Four Students Honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence

April 4, 2017

Four members of the Hudson Valley Community College student body were named recipients of the State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence.

The recipients are: Andrew Edwards of Suffern; Bryce Kirk of Wynantskill; Everett McNair of Schodack Landing; and Stephen Pelletier of Petersburgh.

Edwards, a Physical Education Studies major, has a 4.0 GPA and has been on the President's List for three consecutive semesters. He is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for students at two-year colleges and works as a veteran peer mentor for the college's Center of Academic Engagement. Edwards also is the student manager of the college's football team and a member of the Black and Latino Student Union. He is scheduled to graduate this spring and will continue his education in the field of physical therapy.

Kirk, a Business Administration major who graduated in fall 2016, was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for students at two-year colleges. During his first semester at Hudson Valley he was elected vice president of the Student Senate, and he was active in student government throughout his time at the college. Kirk was presented with the NJCAA Exemplary Academic Achievement Award while competing for the Hudson Valley bowling team and was also given the President's Award for Outstanding Achievement in Community Service. He was also active in the college's Engineering Science Club, Entrepreneur's Club and Investment Club. He will continue his education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

McNair, who is studying in the Engineering Science program, is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for students at two-year colleges, and he served as president of the Student Senate and as a member of the Faculty Student Association board of directors. As a competitive swimmer, he has achieved junior national time standards in the 50 meter freestyle. Everett also pursues excellence in music and has performed at concert halls including Carnegie Hall.

Pelletier, who is studying Criminal Justice, is actively involved in clubs on campus, and serves as vice president for the Student Senate. In addition, he was involved in the Investment Club and the Foreign Language and Culture Club. A member of Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for students at two-year colleges, he plans on pursuing a law degree and working in the field of criminal justice as a litigator.

The students were invited to attend the 2017 Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence ceremony and reception, Tuesday, April 5, 2016 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany.

"It is my honor to celebrate the achievements of students who have surpassed SUNY's highest standards of academic excellence and leadership both on and off campus," said SUNY Chancellor Zimpher. "Every student we recognize has demonstrated a strong commitment to their degree program, home campus, greater community, and much more. Congratulations to all of the students receiving this year's award."

The Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence was created 20 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.

Each year, campus presidents establish a selection committee, which reviews exemplary members of their college communities who are graduating. Nominees are then forwarded to the Chancellor's Office and are subject to a second round of review. Finalists are then recommended to the Chancellor to become recipients of the Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence.

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Founded in 1953, Hudson Valley Community College offers more than 80 degree and certificate programs in four schools: Business; Engineering and Industrial Technologies; Health Science; and Liberal Arts and Sciences; and an Educational Opportunity Center for academic and career training. One of 30 community colleges in the State University of New York system, it has an enrollment of nearly 11,500 students, and is known as a leader in distance learning initiatives and workforce training. Hudson Valley has more than 75,000 alumni.