Greetings from South Hill!
While the affinity of our alumni for IC athletics may vary, most of our community members are familiar with the Cortaca Jug. You may know it as the nickname given to the college’s football game against the State University of New York at Cortland. You may have heard the story of the jug itself—how in 1959, Ithaca’s and Cortland’s captains created a trophy from a stoneware jug obtained at a yard sale in Homer, New York.
This edition of ICView highlights aspects of Cortaca you may not know about—the moments that take place among athletes and coaches on the sidelines, the connections formed among students and faculty in press boxes and production studios, the opportunities to showcase talent honed through theory, practice, and performance on the field during halftime. Above all else, this edition celebrates the connections that thrive within a community when a game is so much more than just a game.
The 2022 contest was a signature event of IC in the City: Reunion and Cortaca ’22, held November 10–12 in New York City. Designed to bring South Hill to our 20,000+ alumni in the New York metropolitan area, this year’s festivities afforded connections and empowered our community to highlight the people who make Ithaca College so distinctive.
It was an opportunity to feature people like Nick Capodilupo ’24, Bomber offensive lineman and voice major, who doubled as national anthem performer; people like Alumni Award recipients Dr. Carlos Perkins ’99 and Dr. Michael Henderson ’99, who established an orphanage and school in Port-au-Prince, Haiti; people like associate professor Chrissy Guest, who led experiential opportunities where students took on lead roles covering pre- and post-game engagements and live streamed the game itself while also covering the Cortaca Giving Challenge. You will read about these exceptional individuals—and others—within these pages ofICView.
You will also read about alumni who are breaking barriers in the sports industry, and how students, faculty, and staff collaborated to realize Ithaca College’s 10th presidential inauguration in October. Last but never least, the alumni notes and profiles feature the amazing work that our alumni contribute to the world in a variety of ways.
While there are always many exciting things happening on campus, the Ithaca Together Inaugural Tour has taken me across the country and back to Ithaca many times now, and each time I am energized by the spirit of friendship, mentorship, and solidarity that sustains your connections. I hope to celebrate these connections with you during future Ithaca Together engagements and Alumni Weekend, taking place October 27-29 on campus and in Ithaca.
In the meantime, may you continue to hold South Hill close to your heart, wherever you are. And may you be well, stay well, and take good care.
With gratitude,
La Jerne Terry Cornish
President