Spotlight: Connor D’Andria

Connor D’Andria knew he was meant to enroll in Binghamton University.

All the signs pointed to Binghamton: His grandfather Joseph Cornacchio is a Binghamton professor emeritus of computer science. His mother and father met as students on campus — mom, Karen D’Andria B.S. ’84, MBA ’87, studied management science; dad, Frank D’Andria B.S. ’85, majored in math. He grew up in Vestal, where the University is located.

“I looked at a bunch of different schools — Penn State, Buffalo — but the biggest reason I chose Binghamton is it’s a medium-sized school with a small-school feel,” D’Andria said. “I wanted to be able to make a difference and have an impact. I didn’t want to be trapped in a big school where I couldn’t make my mark.”

D’Andria, now a senior at Binghamton majoring in industrial and systems engineering, has made great use of his time at the University:
  • He has an almost perfect cumulative grade point average: 3.99, just shy of a 4.0 because of one A- he received in an engineering course his sophomore year.
  • He helps other students through his work as a peer advisor, resident assistant and undergraduate course assistant.
  • He’s president of the Binghamton chapter of Alpha Pi Mu Industrial Engineering Honor Society and an active member of Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society.

But what he’ll cherish most about Binghamton? The close friendships he’s made and the people he’s met from a variety of cultures and backgrounds, he said.

“College really is the only time in your life to try so many new things and meet so many new people,” D’Andria said. “That has motivated me to do all the things I’m doing — to learn not only in the classroom, but learn who I am as a person and grow as an individual.”

Off campus, he spent the summer as an engineering intern at InnoSeat/Innovative Seating Solutions, a customized ergonomic chair design company in Buffalo. D’Andria noted the company was co-founded by his uncle Kevin Cornacchio, MA ’90.

D’Andria said he wants to continue to study engineering in graduate school and later become an engineering manager.

He credited hard work, good time-management skills and the financial support he’s received from Binghamton — he’s a recipient of the Floyd H. Lawson Engineering Scholarship — as factors contributing to his success.

“There’s never a time where I’m not working hard, but I still make time to have fun,” D’Andria said. “It’s very important in college to make new friends and try new things.”