IgniteU Fellowship Spring 2026 – Connecting Students and Organizations Across New York State
The Spring 2026 IgniteU Fellowship has officially concluded as of Friday, May 1, 2026. Congratulations to everyone who supported the program and contributed to another strong semester – from planning and coordination to instruction and mentorship. This semester, 21 Fellows from six schools partnered with eight organizations, completing independent, entry-level professional projects, such as developing a website RFP for the Rensselaer County Chamber or highlighting different businesses in the Bronx to promote Bronx Week (currently happening!) for the BronxEDC. Thank you to those who attended the final presentations to support the Fellows and engage with their work, your presence helped recognize the outcomes of the semester and the effort behind them. Looking forward to what’s ahead for Fall 2026!
– Victoria Palasieski, IgniteU Program Manager
On April 2nd, IgniteU NY had the opportunity to visit ExoTrail US at their Brooklyn office as part of the IgniteU Fellowship site visits.
Victoria Palasieski and CeCe Whalen accompanied two of our fellows, Nadir Diriye and Alejandro Cuevas, currently collaborating with their team. It was especially valuable to connect in person, discuss project progress, exchange ideas, and get a closer look at the impactful work happening behind the scenes.
Two students from the IgniteU NY Fellowship, Quinn Su and Mario Ortiz, who are currently working with ESDA, recently participated in a site visit to the EOS/ESD Association that brought their project to life. During the visit, they learned directly from professionals who work with electrostatic discharge every day, gaining valuable firsthand insight into the field.
They also had the opportunity to use state-of-the-art equipment while exploring some of the earliest tools developed to measure electrostatic discharge. This experience provided a well-rounded perspective, deepening their understanding of the project and strengthening their ability to support ESDA’s work.
April STEAM Highlights!
On April 14, IgniteU NY powered by NYSTEC, welcomed high school students from Redemption Christian Academy to our Troy offices for an engaging STEAM session focused on the senses and technology!
Students explored how we use sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell to understand the world around us, then connected those ideas to the technology we use every day. They learned how sensors are designed to mimic our senses and help make life easier through things like automatic lights, touch screens, and motion detectors.
To wrap up the session, students used Snap Circuits to build their own working sensor, putting what they learned into action and seeing firsthand how our bodies and technology can work in similar ways.
It was great to see students think creatively, problem-solve, and discover new ways science and technology shape the world around us.
On April 28th, IgniteU NY and students from Berlin High School visited Hudson Valley Community College for a tour and to learn more about the schools offering as well as college preparedness.
The itinerary included a general campus tour, school presentation, EOP presentation, and financial aid presentation.
How NYSEDC is Shaping New York’s Economic Future with Special Guest Executive Director of NYSEDC Ryan Silva
We’ve got new episodes! We’ve got some exciting updates from the podcast, and if you haven’t tuned in lately, now’s a great time to jump back in.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve been lining up some of our most engaging conversations yet. From candid interviews to deep dives into topics that actually matter, the latest episodes are designed to be worth your time, whether you’re commuting, working out, or just looking for something better than background noise.
If you’ve been meaning to check it out, or come back to it, this is your nudge. Start with one episode and see where it takes you.
Listen NowAnd if you like what you hear, sharing it with a friend or leaving a quick review makes a bigger difference than you might think. It helps the podcast grow and keeps the content coming.
Thanks for being part of this.
Kellie Connery, Victoria Palasieski, and Erin Bruce attended the Albany Business Review event, “New Leaders, New Lens: Inside the Evolving State of Higher Ed,” at the Carver Companies Corporate Office Auditorium.
The panel featured Dr. Michael Brophy (Hudson Valley Community College), Dr. Matthew Shaftel (Russell Sage College), and Elizabeth Kiss (Union College), who shared how they’re navigating financial pressures, enrollment uncertainty, and evolving student and workforce expectations. Discussion focused on how institutions are strengthening industry partnerships, rethinking priorities, and positioning themselves for long-term sustainability.
The session offered valuable perspective on emerging opportunities for collaboration and how higher education leaders are aligning more closely with workforce and community needs—key insights for our continued business development and partnership efforts.
