Students honored with the 2014 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

Five SUNY New Paltz students were honored by SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher with the 2014 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence on Wednesday, April 2 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, N.Y.

“Students honored with the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence, and those recognized by Phi Theta Kappa, truly embody the power of SUNY,” said Chancellor Zimpher. “As proven leaders and role models, scholar athletes, creative artists, and civic volunteers, each student is recognized not just for academic achievement, but also for the profound impact they have on college campuses and local communities across New York State. Congratulations to all of the students being recognized today.”

The Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence was created in 1997 to recognize students who have best demonstrated, and have been recognized for, the integration of academic excellence with accomplishments in the areas of leadership, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, campus involvement, or career achievement.

Each year, campus presidents establish a selection committee, which reviews exemplary students. Nominees are then forwarded to the Chancellor’s Office and are subject to a second round of review. Finalists are then recommended to the Chancellor to become recipients of the award. Each recipient receives a framed certificate and medallion, which is traditionally worn at commencement.

Congratulations to SUNY New Paltz students Chelsea Allocco ’14 (Computer Science, Mathematics), Stephen Lawrence ’14 (Communication Studies), Brendan Wright ’14 (Women’s, Gender & Sexuality Studies), Loucia Papaseraphim ’14 (Early Childhood and Childhood Education) and Deborah Walnicki ’14 (Sociology).

A complete listing of 2014 recipients is available online.