Binghamton students build community impact through Empire State Service Corps

Binghamton University students are turning their skills into action, working alongside local organizations with the Empire State Service Corps (ESSC). Unlike occasional volunteer hours or one-day events, the program places students in community organizations throughout the academic year where they contribute to projects supporting a range of focus areas, including sustainability, youth mentorship, and food access across the Broome County region. These placements allow students to apply their skills outside the classroom while supporting programs that serve the local community.

The paid public service program for SUNY students, which is run through the Center for Civic Engagement on Binghamton’s campus, provides a unique structure for community partnerships. Students are compensated through the ESSC program, so host sites receive student support without taking on the financial responsibility of paying wages. Organizations can expand their capacity through student participation and continue their work without interruption.

Participation in ESSC at Binghamton University has grown from 35 in 2024 (its inaugural year) to 47 this academic year. Together, ESSC members contributed more than 10,000 hours of service across the community last year. While Binghamton’s program runs across 27 different host sites, the goal remains the same: connecting students to meaningful community work while strengthening partnerships between the University and surrounding counties.

In March, Matt Schaffer, the executive director of civics and service initiatives for SUNY, visited Binghamton University to learn more about how the Empire State Service Corps operates on campus and within the surrounding community. In his position, Schaffer leads ESSC and other civic engagement efforts across the SUNY system.

Behind these partnerships are the students themselves. Across campus and throughout the community, ESSC members are applying their skills to support local organizations while shaping their academic and professional paths. Here’s a closer look at some of their work in action:

Annaliese Santoro — Sustainability Hub

For Annaliese Santoro, a fifth-year mechanical engineering student, sustainability work at Binghamton has become a way to bring together students who care about environmental initiatives across campus. Santoro serves in the sustainability cohort at Binghamton’s Sustainability Hub in the Science Library, where she helps coordinate programming and outreach that support campus sustainability efforts. Throughout the semester, she has organized student interest group meetings designed to bring together sustainability-focused student organizations and initiatives. The meetings create opportunities for collaboration and introduce students to environmental work happening both on campus and off. Through this role, Santoro brings together students from different organizations to collaborate and strengthen sustainability efforts across campus.

Lily Paddock — Hillside Children’s Center

Lily Paddock, a master’s student studying English with a certificate in creative writing, helps high school students imagine and prepare for life after graduation. Paddock serves as a youth advocate intern through the Hillside Children Center’s Work-Scholarship Connection program at Binghamton High School, which helps students stay in school and build the skills needed for college or career opportunities. In her role, she works closely with students on résumé writing, interview preparation, and college applications. She also helps support after-school programming that provides students with additional academic guidance and mentorship.

Quinn Masalsky — CHOW

For Quinn Masalsky, a junior majoring in global public health, the ESSC placement provides a firsthand look at how community organizations address food insecurity in Broome County. Masalsky serves with the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW), a program operated by the Broome County Council of Churches that coordinates a network of food pantries and meal programs throughout the county. In this role, he supports warehouse operations, organizes supplies, and assists with administrative tasks to keep food distribution programs running smoothly. His work contributes to the larger network that provides emergency food assistance to individuals and families across the region.

Katie Prystalski — North of Main Community Center

Katie Prystalski, a sophomore majoring in comparative literature and Korean studies, works with the North of Main (NoMa) Community Center to build connections with neighborhood families and youth. The center hosts a range of programs designed to support residents, including youth activities, arts programming, community meals, and a clothing closet that provides essential items for local families. Prystalski helps facilitate children’s programming, such as art workshops and weekly Teacher Tuesdays. These programs create opportunities for young people to gather, learn, and participate in creative activities. Through her work, Prystalski supports programs that create welcoming community spaces that bring neighborhood families and children together.