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Red Dragon Friends

Celebrate International Day of Friendship with these 35 stories of laughter, support and love at SUNY Oneonta

By SUNY Oneonta

July 30^th, 2019

There's just *something* special about SUNY Oneonta.

Students tell us time and time again that their decision to attend Oneonta was influenced by the warm, welcoming and friendly atmosphere they noticed as soon as they stepped onto campus. They say it instantly felt like home.

Alumni tell us the best years of their lives were spent at SUNY Oneonta and that the friends they made here are more like family.

So many amazing friendships have started at SUNY Oneonta. Here are just a few that make our hearts melt:

Randomly roomies

"We were paired up randomly in 2009 as freshmen and lived together all four years. Now she's about to be my maid of honor!"

- Jaclyn Ryan, Class of 2013

"We were all random assignments in Hays Hall last year. Now they're my best friends."

- Jack Dudar, senior

"We met when I was transferred to her dorm room in Sherman Hall. I was being removed from a triple in Wilber as a freshman. Fate put us together, and we’ve been best friends for 13 years! Oneonta was the foundation of our friendship that will last a lifetime."

- Kaitlyn Valenti, Class of 2009

"About to meet up with my girls I was randomly assigned to back in 2005! Still pals, celebrating 10 years since graduation."

- LeAnna Christiansen, Class of 2009

The Gang's ALl here

"I met my best friends freshman year. We all lived in Littell Hall (shoutout to 3rd west) on the same floor and have been friends ever since. Even though we graduated this past May, we still talk every day and hang out frequently. They're one of the many reasons why I miss Oneonta and college every day."

- Joanna Jankowski, Class of 2019

"I joined the Oneonta Dance Team to continue my love for dance! And I ended up meeting all of my best friends through this program."

- Ashley Belmont, sophomore

"These are some of my absolute best friends that I met at SUNY Oneonta. I met them second semester after feeling like I had no one, they let me in and loved me in so many ways that no one else could begin to understand."

- Taylor Williams, sophomore

"We met the first day of college and after many children, weddings, careers and life events, we still stay connected. Love my extended family - thank you SUNY Oneonta."

- Billy Pickett, Class of 2005

"I met these girls at different points during my four years at Oneonta, and to this day they are my rocks and my support. We live in different parts of the state now but we always make the time to see each other. This was our trip after graduation to Nashville to celebrate all we had accomplished and that we did it all together!"

- Kacie Evans, Class of 2015

"Different clubs, organizations and leadership experiences; Phi Kappa Psi, RA jobs, Campus Ambassadors; brought us together and nothing can break us apart after 19 years of friendship! Here we are celebrating our 10 year at reunion weekend! Thanks O-State!"

-Ryan Harrington, Class of 2004

"From doing homework together in Hulbert to weddings and babies (both human and the fur kind), would not have met my best friends if it wasn't for SUNY Oneonta!"

- Christina Diehl, Class of 2012

"Met these wonderful girls last year and it’s been nothing but fun and growth ever since. It’s such a great experience being around different individuals with different backgrounds and perspectives on life. I think we all have learned something from each other."

- Treviny Cox, junior

Transferring in

"On the left is my best friend Kashana. The both of us transferred to Oneonta from different schools in the fall of 2011. We actually met online through an accepted students site. ... This woman went from roommate to best friend to the sister I never had, and I’m so thankful she found me. This sisterhood was meant to be."

- Ariel Davis, Class of 2013

"I met Tiffany in 2010 when we both roomed in Denison Hall as transfer students. We live miles apart but still manage to meet up and hang out for crazy adventures... Everything from getting kissed by a sea lion to petting penguins or exploring Niagara Falls. We even had people convinced for a time that we were sisters. My kids call her 'aunt.'"

- Elizabeth Amthor, Class of 2013

Just the Two of us

"I met my best friend Remi at Oneonta! We were both in different Greek organizations but were on the Inter Greek Council. We have been the best of friends for years and are now very active members of the Alumni Association, serving on the board of directors, volunteering for events, and celebrating our love for Oneonta everytime we are together. I'm so thankful for Oneonta for meeting my best friend!!"

- Stephanie Peguillan, Class of 2015

"We lived across the hall freshman year in Hulbert Hall. We ended up moving in together; lived together all four years and are still best friends to this day!"

- Hailey Richards, Class of 2008

"I met my best friend/sorority sister this past year and we are almost like ACTUAL sisters! We are mistaken for sisters all the time because of our red hair. It’s so nice to have someone that I can be myself around, and also see back on Long Island! (Where we are from.) She is truly one of a kind and I couldn’t ask for a better best friend/sister. Ily Kelly!!"

- Julia Harkins, sophomore

"I met my best friend, Alicia, when we both worked for Residential Life in 2016. I'm so blessed to have met her and thank Oneonta every day for that!"

- Jenna Belfance, Class of 2019

"We got placed in the same residence hall and were introduced by a mutual friend. I just got to visit her hometown and meet her friends and family! Thanks Oneonta!"

- Sierra Estevez, sophomore

"I met Kassidi this past freshman year! ... I was in Mills dining hall for dinner and it was one of the first nights and I didn't have anyone to sit with. I saw Kassidi on line getting food and I built up the courage to ask if I could sit with her. She was so kind and welcoming, and after that night we have been best friends since and we are so excited to be living with each other as sophomores next semester! I think this story is a great example to any incoming freshmen that the little gestures in the beginning go a really long way!"

- Becca Interdonati, sophomore

"I met my best friend, Allison, at Oneonta's Academic Exploration Day. We quickly became roommates and best friends. We have even traveled the world together!"

- Rayann Tobia, junior

After all this time

"Dear friends met in Ford Hall in 1981. We have been there for each other for 38 years! Love them all!"

- Tina Mottl, Class of 1984

"Linda and I met in ‘73, freshman year, when we lived next to each other on the 6th floor of Phippie Hall (now Hulbert). We were roommates our junior year in Grant Hall and senior year downtown. Hardly a year has gone by when we haven’t gotten together, even though we live in different states. We listened to James Taylor back then, and just a few weeks ago we were together at a James Taylor concert!"

- Theresa Ferrari, Class of 1977

"Love these ladies! Lots of great times over the years from the early 80s in Blodgett to now!"

- Fran Sclafani Brennan, Class of 1985

"My friends Gina, Stacey, Megan, Antonella and I met freshman year in Littell Hall and then our group expanded as the years passed ... We just reunited for all of our 50th birthdays and it was like not a day had passed since graduation! The love and sisterhood is still there after all of these years...I love my friends!"

- Christie Pape Sablinski, Class of 1991

"I met Beth Ellen 26 years ago in August 1993. We reported two weeks before classes started for Field Hockey preseason. I was terribly home sick. Beth helped me through that. I was a goalie and she was a defender. Needless to say we always had each other’s backs. ... She is the godmother to both of my kids."

- Heather Mackay Gelatt, Class of 1993

"LaTarri and I met in 1999 when we became RAs together in Hulbert Hall. 20 years later and we're still friends and both living in Boston working in higher education."

- Brett Wellman, Class of 2001

With you for "I Do"

"Amanda and I met by chance through a mutual friend freshman year and we had some classes together as well. Just about 11 years now! She stood with me at my wedding, and I’m about to stand with her at hers in October."

- Lexi Hansen, Dec 2011

"Met my husband and best friends (my maid of honor, Caitlin, and our wedding officiant, Jeremy) at Oneonta!"

- Kayleigh Ohrin, Class of 2008

"Met all these guys in various stages of my Oneonta years...either by serving them at Wilsbach (I was the omelette guy) or living by them in Huntington...we had our wedding with 20 O-Staters representing!"

- Anthony Gutierrez, Class of 2006

"Met some of these girls the first day of college, and others a few months in when we all joined the same sorority. Now all of us are best friends! We always make an effort to get together as often as possible, and we’ve even had our first wedding! I don’t know where I’d be without them."

- Kirsten Keller, Class of 2014

"My roommate (Melinda) and I since 2013! We weren't originally paired up, but one bad roommate situation later, and we have been roomies for life!"

- Kate Byron, Class of 2013

More than friends

"I met my best friend, Daniel, at SUNY Oneonta my freshman year (his junior)! ...We went to movies together, ate together, and just hung out all the time! We cheered each other on in our majors and outside activities, laughed together, and cried together. After a year and a few months together, we were both in a place to admit we had feelings for each other and are getting married next June."

- Katie Linger, Class of 2016

"Grant Hall 1982; my freshman year, his sophomore... We married in 1986 - four kids (one a SUNY Oneonta alum) later and we're celebrating our 33rd anniversary August 9!"

- Michele (Santella) Ryan, Class of 1986

"Not only did I meet my best friend at Oneonta, but he is also the love of my life. Back in 1985, I passed a boy in my Biology lecture class. ... Didn’t know his name, but I knew I would one day marry him. I would see him often on campus and say 'Hi,' and move on. One day I sat three seats away so I could figure out his name (we had a sign-in sheet passed around every lecture). It was 'Rob.' Finally I had my big break - While going home one weekend on Oneonta Bus Lines, I noticed he was also on the bus! ... I asked if the seat next to him was taken, and I sat down. We talked and introduced ourselves. ... The next day, I saw him at Phippie (Hulbert) Dining Hall and called out to him. He joined me for lunch, and we saw each other every day since then. Now married 27 years and two sons. Thank you, Rob, for being my Oneonta best friend."