On Tuesday, April 10, 249 SUNY students from across the state gathered in the Albany Capital Center with their families, campus presidents and faculty to accept the 2018 Chancellor’s Awards for Student Excellence from SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson.
Each spring, the awards are presented to students who have distinguished themselves in academics, athletics, leadership, service as well as other contributions to living and learning communities across the SUNY system.
Among the 249, five SUNY New Paltz students, Reem Ahmed ’18, Julia Friedman ’18, Trisha Chabria ’18, Julian Chipkin ’18 and Katrina Scarimbolo ’18 were recipients of the award.
According to the SUNY website, the selection process is a long and rigorous one.
“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.”
Accounting major and class of 2018 Valedictorian Reem Ahmed has countless achievements from her years at New Paltz. Some of her accomplishments include co-founding the School of Business Peer Mentoring Program and being the President of Vivre Haiti, which provides aid for the children of Haiti.
Aside from being the class of 2018 Salutatorian, Julia Friedman, a communications disorders major, was also a four-year member of women’s soccer team, worked with aphasia clients at Speech-Language Hearing Center and was a One Love Workshop facilitator.
With a double major in biology and psychology, Trisha Chabria was also enrolled in a seven year BS/DO program, led medical missions to Honduras and Nicaragua as the President of Global Medical Brigades, and participated in psychology and biology research at the Benjamin Center for Public Policy Initiatives.
Julian Chipkin, with a double major in mechanical engineering and physics, was also a study group leader for AMP/CSTEP program, a teaching assistant, peer tutor and co-founded the campus’s chapter of American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Psychology major and Emerging Leaders Program graduate Katrina Scarimbolo was also a Peer Academic Success Coach and Peer Advisor/Mentor. Scarimbolo also had poetry published as well as publications in an undergraduate research journal.
“I am immensely proud of these students, who have demonstrated academic excellence and dedication to enriching their campuses and communities,” said SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson. “From research publications in industry journals to volunteering in hospitals and local clinics to holding leadership roles at their institutions, I am inspired by each student we recognize today. Congratulations to all of the students receiving this year’s award.”