Originally from a small town, Mike Circe saw SUNY New Paltz as an opportunity to expand socially and explore the many opportunities that the college had to offer. Now a senior and an active member of the New Paltz campus community, Mike is a resident assistant, philanthropy chairman of his fraternity, Kappa Delta Phi and a dynamic member of the Catholic Campus Ministry, where during his junior year he helped plan a mission trip to Banica, in the Dominican Republic.

In planning the trip, Mike assisted in fundraising through local churches, raising enough money for he and 14 other students to fly to Banica. The group stayed with host families for seven days, and with the help of locals, built a chapel that also serves as a community center. Having had a successful trip, Mike is now active in planning a similar mission to the Northern Cheyenne Reservation in Montana.

In addition, Mike is a student ambassador for the college. He works with the admissions office providing tours and information to those visiting the SUNY New Paltz campus. Being a spokesperson for the college is a job Mike enjoys very much, because it allows him to help prospective students gain insight into what makes New Paltz so great.

Major: Childhood Education, with a concentration in History

Interests: Writing music, playing guitar, and visiting history museums.

Goals: To complete an MS in Childhood Education and eventually become a fourth or fifth grade teacher. In addition, Mike would like to continue to give back to the community.

Why New Paltz? "I really like the area-I like the history, the scenery, and all that New Paltz has to offer both on campus and off."