By Talia Tesler ’14, Athletic Communications Intern 
Teamwork and unity go a long way in life - just ask former State University of New York at New Paltz women’s lacrosse student-athlete Lorraine Vultaggio. This concept not only shaped Vultaggio’s experience as an athlete at New Paltz but followed her as she continued on in her professional life.
A recent graduate of the New York Police Department (NYPD) Academy, Vultaggio says an average day for her is similar to entering a contest as an athlete.
“I am on foot patrol, standing for up to eight hours a day, just me and my partner showing our presence trying to stop crime. Every day it is something different and that is why I like it.”
She describes “when I am in the locker room getting dressed it’s just like putting on my uniform for a game, you never know what the day will bring, it is all very spur of the moment just like in lacrosse.”
Vultaggio worked her way up after graduating from New Paltz, first getting her masters in sports management from Adelphi University before moving to Atlanta to become a police officer. Once she was there, she waited for the NYPD to call and last January they did.
After graduating in July, Lorraine and 780 other police officers were involved in a graduation ceremony that was presided over by Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly. At this ceremony, Probationary Police Officer Vultaggio earned the highest female physical fitness score, also receiving the Chief of Department’s Award.
Vultaggio prides herself on being an outdoorsy and adventurous person, which played a role in why she chose to go to school at New Paltz. “I loved the location, being so close to the mountains for snowboarding. Activities were readily available such as Apple Greens Golf Course and Lake Minnewaska. I loved the area because it was very nature filled and outdoorsy, perfect for me.”
Vultaggio continues to go on trips to snowboard and be outdoors; she recently went on a snowboarding trip to Colorado with two other former New Paltz women’s lacrosse players, Sarah Palazzolo and Julia Donato.
Vultaggio remembers her teammates and their experience and realizes that they helped her get to where she is now. “I was able to take what I learned at New Paltz on and off the field and bring it to what I am doing now. I work with 10 other people in my squad and we all look out for each other.”
One particular saying still stands out in her mind: “When I was an athlete, one of our coaches gave us a saying ‘hold the rope’ meaning hold on for your teammates when they need you. Do not drop it and do not let go of each other. The whole idea of that stuck with me.”
