04/13/2009
Four SUNY Cortland seniors were honored on April 7 in Albany, N.Y., with 2009 State University of New York Chancellor's Awards for Student Excellence.
SUNY Vice Chancellor and Officer-In Charge John J. O'Connor recognized 238 students from the 64 campuses throughout the state during the ceremony at the Empire State Convention Center. The recipients were honored for integrating academic excellence with accomplishments in leadership, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts or career achievement. This year's honorees have an overall grade point average of 3.77.
The SUNY Cortland recipients are: Ashley Chapple, a senior physical education major from Albany, N.Y.; Janel Kierecki, a senior inclusive special education major from Hilton, N.Y.; Rodrigo Rodriguez, a senior political science major from Ithaca, N.Y.; and Timothy Rodriguez, a senior outdoor recreation major from Poland, N.Y.
Each year, SUNY campus presidents establish a selection committee to review outstanding graduating seniors. The nominees are forwarded to the Chancellor's Office for a second round of review and a group of finalists is selected. Each honoree received a framed certificate and a medallion that is traditionally worn at commencement.
With this year's awards, 52 SUNY Cortland students have earned a Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence since the program was created in 1997. A more detailed profile of each 2009 SUNY Cortland honoree follows:
Ashley Chapple
Chapple has been inducted into two national honor societies, Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society, for all disciplines; and Phi Eta Sigma, a freshman honor society. She has received three highly selective awards for her leadership roles on campus. She served as the Women of Color president while maintaining a 3.72 grade point average and making the Dean's List six times.
In 2008, Chapple was recognized for her outstanding portfolio and dispositions in the Physical Education Department.
"Being a SUNY Chancellor's Award recipient is a big accomplishment for me," said Chapple. "This gives me hope for the future and reminds me that if I keep working hard it will pay off in the end. The award proves I can be and do anything as long as I work hard and put my best foot forward."
"Ashley is involved in several activities that demonstrate her interest in governance and in developing the skills necessary to become a leader in society," writes Anne Burns Thomas, assistant professor of foundations and social advocacy and program coordinator of Cortland's Urban Recruitment of Educators (C.U.R.E.) Program.
"She is a giving student, willing to make a presentation, take time for a student having difficulty adjusting to life away from home, or to describe her experiences in school and her belief that we must do more for urban students," Burns Thomas writes.
Chapple, a College resident assistant, has participated in Festivus, a youth community carnival event, YWCA Girl's Day Out and the Relay for Life.
Janel Kierecki
Kierecki has demonstrated exemplary academic achievement with a 3.94 grade point average and will graduate summa cum laude. She has been on the President's List and Dean's List and is a Phi Kappa Phi Scholar of the Year. Kierecki is a member of Phi Eta Sigma, a freshman honor society, and Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology. She has been awarded multiple scholarships for her academic accomplishments.
"SUNY Cortland has allowed me to fulfill my personal goals by providing wonderful resources," said Kierecki. "I have set out to accomplish so many goals throughout my college career and have successfully done so. Hard work, persistence and dedication are what this award means to me."
Since 2005, she has served as a camp counselor at Manitou Hill Farms in Hilton, N.Y., where she teaches students how to ride and care for horses. She also works with individuals who have exceptional needs through a horseback-riding program that promotes physical therapy, emotional growth and learning.
"In my Assistive and Adaptive Communication class, Janel created a picture communication system for a student with autism, which initiated successful communication with his swim coach - in and out of the water," wrote Judy Bentley, assistant professor of foundations and social advocacy. "This innovative, efficient system model is still being used by the student, his coach and his family. I am confident that Janel has great potential for leadership in her chosen field of inclusive special education and in the schools and communities where she will work and live."
Kierecki has been a member of the Special Education Club, Field Hockey Club and the intramural sports supervisor. She has volunteered for the American Cancer Society, Special Olympics and the National Down Syndrome Association.
Rodrigo Rodriguez
Rodriguez, a non-traditional student, has maintained a 3.37 grade point average and has made the President's List and Dean's List. He was inducted into the Pi Sigma Alpha political science honor society and is a peer tutor in the Political Science Department.
The founding member and vice president for the SUNY Cortland Model U.N., Rodriguez was one of 300 college students nationwide selected to participate in the United States Model House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., in 2007 and 2008.
"The classes I have taken in the Political Science Department inspired me to pursue my interest in local and national politics," said Rodriguez, who was born and raised in Ecuador before immigrating to the United States at 17. "I have developed both as a student and as a leader thanks to the education and support I receive at SUNY Cortland. The award gives me the confidence to continue my education and to pursue future goals."
An active member of local politics, Rodriguez is an elected member of the Town of Ithaca Democratic Committee and the Tompkins County Democratic Committee. In 2007, Don Barber, town manager of Caroline, N.Y., selected him to serve as a research assistant for Barber's New York State Senate campaign.
"In more ways than one, Rodrigo is a non-traditional student: immigrant, worker and family person," wrote SUNY Distinguished Service Professor of Political Science Henry Steck. "His career at Cortland has been impressive. Rodrigo has been both a fine student and a very active member of the College community as a participant and, more important, as a leader."
Timothy Rodriguez
Rodriguez, who graduated in December, received the College's four year John B. Knox Memorial Scholarship as a freshman and the Alpha Delta Junior Scholarship. With a 3.68 grade point average, Rodriguez has been on the President's List and Dean's List. He is a member of the Rho Phi Lambda national honorary fraternity for recreation, parks and leisure studies.
"Receiving this award is great because it recognizes some of my achievements at SUNY Cortland," said Rodriguez. "It's a good ending note for my education at the College."
He was the Student Government Association Senate representative for the Cortland College Recreation Association (CCRA). Rodriguez served as project leader on the environment with the New York Public Interest Group (NYPIRG), founder and president of the Cortland Running Club and president of Habitat for Humanity. As a study abroad student in India through the National Outdoor Leadership School during the Spring 2008 semester, he backpacked in the Himalayan Mountains and white water rafted on the Ganga River.
One of 10 AmeriCorps volunteers currently working for agencies in the Cortland community, in December Rodriguez was named Main Street community outreach coordinator and will assist town-gown partnerships from his office at Main Street SUNY Cortland at 9 Main St. His responsibilities include developing, coordinating and implementing programs for the SUNY Cortland Institute for Civic Engagement and the Cortland Downtown Partnership.