Among all of the festivities of the Great New York State Fair today, Mark Owczarski hopes to clue some of the patrons in to how Syracuse University can fit in their lives.

Owczarski, the director of communications programming for the university, has helped organize SU’s participation in Higher Education Day, an exhibit to inform fairgoers about the many facets of SU and other institutions across central New York.

“Even if you don’t have a junior in high school, SU can still be a part of your life,” he said. “You can go to a football game, or you can get a job here or take an adult class.”

He added that many employees from various sectors of the university ranging from Admissions and Alumni Relations to the Department of International Programs Abroad and the L.C. Smith College of Engineering and Computer Science will be on hand to discuss their programs.

This is the third consecutive year for Higher Education Day, of which SU was a founding member and primary organizer in 1999. This year Cazenovia College, Cornell University, Ithaca College, Le Moyne College, Rochester Institute of Technology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University and Utica College are also involved and institutions such as the New York State Financial Aid Administration Association will also be represented.

Charlotte Tefft, an associate director of admissions said that although there are many different aspects of the university being represented, everyone will have the same goal of informing anyone interested about the wide spectrum of things to do at SU.

“We will have some staff members from admissions there but they will basically be representing the entire university,” she said.

One of the more unique aspects of the SU exhibit, Owczarski said, will be from the Engineering and Computer Science students and faculty who will bring along working planes, rockets and mini Baja cars. He said that specifically the Baja cars, small dune buggy-like vehicles, should at least spark some conversation with curious fairgoers.

“I will guarantee you that there will be a lot of old timers asking ‘Hey how did you get that suspension to work,’” he said.

Owczarski said that between the distribution of everything from football schedules to advice on how local alumni can become more involved in their alma mater, Higher Education Day should provide an excellent platform to reach a wide variety of people.

“It is a real good way to show what higher education is all about,” he said.

Published on August 29, 2002 at 12:00 pm