The Honors College

Honors Student Wins Prestigious Goldwater Scholarship

Sheila Smith, of the honors class of 2014, was recently awarded a Goldwater Scholarship.  Sheila is working toward an eventual Ph.D. in nanoengineering and plans to conduct nanotechnology-related research on novel materials designed to meet the needs of the semiconductor industry.  Congratulations, Sheila.

Presidential Leadership Awards

It is with a great sense of pride that I announce the students in The Honors College who were recognized with a Presidential Leadership Award this year. Twenty-nine current honors students and one of our alumni were recognized. As can be seen from the awards our students received, honors students are in leadership roles across the university. Congratulations to all.

The Great Dane Award is given to a student who has demonstrated leadership in several cocurricular activities or significant leadership in one activity during the current year.
Andrew Chang
Nicole Gillette
Dana Kamens
Ryan Kennedy
Betsy Nettles
Meghan Nyman
Teresa Regis
Alex Talamo
Amanda Trimm

The University Governance Leadership Award recognizes students who have provided important leadership to the campus by taking an active role relative to policy matters of student government.
Joseph Bassell

The Don't Walk Alone Award is awarded to the most valuable member of the volunteer escort service.
Danelly Bello

The Residential Life Outstanding Achievement Award honors those individuals who have continued to strive to improve the quality of life for residence hall students.
Thomas Buconincontri

The Chapel House Award is given to an individual who has made laudable efforts to further interfaith understanding and to promote the spiritual growth of members of the Chapel House community.
Samantha Leuschner

The Academic Leadership Award recognizes student leadership in academic settings. This may
include the classroom, the research laboratories and other research settings, and internship sites.
Yingjie Zhang

The Athletes Leadership Award recognizes athletes whose leadership has transcended their sport and who have made invaluable contributions to their team, achieved academic distinction, or have made significant contributions to our University and its surrounding community.
Jared Newman

The Sustainability Leadership Award recognizes a graduate or undergraduate student who contributes to the advancement of environmental, economic and social sustainability within the UAlbany campus and surrounding community.
Hillary Closs

The Community Service Leadership Award recognizes a student who most clearly evidences a
service ethic through unselfish involvement in the community as she or he strives to better an aspect of society by dedicating considerable time to worthwhile projects that benefit others.
Arianna Wedin

The Rod Hart Memorial Award is given to an undergraduate junior who has demonstrated academic achievement and who has made a difference on the UAlbany campus by organizing benefit drives or leadership within a campus organization that serves the good of the University community.
Jenn Pollard

The Outstanding Senior Award recognizes seniors who have contributed greatly to the University during the course of their undergraduate careers. This award is among the highest conferred upon undergraduates.
Michael Blaustein
Ali Chaudry
Julie Forster
Simeon Kawakami
Amanda McHugh
Daina Migdel
Neema Moghadam
Nyla Naim
Matthew O’Neil
Slava Rar

The Ada Craig Walker Award is given to a graduating undergraduate senior woman who “in judgment of the faculty best typifies the ideals of the University.”
Nishtha Modi

The Distinguished Scholar-Leader Award recognizes and honors one graduating undergraduate senior who best exemplifies the scholar-leader-service ideal. The recipient will have demonstrated academic excellence, effective leadership in the University community, and a commitment to serving others. (For the first time, this award - recognized as the top award given to undergraduates - was given to two students (both of whom are in The Honors College) because the award committee found it impossible to distinguish between the contributions of these two students.)
Sam Frumkin
Nishtha Modi

Honors Students Recognized by the SUNY Chancellor

Four graduating seniors in The Honors College have received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence.  As noted by the Chancellor: “The Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence was created 13 years ago to recognize students who have best demonstrated, and 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.”

Michael Blaustein
Sam Frumkin
Daina Migdel
Nishtha Modi

Congratulations!

Yoga and The Honors College

New in The Honors College this semester is a weekly yoga course taught by Professor Bruce McEwan.  Come join us Mondays to improve your physical and emotional health.

4.0 Dinners

Each semester, Professor Haugaard holds a series of dinners in his faculty apartment for the honors students who achieved a 4.0 the previous semester.  This semester, 97 of the 400 honors college students received a 4.0.  That is amazing!

Honors Events

Upcoming honors events are listed here. You can also see a fuller description of this semester's events and also a list of all the events we've had this year.  Plus, remember that we have yoga every Monday night at 9:15 in Steinmetz Hall.