Scholars and Leaders

Nine UAlbany students were awarded the 2019 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence Wednesday at the Capital Center in downtown Albany.

“Today’s award recipients emerged from their campuses this year as the top scholars, athletes, performers and achievers, as well as a tremendous source of inspiration,” said Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson. “The students being recognized today made the choice to be leaders on their campuses, prioritize their studies, and serve their communities. Congratulations to this year’s awardees, and I applaud you for pursuing excellence in all that you do.”

A total of 210 SUNY undergraduate and graduate students from across the state receive the award. Honored from UAlbany were:

Nana-Hawwa Abdul-Rahman of Clifton Park, Chemistry (Honors)
Dillon Asmus of Ridge, Business Administration
Alondra Berroa of New York City, Political Science & Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security and Cybersecurity
Langie Cadesca of Brooklyn, Criminal Justice
Fu Yee Chua of Flushing, Biology with Honors; Psychology; Economics
Melissa Ertl of Park Falls, Wis., Counseling Psychology
Nicholas Gonzalez of Brooklyn, Political Science
Teniola Olafuyi of West Hempstead, Public Health and Political Science
Subha Tasnim of Astoria, Emergency Preparedness, Homeland Security, and Cybersecurity; Criminal Justice

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.

Each year, SUNY campus presidents establish a selection committee, which reviews the accomplishments of exemplary students. Nominees are then 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.

A complete listing of student recipients is available online.