With two majors and two minors, Regina Cucchiara keeps her schedule full and her focus sharp.
Growing up in Geneseo, she seemed destined to attend the College—her mom and uncle are alums and her grandfather worked on campus for more than 25 years. But Cucchiara says her choice wasn’t about family ties or hometown convenience. “I chose Geneseo for its reputable School of Business, and because of the student and campus atmosphere I felt when I visited,” she says.
That atmosphere became the start of lifelong friendships. “I met the group of people I'm lucky enough to call my best friends during our orientation programs,” Cucchiara says. While waiting for the First Knight photobooth, she struck up a conversation with the girl in line behind her, Renee Dilaura ’26, who shared that she was feeling homesick and eager to meet new people. The two had lunch the next day, where they met Aaron Langston ’26 and Charlotte Noe ’26, and the group clicked instantly. “The three of them have been the most supportive, compassionate, and loyal friends a girl could ask for.”
Another pivotal moment came at the student club expo. “At the expo, you get to see every organization, talk with their members, and get a sense for where you belong,” Cucchiara says. “There really is something for everyone, and if you can't find your fit, you can start your own group!” It was there she discovered Exit 8, Geneseo’s first all-gender a cappella group. She auditioned during her second week of freshman year and was soon part of the ensemble she says feels like family. Her mentor (her “big”) in the group, Kaylie Barbosa Kemler ’23, was recently married, and Cucchiara stood proudly beside her as one of her bridesmaids.
“It's so amazing how a group of people with a shared passion for something can turn the club into a safe space and foster such a loving community,” says Cucchiara. Now serving her second year as president of Exit 8, Cucchiara says she tries to foster that same sense of belonging for new members. She sees it as part of her role to act as a mentor and role model. “If I see one of them at the dining hall, going up and saying hi to them; if they're struggling with classes, showing them the resources that are available.”
For Cucchiara, it’s the people who make Geneseo special: “The connections I’ve made here have changed my life.”