Last fall, SUNY Empire State College staff planted Asiatic lilies and gladioli at the entrance of 113 West Avenue, creating what has blossomed into the Resilience Garden. The flowers celebrate the compassion and courage of all New Yorkers while honoring the college's faculty and staff. Their dedication to our mission enabled our students to keep their educational goals within reach throughout the pandemic. To serve our students during those difficult months, SUNY Empire moved to a fully online model. The college is now poised to resume its online, in-person, and hybrid learning model. On Thursday, July 1, we invite you to join us for a press conference celebrating the new Resilience Garden, at 113 West Avenue. The event coincides with the reopening of SUNY Empire's locations throughout New York state. The gathering will be held at 1 p.m. and include local dignitaries such as state Senator Daphne Jordan, Assemblywoman Carrier Woerner, and Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. The Asiatic lilies were donated to the college by Lisa Johnson, a project coordinator at SUNY Empire. The fresh blooms symbolize the strength and integrity of our college community as well as the promise of new beginnings as we emerge from the darkness of the pandemic.