Finishing on a High Note: Seniors Take Top Awards

A young woman, hands raised in celebration, walks along a petunia-lined path in front of a line of clapping people
Yelena Reyes walks a petunia lined path to receive her 2021 Spellman Award for Academic Achievement. (Photo by Patrick Dodson)

ALBANY, N.Y. (May 13, 2021) — Three UAlbany seniors were recognized with the 2021 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, SUNY’s highest award for academic achievement and service. These three seniors — Sana Effendi, Andrew Eldiery and Chidiogo Igboekwe — also received the President’s Award for Distinguished Scholar Leaders.

They were among the many seniors who rounded out their UAlbany careers by being recognized at awards ceremonies earlier this month.

Winners of the President’s Award for Outstanding Senior are: Katelyn Almon, Julia Alotta, Jilian Cheng, Audrey Eady, Michelle Ferraino, Amanda Greene, Anika Lamia, Julia Lembach, Carly Lindsay, Elizabeth McCormick, Jessica Moran, Aarzoo Muhki, Benitha Muyizere, Tierney Nash, Jennifer Norris, Samuel Okyere, Emmanuella Owusu-Ampaw, Katherine Pedlow, Brandon Phillips, Kassandra Sturm, Hailey Summers, Joseph Vesic and Monique Wade.

Winners of the Great Dane Award are: Damilola Adesanya, Jennifer Albert, Meghan Appley, Mashaal Bhatti, Varun Chandan, Chevonesse Chushnie, Nicole Gaglia, Jordan Giordano, Ellery Harvey, Isaiah James, Carolyn Jones, Rachel Kalter, Brandon Kayemba, Andrea Leitner, Jonathan Matza, Jack August McEachern, Christopher Neal, Ibirayo Otusile, Giovanna Raponi, Britney Roache, Catherine Ramos, Megan Ross, Priscilla Soo, Sneha Srinivasan and Amy Zhang.

Fraternity & Sorority Leadership Awards went to Brandon Kayemba, Justin Collins, Jonathan Collins, Sharissa Evaristo, Yamilka Peguero, Mahamadu Sillah and Amanda Tang.

Residential Life Outstanding Achievement Awards went to Eliane Alexandre, Nya Breleur, Nicoe Cavaliere, Jack Connelly.

Spellman Winners

Winners of the Dr. Seth Spellman Jr. Award for Top Academic Achievement are divided by category.

Top Academic Achievement Awards went to Niara Nichols, Jivan Ramjisingh, Catherine Ramos, Randy Cardenas, Zaina Siraj, Ian Tschang, Kaleigh Ross and Justice June.

Distinguished Leadership awards went to Lynn Ghadamosi, Milani Hendrickson, Isaiah James, Ibirayo Otusile, Britney Roache, Nguyen Tran, Monique Wade and Simone Hassan-Bey.

NIA Scholar Awards went to Abdoullah Goudiaby, Christine Rice, Chung Tran, and Kat Valera.

Outstanding Community Service awards went to Jahnavi Bonagiri, Chevonesse Chushnie, Amanda Greene, Brandon Kayemba and Derek Valladares.

Many more seniors won Spellman Awards for Academic Achievement; you can watch a recording of the entire awards ceremony and view a photo gallery of the Presidential and Spellman winners.

More winners

Ada Craig Walker Award: Simone Hassan-Bey and Shokoofah Noorzai

Academic Leadership Award: Kayla Higgs and Dhanisha Nandigama

Athletes & Recreation Leadership Award: Tristan Sokach-Minnick

Christine A. Bouchard School Spirit Award: Christine Rice

Five Quad Award: Ann Khan and Zachary Morganstein

Interfaith Center Award: Ann Khan

International Student Leadership Award: Ewelina Mistek-Morabito and Benitha Muyizere

The Justice Award: Tierney Nash

Middle Earth Award: Nikita Alexander

Returning Woman Award: Danielle Saint Hilaire

Sustainability Leadership Award: Carly Lindsay

University Governance Leadership Award: Samuel Salazar

Veteran/Military Leadership Award: Glenn Phillips

Women’s Outstanding Leadership Award: Bria Iman Taylor

You can learn more about student achievement awards on the website.