College at Oneonta News

ONEONTA, N.Y. -- The SUNY College at Oneonta recently released a list of 43 students who were recognized as "The Best and Brightest" for the Fall 2007 semester. "The Best and Brightest" program at SUNY-Oneonta honors students for outstanding academic achievement, community service, and leadership. Faculty and staff members at the College nominate students for the awards.

The SUNY College at Oneonta, which enrolls over 5,800 students, is a liberal arts college with a pre-professional focus. Established as a state normal school in 1889 and incorporated as a founding member of the state university system in 1948, the College is well known for its outstanding faculty, students committed to academic achievement and community service, strong academic programs, educational technology, and scenic campus.

The following students have been recognized as "The Best and Brightest" for Fall 2007:

• Emily Worsnopp, School Counselor, Sidney, nominated by Joan Marshall
  Emily is a distinguished second-year master's student in School Counseling and recently presented at the College-sponsored Best Practices in Education and Counseling conference on "Connecting Personal Interests with Career Options: A Career Development Unit for Sixth-Grade Students."
   
• Emily Williams, Professional Accounting, Pennellville, nominated by Lisa Flynn
  Emily is an outstanding student performing to the highest level academically. She participates in various activities on campus and is a member of the Accounting Society.
   
• Celia VanDerwerker, Adolescence Education: English, Cherry Valley, nominated by Kjersti VanSlyke-Briggs
  Celia demonstrates commitment to excellence in her academics. She is active on campus as a Resident Advisor and within student government. She has participated in residence hall government and the Education Club.
   
• Karyn Tucker, Communication Studies, Bloomville, nominated by Christine Quail
  Karyn is an excellent student and strong student leader. She is a member of the Communication Arts Society and successfully helped organize a trip for twenty students to the Eastern Communication Association Convention. She has organized volunteer work, such as Into the Streets, helping to clean up the Bugbee School grounds.
   
• Benjamin Tangney, Adolescence Education: Earth Science, Valley Stream, nominated by Paul Bischoff & James Ebert
  Benjamin is an excellent student with a strong academic record. He serves as a freshman mentor and tutor, volunteers as a tutor for Oneonta Job Corps, and serves as a teacher's aide for special needs children in his hometown school.
   
• Rashpal Suri, Business Economics, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, nominated by Christine Harrington
  Rashpal is an exceptional student with excellent academic achievement and a positive "can do" attitude. He is serving as a Resident Advisor and is a member of the International Student Organization and the Indian Culture Club.
   
• Adrian Sullivan, Biology: Pre-medicine, Yonkers, nominated by Nancy Bachman
  Adrian is the recipient of the Susan Sutton Smith Award and a member of Beta Beta Beta and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies. He serves as an ALAANA Peer Mentor and a Student Association Senator, is a member of the Oneonta Emergency Squad, and has volunteered for Habitat for Humanity.
   
• Jeremy Smith, History, South New Berlin, nominated by Julie Freeman
  An excellent student, Jeremy is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. He has been involved in two independent studies and research, presenting his findings at Student Research Day. Jeremy has served as a teaching assistant.
   
• Zachary Sitnik, Business Economics, Constantia, nominated by Izabella Lokshina
  Zachary is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. He has represented the Business Economics program and the College in two highly successful internships, the first in the Facilities Planning Office at the College and the second at the Make-A-Wish Foundation in Syracuse.
   
• Mary Sandoval, Childhood Education, Latham, nominated by Madeline Berry
  Mary is an exemplary student and has won the Scott Jenkins Minority Scholarship from fall 2004 to present. She interned for two summers with Summer in the City, worked as a teacher's aide, and served as an ALAANA Peer Mentor.
   
• Katie Read, Business Economics, Little Falls, nominated by David Ring
  Katie is a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies, and she has completed an internship with the Oneonta City School District Business Office. She is a member of the Economics Club and residence hall government, and she has done volunteer work as a member of the Marketing Club.
   
• Ashley Ramnes, Geography, Scotia, nominated by James Mills
  An extraordinary student, Ashley is one of only eleven students in the country to be selected for a National Geographic Internship. She is one of the leaders of the Geography Club and has served as a Resident Advisor for Residential Life.
   
• Samantha Quell, Art: Art History, Syracuse, nominated by Allen Farber
  Samantha is a gifted and dedicated student. To help her toward her career goal in Art Conservation, Samantha has, on her own, secured an internship at the Fenimore House.
   
• Karen Prior, Psychology, Middle Grove, nominated by Steven Gilbert
  Karen is actively involved in research, culminating with a poster presentation at the 22nd Annual Psychology Conference at the University of Scranton. She is a member of Psi Chi National Honor Society, the Psychology Club, and the Orpheus Music Club.
   
• Micah Phillips, Mass Communications, New Berlin, nominated by Jon Arakaki
  A top student, Micah has been recipient of the Alumni, Werner A. Haus, and Lesser Scholarships. He serves as a teaching assistant, has completed an internship with the Westchester County Film Office, and is involved with WONY, the campus radio station.
   
• Charles Petrone, Communication Studies, Poughkeepsie, nominated by Dawn Sohns
  Charles is the President of the Rho Eta Chapter of the National Communication Honor Society. He secured a highly competitive internship at Heineken USA in the Corporate Relations Department. He is active in fundraising and the Pit Run.
   
• Amanda Pennacchio, Human Ecology: Apparel and Textiles, nominated by Katherine Angell
  An outstanding student, Amanda is a member of the Phi Upsilon Omicron Honor Society. She is involved in residence hall government and has worked as a Resident Advisor. She is a teaching assistant, helping to catalog and conserve new acquisitions.
   
• Silvia Ozkan, Human Ecology: Fashion Merchandising, nominated by Annacleta Chiweshe
  Silvia is an outstanding student. She produced a design which was published in "Belle Armoire Art to Wear" magazine and is involved in various community service activities including the Juvenile Diabetes Walk, Breast Cancer Walk, Habitat for Humanity, and Girl Scouts.
   
• Stephanie Ottino, Food Service and Restaurant Administration, Maywood, NJ, nominated by Shih-Ming Hu
  An outstanding student, Stephanie is a member of Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. She is involved in the Harvest Party and Nutrition Education Lesson for local schools and actively volunteers with the Food and Nutrition Association, Marketing Club, and Center for Social Responsibility.
   
• Robert Nazzaro, Business Economics, Broadalbin, nominated by Margaret Maguire
  Robert is an excellent student working on an internship with the Oneonta City School District Business Office, assisting with financial and operational projects. He has been active in Mask and Hammer and Terpsichorean productions, working backstage on set construction and lighting.
   
• Kaitlin Murphy, Child and Family Studies, Stony Brook, nominated by Marjorie Pietraface
  Kaitlin is a scholar-athlete, a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma and Phi Upsilon Omicron honor societies, and a member of the SUNYAC All-Academic Team. She has volunteered for Into the Streets, the American Red Cross Heart Run/Walk, the Halloween Fun Run, and Girl Scouts.
   
• George Marshall, Jr., Adolescence Education: Social Studies, Walden, nominated by Elaine Lawrence
  An exceptional student, George is an active member of the Association for Secondary Educators and has served as Vice President for the History Club. He works as a substitute teacher in area schools, and as a playwright, several of his works have been produced at a community college.
   
• Chun Kit Lo, Professional Accounting & Music Industry, Hong Kong nominated by Hua Zhong
  Chun Kit is an excellent student academically and serves as a Student Senator. He is a member of the Sociology Club and the Accounting and Finance Club, and he works as a tutor for freshmen at the Center for Academic Development and Enrichment. He is actively involved in fundraising.
   
• Corey Lemley, Physics, Charlton, nominated by Monisha Kamala Mahanta
  Corey is an excellent student academically with a persevering devotion to his work. His presentation of his work on nano-wire synthesis at the Rochester Symposium of the Society of Physics Students this year was well received.
   
• Sarah Koniarski, Dietetics, East Northport, nominated by Jennifer Bueche
  Sarah is a member of Phi Upsilon Omicron, currently helping with a fundraiser for Catholic Charities, and she is active in the Food and Nutrition Association. She is currently writing and analyzing an eight-week cycle menu for Pathfinder Village in Edmeston.
   
• Nicholas Killmeier, Computer Science, Otego, nominated by Dennis Higgins
  Nicholas is a top student and a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. He is the recipient of the Ryder-Michalak Computer Science Scholarship. He has been active on campus as a tutor for the Educational Opportunity Program.
   
• Lauren Howe, Psychology, nominated by Lawrence Guzy
  Lauren is an excellent student in the classroom and research enterprise, and she is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. She was one of the lead presenters at the Student and Faculty Research Shows in 2007, and she serves as a teaching assistant.
   
• Christine Goodrich, Mathematics & Communication Studies, West Davenport, nominated by Jennifer Bone
  Christine is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. She is active on campus teaching drama and swimming; off campus she volunteers at the local performing arts center and mentors a young girl with Asperger syndrome.
   
• Yun (Tracy) Ge, Professional Accounting, Jinhua City, China nominated by Huimin Xu
  Tracy is an excellent and enthusiastic international student. She has served as an academic tutor and a teaching assistant, and she is an active member of the Accounting Club, the Marketing Club and the International Club.
   
• Renee Gaston, Child and Family Studies, Maryland, nominated by Karen Joest
  Renee is a member of the Phi Upsilon Omicron Honor Society. She is active in the Human Ecology Club and has helped raise money for impoverished families. She will be going to the Ukraine to do volunteer work at an orphanage.
   
• Peggi Dudley, Geography, nominated by Wendy Mitteager & Albert Sosa
  Peggi is a member of the Gamma Theta Upsilon National Honor Society. She is active in the Geography Club and helped plan a trip to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity in Slidell, LA. She has also volunteered for Saturday's Bread.
   
• Jenna Downing, Dietetics, Camillus, nominated by Mary Ann Dowdell
  An outstanding student, Jenna is a member of the Phi Upsilon Omicron and ODK honor societies. She is active in the Food and Nutrition Association and volunteers through her church, community feeding programs, and fundraising.
   
• Allison Dilzer, Dietetics, Saranac Lake, nominated by William Proulx
  Alison is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa and the Omicron Delta Kappa honor societies. She is active in the Food and Nutrition Association and a member of AmeriCorps. She has volunteered for Saturday's Bread and the local YMCA.
   
• Kailee DiDomenico, Biology, nominated by William Pietraface
  Kailee has been named to the SUNYAC Commissioner's List as a soccer player, and she is a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa and Chi Sigma honor societies as well as an honorary member of the College Foundation board. She is active in the community tutoring high school students and in various fundraising activities.
   
• Joseph Del Grosso, Dietetics, North Merrick, nominated by Oscar Oberkircher
  Joseph is an academically excellent student. He is a peer tutor for the Educational Opportunity Program, and he is active in numerous community activities involving nutrition, senior living, and the Family Services Association.
   
• Kari Cubito, Dietetics, Modena, nominated by Kirsten Hilpert
  Kari is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies. She is active in the Food and Nutrition Association and Terpsichorean. She volunteers for the Catskill Regional Teacher Center, Head Start, and other agencies.
   
• Michael Chan, Psychology, Brooklyn, nominated by Sheila Serbay
  Michael is an academically excellent student who shows a dedication to his education. He secured a very competitive volunteer internship at the NYU Medical Center Rush Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine.
   
• Sarah Cascone, Communication Studies, Brooklyn, nominated by Arthur Dauria
  Sarah is an active member of the College Union Activities Council as Lecture Chairperson, and she is a Resident Advisor and RA Liaison of hall government. She is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma and Lambda Pi Eta honor societies.
   
• Kathryn Burkhardt, Political Science & Criminal Justice, Croton-On-Hudson, nominated by Paul Conway
  Kathryn has received the Richard Siegfried Award and Susan Sutton Smith Award, and she is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. She volunteers through activities such as Up 'til Dawn and the Revlon Walk/Run for Breast Cancer.
   
• Kaileigh Brazie, Human Ecology: Advertising & Communication, Bath, nominated by Juanjuan Wu
  Kaileigh is a member of the Phi Upsilon Omicron national honor society. She is a teaching assistant and an active member of the Student Fashion Society. She is involved in the community through events such as the Cinderella Project.
   
• Kate Anderson, Chemistry: Biochemistry, Hobart, nominated by Harry Pence
  An adult learner, Kate is an excellent student who exceeds expectations. She has served as a tutor for the PR2EPS (Preparation, Recruitment, Retention & Excellence in the Physical Sciences) program, held an internship at a local pharmaceutical firm, and served as a laboratory assistant.
   
• Jordan Aily, Professional Accounting, Douglaston, nominated by Angie Eichler
  Jordan is an outstanding student who is a member of the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society and the Order of Omega. He has helped coordinate events to raise money for the Ninash Foundation and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.
   
• Veronica Acevedo, Child and Family Studies & Theatre, Sherburne, nominated by Theresa Russo
  Veronica is a highly motivated adult learner. She is a member of Phi Upsilon Omicron Honor Society and is involved in the community through volunteer service such as Reach Out and Read and as an AmeriCorps volunteer.
   

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