Awards for Outstanding Achievement

Recipients of the 2017 winners of the President’s Awards for Leadership pose at the awards ceremony last year. This year’s ceremony will be held April 15. (Photo by Erin Nagy)

ALBANY, N.Y. (April 3, 2018) — As the school year winds down and commencement looms, organizations across campus and the SUNY system pause to honor excellence in all its forms. Beginning this weekend and through the month of April, UAlbany students, faculty and staff will be recognized for their contributions to their fields, their communities and the University.

“As the academic year draws to a close, we celebrate the achievements of some of our most outstanding students through a variety of awards and recognition programs,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Michael Christakis. “The students we honor embody UAlbany and SUNY’s very best.”

Here are some highlights of this month’s awards ceremonies:

Chancellor's Awards

On Tuesday, April 10, the winners of the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence will be honored at the Albany Capital Center at 2 p.m. The highest student honor given by SUNY, the awards recognize students who combine academic excellence with leadership, athletics, community service and performing arts or career achievement.

SUNY is recognizing 10 UAlbany student Chancellor’s Award winners: Anna Agnes, Julia Alford, Gourav Bhowmick, Melissa Galeano, Harlan Ginsburg, Rosemary Herbst, Minqi Huang, Madeeha Khan, Ryan Maestre and Michael Watts.

Faculty Advisor Recognition

On Thursday, April 12, the Faculty Advisor Recognition ceremony will be held in the Campus Center Boardroom from 3-5 p.m. The awards, which honor outstanding faculty advisors of student organizations, are sponsored by Student Engagement and Student Activities.

Purple and Gold Awards

The Purple and Gold Awards, which recognize the work and dedication of student organizations and student leaders in improving the University and the surrounding community, will be held from 7-9 p.m. Thursday, April 12, in the Campus Center Multi-Purpose Room. The awards are sponsored by the Student Association.

Spellman Awards

The Spellman Awards will be handed out at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 14, in the Campus Center Ballroom, with a reception at 3 p.m. in the Fireside Lounge. The awards, recognizing undergraduates of African, Latino, Asian and Native American descent for outstanding academic achievement, community service, and leadership, are sponsored by Intercultural Student Engagement.

Recognition Luncheon and President’s Awards for Leadership

On Sunday, April 15, President Havidán Rodríguez will host a Recognition Luncheon at noon in the Campus Center Patroon Room, honoring the Chancellor’s Award winners and outstanding seniors and their families, as well as faculty.

At 2 p.m. on the same day, Rodríguez will present the President’s Awards for Leadership in the Campus Center Ballroom. The awards, sponsored by the Center for Leadership and Service, recognize students and organizations that have made significant contributions to enhance the quality of life at the University. A reception will follow.

Student Affairs Excellence Awards

The Student Affairs Excellence Awards, set for 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 17, in the Performing Arts Center, honor undergraduate student employees who best embody the mission of their units and display characteristics valued by their co-workers and supervisors. The event is sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and will be followed by a reception.

Greek Honors

At 6 p.m. on Friday, April 20, the Fraternity and Sorority Recognition Reception will be held in the Campus Center Multi-Purpose Room. The awards honor chapters and members making a positive impact as leaders, scholars and trendsetters. The event is sponsored by Fraternity and Sorority Life.

The Order of Omega Induction ceremony will be held at noon on Sunday, April 22, in the Campus Center Assembly Hall. The Order of Omega is a leadership honor society, and inductees are juniors and seniors who demonstrate exemplary scholarship, leadership and involvement within their organizations. 

Disability Resource Center Luncheon

The Disability Resource Center Luncheon will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 27, in the Campus Center Assembly Hall. The award honors students for academics and leadership, and faculty and staff for helping to create a more inclusive campus. The keynote speaker will be comedian, author and disability activist Nina G. The event is sponsored by the Disability Resource Center.

For more news, subscribe to UAlbany's RSS headline feeds