2010 Undergraduate and Graduate President's Medal and Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence
President’s Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate and Graduate Student
One undergraduate student and one graduate student will be awarded the President’s Medal. The President’s Medal is the highest honor awarded to a student by Buffalo State College. This award is given to a student who, through use of his or her natural talents and acquired skills, has demonstrated a commitment toward meeting the goals of higher education as set forth in the college’s mission statement. The recipients will deliver the student address at Commencement. A grade point average of at least 3.5 is required for consideration for this award. Students graduating December 2009, May 2010, or August 2010 will be considered.
SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence
The Chancellor’s Award is the highest honor bestowed by SUNY upon a student. This award recognizes model students who have integrated academic excellence with achievement in areas such as athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, entrepreneurship, leadership, and career achievement. Although there is no prescribed grade point average for this award, it is assumed that recipients will have high academic achievement. Award recipients will be recognized at a spring ceremony in Albany and at Commencement. Only students graduating between June 2009 and May 2010 will be considered.
Nominations are being sought for both awards. Students must be nominated by a faculty or staff member. Candidates must have demonstrated the qualities recognized by each award.
Selection criteria are nearly the same for each award; except that, to be considered for the President’s Medal a grade point average of 3.5 or higher is required. A student may be nominated for either or both awards.
Selection Criteria for Both Awards
Academic Performance: Documented via grade point average, honors received, rank in class, research, and other scholarly projects.
Citizenship: As measured by college and community service, the quality of extracurricular activities, and/or involvement in professional organizations.
Leadership/Creativity: Documented local, state, national, or international recognition for excellence (i.e., recipient of major national scholarships/athletic awards and/or recognition by national and international associations and honor societies). For Graduate Students: Documented by activities related to the discipline of graduate degree program or other college service leadership in a professional organization, or community outreach activities related to the field of study.
Nominations and supporting documentation must be delivered to Daniel C. Vélez, assistant to the vice president for student affairs, Cleveland Hall, room 519 by Monday, December 21, 2009.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers (.pdf)
2009 Winners of the President's Medal
On Wednesday, April 29th, thirty-two Buffalo State College students were recognized for their leadership and service at an awards ceremony held at the Burchfield-Penney Art Center on the Buffalo State campus.
Undergraduate students Jenelle Orosz and Huewayne Watson and graduate student Diego Uribe Larach were awarded the President’s Medal. Aimee Levesque was the President’s Medal graduate student semi-finalist. The Buffalo State College President’s Medal is the highest honor awarded to a student by Buffalo State College. This award is given to students who, through use of their natural talents and acquired skills, have demonstrated a commitment toward meeting the goals of higher education as set forth in the college’s mission statement.
Jenelle Orosz has earned a BS in Secondary English Education with a New York State Track and Field Coaching Certification with a 3.95 gpa. A member of the Dean’s Honor List and the National Honor Society for Educators, Jenelle has also received the Brigitte V. Kallen Scholarship. Serving as a three-year team captain Jenelle excels in athletics and has been recognized as an All-American Athlete, MVP for 2005 and the SUNYAC Champion in Track and Field. She also serves as a tutor and volunteers as a track and field coach in local schools.
Huewayne Watson is a History major with a 3.59 gpa. A native of Jamaica, West Indies, Huewayne is the Executive Vice President for the United Students’ Government, is on the executive board of the Pan-African Student Organization, he is a McNair Scholar and on the Dean’s List. Huewayne is a recipient of the Kenzie Family Scholarship, Burrell Scholarship, and is an All-College Honors student.
Diego Uribe Larach is a graduate student majoring in Creative Studies with a 4.0 gpa. Diego is a Fulbright Scholar, CONICYT grantee, and the recipient of the International Center for Studies in Creativity’s Dr. Mary Murdock Scholarship. Diego is a volunteer for the Buffalo State College Emerging Leaders program, Western New York Green Economy Initiative, Buffalo State College Volunteer and Service Learning CPS Facilitation, among many more. Diego’s is a native of Santiago, Chile.
Aimee Levesque is an All-College Honors student with a 3.89 gpa, pursuing a Master of Arts in English. She has presented her work on the 18th Century and Victorian British literature at conferences in the U.S. and will present her work at the International Research Society for Children’s Literature in Frankfurt, Germany later this summer. Recipient of the Advocate in Action Award, National Unit Achievement Award and National Healthy Lifestyles Award, Aimee has been involved with the Western Region PTA, Parent to Parent of Western New York, Family School Learning Community, and Girl Scout Troop 81.