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This is one of many feature stories from the spring 2024 Alumni & Friend Digital Magazine - view the whole magazine at: /alumni-magazine-spring2024. 

Gregory Haeseler, '78, came to ��Ӱֱ�� State College because he saw it as a new frontier. Because of his friendships, memories, and love of golf, he and his friends are giving back to future Pioneers.

“I was an average student in high school and did not have any lofty ambitions. The idea of a two-year school appealed to me; a two-year degree seemed more doable. I applied to Cobleskill and ��Ӱֱ�� and was accepted at both. I was not familiar with Western, NY so going to ��Ӱֱ�� seemed like a new frontier to me.”

College Memories

Greg majored in business with an emphasis in marketing but many of his core memories of his experiences are centered around his best friends that he met the first week on campus in C2 in MacKenzie North.

“I remember our 'extracurricular social activities' the most. Doing an overnight with my friends at Alleghany State Park only to be kicked out by midnight, playing intramural sports including being on a softball team that we named 'Zappa's Zircon Encrusted Tweezers, and piling into a friend's car with four others to drive straight through to Florida for spring break.”

Career Beginnings

Greg earned his associate degree and was able to find employment in Binghamton, NY as a timekeeper for a metal manufacturer. A year later, Greg and an ��Ӱֱ�� State friend, Bob Bazow, '78, decided to go California dreaming. With a plan to work full-time and take night classes at a California State University, to get his four-year degree, Greg found an opportunity at a west coast investment firm that led him to his career.

“The doors kept opening at this firm and eventually I became a stockbroker in 1988. I transferred to a national leading investment firm in 1993 and changed my business model to an asset fee-based financial advisor. After building a financial advisory practice over 35 years, I retired in 2023.”

The ��Ӱֱ�� Open

Although he moved to the west coast and found his career path, Greg stayed connected to his core friends from ��Ӱֱ�� State. In 2002, the mutual love of golf spurred Greg, Tim Young, '78, Scott Morley, '78, Tim Fay, '78, and Steve Bartlett, '79, to begin a traditional golf tournament that they coined the “��Ӱֱ�� Open.” The winner of the tournament would have their named place on the “Cup” as they rotated every year hosting the event in their respective hometowns. Another MacKenzie North resident, Dave Bellso, '78, later joined the fun.

Establishing an Endowment

Fast forward to 2018, Greg was curious about the opportunity to hold a 40th reunion. “I received an email from Colleen Argentieri, former Director of Alumni, announcing alumni events and I reached out to see about a reunion. After a few email exchanges I was getting involved in planning a reunion.”

Plans for the reunion included establishing an endowment to benefit future Pioneers. “By God's grace and through the generosity of fellow 1978 alumni, we raised enough money to make our class the first in ��Ӱֱ�� State history to have its own Endowment fund. What makes it even more special is that there are trees planted on campus in our honor.”

With a mindset to add to the endowment, Greg was driven to help put on “fun and do good” alumni events. After a fun Buffalo Bills event that did not raise as much money as hoped, the idea of transitioning their fun “��Ӱֱ�� Open” into a bigger event and fundraiser looked like a win/win for all concerned: the ��Ӱֱ�� State students, the alumni office, and Greg's friends.

“I pitched the idea to my ��Ӱֱ�� golfing friends to establish “The ��Ӱֱ�� State Open,” an annual tournament, where teams play to get their names on the “Jug.” With the help of the alumni office and Kert King, '82, the first tournament took place at Springville Country Club with seven teams competing.”

Fellow golfers Bret Llewellyn, '80, and Josh Torrance, '08, joined the planning committee and have helped keep the tournament going. The committee's goal is to have eighteen teams play at the 4th annual ��Ӱֱ�� State Open on September 16 at Springville Country Club.”

The original “Cup” has since been retired; Greg and his friends now make the “��Ӱֱ�� State Open” their excuse to continue their annual gatherings.

“By God's grace and through the generosity of fellow 1978 alumni, we raised enough money to make our class the first in ��Ӱֱ�� State history to have its own Endowment fund. What makes it even more special is that there are trees planted on campus in our honor.”

Giving Back

People might ask why organizing a golf tournament on the other side of the country is so important to Greg and his friends. “��Ӱֱ�� State gave us such a great start in our career along with priceless friendships. Because ��Ӱֱ�� State provided such a solid first step in life, whatever we can give back is the least we can do to say thank you.”

Greg is an ardent believer in endowment funds. “Any contribution to an endowment will be a contribution that will continue to contribute. Our giving will be supporting students for the next one hundred years.”

The 2024 “��Ӱֱ�� State Open” will not only benefit the Class of 1978 Endowment Fund but the newly established Buffalo Alumni Chapter Scholarship.

How to Participate

To play, support, or if have questions about the “��Ӱֱ�� State Open” contact Mary Perkins, Director of Scholarships & College Relations by email or by phone at 607-587-3932.