| Four seniors were honored in Albany as recipients of the 2011 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. From left are Brian Bishop, Christopher deBruyn, SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher, Kelly Tichacek, Rachel Foltz and SUNY Fredonia Vice President for Student Affairs David Herman. |
Four SUNY Fredonia seniors were honored April 5 in Albany by SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher as recipients of the 2011 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.
This year’s winners possessed not only a broad representation of Fredonia’s academic areas of study, but also of its extra curricular activities and the geographic origins of its students as well.
This year’s winners are, in alphabetical order:
- Brian Bishop, a Deerfield, N.Y., native who is pursuing a Sound Recording Technology major with a minor in Physics. Mr. Bishop is also the former News Editor and Editor in Chief of The Leader, SUNY Fredonia’s student-run newspaper, and a founding member of the campus’ Society of Professional Journalists. He has also been active with the Associated Collegiate Press, Model European Union and Mountain Justice Spring Break. In the summer of 2010 he completed an internship abroad in Bangalore, India.
- Christopher deBruyn, from Calgary, Alberta, who is completing a double major in Business Administration—Finance and Economics. Mr. deBruyn has served as captain of the SUNY Fredonia Blue Devils hockey team and president of the Economics Honor Society. He was selected to the SUNYAC All-Academic Team multiple times, and has been a leader in the community raising funds and awareness for the American Cancer Society, United Way and the Friendly Kitchen.
- Rachel Foltz, from Baltimore, Ohio, who is earning a double major in Music Business and Psychology. Ms. Foltz has served as president of the Psychology Club, president of the Alma Mater Society, and vice president of the Spectrum Entertainment Board. She is also a member of SUNY Fredonia’s Honors Program as well as three national honor societies, and has been on the Dean’s List every semester since joining Fredonia. She also has studied abroad at England’s Northumbria University. She has been a resident assistant for the Department of Residence Life for five semesters and is a summer orientation leader. Her psychology research has focused on lesbian dating relationships, and she has presented her findings at undergraduate research conferences.
- Kelly Tichacek, of Henrietta, N.Y., who is completing a double major in Political Science and Legal Studies. Ms. Tichacek manages over 160 students on campus as vice president of the Student Association. She has also served as vice president of the Political Science Association, a former justice of the Student Association Supreme Court, treasurer of Fredonia’s Book Club, and a member of the Fredonia Academic Community Engagement (FACE) Center Advisory Board. Last fall, she helped the Political Science Association raise money and send food, necessities and other items to a fellow student serving in Afghanistan. A member of three honor societies, she has been on the Dean’s List every semester since joining Fredonia.
The ceremony, which took place at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center, honored nearly 250 college students from SUNY campuses throughout the state.
“The students we honor today have excelled academically and taken advantage of what SUNY has to offer in and outside the classroom,” said Chancellor Zimpher. “These students are proven leaders, athletes, artists, community servants, and much more. They represent the future of our state and are perfect examples of The Power of SUNY. I congratulate all of the students receiving recognition today and thank them for the positive impact each of them has had on SUNY and the communities we serve.”
The Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence was created 14 years ago 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, or career achievement. The average grade point average for all recipients this year is 3.8.
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.
In addition to members of their families, the students were joined in Albany by SUNY Fredonia’s Vice President for Academic Affairs Virginia Horvath, and Vice President for Student Affairs David Herman.
