UAlbany Students Recognized with SUNY Awards for Excellence in the Arts
ALBANY, N.Y. (June 17, 2025) — Two UAlbany students were recently recognized by the State University of New York with awards commemorating their excellence in the arts.
Graduate student Key Bird was awarded a 2025 Thayer Fellowship of the Arts in recognition of their achievements as a writer, and graduate student Yujeong Ahn received a Best of SUNY award for her achievements in the arts.
“On behalf of the entire University at Albany community, we are so proud that two of our students have been recognized for their artistic excellence,” said UAlbany President Havidán Rodríguez. “Key Bird, one of this year’s Thayer Fellowship winners in recognition of their achievements as a writer, and Yujeong Ahn, one the Best of SUNY award winners for her artistic work, both exemplify UAlbany’s commitment to excellence. The arts, just as much as science and technology, can help us see the world in new ways and envision new futures. UAlbany celebrates the essential contributions of artists and writers like Key and Yujeong.”
Established in memorial to Jeanne C. Thayer, a SUNY Board Trustee from 1974-1984, the Thayer Fellowship provides post-graduate support for SUNY students pursuing careers in the arts. The awards may be used for, but are not limited to, auditions, studio space, supplies, equipment, website development, rent, recording sessions and publishing costs.
Ahn won a Best of SUNY award for her work titled “1912,” which has been on display at the H. Carl McCall Building in Albany since December 2024. She was among a handful of student artists from across the SUNY system selected to receive a Best of SUNY award for work on display in the Best of SUNY Art Exhibition, which features drawing, ceramics, painting, sculpture, photography, and printmaking are included, as well as non-traditional forms including mixed media, graphic design, and digitally produced works.
“Congratulations to all of this year’s awardees,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “SUNY is proud to enroll some of the nation’s most talented, creative, and artistic young minds across our 64 campuses. The arts are an essential way to showcase our community and further develop human connection, and we are proud to celebrate our student artists with this annual fellowship and showcase competition.”