Emma R. Goetz with SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. (right) and SUNY Board of Trustees Vice Chair Cesar Perales.
Emma R. Goetz, a May 2023 candidate for graduation from SUNY Fredonia with a B.S. in Computer Information Systems, was one of 46 students from throughout the State University of New York selected to receive the Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Student Excellence.
The award recognizes outstanding Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) students for their academic merit and perseverance. Ms. Goetz was honored at a ceremony in Albany on April 17 at the New York State Museum.
“When I visit our campuses, I am continuously awed and inspired by the dedicated, hardworking EOP students I meet.” - SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr.
“When SUNY was founded 75 years ago, the mission was to create an educational environment where all are welcome. For over 50 years, SUNY’s Educational Opportunity Program has worked to make that a reality by helping students, many of whom are the first in their family to go to college, access higher education and see their degrees to completion,” said SUNY Chancellor John King. “When I visit our campuses, I am continuously awed and inspired by the dedicated, hardworking EOP students I meet. EOP is a ticket to upward mobility for New York students, which is why I am honored to recognize these students who stand as role models demonstrating what is possible. With the financial support of New York State, and the resources provided at SUNY campuses, New Yorkers have an opportunity to further their education. My congratulations to each awardee for taking that step to go to college and succeed.”
Goetz, from Dunkirk, is SUNY Fredonia’s fourth recipient of the award that honors Mr. McConney, who dedicated his life to advancing legislation to address the needs of economically disadvantaged and underrepresented New Yorkers and helped to draft legislation that created SUNY’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP).
Goetz is a member of Fredonia’s Alpha Mu Chapter of Chi Alpha Epsilon Academic Opportunity Program Honor Society, and graduates Cum Laude in May. She was the recipient of the Ralph Wilson Jr. EDP Book Award established through the Fredonia College Foundation, and was named to the Dean’s List in 2019 and 2021. She is also active as a member of the E-sports Club on campus. Academic projects included research of the impacts of video games, web programming and game design.
