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SUNY Oneonta Siblings

As members of the Oneonta campus community, Red Dragons share a special bond with one another. These sets of siblings share an even greater one.

By SUNY Oneonta

April 10^th, 2021

Some siblings decide together that they will both attend SUNY Oneonta. In other cases, one sibling visits the other on campus, immediately feels at home, and decides to commit then and there. Others are carrying on a generations-long family tradition of attending Oneonta.

Meet and get to know these SUNY Oneonta siblings...

Emily & Jaycee Jones

Q&A

Majors and class years: Jaycee is a psychology major and member of the Class of 2022; Emily is majoring in human development and family studies and is a member of the Class of 2023.
Remote or on campus this semester? We are both fully remote this semester, taking classes from home.
In a normal year, how often do you see each other? When we were on campus in the fall of 2020, we would see each other every day. I (Emily) would go to her apartment at Hillside Commons or we would go get lunch together.
Ever taken a class together? We have never taken a class together, but Jaycee helps me (Emily) a lot with my psychology classes because she’s taken a majority of them, and I help her with some FAMS classes.
What are you involved in together on campus? Emily: We’re not in any clubs together, but I bet when things go back to normal she’ll come see me cheer, because I’m on the cheer team.
Best part of having a sibling who also goes to Oneonta?

EMILY: "SHE HAS A CAR, SO I DON'T HAVE TO TAKE THE BUS ANYWHERE, AND I ALWAYS HAVE SOMEONE TO HANG OUT WITH."

JAYCEE: "IT'S A GOOD CONNECTION TO HOME, AND THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE TO TALK TO."

Worst part? There aren't really any negatives to having a sibling on campus.
Other interesting facts? Emily: I, the younger sister, actually committed to SUNY Oneonta first and Jaycee was commuting to a local college near us. After she saw how much I loved it my freshman year, she decided to transfer and join me!

Marvin and Rosario Rodriguez

Q&A

Majors and class years: Marvin majored in computer science and graduated in 2015. Rosario graduated in 2019 with a degree in mass communications.
What are you up to now? Rosario is a bilingual aide and filmmaker. Marvin is a lead programmer/analyst at SUNY Oneonta and runs his nonprofit organization, Yuntos, which collects new and gently used shoes for those in Central America. In 2019, we went to Guatemala together to distribute over 400 pairs of shoes to those in need back in our hometown and created a short documentary series, "En Mi Camino."
How often did you see each other on campus? Rosario: Although we weren't students together within the same time frame, Marvin began working for the college after he graduated, so I would visit him at work in between classes to say hi. And he would come to my choir concerts, honor society inductions, presentations, or events I organized for my sorority.
Did you ever take a class together? Rosario: When Marvin began teaching an "Introduction to Computer Technology" class when I was a junior, I thought about taking it but decided not to because I knew it would be even harder to earn an A in his course! Plus, I wasn't sure what I would refer to him as!
What were you involved in together on campus? We were both CAMP and EOP students, so we attended many CAMP and EOP events together and would often go to each other's panels or presentations.
Fun facts: We were born in Guatemala and came to the United States in 2001. Most people think we are twins even though we are five years apart. We also each won a SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence while at Oneonta!
Best part of having a sibling who also went to Oneonta?

Rosario: "Everything. He ended up being my biggest role model as I got older. being able to share my college experiences with my brother was one of the most memorable parts of my life."

Melissa & Brittany Bastidas

Q&A

Majors and class years: Melissa was an elementary education major and graduated in 2017. Brittany majored in mathematics and graduated in 2018.
What are you up to now? We both live in Virginia. Melissa teaches fifth grade, and Brittany works for the U.S. government.
How often did you see each other on campus? Every day!
Ever take a class together? Nope!
What were you involved in together on campus? We were both members of the Oneonta State Dance Team and Terpsichorean Dance Company.
Best part of having a sibling who also went to Oneonta?

Melissa: "Always having your family nearby. Also, having someone to drive home with for breaks!"

Any negatives? Nope!
Anything else people would be interested in knowing about the two of you? We were both captain of OSDT! Melissa from 2014 to 2017 and Brittany from 2017 to 2018. We also choreographed tap dances together for Terps 2014-2017.

Faith & Destiny Cesar

Q&A

Majors and class years: We are both juniors majoring in fashion and textiles.
Remote or on campus this semester? Remote.
In a normal year, how often do you see each other? Every single day!
Ever taken a class together? We've taken a lot of the same classes since we're the same major, but we like to switch it up sometimes.
What are you involved in together on campus? We joined the Oneonta BEfit club together and the Student Fashion Society, and we both worked at the Student Learning Center.
Best part of having a sibling who also goes to Oneonta?

Destiny: "always having a consistent roommate and having someone that's always there for you no matter what."

Worst part? There are no negatives!
Anything else interesting about you two? Twins run on our dad's side of the family. We are twins, my father has a twin brother, and we have twin nephews!

Frank, Vincent & Richie Russo

Q&A

Majors and class years: Frank and Vincent are sophomores, and Richie is a first-year student. Frank is majoring in digital and studio art and communication studies. Vincent is a business major, and Richie is a digital and studio art major.
Remote or on campus this semester? All three of us are remote this semester, but we are looking forward to being on campus in the fall!
Ever taken a class together? Frank and Richie have taken a few classes together, including geography last semester. And now we both have the same professor for 2D art.
What are you involved in together on campus? Frank and Vincent are both members of the Fencing Club. Richie works with the Dragon’s Lair.
Best part of having a sibling who also goes to Oneonta?

Richie: "No matter what, we have someone who we know and can rely on. We always have someone to talk over work with, suggest the best places or classes on campus, and just spend free time with."

Worst part? So far, nothing!
Anything else interesting about you two? We are all part of the CAMP program, and two of our siblings are also Oneonta CAMP alumni!

Lyndsey & Lauren Whittemore

Q&A

Majors and class years: We are both seniors and both early childhood/childhood education majors, graduating in December 2021.
Remote or on campus this semester? We live in Hillside Commons, but all of our classes are remote this semester. We wanted to be in Oneonta for our final semester.
In a normal year, how often do you see each other? We see each other all the time. When we didn’t have a lot of classes together, we would meet up for lunch during the day or hang when all of our classes were over. We did live in the same dorm last year though, so we would never go a day without seeing eachother.
Ever taken a class together? Yes, the majority of our classes have been together! It's nice because we often do homework together and help each other.
What are you involved in together on campus? We are in a lot of clubs together, including Befit, ACE and OFC. We like to involve ourselves in a lot of campus things.
Best part of having a sibling who also goes to Oneonta?

Lyndsey: "it’s the best thing ever. Whenever I need someone, she is always there for me. ...With her here, I feel like I brought a piece of home to oneonta. I couldn’t have done it without her."

Worst part? We get on each other's nerves, but that’s what siblings are for. We always work through whatever fights we get into.
Anything else interesting about you two? We are identical twins. Growing up, we have always been so close, and it is nice to still have that bond. We are best friends.

Justin & Areli Meza

Q&A

Majors and class years: Justin is studying biology and a member of the Class of 2024, and Areli is studying early childhood education and a member of the Class of 2023.
Remote or on campus this semester? Justin is remote, and Areli is on campus as an RA.
In a normal year, how often do you see each other? Almost every day!
Ever taken a class together? No because we have different majors.
What are you involved in together on campus? Nothing yet.
Best part of having a sibling who also goes to Oneonta?

Areli: "We get to feel less homesick and are there to help each other out if we need anything."

Aly & Cara Buonocore

Q&A

Majors and class years: Aly's a senior majoring in psychology and criminal justice, and Cara is a sophomore studying communications.
Remote or on campus this semester? We are both living off campus in apartments a few houses apart from each other and have some classes on campus.
In a normal year, how often do you see each other? Since COVID allowed Cara to live off campus as a sophomore, we see each other more this year because we live on the same street.
Ever taken a class together? Not in college, but we did in high school.
Best part of having a sibling who also goes to Oneonta?

ALY: "It's Nice we get to hang out and see a lot more of each other than we would at separate schools."

Cara: "I like that aly's able to help me with my schedule and other stuff on campus. Knowing that she's there to help is a good feeling."

Worst part? We can't think of any!
Anything else interesting about you two? Aly: We both loved Oneonta from the first time we saw it and fought about who could go. Cara committed after visiting me on campus!

Hollie, Rebecca (& Suzanne) Fox

Q&A

Majors and class years: Our mom, Suzanne, graduated with a degree in psychology in 1982. Hollie studied adolescence education-social studies and graduated in 2014. And Rebecca graduated in 2021 with a degree in communications and fashion marketing.
Best part of having a sibling (and mom!) who also went to Oneonta? Hollie: It was so cool! Whenever my mom was on campus with me, she'd always point out which residence halls she lived in, what certain buildings or areas of campus looked like back in the 80s, and we love comparing what downtown and the Southside were like during each of our college careers and how much they changed. I loved giving my sister, Rebecca, advice about living on campus and Oneonta in general and the opportunity to keep returning to Oneonta every year to help move her in or out.
Fun fact: Between the three of us, we never lived in the same residence hall. Not one in common! I lived in Littell, Matteson and Higgins, Rebecca lived in Wilber and Ford, and my mom lived in Huntington and Sherman!

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