submit questions in advance for consideration during the program.
Tickets will be available to the public on Wednesday, September 2 at noon. Community members are encouraged to reserve seats early once registration opens as all tickets are first-come, first-served.
Fee: Free
Deadline: Register by Monday, September 28 at Noon
| đ¸ BE HERE: Photography, Attention, and the Power of Seeing: 12/2/26 (All Ages) |
Date: Wednesday, December 2
Time: 6:30 p.m.
Location: Kunsela Hall, Auditorium, SUNY Polytechnic Institute, 100 Seymour Road, Utica, NY 13502
Presenter: Award-Winning National Geographic Photographer Amy Toensing
Description: What does it mean to truly see the world around us?
Join National Geographic photographer Amy Toensing for an inspiring evening that explores the power of attention, curiosity, and human connection. Drawing from more than twenty years of experience documenting stories across the globe, Toensing shares the remarkable journeys behind some of her most memorable photographsâand the people who made them possible.
Through entertaining, humorous, and heartfelt stories from the field, audiences will discover that great photography isnât simply about cameras or technology. Itâs about showing up, earning trust, listening carefully, and being fully present. Whether sitting at a kitchen table, traveling down a remote road, or spending time with a community over days or weeks, Toensing reveals how meaningful images begin with meaningful relationships.
More than a talk about photography, BE HERE is a reminder to slow down and pay attention to the people, places, and stories that surround us every day. Through stunning imagery and personal reflections, Toensing demonstrates how the simple act of noticing can transform the way we experience the world.
Amy Toensing is an award-winning visual journalist and National Geographic Explorer whose work has appeared in National Geographic, Smithsonian, Time, Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal, and numerous other publications. Her photographs have documented cultures, conservation efforts, social justice issues, and environmental challenges around the world, earning international recognition for their depth, humanity, and storytelling. One of her photographs from the Australian Outback was selected as one of National Geographic magazineâs all-time 50 Best Photos, placing her work among some of the publicationâs most celebrated images.
Whether youâre a photographer, storyteller, student, or simply someone who wants to see the world a little differently, BE HERE offers an unforgettable perspective on the value of presence, empathy, and connection.
Fee: Free
Deadline: Register by Wednesday, December 2 at Noon
Attendees: 60 (Max)
Register Now!
