Dundee resident earns college degree, receives special honors from president

NEW PALTZ — One State University of New York at New Paltz senior was prevented from participating in the university’s May 20 commencement ceremony by her own success. Kate Mochamer of Dundee, N.Y., was already engaged in an internship through the University of Minnesota, involving an Environmental Protection Agency-funded study of habitat fragmentation.

Therefore, the university’s president, Roger W. Bowen, and executive assistant to the president, Gail Gallerie, together with SUNY New Paltz provost David Lavallee, held a private ceremony for Mochamer in the president’s office earlier that week.

Bowen and Gallerie developed a personal relationship with Mochamer through a university program called Adopt-a-Scholar, created in the fall of 1997, matching academically outstanding high school students with individuals who are interested in funding scholarships for these deserving students.

“Kate is a cheerful reminder of why I love education,” said Bowen. “She is a model student, a dedicated citizen of the university, and a great human being. New Paltz has been fortunate to have her in its midst these past four years. I will miss her.”

The private ceremony was held in order to celebrate Mochamer’s graduation and to bestow an award she would have received at the commencement ceremony — a Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, for the integration of academic excellence with other aspects of her life, such as athletics, community service, leadership and career achievement.

Mochamer majored in biology, with a minor in environmental science.

Images of Mochamer can be downloaded from: http://hawk.newpaltz.edu/news/images/mochamer.html.