RuthAnn Perry Receives Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for EOP Student Excellence

April 25, 2022

Individual Studies student RuthAnn Perry of Albany is the Hudson Valley Community College recipient of the 2022 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Student Excellence. She was recognized for her achievements, along with 44 other SUNY students, at a ceremony held on April 14.

SUNY Educational Opportunity Programs provide access, academic support and financial aid to students who show promise for succeeding in college but who may not have otherwise been offered admission. Available primarily to full-time, matriculated students, the program supports students throughout their college careers within the University.

The Award for EOP Student Excellence recognizes the academic and personal achievements of outstanding EOP students across the SUNY system. It is awarded in memory of Norman R. McConney Jr., who, along with former NYS Assembly Deputy Speaker Arthur O. Eve, helped to establish the Educational Opportunity Program in 1967.

“EOP has opened doors for me and made the idea of asking for help even for the smallest things much easier,” she said. “The support that I have received throughout the years I've been at HVCC has been nothing less than amazing. They push you to be your best self, while also making sure that you're doing mentally and physically fine as well.”

Perry is graduating this spring with an Individual Studies degree and hopes to continue her education at a four-year college or university.

“My goals for the future are graduating from a four-year college and obtaining my bachelor's degree. From that point forward, I will be studying for my MCAT exam to get into medical school. My long-term goal is to be a pediatrician,” she said.

While at Hudson Valley, she has served as a peer mentor for the EOP program and has been active with the EOP Club and the Black and Latino Student Union. She was a recipient of the Center for Academic Engagement Award.

Perry said she draws inspiration to continue her educational journey from her mother, who passed away from cancer when she was in high school. “She continues to be a motivation in everything thing that I do,” Perry said.

Since the inception of EOP, more than 78,000 students have earned SUNY degrees.