What do President Obama, the economy, and chicken wings all have in common? Buffalo State College!

At three different points during the president’s recent visit to Western New York, Buffalo State College came into play, reinforcing the president’s messages and giving the spotlight to our campus and students on screen and off.

As national media thronged to cover the historic visit, they sought WNY perspectives on the economy.   CNN turned to Buffalo State graduating senior Samantha Prior for an in-depth interview about her job prospects after graduation this weekend. Prior adeptly mentioned, “…Part-time jobs also lead the way to new networking experiences…I work at an office (Career Development Center) on campus that offers assistance…So I'm a little bit of a step ahead. My department at school also makes sure that we're out in the community and getting as much experience as we can.”

At lunchtime, the president snacked on Buffalo's famed cuisine specialty, chicken wings. Not just any chicken wings, however. The famed snack came from one of the region’s landmark wing eateries, Duff’s, which was revived by a business plan and loan package created with the assistance of Buffalo State's Small Business Development Center (SBDC). See photos in the Buffalo News.

And, suddenly, that now famous billboard "I Need a Freakin Job" loomed large as a giant roadside shout out for economic rejuvenation. National and local media seized on the visual, several mentioning Buffalo State College students who appear in the billboard and on the companion Web site. Complete details about the billboard and its genesis are detailed in the Buffalo News, including involvement by James Mayrose, assistant professor of Technology, who helped find students to be featured.