UB thanks WNY legislative delegation for support

President Satish K. Tripathi thanked members of the Western New York legislative delegation for their support of the university Monday at an event showcasing innovative student projects and the success of the men's and women's basketball teams.

"UB is very grateful for the Western New York legislative delegation's ongoing advocacy and support for our university and all they do to help advance our shared vision for the new Buffalo," Tripathi said.

In attendance for the event at UB's Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC) were state Sen. Tim Kennedy and assembly members Robin Schimminger, Sean Ryan, Ray Walter and Angela Wozniak, as well as representatives from state legislators Pat Gallivan, Marc Panepinto and Mike Ranzenhofer.

“Monday’s event was a great opportunity to see firsthand the wonderful achievements that some of the students and student athletes have accomplished at the University at Buffalo,” said Schimminger. “It’s also exciting to visit UB’s Clinical and Translational Research Center, which has benefited from NYSUNY 2020. I was the original sponsor of the UB2020 legislation that outlined UB’s vision for the future. It’s fulfilling to see those plans coming to fruition.” 

The legislators visited with students who had set up displays of their research and artistic work in the CTRC atrium. Engineering student Nick DiRienzo showed off his idea for a new smartphone app called PocketMocker, designed to help users protect online access to their private data. “It’s great to be able to communicate with (the legislators) and show them the successes that we have,” DiRienzo said. “Talking about my work is also helping me prepare for the future.”

Other student displays included the UB Space Bulls Mars Rover, which is preparing to compete in a NASA-sponsored event this summer; “GRoW Home,” a scale mode of a solar-powered house being designed and constructed in Buffalo by students; “Sprouting Edges” metallic and wood sculptures; and UB micro-mouse, an autonomous maze-solving robot that won second place over the weekend at a competition of Northeast engineering schools.

The legislators also spent time with UB women’s basketball coach Felisha Legette-Jack, new men’s basketball coach Nate Oats and athletics director Danny White. And they posed for photos with men’s team player Will Regan, who brought along the Bulls’ MAC championship trophy.

In his remarks, Tripathi paid special attention to the legislators’ support of NYSUNY 2020 legislation through which UB invested new tuition revenue in its research enterprise and students’ education — hiring 277 faculty, creating the Finish in Four program, adding 300 new class sections and adding $6.77 million in need-based financial aid.

“Hope you enjoyed talking with our students and learning a bit more about some of the work they are engaged in — just a glimpse of the outcomes of the investments UB has been able to make in our students’ education with NYSUNY 2020,” Tripathi said. “This historic legislation has been game-changing for UB and for Western New York. And we could not have done it without you.”