E-mail this pageSUNY Plattsburgh Honors 2008 Chancellor's Award Winners
Six Students Honored with the Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence
SUNY Plattsburgh students were recently recognized with the Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence.
"On behalf of the college, I want to congratulate these students," said SUNY Plattsburgh President John Ettling. "They have worked hard and excelled in and out of the classroom. It was a pleasure to see these scholars recognized for representing us so admirably."
Robert Abel, Allison Busby, Melissa Kopp, Amber Lachapelle, Christopher Morales, and Zachary Warner were honored at an award ceremony in Albany, N.Y. on April 7.
They have shown well-rounded success in academics, athletics, leadership positions, and community service or creative and performing arts.
Robert Abel
Robert is an anthropology major with a minor in French from Brewster, N.Y. He belongs to two honor societies and has won many awards and scholarships, including a Killam Fellowship and a Redcay Outstanding Senior Award.
"I was thrilled when I found out that I'd received the Chancellor's Award, both for the achievement in itself, and for what I knew it would mean to my family," Robert said.
Allison Busby
Allison, from New Paltz, N.Y., is a senior nutrition major. She runs cross-country and track for Plattsburgh State and considers her cross country team's second place performance at nationals this past fall to be her greatest achievement.
"My parents were very excited that I received this award. It definitely makes all the hard work I've put in here, academically and athletically, worth it," she said.
Melissa Kopp
Melissa is a senior biology and chemistry major from Rouses Point, N.Y. Among her many awards including Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, she claims her highest achievement is being recognized by Sigma Xi: The Scientific Research Honors Society and National Association for Biology Teachers for her superior poster presentations of her undergraduate scientific research.
"I have worked incredibly hard over the past three and a half years without any expectation to receive such an honor," she said. "I really have enjoyed my time at Plattsburgh State and just being nominated for this award was enough recognition for all of the hard work."
"However, I must say that I wouldn't have been as successful if it weren't for the amazing faculty and staff here at Plattsburgh State. Dr. Nancy Elwess and Mrs. Sandra Latourelle have provided me with many great opportunities and continue to do so. They have had such a great impact on my college experience," Melissa emphasized.
Amber Lachapelle
Amber, a senior biochemistry major with a math minor from Plainville, Conn., is a member of several honor societies including Sigma Xi, Omicron Delta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Eta Sigma, and the Society for Leadership and Success.
Christopher Morales
Christopher is a biochemistry and computer science major from Altona. He considers receiving the Excellence in Biology Education award to be one of his most prized achievements before the Chancellor's Award because he believes in the power of teaching.
Zachary Warner
Zachary is a student in the combined bachelor and master program at Plattsburgh State majoring in mathematics and adolescence education from Averill Park, N.Y. He is the recipient of many scholarships and awards, including the Phi Eta Sigma National Leadership Award and the Society of Success' National Award of Accomplishment.
Like all of the recipients of the Chancellor's Award, this award meant a lot to Warner.
"This award means that my involvement on-campus had an impact on others. That is a great feeling. It means even more to know that the nominations I received came from my friends, colleagues, and professors. To know that I was recognized by people that I admire greatly is probably the best part of receiving this award," Warner said.