Five Harpur College Seniors Win Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence

Five Harpur College seniors received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence on May 2, 2001. The winners were Iyaboda A. Agboola, Emmanuel Andre, Arunabha Bhoumik, Marissa M. Gold, and Azuka Nzegwu.

The Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence was created to recognize students who have combined outstanding academic achievements and a record of contributions to the university community. Each campus president established a selection committee which reviews exemplary seniors. Nominees are then forwarded to the Chancellor’s office and are subjected to a second round of reviews. Finalists are recommended to the Chancellor to become recipients of the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.

This year the State University of New York honored 178 students from 53 campuses. Recipients of this year’s awards have an average GPA of 3.82. Each winner received a framed certificate and a medallion, which may be worn at commencement. A list of winners can be viewed at http://www.suny.edu/chancellorsawards.htm.

"We are proud of our winners for their academic excellence, leadership, and diverse accomplishments," said Harpur College Dean Jean-Pierre Mileur, "I extend my congratulations and wish them the best of luck in the future."

Iyabode Agboola was born in Nigeria but lives in Staten Island, New York. She has majored in Psychobiology and plans to attend medical school at New York University and pursue a career as a surgeon. She was surprised to receive the Chancellor’s Award. "I wasn’t expecting it. I didn’t know I was nominated," she said. Agboola is very pleased with her education at Harpur College "The classes were big, but it also made you more proactive, like with getting to know your professors. There’s more diversity because there are more people." She graduated Cum Laude.

Emmanuel Andre has triple majored in Economics, Philosophy, and Africana Studies. He will soon begin working in the Accelerated Development Program, a fast track to management at The Prudential. Eventually, he would like to graduate from law school and work in public policy. A native of Haiti, Andre now resides in Brooklyn. He said receiving the Chancellor’s award was a great experience "All I could think of was the long journey, from acceptance into the University to getting this award that distinguishes you from other students. I felt lucky and thankful to everyone who has supported me." He enjoyed his education at Harpur College. "I was really impressed, just in terms of my peers and professors...It feels like a family atmosphere." Andre graduated Cum Laude.

With a degree in Political Science, Arunabha Bhoumik is off to law school at Harvard University. He hopes to work on federal policy, perhaps as Council in the U.S. House of Representatives. He lives in Flushing, New York. Like the other winners, Bhoumik was surprised to receive the Chancellor’s award. "I think it was a very big honor to be recognized at the state level. It felt good to be nominated," he said. Bhoumik received departmental honors for his project "School Violence and the Disenfranchisement of America’s Minorities." He felt Harpur College gave him a well-rounded education. "I think I had a lot of room to take a variety of classes, which I enjoyed. The [academic] requirements of Harpur allow students to expand their horizons." Bhoumik graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Marissa Gold is from Niagara Falls, New York, and will begin working towards a Master’s degree in School Counseling from Syracuse University this autumn. An undergraduate Art History major, she has volunteered extensively with children. She explained, "At first I thought I wanted to teach, but then I realized I wanted to work one on one with students." Gold described receiving the Chancellor’s award as a wonderful surprise. "I didn’t even see it coming," she said, "No one told me I was nominated, then I got a letter from the Chancelor. I’m really ecstatic about it!" She looks back on Harpur College’s Art History department fondly. "It’s very small and I received quite a bit of personal attention. The faculty has made my education." Gold graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Africana Studies major Azuka Nzegwu will depart shortly for Indiana University to start a Master’s degree in Telecommunication. She was delighted to receive the Chancellor’s Award. "It was exciting to be among people who have been recognized for having done such good work." She is originally from Nigeria and resides in Endicott, New York. Nzegwu received departmental honors for her project "These Women Are Brave," the result of field work in Nigeria during the summer of 2000. She enjoyed her years at Harpur College. "I’m very glad for what I have learned here, especially with certain faculties who have maximized my undergraduate education." Nzegwu graduated Cum Laude.

Congratulations Harpur College Class of 2001!

Harpur College conferred approximately 1600 bachelor’s degrees during the 2001 Commencement ceremony on the morning of Sunday, May 20^th in the Broome County Veterans Memorial Arena.

Former United States Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky made remarks and was conferred with the honorary Doctor of Human Letters degree during Harpur’s ceremony. Later that day, Harpur College alumnus Stewart J. Paperin `68 (see related story) and nursing leader Loretta C. Ford received the same honor.

Aaron Shapiro, a senior from Baldwin, NY, who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and comparative literature, gave the student address during Harpur College’s ceremony. A varsity athlete, Shapiro is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and Golden Key National Honor Society. He is also the recipient of a Johns Hopkins University Poetry Fellowship that he will undertake this fall.

Congratulations to all Harpur College graduates! Your alma mater is proud of you!

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