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Fourteen ßÙßÇÂþ»­ students were recognized by the University and SUNY administrations in late May for their all-around outstanding accomplishments and contributions during their time at ßÙßÇÂþ»­.

President’s Award for Undergraduate Student Excellence

The President’s Award for Undergraduate Student Excellence is awarded to junior and senior students for their outstanding contributions to the ßÙßÇÂþ»­ campus and/or the local community based on their academic excellence, campus involvement, community engagement, leadership, and creative and scholarly activities.

Senior recipients

Milan Patel ’23

Milan Patel, a biological sciences student from Newburgh, N.Y., participated in the First-year Research Immersion (FRI) biogeochemistry stream and in the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) at Rutgers Medical School in New Jersey. He has presented his research at the Northeastern Geological Society of America (NEGSA). Milan has been active as a mentor in TRIO and FRI, and as a tutor through the University Tutoring Services. During the pandemic, he volunteered at Newburgh Pharmacy, helping patients understand their medications. He also worked with Garnet Health Medical Center as an inpatient rehabilitation volunteer and then an intern in their Emergency Department. Patel also joined the Global Health Impact organization on campus and has done research on pandemic advocacy, collaborated with global health scholars around the world and been involved in publications in major global health journals.

Patrick Saint Ange ’23

Patrick Saint Ange, from Ossinging, N.Y., graduated with honors in sociology and English, while minoring in theatre at ßÙßÇÂþ»­. He completed two honors theses while performing in multiple main-stage productions with the Theatre Department, including a lead role in the spring 2023 production of Rent. He is a first-generation college student actively engaged with TRIO Student Support Service (SSS), whose Haitian immigrant family has provided the inspiration for his academic and filmic explorations. He directed and produced an independent research documentary on first-generation Haitian Americans and immigrants, working with researchers from New York University and Brown University. He worked for three years on neurology research to publish work on epilepsy with New York Medical College. He also is in the process of completing his own musical, Born on Saturday, and has plans with the Theatre Department to direct it for an on-campus performance.

Cameron Wallace ’23

Cameron Wallace, from Lumberton, N.J., was part of the ßÙßÇÂþ»­ Scholars program. He graduated with an individualized major in environmental design and sustainability with minors in Spanish and sculpture. His campus involvement included serving as a residential assistant, working at the Food Co-Op, interning at the ßÙßÇÂþ»­ Art Museum, serving as director of advocacy in the Student Association (SA) president’s office and participating in the Environmental Visualization Stream of the FRI program. His research culminated in a presentation in Vienna, Austria, at the European Geophysical Union conference. In addition, Cameron is an entrepreneurial leader for sustainability and design in the fashion and clothing industry, having collaborated with a fashion designer and researcher in California from parent company Alpinestars and experimented with plant-based leather alternatives. Finally, he co-founded the fashion magazine Rena, short for Renaissance Men/People, a publication with a multi-faceted, interdisciplinary approach to culture and aesthetic influence for young adults and teenagers.

Honorable mention – Emily Sadutto ’23

Emily Sadutto, from Newburgh, N.Y., graduated with honors in political science and a minor in women, gender and sexuality studies. Her honors thesis, which examines the language of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade, won departmental highest honors. In the Source Project, she engaged in original research on children held in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers. Subsequently, as part of ßÙßÇÂþ»­â€™s Independent Undergraduate Research in the Humanities program, Sadutto undertook an analysis of the language of amicus curiae briefs and whether that language shaped Supreme Court decisions in the area of parental abortion notification. That work was published in the Columbia Undergraduate Law Review. She is the founder and founding president of Planned Parenthood Generation at ßÙßÇÂþ»­ and has served in leadership roles with numerous other organizations including the Mock Trial Team. She has also served on the Department of Political Science’s Student Advisory Committee, the Harpur College Academic Honesty Committee and the Harpur College Council Committee.

Junior recipients

Riya Bolander

Riya Bolander is a rising senior majoring in psychology and vocal performance. They served as a classroom technology assistant during the pandemic, a teaching assistant in the Music Department, an orientation advisor for New Student Programs and an intern at the Q Center. Bolander is an accomplished soprano and flutist who performs as a soloist and as a member of the ßÙßÇÂþ»­ Orchestra, the Wind Symphony, Harpur Chorale and Chamber Singers. They are also a research assistant in Assistant Professor of Psychology Sung-Joo Lim’s lab studying auditory cognitive neuroscience. Through their participation in the Southern Tier Singers Collective and through the Music Department, Bolander has traveled to schools to teach K-12 students about opera and performed at nursing homes and elementary schools. They are a member of the Sound of ßÙßÇÂþ»­ SA organization and of the ßÙßÇÂþ»­ Scholars program.

Stephanie Ramirez-Cisneros

Stephanie Ramirez-Cisneros is a junior from Astoria, N.Y., majoring in political science and sociology and minoring in Latin American and Caribbean area studies. She is working on an honors thesis project in sociology on immigration laws, detention centers and reproductive rights. Ramirez-Cisneros has had an active campus presence as a senior peer consultant and student coordinator for the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development’s diversity initiatives. She is also an executive board member of the ßÙßÇÂþ»­ chapter of the NAACP and Corazoncitos, a student organization dedicated to empowering Peruvian children and families. She also served as a co-programming director for the Vice President of Multicultural Affairs SA office.

Barbara Santos

Barbara Santos is a junior originally from Brazil and who currently resides in Astoria, N.Y. She is majoring in integrative neuroscience and is on the pre-medical track. During her time at ßÙßÇÂþ»­, she has completed research with the Dickinson Research Team (DiRT) and is now a part of the neuroimmunology research lab working with Terrance Deak, professor of psychology and behavioral neuroscience area coordinator. A first-generation college student, Santos is a member of TRIO SSS, where she has taken leadership positions as both a tutor and mentor. She is also a part of the Charles Drew Minority Pre-Health Society and is a McNair Scholar. She is a mentor in the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP) and was a resident assistant in Mountainview College. Lastly, she works as an emergency medical technician at Superior Ambulance Service, Inc. in ßÙßÇÂþ»­.

Honorable mention: Adebola Abbey-Peter

Abbey-Peter is a junior from New York City majoring in sociology and human development with an Africana studies minor. She presented research at the Latin American and Caribbean Area Studies Undergraduate Conference, and has served as a resident assistant in Dickinson Community and a teaching assistant for the College of Community and Public Affairs. Abbey-Peter is involved in the campus community as a student leader of Powerful United Ladies Striving to Elevate (PULSE) and the African Student Organization. She also works at the Multicultural Resource Center as a student manager. Finally, she was one of the first recipients of the University’s George Floyd Scholarship for Social Change (2022).

Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

Gabrielle Camillery ’23

West Islip, N.Y. – biological sciences

Gabrielle Camillery participated in the FRI microbial biofilms in human health research stream, pursued authentic biofilm research and excelled in the biological sciences and health and wellness disciplines. She has received numerous awards in recognition of academic excellence as well as for her extensive leadership and community activities that benefited her peers, the campus community and charitable institutions.

Zirong Chen ’23

Staten Island, N.Y. – biochemistry and mathematical sciences

Zirong Chen is a McNair Scholar who has has excelled in scientific research while contributing extensively to the campus as a mentor and a leader. He participated in research in both the FRI biomedical chemistry stream and in Cornell University’s Molecular Biology and Genetics of Cell Signaling Summer Research Experience for Undergraduates Program.

Christopher Felice ’23

Valhalla, N.Y. – nursing

Christopher Felice was the president of the Nursing Student Association and worked as a hospice resident care aide in the Mercy House of the Southern Tier. He also conduced research on tobacco cessation in the Interdisciplinary Tobacco Use Research Program, coauthoring three abstracts published by the Eastern Nurses Research Society.

Oyedepo Oyerinde ’23

Yonkers, N.Y. – electrical engineering

Oyedepo Oyerinde is completing the 4+1 Program in electrical engineering at the Thomas A. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Science with a 3.46 undergraduate GPA. He is a leader focused on helping others. He has been a TRIO mentor, executive board member of multiple student organizations, tutor, resident assistant and intern at Amazon. He also still finds time to pursue his passions, playing the euphonium for the ßÙßÇÂþ»­ Wind Symphony and dancing with the Quimbamba Latin Dance Club.

Milan Patel ’23

Newburgh, N.Y. – biological sciences

Milan Patel is a first-generation college student. He participated in the FRI biogeochemistry stream and in the Summer Health Professions Education Program (SHPEP) at Rutgers Medical School in NewJersey. He has been active as a mentor in TRIO and FRI and as a tutor through the University Tutoring Services.

Patrick Saint Ange ’23

Ossining, N.Y. – sociology and English, theatre minor

Patrick Saint Ange completed two honors theses while performing in multiple mainstage productions with the Theatre Department. He is a first-generation college student and member of TRIO Student Support Services, whose Haitian immigrant family has provided the inspiration for his academic and filmic explorations of Haitian-American identity.

Marcis Scroger ’23

Rochester, N.Y. – integrative neuroscience, biological anthropology minor

Marcis Scroger plans to pursue a PhD in neuroscience and build a research career studying substance-use disorders and their interactions with other health factors and disparities.

Eva C. Vazquez ’22

Saugerties, N.Y. – Spanish language and literature, global studies and education minor

Eva C. Vazquez is a first-generation college student who has held many leadership roles in a broad spectrum of areas, including as a senior career consultant at the Fleishman Center for Career and Professional Development, a Mindset Mentor through the Decker College of Nursing and Health Sciences Division of Health and Wellness Studies, and a TRIO mentor. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in student affairs administration at ßÙßÇÂþ»­.

Cameron Wallace ’23

Lumberton, N.J. – environmental design and sustainability, Spanish and sculpture minor

Wallace was a ßÙßÇÂþ»­ Scholar, served as a resident assistant, worked at the Food Co-op, interned at the ßÙßÇÂþ»­ Art Museum, served on the executive board of the SA and participated in the environmental visualization stream of the FRI program.