Clarkson Honors Students Help Preserve Potsdam’s History Through Bayside Cemetery Partnership

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Clarkson University Honors students are getting their hands dirty to preserve local history through a partnership with the Bayside Cemetery Association in Potsdam.

As part of the Clarkson Honors Program's Introduction to Community Engagement course, students are working alongside volunteers from the Bayside Cemetery Association to restore and maintain one of the area's most historic landmarks. The association helps preserve Potsdam's history, educate the community, and maintain the beauty and memory of the town and its residents.

"I've learned how much quiet effort goes into maintaining places like this and gained a deeper appreciation for preservation and respect for the past," said Michael Juriga, a sophomore mechanical and aerospace engineering major. "It's the kind of work most people don't think about, but it's necessary. Taking care of the cemetery helps honor those who came before us and keeps local history from being forgotten."

Under the guidance of Assistant Professor Ryan Deuel, 58 students enrolled in the course this semester are contributing up to 20 hours each of hands-on service. The team of five students working at the cemetery clean gravestones, clear pathways, and document historical information-gaining both practical preservation experience and a deeper appreciation for the stories that shaped the community.

The collaboration with Bayside Cemetery is one of 14 active partnerships in the Introduction to Community Engagement course. The class encourages students to explore the social impact of service through real-world community projects, emphasizing teamwork, communication, and cross-cultural understanding. By semester's end, students will have collectively contributed more than 1,000 hours of service across the North Country.

Beyond physical restoration, the Bayside project teaches lessons in stewardship and shared memory-key elements of civic responsibility and leadership.

"When students see the immediate results of their efforts, whether it's uncovering a name on a headstone or hearing stories from local volunteers, they understand what it means to be part of something larger than themselves," Deuel said.

Brady Gwilt, an honors student majoring in engineering, said working at Bayside has deepened his connection to both Potsdam and Clarkson's history.

"My experience at Bayside has been amazing," Gwilt said. "There's so much history just waiting to be discovered. I learned more about Clarkson in one day there than in my entire first year. Everywhere you turn, you see familiar names like Snell, Moore, and Reynolds-it makes the experience so personal. Even more than that, it's taught me teamwork and communication in a real-world setting. This project reminded me that engineering isn't just about equations; it's about working with people."

Gwilt said the work has given him a new sense of purpose.

"Our small restorations preserve Bayside Cemetery, but they also preserve the legacy of Potsdam and Clarkson University. When someone thanks us for cleaning a stone or preparing a site for a family visit, it reminds me that our work matters in the present-not just as a reflection of the past."

Steven Getsie, who participated in the program last year, said the project gave him a strong sense of community connection. "It's been incredible to meet Potsdam residents and see how much they care about this place," he said. "As we cleaned and straightened stones, people would stop to thank us. That kind of feedback really stuck with me."

Evelyn Vieira, a student currently volunteering this fall, echoed that sentiment.

"This experience has given me the chance to give back to a place I enjoy so much," she said. "A common misconception is that cemeteries take care of themselves, but they don't. Now I understand how much dedication goes into keeping them beautiful and respectful spaces."

Through their service at Bayside Cemetery, Clarkson Honors students are learning firsthand that community engagement goes beyond volunteer hours-it's about preserving stories, honoring the past, and strengthening the bonds that tie people and place together.