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Kaitlyn Crossan (center) with Chancellor Nancy Zimpher |
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| Chancellor Zimpher, Meghan Devine (center) |
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Courtney Loiacono (center) with Chancellor Zimpher |
Three seniors followed different academic paths within the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Fredonia, but Kaitlyn Crossan, Meghan Devine and Courtney Loiacono share a prestigious SUNY-wide honor, the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.
State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher presented the 2015 Chancellor’s Awards for Student Excellence to 256 students from across the university system on April 2 at the Empire State Plaza in Albany.
“It is my highest honor to recognize the achievements of SUNY students who have excelled not only academically but as leaders on their campuses and in their communities,” said Chancellor Zimpher. “Students receiving this award are to be commended for their excellence as role models, artists, scholar athletes, and civic volunteers. Their leadership can serve as an inspiration to all SUNY students and a tremendous point of pride for the entire SUNY family. Congratulations to all of the students receiving the 2015 award.”
The Fredonia trio’s collective GPA is just shy of 3.8. 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. Campus nominees are forwarded to the Chancellor’s Office for 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.
“The campus was fortunate to have a strong pool of nominees with extraordinary achievements. Each nominee has contributed greatly to this campus and the community,” said Fredonia President Virginia Horvath.
Ms. Crossan, who is majoring in Biology, has been lauded by science faculty as an “excellent, conscientious and motivated student,” and received numerous academic honors.
As a first-year student, Crossan was the inaugural recipient of the $8,000 Yunghans-Mirabelli Science Achievement Award and received, beginning in her junior year, the Adele Maytum Hunter Scholarship awarded to students who intend to pursue a career in medicine or nursing. She was a four-time recipient of a Senior Challenge Endowment award and is enrolled in the Honors Program. Crossan belongs to Beta Beta Beta honor society in biology and Golden Key International Honour Society.
Outside of the classroom, Crossan completed internships with G&P Gynecare and C&S Medical and performed research in the Pediatrics ward of Strong Memorial Hospital through the University of Rochester’s Summer Scholars Program in 2014.
Crossan is a graduate of Dunkirk High School and the daughter of Gary and Barbara Crossan. Her career goal is to become a pediatrician and will attend Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, Pa., in the fall.
Department of Biology faculty member Dr. Ted Lee, who nominated Crossan for the award, indicated she has done excellent work in his Biology classes. “She is dedicated to doing her best and is truly a pleasure to teach. Her academic record shows a high level of achievement and I am confident that she will do very well in medical school,” said Lee, chair of the Health Professions Advising Committee.
Crossan’s engagement in community service includes the First Baptist Church of Eden, where she has served as a nursery supervisor and volunteer for four years, Fredonia’s “Dancing with the Athletes” and charitable work organized by Student Athlete Advisory Committee.
A four-year member of the women’s varsity softball team, Crossan attained SUNYAC All-Academic honors and was named to the SUNYAC Commissioner’s list, both in 2014.
Ms. Devine, who has majors in Audio Production and Media Management and a minor in English, has excelled as a student leader, scholar and athlete.
She has been an integral part of Fredonia Radio Systems, where she rose to become general manager in her senior year, overseeing multiple facets of two radio stations and 50 campus and community members and the shows they produce. She coordinated Rockin’ the Commons, an annual fundraiser to benefit Roswell Park Cancer Institute, hosted the award winning “High Noon Friday” and produced numerous radio features.
“Meghan exhibits a professional attitude that is positive, respectful and inspiring to all who work with her,” said Laura Johnson, associate professor in the Department of Communication.
Devine has also gained valuable experience in commercial radio in Buffalo at Entercom Communications Corp., one of the largest radio broadcasting companies in the U.S., working in promotions, concert preparation and company events during the last five summers. During an internship there in 2014, she worked alongside Kiss 98.5 FM afternoon drive host and Fredonia alum Jud Heussler, ’12.
A member of the Fredonia track and field team, Devine was consistently named to the SUNYAC All-Academic Team and SUNYAC Commissioner’s List. She is ranked as the Blue Devils’ fifth best (outdoor) female javelin thrower and seventh best (indoor) female triple jumper. At the conclusion of the 2014 season, she won the Bleed Blue Award that recognizes leadership on and off the track, positive attitude and embodying the Fredonia ideal of sportsmanship. She was also a team captain for two years.
Devine belongs to Lambda Pi Eta, the National Communication Association’s official honor society; Chi Alpha Sigma, a national organization that recognizes academic success by student-athletes; Alpha Lambda Delta, an honor society for students who excel academically during their first year of study; and Rotaract, the collegiate version of the Rotary Club, in Dunkirk.
She has received the Dan Berggren Excellence in Audio/Radio Scholarship, the Communication Department’s Alumni Scholarship, Arlie Muller May Parks Scholarship and Presidential Scholarship, and is also enrolled in the Honors Program.
Devine’s campus and community service has extended to Habitat for Humanity, Chautauqua County Blood Drive, Kid’s Night Out, Fall Sweep and Move-In Crew.
After graduation, Devine, the daughter of Kevin and Pamela Devine and a graduate of Clarence High School, will pursue a career in media relations or human relations in the Buffalo area.
Ms. Loiacono, who has majors in English and Women’s and Gender Studies, has achieved a unique balance between her course work for two majors and extensive extra-curricular activities, while taking on time-consuming positions of leadership and outreach.
With Loiacono as its president, the Women’s Student Union has won awards and increased its membership three-fold, in addition to organizing programs and panel discussions. Loiacono is also president of the Sigma Tau Delta English Honor Society and a student representative on the Women’s and Gender Studies Advisory Board.
Additionally, Loiacono has served on the Rules Committee of Student Association; Fred LEADS, through the Center for Multicultural Affairs; and as a writing and English tutor for native speakers and international students at the Learning Center. She is a two-time recipient of the Albert A. Dunn Memorial Scholarship and also received the Jeanette McVicker Women’s and Gender Studies Scholarship.
Loiacono is currently serving as an intern for U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand in her Buffalo office, where she supports staff members with constituent outreach and advocacy events. As a student member of the Chautauqua County League of Women Voters, Loiacono registered students to vote in Chautauqua County. As a student member of the Dunkirk/Fredonia branch of American Association of University Women, Loiacono facilitated events between student groups and AAUW.
Dr. Jeanette McVicker of the Department of English said Loiacono has “established herself as a true scholar-activist and an ambassador for the kind of engaged, community-minded, global critical thinker that Fredonia strives to develop.”
Loiacono is the daughter of Dominick and Leslie Loiacono and graduate of Smithtown High School East in St. James. She plans to earn a Master’s in Public Administration at the School of Public Affairs at Baruch College, part of City University of New York, and pursue a career in the public sector.
Also nominated for the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence were:
Justin M. Cunningham, Business Administration/Finance (Chicago); Randee L. Greco, English Adolescence Education (Jamestown); Colin J. Mann, Music Education/Voice and Music Performance/Voice (Fredonia): Allison (Hennigan) Martin, Biochemistry (Fredonia); Nichole E. Nickerson, Biology (Cassadaga); Lauren R. Orlowski, Communication/Public Relations (Lancaster), and Christopher O. Sanchez, Business Administration/Management and Economics (Orchard Park).
