SYRACUSE, N.Y. – A Syracuse University student due to graduate in May will announce at 11 a.m. Saturday in Schiller Park that he is running for election as a Syracuse councilor-at-large.

Dan Cowen, 22, of 609 Euclid Ave., a native of Wayland, Mass., has resided in Syracuse since enrolling at the university in 2009. He is majoring in political science and policy studies.

Cowen founded a local outreach program in which SU students tutor and assist immigrants from the Congo and Burundi. He also is working on a project affiliated with Northside Urban Partnership to develop a business incubation center for refugees.

Cowen, who registered to vote in Syracuse last month, is a Democrat who hopes to secure a ballot spot on the Democratic line in November. But he will face competition from at least four veteran Syracuse Democrats who are already vying for the two available councilor-at-large positions.

Incumbent councilors-at-large Lance Denno and Jean Kessner are both expected to run for re-election in November. Denno, a retired city firefighter, and Kessner, a former TV news reporter, are both seeking a second four-year term. Denno also previously served as a district councilor.

Pam Hunter, a former councilor-at-large, has sought support from Democratic ward committees to run for an at-large seat in November. Jeff Wright, former commissioner of the city’s department of public works, also has sought committee support this year for an at-large candidacy.

The top two vote-getters in November will win the at-large positions. Cowen said he plans to run in a primary if he can’t get the party’s designation. Republican officials have not yet announced any candidates for the seats.

Contact Tim Knauss at tknauss@syracuse.com or 315-470-3023.