New Paltz, NY — The State University of New York at New Paltz Athletics, Wellness and Recreation Department announced the first and second-year inductees of the Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society Monday, which includes a total of 51 student-athletes.
Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society is a nonprofit organization that celebrates the academic achievements of student-athletes. In order to be enshrined, student-athletes must have participated in at least one sport for the Hawks, while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.40 or above as a junior and senior. This year's list contains both new and old faces who have consistently performed at a high level in the classroom.
See the full list of Chi Alpha Sigma recipients below:
Second-Year Honorees:
Major: Marketing
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Fall 2016 - Fall 2019), SUNYAC Commissioner's List (2017-2019).
Quote: "The harder the battle, the sweeter the victory." - Les Brown
Faculty Member: Professor David Basch
Major: Painting
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Fall 2016 - Fall 2019), SUNYAC
Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll (Fall 2017, Fall 2019), USTFCCCA All-Academic (Spring 2019).
Quote: "In the great race, the Hare learned a valuable lesson. The Tortoise learned one too: winning the race would have been sweeter if he had won it with his friend." - Sophie Potter
Faculty Member: Professor Andrew Woolbright
Academic Moment: "Being a part of the painting program at New Paltz has given me the opportunity to work closely with such a wonderful community of artists on a daily basis."
Secret to Success: "The secret to success is good time management and being kind to yourself."
Major: Early Childhood & Childhood Education B-6: Mathematics
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (every semester), SUNYAC Women's Basketball Elite 20 recipient (2020).
Quote: "Somewhere behind the athlete you've become and the hours of practice and the coaches who have pushed you is a little girl who fell in love with the game and never looked back...play for her." - Mia Hamm
Faculty Member: Maura Musso (Education Department)
Academic Moment: "One academic moment that has had a major impact on my experience here at New Paltz was when I took my class on learning disabilities as part of my coursework for my major. I had always thought that I might want to work with children with disabilities because I had grown up with several friends who had disabled siblings. However, this class really solidified my passion and I hope to eventually get my masters in Special Education."
Secret to Success: "I just expect so much of myself and don't let myself settle for anything when it comes to academics. I think some of my success has been in part due to my younger sister. Her and I are constantly competing with each other and she is 10-times smarter than me, but I usually refuse to believe it. I also have been extremely blessed to have friends who push me to do my best and help keep me accountable. "
Major: Finance
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Fall 2016, Fall 2017, Fall and Spring 2018-2020).
Quote: "You miss 100 percent of the shots you don't take." – Wayne Gretzky
Faculty Member: Professor Orkunt Dalgic
Major: Accounting
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Fall 2016-Fall 2019), Inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma Fall 2018.
Quote: "Make sure your worst enemy doesn't live between your own two ears." - Laird Hamilton
Faculty Member: Li Gao
"My Accounting Professor Li Gao really made an impact on my academic career here. Professor Gao was new to SUNY New Paltz this year and she really showed me how being uncomfortable can challenge you for the better. I took this with me on and off the court and started to put myself in situations that would be less academically/athletically comfortable for me so that I could challenge myself. This ended up bettering me for situations in which I would not have prepared for otherwise."
Academic Moment: "My junior year was a busy academic year that included many hard classes and lots of extra study time. I struggled for many days and honestly believed I was not going to get any of the grades that I wanted. Although this period of my academic career here was extremely hard, it was such an impactful experience because it showed me how much I can accomplish even when it feels like i'm sinking. It brightened my outlook on obstacles and reminded me to believe in myself even when something seems almost impossible. In the end, I came out with a much better GPA than I was hoping along with a better mindset."
Secret to Success: "Success can be measured in many ways. For me, my athletic success depended on my academic success and it always has. I have never put volleyball before my success in academics and as a result I believe that it bettered my athletic success. The worse I did in school the more I stressed during my sport which led to me underperforming. The key to my success was to have a double major in academics and athletics. I made sure I did everything I needed to do in my classes so that I was able to fully put my heart into the game. By doing so I was able to enjoy every moment of my experience."
Major: Finance
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Fall 2016 - Fall 2019), Donaldo Bishko Award (Spring 2018).
Quote: "Believe that in every challenge you will win, never doubt, never change as success is a journey..." - Bryan Goodwine
Faculty Member: Russell Zwanka
Academic Moment: "One of the very first business classes that I took was Financial Accounting. I had a younger professor who opened my eyes to a different way of learning. When we would go into his class it wasn't just him reading off the PowerPoint slides and teaching, he would be much more interactive with the class. He would frequently call on people to have them practice selling things to him. He always said that you have to be ready to sell yourself or a product at any time. He made me realize that when it comes to school, you not only have to learn the material but you have to apply it to your everyday life."
Secret to Success: "My secret to success is excellent time management and being able to find how I learn/study best. Those two things were key for me to be able to play soccer in the fall and still do well in my classes."
Major: Finance
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Fall 2016, 2017, 2019. Spring 2017, 2018, 2019), Commissioner's List (Fall 2019).
Quote: "Work hard. Dream big." - Sheryl Swoopes
Faculty Member: Donald Furman
Academic Moment: "Winning the highest team GPA award with [New Paltz Men's Soccer] was an academic moment that I feel has had a lasting impact on me. After winning the award it was great to see how much it meant to our team and coaches. The excitement it brought to our team has helped me to try and push myself in the classroom every semester to try and maintain a great GPA to help our team win the award consistently."
Secret to Success: "Getting ahead. I try to get started on my work as early as possible to give myself time to revise and understand material better by staying on top of things so I don't get overwhelmed by work."
Major: Biology/Organismal/Environment
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (three semesters).
Quote: "Sometimes before races one of my teammates would say, 'You're not going to die' — The idea that [you] might as well push yourself as hard as you can because you'll be totally fine once it is over in the next 20 minutes, this idea that really everything will always more or less be fine at some point applies to any time I have been stressed about school/work, any number of situations"
Faculty Member: Dave Richardson
Academic Moment: "I would say the day I finished organic chem was a significant moment in my academic career. I had never worked so hard in a class before and it felt so rewarding the day I was done and with a good grade to show for it."
Secret to Success: "Strong work ethic."
Major: Business Analytics
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019), Commissioner's List (2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019), Honors Program Graduate 2019.
Quote: "Being underestimated is one of the biggest competitive advantages you can have." - anonymous
Faculty Member: Professor Karl Heiner
Academic Moment: "An academic moment that had a lasting impact on my New Paltz experience would be the creation of the Business Analytic program. I was struggling with what I should major in, and I have already taken a majority of the Business School's core curriculum. Then, right before the declaration of major deadline, I learned about this new major that highlighted statistics and analytical skills. I was very interested and decided to commit to that major, which helped my motivation to be a better student since I enjoyed what I was learning. Since this major was invented, it motivated me to apply for jobs I thought I would not have a chance of getting. This then eventually landed me a dream job at IBM as a data analyst working with artificial intelligence."
Secret to Success: "The more time and effort you put into a class, the more it becomes rewarding, not only through higher grades, but by creating more of a passion for the information you are learning. Also, if you discredit yourself early on you will never be able to achieve what you want. You are not too dumb or too unqualified for something unless you try. Put yourself out there because you will never know what will happen."
Major: Marketing
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (every semester), Commissioner's Honor Roll, Presidential Scholarship.
Quote: "You will never outperform your own belief system." - Spencer Wood
Faculty Member: Dr. Davina Vora
Academic Moment: "This past semester I gave a presentation for one of my upper level classes and my partner and I did a really great job. A lot of our classmates contacted us to help them create their presentations and it made me realize that hard work goes a long way."
Secret to Success: "Time management. During season I find it much easier to stay on track because my time management skills have to be top notch in order to stay on top of my schoolwork and practice schedule."
Major: Accounting
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019), Member of the Investors Club, SUNYAC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll, United Volleyball Conference All-Academic. National Champion.
Quote: "When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you'll be successful" - Eric Thomas
Faculty Member: John Sharp
Academic Moment: "I would not say there is one specific moment that has shaped me into the learner that I am today, but rather the ability for me to find something that I am passionate about. Finding something I was passionate about allowed [me] to dig deeper into the world of business and make connections and learn things I would have never otherwise."
Secret to Success: "My secrets to success, and this goes for academics and athletics, has always been to be the hardest working person in the room. You're not always going to be the best at something, and that's fine, but you can always control how hard you work, and if you work hard you will put yourself to be in a successful position in whatever that endeavor may be."
Jennifer O'Leary (Women's Lacrosse)
Major: Accounting
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Deans List (Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2020), SUNYAC Commissioner's Honor Roll (2016-2017, 2017-2018, 2018-2019.).
Quote: "The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential... these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence." -Confucius
Faculty Member: Akram Ibrahim
Academic Moment: "An academic moment during my time here that has had a lasting impact on me was making the Dean's List my first semester at New Paltz. After that I knew I could succeed at New Paltz. It shaped me as a learner because I had a lot more confidence and determination to continue to make the Dean's List every single semester during my time at New Paltz."
Secret to Success: "The secrets to my success are determination and time management. Grades have always been one of the top priorities for me, so it was not too hard to find the motivation to be a great student. Being a student-athlete limited my free time a lot, but I was really good at having a set schedule for each week depending on games/practices to make sure I am getting all of my work and studying done on time. It was not always easy, but I always found a way to make time for academics."
Major: Biology Organismal/Environment
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Deans List (Fall 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019; Spring 2017, 2018), Chi Alpha Sigma Honor Society 2019.
Quote: "Don't give up the ship."
Faculty Member: Rachel Lilley
Major: Marketing & Communication Studies: Public Relations
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Member of Lambda Pi Eta communications Honor Society
Quote: "The man who has no imagination has no wings." - Muhammad Ali
Faculty Member: Surinder Tikoo
Academic Moment: "A moment that has made a lasting impact on my experience at New Paltz was having one of my journalism professors suggest that I pitch my final piece to an actual newspaper. I took the class as a major requirement and left with a newfound passion and confidence in my writing abilities."
Secret to Success: "My secret to success is having good communication skills. Not being afraid to reach out when I needed help or a second opinion on something has been key to how I've gotten the greatest learning experience."
Major: Digital Media Management
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019).
Quote: A quote that has inspired me as a student athlete is "Believe It." In general it means that I can be successful, whether that means getting the grade I want or earning a starting position on my team — if I work hard enough and truly believe I can do it — you just have to, "Believe It".
Faculty Member: Dr. Jenna Grzeslo (Digital Media and Journalism Department)
Academic Moment: "An academic moment that has had a lasting impact on my experience at SUNY New Paltz would be my time working in media research. As a researcher, it is important to be an organized individual with strong time management skills. Analyzing data and interpreting results taught me to seek out important information and details. This experience better educated me in my field and will benefit my work and performance moving forward in my career."
Secret to Succes: "I would say my secret to success is to work hard and be kind to others."
Major: Biology
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019), SUNYAC Commissioner's Honor Roll, SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence (2020).
Quote: "Mistakes are a fact of life: It's the response to the error that counts" - Nikki Giovanni
Faculty Member: Jennifer Waldo
Academic Moment: "My study abroad learning experience at Maastricht University in the Netherlands will probably be my most impactful learning experience while attending SUNY New Paltz. During my time at Maastricht University is where I learned as a student to adapt to an entirely new style of independent learning. It was here where I was challenged in a different way and learned how to problem solve without a professors heavy influence. This experience has made me a better student and has prepared me for the future when I come to tackling challenges on my own."
Secret to Success: "I don't know if I would consider it a secret, but I owe a lot of my success to the hard working and determination that was instilled within me by parents. I was always taught that nothing good will come easy and that to obtain success I will have to be willing to work harder then the next person. These lessons stuck with me and I attribute my success as a student to life lessons learned from my parents."
Major: Communication Disorders
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2019, Spring 2019, Fall 2020), SUNYAC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll (2017, 2019), Easton National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-American Scholar Athlete Team (2016/2017 & 2018/2019).
Quote: "The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing." - Walt Disney
Faculty Member: Kathryn Burke
Academic Moment: "Having my senior year cut short and switching to remote learning teaches adaptability and will forever have a lasting impact on my experience."
Secret to Success: "Staying focused and keeping academics the number one priority."
Major: English & Spanish
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019), SUNYAC Commissioner's Honor Roll 2017-2019, The National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA) Division III Academic Squad (2019), Sigma Tau Delta English Honors Society.
Quote: "I never viewed myself as particularly talented. Where I excel is ridiculous, sickening, work ethic. You know, while the other guy's sleeping, I'm working." - Will Smith
Faculty Member: Jed Mayer (English Department)
"Jed Mayer, one of my English professors and also my English advisor, has made a lasting impact on my academic career at New Paltz."
Maddie 
Van Pelt (Women's Volleyball & Women's Basketball)
Major: Communication Disorders
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019), SUNYAC Commissioner's Honor Roll 2017-2018, 2018-2019.
Quote: "It is what it is. But, it will be what you make it." - Pat Summitt
Faculty Member: Andrea Abramovich
Major: Early Childhood & Childhood Education B-6: Spanish
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (every semester - Fall 2016, Spring 2017, Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019).
Quote: "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success." - Albert Schweitzer
Faculty Member: Dr. Jennifer Davis-Duerr (Educational Studies Department)
Academic Moment: "An academic moment during my time here that has had a lasting impact on my experience at New Paltz was completing my first 15 page paper. This may not seem like a lot to some, and may seem astronomical to others. To me, at that point in my college career, it was a very big accomplishment. That paper was a hurdle that I had to jump over, and one that I was unsure I would be successful in completing. Once I completed it, and received an A on it, I was very proud of myself and felt more accomplished than I ever had up to this point in my college career. This experience shaped me because as I complete my capstone assignment for my degree in Early Childhood Education, I have confidence in my ability to tackle intimidating assignments such as this one due to my success in completing that paper. I am confident in my abilities as a student, and I'm sure that this experience, as miniscule as it may seem to some, was a turning point in my college career. I will hold onto it throughout my career, and the rest of my life."
Secret to Success: "My secret to success is trial and error. Every person works in completely different ways, and it takes a lot of mistakes being made, problems being fixed, and riding out the tough times to figure out how you, as a student, work best. I found that through perseverance and ambition, I will always achieve my goals. I learned this through trying out different studying methods, different time management methods, and different schedules. Through trial and error, every person can be successful and achieve their academic goals."
Major: Communication Studies: Public Relations
Year: Senior
Academic Moment: "I think my freshman year class, US History to 1865 with Professor Palenscar was a class that I truly enjoyed. Even if it wasn't easy, the class had a lasting impact on my New Paltz experience. Wanting to learn and being interested and invested in class discussions, and having a professor who explained not only his material well, but gave you an idea of what college would be like was great. As a learner, I appreciated becoming more knowledgeable even about things I thought I knew, and that curiosity is key."
Secret to Success: "I wouldn't say I have secrets to success, just being steady with my work and never falling behind, being participative in class and always looking to learn from professors and other students and having an open mindset have been important to me."
First-Year Inductees
Major: Psychology
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Mildred and Louis Resnick Scholarship Fund recipient, Dean's List (Fall 2019).
Quote: "In practice, do things as perfectly as you can; in competition, do what you have to do." - William Steinkraus
Faculty Member: Professor Glenn Geher
"He was so welcoming and enthusiastic about the equestrian program becoming a varsity sport here at SUNY New Paltz. His interest and support throughout our first season of competition meant the world to me."
Academic Moment: "Since transferring to New Paltz, I have been amazed at how many professors promote a discussion-oriented environment in their classrooms. At first I was a bit taken back by how freely students voice their diverse opinions and how they are received and elaborated upon further by others, but I quickly learned the rhythms of these conversations and became an active participant in them as well. These open platforms for discussion have taught me so much about how to find my own voice while keeping an open mind when engaging with and learning from my fellow classmates."
Secret to Success: "Every time I sit down for a class I entirely devote my attention to the material — no phone, no distractions. I believe that the most effective way of absorbing the material takes place inside the classroom. Any amount of "catch-up" studying on my own will never compare to the ability to engage with a professor and ask questions as they arise."
Major: Communication Disorders
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (every semester).
Quote: "If you can't out-play them, out-work them." - Ben Hogan
Faculty Member: Dr. Lynne Telesca.
Academic Moment: "I believe getting a 4.0 impacted my experience at New Paltz, being that I never imagined myself ever receiving a 4.0 in college, so it helped me develop more confidence within myself. I worked so hard to receive all A's that semester, and it was awesome to see that pay off. This proved to myself that I can achieve anything I set my mind to if I really put in the time and effort for it. This mindset goes hand in hand with lacrosse too. If you work your absolute hardest, it will pay off and your goals will be reached."
Secret to Success: "I think the secrets to my success include giving my 100 percent in everything I do, whether it's with my academics or lacrosse, and always staying humble. I like to work my hardest when no one is watching, letting my success speak for itself."
Major: Graphic Design
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (every semester since Fall 2017)
Quote: "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." - Kevin Durant
Faculty Member: Anne Galperin (Art Department)
"My graphic design professor Anne Galperin has had a large impact on both my academic career, but also my personal life. She was my professor when I studied abroad in Cuba last winter and is a professor for one of my classes now, and has been a great asset for me over the years."
Academic Moment: "My time studying abroad in Cuba during winter 2019 intersession had a major impact on me. I faced problems that I have never experienced in the United States. The hardest being the language barrier. It was extremely frustrating to try and communicate with people who spoke Spanish, but I'm so glad that I experienced it because it was a real-life problem that I had to figure out how to overcome. I met so many new people, from both Cuba and New Paltz, and each one of them has changed my life, both large and small. I have come to appreciate everything that we have in the US, and I want to find a way to continue helping people who have less than we do."
Secret to Success: "My personal secret to success is to work hard for the things you want and don't let negative influences drive you away from your goals. Putting in time and effort proves to me that you care about achieving your goals; simply just saying that you care about something personally does not speak as loud."
Kaitlyn
Connolly (Women's Soccer)
Major: Graphic Design
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Fall 2017, 2018 and Spring 2018, 2019).
Quote: "It's not about how hard you can hit; It's how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward." - Sylvester Stallone
Faculty Member: Arthur Horner
Academic Moment: "Coming into my freshman year at SUNY New Paltz, I applied to be in the BFA for Graphic Design. I chose this major not knowing anything about graphic design, or how to use any of the programs. It is rare to admit a freshman straight into the BFA [program], but I was lucky enough to be inducted as an incoming freshman. My first graphic design class I was so nervous I'd be the only one brand new to the programs. Over time, it came second nature and I was helping other students in the class with their assignments after class. This professor thanked me for helping out those confused with her lectures and rewarded me with the grade she believed I deserved, an A. This was the first A I received as a college student. I couldn't have been happier to take that chance and pick a major where I was coming in blind. My amazing classmates and professors in the graphic design community are so reliable and impactful on my experience here at New Paltz, and they make it feel like a community."
Secret to Success: "I believe the secrets to my success come from multiple different aspects. From freshman year until now, I have learned to take things day by day, and always think positively. Get to know your classmates and professors on a personal level, and speak up in class to make sure you're on the right track. As a student-athlete with some classes that are six hours long, time management is essential too. If you plan out what is due and do not procrastinate, it will cause less piling up in the future. My number one secret I use every day is to not stress the little things. I am a human being like everyone else. I may forget an assignment or complete a project that was done incorrectly, but stressing about your mistakes in the past won't benefit you in the future. Learn from your past and move forward with a positive mindset, and everything will work out."
Major: Early Childhood & Childhood Education B-6: Spanish
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Deans List (Spring 2018 & 2019, Fall 2019), SUNYAC Field Hockey Scholar Athlete of the Year (2019).
Quote: "Sacrifice what you are for what you will become." - Eric Thomas
Faculty Member: Maura Musso (Education Department)
Academic Moment: "An academic moment during my time at SUNY New Paltz that has had a lasting impact on my experience at New Paltz was when I was enrolled in my first course of fieldwork hours for education. This was the first time I would be consistently stepping into a classroom with children to get a hands on experience of educating and helping students. I had the privilege of teaching students math lessons, reading lessons, and even writing lessons; all one-on-one. I was able to create personal relationships with the students, and even have many positive impacts on their education as well. I would go in there once a week and truly looked forward to it every time I was able to go there. It was incredible to finally be doing something I had been aspiring for so long. I loved the class so much along with my co-teacher, that I went back recently after our winter break to go and visit them."
Secret to Success: "My secrets to success aren't really something I would consider a secret. I am someone who is extremely organized and loves to work hard. I buy a planner at the beginning of the school year and write everything down in it. Whether it be class times, assignment due dates, practice schedules, game schedule, important dates, and so on, are all in the planner. This allows me to pace and prepare myself for the week ahead. As for working hard, I am someone who loves to be better than I was the day before. I often set goals and standards for myself in all aspects of my life. I write them down as well in the planner. This allows me to visually see what it is that I want to and will accomplish and further pushes me in order to be the best version of myself. I would also like to mention that all of success is devoted to those who I am surrounded by, my team and other student-athletes. They truly are a support system like no other and I couldn't imagine my collegiate experience without all of them."
Camryn 
Dluginski (Equestrian)
Major: Visual Arts Education
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Honor Roll (every semester), Gamma Sigma Alpha Honor Society.
Quote: "Trust the Process"
Faculty Member: Paul Sunday
"One professor that has impacted me the most at SUNY New Paltz was Paul Sunday. He believed in me as a photographer and pushed me to do better throughout each project. With his guidance, I grew as an artist and regained my confidence in myself."
Major: General Business
Year: Senior
Major: Finance & Business Analytics
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Member of Beta Gamma Sigma, SUNYAC Men's Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year (Fall 2019).
Quote: "Make your bed." - William H. McRaven
Faculty Member: Yi Zheng
Academic Moment: "My favorite academic memory thus far would have to be my semester project in Entrepreneurship and Business Planning. Three classmates and I were given the task of creating a business from scratch. We had to work together and figure out each aspect of the business and then create a 10-minute pitch that we could use on potential investors. It was a lot of work, but it was a great experience. It was cool to see coursework from different classes put together for this project."
Secret to Success: "I would say getting all the help you can get. Go to office hours as often as you can, utilize tutors, and just work hard. Ask classmates for help, stay in touch with professors, and be smart with your time management leading up to tests and quizzes."
Major: Psychology
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (every semester), SUNYAC Commissioner's List (Spring 2018 & 2019), member of Psi Chi (Psychology Honor Society).
Quote: "There may be people that have more talent than you, but there's no excuse for anyone to work harder than you do." - Derek Jeter
Faculty Member: Glenn Geher (Psychology Department)
"I have taken two classes with Glenn and have had such wonderful experiences with him as my professor. He cares about all of his students, getting to know them and treating them as intelligent adults in his classroom. His classes were some of the most interesting I have taken thus far and that is because of his enthusiasm and passion for the material he teaches. He also never failed to ask me how the softball season was going, when our next games were, etc. and that made me feel like not only did he care about my success in his class, but he cared about me as a student-athlete. I have nothing but great things to say about him."
Academic Moment: "One academic moment that shaped me as a learner while I have been a student-athlete at New Paltz was during the spring 2019 semester. I worked extremely hard in all of my classes while also putting all of my effort into my softball season. That entire semester I felt as though I gave 100 percent of myself to my academics despite being exhausted from practices, double-headers, traveling for away games and everything else my softball season entailed. I would spend exorbitant amounts of time completing homework, re-writing notes to study, making flash cards and reading class materials to be prepared for all my exams and assessments. I received an A in every class that semester and I was very proud of myself for managing my time and giving as much, if not more, attention to my academics as I did to my responsibilities as an athlete. It is that feeling that continues to motivate me to work hard in the classroom no matter how much stress I may feel from all of the obligations I have as a student-athlete."
Secret to Success: "I think the secret to my success is that there really is no secret. As much as I could list a bunch of things that work for me, they may not work for everyone else. One thing I can say is one of my biggest saving graces has always been my calendar and my to-do lists. Time management is a huge part of balancing everything and it was very helpful for me to write out due dates, assignments, etc. and create to-do lists in chronological order of what needed to be completed first, second, third and so on, so that I felt less overwhelmed. For me, being successful in school has always been a result of me enjoying my classes, being enthusiastic and wanting to do well so that I make my parents and myself proud of my efforts."
Major: Early Childhood & Childhood Education B-6: Spanish
Year: Junior
Quote: "Be strong when you are weak. Be brave when you are scared. Be humble when you are victorious." - Michelle Moschetti
Faculty Member: Maura Musso
Academi Moment: "An academic moment during my time here at New Paltz that has had a lasting impact on my experience would have to be the first time I walked into my fieldwork 1 classroom this semester. It has shaped me as a learner because it has made me think of what my teaching style might be and how to create different ways to teach different students."
Secret to Success: "I have always reminded myself of my goal and in order to accomplish any goal, it is important to stay motivated and put in extra hours to reach that success."
Major: Communication Disorders
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades:
Quote: "You can put a limit on anything. the more you dream, the farther you get." - Michael Phelps
Faculty Member: Professor Rebecca Swenson
"She is so kind, gentle and sweet, [and] always willing to help a student with any type of task or question. I enjoyed taking Deaf Culture and Heritage and Sign Language 3 with her."
Academic Moment: "A few summers ago I worked as a teacher's assistant at a school for the deaf in Brooklyn. As I was interacting with the students and were given tasks by the teachers, I realized I was able to directly apply the course curriculum from a class I just completed. Remembering the information I was given from that class allowed me to help with cochlear implants and communication among the student population. All of these moments have helped me become a better learner because I was able to apply the information I learned in an appropriate setting. I then realized how important my major curriculum is going to be as I enter the workforce."
Secret to Success: "My secrets to success are to have goals for each semester. I try my hardest to reach those goals in order to succeed to my fullest potential."
Major: Early Childhood & Childhood Education B-6: Art History
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (several times).
Quote: "'Get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable,'" — This was said by my high school cross country coach and honestly, probably every coach out there. The quote's sentiment may seem like an obvious fact of running now, but the first time I heard it, these words changed my life. I think they speak to the idea that everything is relative, and that you can achieve so much more than you may have thought possible.
"'Enjoy your time, it's not unlimited'" — The second quote was also said by a former coach and at the time was mentioned in reference to running, but now that it's been in my mind for awhile it really applies to everyday. These words cross into an existential realm for me, but does not make me anxious, but makes me feel grateful for every part of my life. These are the two quotes that I carry everyday."
Faculty Member: Professor Heuer
"I feel that my art history instructor, Professor Heuer, has stuck with me throughout my college experience. I took her Art of the Western World II course and was silently overwhelmed every day by the copious amounts of detail she explained her lectures in. Every day she comes into the room in a rush, however, never unprepared. She is a dedicated woman who has a lot of duties in the department and teaches her classes and runs study abroad trips every summer. With her I was amazed at how genuine and thorough her efforts were in each student's success. We had to write a large research comparative essay and I received immaculate support and suggestions along the way. Her passion for her field of study in the classroom is inspiring and translated effortlessly into the real world during the study abroad experience I had with her. Professor Heuer reminds me to keep a sense of wonder and love of knowledge."
Academic Moment: "Freshman year I took an honor's seminar class that was terrifying! I really felt so nervous everyday because of how small the class was and how deep the discussions got. One of our assignments was to read The Odyssey and run a discussion on our assigned chapter and present three "fruitful" questions for the class to discuss. I felt like my writing was horrible and that everyone was constantly up all night for this course. I remember writing the essays and coming into office hours for help and the instructor told me something I always try to remember; Never write in the passive voice and to stop using "whom" incorrectly! I was scared to death in this class but I really learned a lot about writing and myself. Come the written final for the course I nailed it and felt so proud that I had done so well despite my initial anxiousness! Now when I take a hard class I always think of how far I've come and how much I have achieved academically."
Secret to Success: "Honestly I think there are a couple that I have found really work for me. First secret, START EARLY. I know now that I need to start something the first day it's assigned. I like to "peck away" as I say, at everything. I do a little here and there so I can process the information and not feel super overwhelmed when completing a large or important assignment. Secret two, try your best. Seriously, it will show. I know it's hard to devote the time to everything that you want and sometimes you end up prioritizing what is most important that night for homework, but if you give that bit everything you have it will matter. Third and most important secret… love what you do. This is impossible to do every second of the day, but when choosing a field of study, sport or responsibilities, it is super important to be continuous in choosing something that you like to do. I know this is not always easy, but I've always tried to build my life this way, consciously and not. Of course there's always times when you must endure an unpleasant activity in the present, like 400 repeats, to achieve a higher and greater sense of happiness, like being on a team and accomplishing your goals. These are my three tips to success."
Major: Visual Arts
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Fall 2017, Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019), Participant in 2018 Foundation Exhibition, National Field Hockey Coaches Assocation (NFHCA) Zag Field hockey/NFHCA Division III Academic Squad (2018), SUNYAC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll.
Quote: "Throughout my experience here at SUNY New Paltz I have always kept in mind,
'When one door closes another one always opens.' I am a firm believer in this quote because I have experienced it first hand when faced with adversity. This mentality has helped me get up every day and kept me going through the good and bad."
Faculty Member: Gabe Brown (Art Department)
"One faculty member that has challenged me in a positive way was Gabe Brown, my painting professor for two semesters. She made me realize that when you have a passion, you must work hard for it every day. Gabe understood my mentality as an athlete and instilled painting like it was my practice, like every day we are improving. No matter what field of choice you must seek to improve, challenge yourself, and take risks. "
Academic Moment: "One of my first art critiques as a freshman in my foundations courses, I remember being nervous. When critique started my fellow peers reminded me that we are looking to improve ourselves and one another. With helpful corrections and suggestions, we learn from each other. This impacted my learning experience by turning to others, to learn from them, ask help from them, and for them to do the same to you. The Art Department has helped me recognize that we do not only learn from books and experiences, but we learn from the people around us."
Secret to Success: "Getting up and doing something every day, whether it's prepping a canvas or starting the outline to a research paper — little by little if you work hard every day [and] you will see results."
Major: Communication Disorders
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019), Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll (2018-19).
Quote: "Perseverance is the hard work you do after you get tired of doing the hard work you already did." – Newt Gingrich
Faculty Member: Professor McLaughlin
"She has given me an experience I've never gotten before in a classroom. We speak solely through sign language, immersing me in another culture I was unfamiliar with prior to this course. Because she is deaf, it encourages me even more to understand deaf culture and want to learn more about it. It is such a beautiful language, and I am lucky to hopefully use it as a Speech-Language Pathologist one day."
Academic Moment: "An academic moment that was memorable to me was when I switched my major to Communication Disorders my junior year. Making this switch was stressful, because I knew I had limited time left at New Paltz to restart my major. This has been the best thing that has happened to me. It would have been easy to stay an Early Childhood Education major, and have the comfort of knowing I would graduate on time. But, deep down I always knew being a teacher was not for me. When I discovered more about what a Speech Pathologist does, it intrigued me. I knew that switching my major was going to be difficult at that stage in my academic career, but I love this new journey and do not regret anything."
Secret to Success: "My secrets to success are staying organized. Staying organized makes playing a sport and staying on top of my schoolwork doable. Also, having an understanding mindset that things will not always go my way, and it is my job to stay positive and continue to work hard. Hard work and perseverance are what make success happen."
Major: Communication Studies: Public Relations
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (every semester), Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll (every semester), Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society (Spring 2019).
Quote: "Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon." - Paul Brandt
Faculty Member: Professor Terry Gipson
"I took Intro to Public Relations and Public Relations and Social Media with Professor Gipson. He has not only engaged my interest in Public Relations, but all of his lectures were all incredibly captivating and stuck with me over the course of following semesters. He also instilled a sense of confidence in an academic setting. I felt like I was learning a lot, but I wanted to work hard to show success.."
Academic Moment: "I would take this moment back to my very first semester here as a freshman. I had to take a math class as a necessary prerequisite course. Math was never my strong suit, and I was nervous about getting any bad grades, especially because it was my first semester as a college student. I knew that I would need to put in a lot of extra work in order to get the grade I wanted, so I found a bunch of resources that could help me. Weekly I would go to the Math Lab, where I would be tutored by graduate students. I'd also dedicate a lot of time in the library to really study the materials and work with my other classmates. I needed to be really disciplined in these studies for me to be proud of my final grade. While my grades started rolling in in this math class, I started to feel really proud of myself and confident that I could be a great collegiate student. I eventually believed I could have grades that could impress myself, and I would never have thought that my GPA would be a 3.9. This work ethic has been thanks to the qualities that one must have to be a successful student-athlete."
Secret to Success: "Coach Michael Eckberg has drilled this saying into my mind since the beginning, 'get comfortable being uncomfortable.' Since implementing this into my life both on and off the field, I have found myself living some of the best moments and experiences of my life. For example, if I were to ask myself back in high school if I could see myself flying alone to Orlando and representing an athletic conference for a week, I would never have imagined that. Because of forcing myself to get out of my comfort zone, I now have friends and a network all over the country. From a soccer standpoint, this philosophy has made me a better player, pushed me to new limits as a leader, and made me collectively a happier person because of the experiences I got to endure."
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List and SUNYAC Commissioner's Honor Roll (every semester/season), Research with Professor Dr. Ping-Chaun Wang on the Processing and Charachterization of Additive Manufactured Copper (Summer 2019).
Quote: "I focus on only the things I have total control over: My effort and my attitude." - Darrin Donnelly
Faculty Member: Dr. Ping-Chaun Wang
Academic Moment: "Doing research this past summer, as well as this semester, has helped develop a growth in my independent learning ability and my ability to think outside of the box. It's a whole different kind of learning that's not emphasized in normal classes and I believe it's helped shape a more well-rounded mindset for myself in the engineering field."
Secret to Success: "My secrets to my success have been simple, but not always easy. I've always believed that work ethic will shine over IQ/talent in any field or scenario, so I've always had the determination to put my maximum effort into anything I do. I've always felt that if I'm fully prepared for any situation, I will never have to rise to the occasion and will rather always fall to some level of my preparation. The amount of effort needed to accomplish my expectations has always taken many sacrifices, but so far every second has been worth it. Also, I believe effective communication with my professors has helped me become successful as a student-athlete. Always communicating quickly and thoroughly with them has allowed no confusion with makeup exams, late submissions, and help with material I missed or that I've had trouble with. The mutual relationships I have created with some really great professors has allowed me to learn various material outside the scope of the classroom and has helped myself develop a greater understanding of the topics learned to become an effective engineer."
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Dean's list every semester, SUNYAC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll, Research with Professor Nelson analyzing the material properties of different natural fibers (Spring 2020).
Quote: "When the pressure is on, you don't rise to the occasion—you fall to your highest level of preparation." - Chris Voss
Faculty Member: Jared Nelson
Academic Moment: "A specific academic moment that has had a lasting impact on my experience at New Paltz has been my semester research. This semester, I have been given the opportunity to analyze a variety of natural fibers and view how different factors affect their material properties. This research could be beneficial in providing more information regarding natural fibers and how they compare to synthetic fibers. Hopefully, if enough research is conducted, different industries will make the switch to using more natural fibers in their products, which could eventually create for a more green and sustainable future."
Secret to Success: "My secret for my academic success has been my curiosity and drive to learn new things. Instead of being preoccupied about grades, I see the importance of setting a process goal of learning, understanding, and mastering the fundamental concepts in all my classes. This process goal has given me a mindset which I follow every day, allowing me to achieve my goals and aspirations. Through organization, work ethic, positive mindset, self-belief, and most importantly, "a day-by-day" mentality, I am able to successfully tackle any academic challenge presented in front of me, regardless of the difficulty."
Major: Marketing & Management
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Spring 2019 - Fall 2019).
Quote: "Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
Faculty Member: Christopher Napolitano
"A Professor that has impacted my academic career here is Professor Christopher Napolitano, because his in-class lectures are always interesting and motivates me to be better in the classroom and in day-to-day life."
Emma Messenger (Women's Tennis)
Major: Finance
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Spring 2018, Fall 2018, Spring 2019, Fall 2019), SUNYAC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll (2017-2018, 2018-2019), Inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma (Spring 2019), SUNYAC Elite 20 Award (Fall 2019).
Quote: "There is no way around hard work. Embrace it." - Roger Federer
Faculty Member: Michael Jandrew
Academic Moment: "It is difficult to pinpoint just one specific moment because many experiences have positively impacted my time here at New Paltz. A combination of inspirational faculty members paired with the various organizations and extracurricular's that I take part in have helped to shape me into the student that I am today. The drive and motivation fostered during my time at New Paltz will carry on for the rest of my life."
Secret to Success: "I believe that a good sense of time management paired with a drive to achieve goals has definitely helped me become successful within each and every one of my academic endeavors."
Major: Mathematics
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Dean's list since freshman year majoring in Mathematics and minoring in Economics, as well as Business administration.
Quote: "Never give up and trust the process along the way."
Faculty Member: Hyunchul Park (Math Department)
Academic Moment: "An academic moment that has had a lasting impact in my career at New Paltz is when I decided to change my major. I originally wanted to be a teacher, but then decided to change my major to Mathematics and I couldn't be happier with my decision. I have found so many career options that I am excited to explore."
Secret to Success: "My secrets to success have been time management and keeping myself very organized as much as I can with so much on my plate."
Major: Accounting
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Beta Gamma Sigma the Business Honor Society, VITA program.
Quote: "Yesterday you said tomorrow" - Nike
Faculty Member: Skeeter Richardson
Academic Moment: "The VITA program at New Paltz, provided me with confidence and excitement to go into the workforce after college. The real life experience it provided was a motivator for me and helped me be more confident in myself. The VITA program was cut short but in the weeks that it took place I learned a lot about taxes and the workplace."
Secret to Success: "I think what helped me most to be successful was keeping a detailed planner of all the things I had to do throughout the week. Every night I would write down all the things I wanted to accomplish the next day and at what time. This really helped me stay on a schedule and be able to find time for everything I wanted to do. The schedule also helped me feel less rushed when it came to the big test days since I knew what to expect. Overall I think just keeping a log of everything that needs to be done has really helped me manage my time."
Skylar Rubin (Men's Cross Country)
Major: Electrical Engineering
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: IEEE-Eta Kappa Nu Honor Society for Engineers.
Quote: "You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." - A.A. Milne
Faculty Member: Michael Otis and Gerald Selvaggi.
"My professors who have had the most lasting impact on me are Michael Otis and Gerald Selvaggi. Both have made equally tremendous contributions to my education here at New Paltz. The two are the most stand-out, hard-working and down-to-earth professors I've had. The amount of time they put in to helping their students is unbelievable. I particularly enjoy how much feedback they provide about working in the industry. With decades of experience between them, I find what I have gained from them is invaluable and can seriously take me far after graduating. Not only have I been successful in their classes, but they open the doors to other areas and ideas that I feel make the close, personal connections between students and faculty here at NP so incomparable."
Academic Moment: "An academic moment that stands out to me is working on a traffic light controller project for Mike Otis' class. I began my education not exactly sure what field I wanted to work in, but once I worked on this project I knew. I knew I wanted to work in programming that helps the lives of people day-to-day. Whether it be physical, like traffic lights (or anything changing/moving) or online systems, I want to have a part in the close interaction between people and tech. I believe this experience connected me to that. I think it forced me to expand on something of old ideas to make something of my own, which I didn't think was visible. And it's pretty cool to be able to see it."
Secret to Success: "My secrets to success are to have goals for each semester. I try my hardest to reach those goals in order to succeed to my fullest potential."
Diana Testa (Women's Cross Country)
Major: English: Creative Writing & Journalism
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (every semester).
Quote: "Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving." - Allbert Einstein
Faculty Member: Dennis Doherty
Academic Moment: "An impactful academic moment on my New Paltz learning experience was my first fiction short-story workshop. I had such a great time writing and editing my piece that I found myself really excited about it. The idea of everyone sitting in a circle to talk about my work made me very anxious, but it turned out to be a helpful and enjoyable experience — thanks to my professor and classmates. The experience gave me a little more confidence in myself as a writer and a desire to continue learning how to improve."
Secret to Success: "I've been a "successful" student-athlete by striving to maintain balance in my life. I make taking care of myself mentally just as important as my physical health."
Major: Biology: Cellular/Molecular
Year: Senior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (every semester).
Quote: "Never take your eye off the end goal."
Faculty Member: Dr. Jason Valens
Academic Moment: "Last spring I had to study for the MCAT, the entrance exam for medical school while being a student on the side. It was extremely difficult to balance both and I found myself making a lot of sacrifice to maintain my academics. However, it helped me the most with learning time management and responsibility. I learned how to balance a large course load that I know will help me in future years of medical school."
Key to Success: "I don't think there's any real secret to success. For me it was knowing when to sacrifice leisurely activities for the sake of getting where I want to be in the academic standpoint of my life and making sure that I was always on top of what I needed to do."
Haley Timarky (Women's Volleyball & Women's Lacrosse)
Major: Mathematics
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (every semester Fall 2017-Fall-2019), SUNYAC Commissioner's Academic Honor roll (2017-2019 ).
Quote: "Knowledge will give you power, but character respect." - Bruce Lee
Faculty Member: William Felder (Math Department)
"Very intelligent person who knew how to effectively teach his students, while capturing their complete attention. He also showed that he too made mistakes during class or on the board, and pointed them out and explained the problem while fixing it."
Academic Moment: "During my freshman year, I was unsure of what major I wanted to declare, just like many others. I had mathematics in mind, but I was still second guessing myself. I was taking a few math courses and I heard there was an Integration Bee. For many that do not know, an integral is an operation in math. So like a spelling bee, this was a competition for solving integrals. At first I only went because it was extra credit for one of my courses, but once I got there, I decided to compete. In the room filled with brains working, I saw people at the board solving problems, thinking, and experimenting. While other students watched, they encouraged those at the board and even worked on the problems at their seat for more practice. It was such a great environment where all types of intelligence were working together, all while competing at the same time. Being able to go up to the board and solve these integrals made me certain that I loved thinking about math. I went further in the competition than I thought I was going to and I was proud of myself for leaving this event more confident and now sure of what I wanted to do."
Secret to Success: "The one secret of my success would be my study habits. Throughout my years as a college student, I learned how, when, with who, and what to study. It is not the same for everyone and I found what works for me. I learn a lot of my math skills just from sitting and doing examples. I am not much of a textbook reader or even a note taker. In class, I tend to watch how the problem is done, learn what it means, what it shows and why, and then I do as many examples as I can. Before math tests, I make a bunch of study guides, separating different types of questions and methods I can use. Ultimately, my great success has come from studying and being confident in completing any question thrown at me."
Megan Tornatore (Women's Soccer & Women's Lacrosse)
Major: Graphic Design
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Member of the New Paltz Honors Program, Dean's List (Fall 2017- current), Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll (Fall 2017- current).
Quote: "Trade your expectations for appreciation and your whole world changes in an instant." - Tony Robbins
Faculty Member: Sue Books
Major: Management & Business Analytics
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (Fall 2017, Fall 2018 - Spring 2019).
Quote: "To do something impossible you have to believe you are the exception. The first mistake is assuming something can't be done, because then you become like everyone else."
Faculty Member: Professor Chris Napolitano
Academic Moment: "An academic moment during my time at New Paltz that has had a lasting impact on my New Paltz experience is actually a class I did not do well in. I received my first ever C- in Financial Accounting my freshman year. While the class is traditionally hard, I did not put in the proper effort to give myself a chance to do well. I was immature. I had to reevaluate the way I studied and how serious I focused in classes knowing they were only going to become harder. This shaped me into the student I am today. I changed my habits. I decided I needed to bring the same energy, focus, and effort I have on the basketball court to all of my classes. To this day, I still have the mindset and have found great success in it."
Secret to Success: "The secret to my success is being relentless when faced with challenging material in the classroom. From the first day to the last, I make sure every challenge is met with my full focus. No part of the semester is more important than the other."
Major: Mathematics
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: SUNYAC Women's Cross Country Elite 20 Award recipient (2018 & 2019), SUNYAC Women's Cross Country Scholar Athlete of the Year (2019).
Quote: "Slowly is the fastest way to get to where you want to be." - Andre De Shields
Faculty Member: Anca Radulescu
Academic Moment: "This past semester I got a B+ in a particularly challenging class. While to most people that wouldn't seem like a big deal, it was the first time in college that I didn't get an A and it "broke" my perfect 4.0 GPA. While initially I was a bit disappointed, I knew I put my all into that class and did the best that I could do given the other priorities I had to maintain in my life. This experience has taught me a lot about focussing more on what I actually learn in a class and the importance of the content I retain as opposed to being a perfectionist and only caring about the number I see on a piece of paper. It has also taught me to reflect and prioritize on the things I am passionate about."
Secret to Success: "Time management and self-discipline are the most important pieces in the puzzle of being a student-athlete. Large and seemingly overwhelming tasks can always be split into smaller pieces. Planning and making smaller "due dates" for yourself — and having the self discipline to meet those due dates when no external forces are holding you accountable for them — has been the key to my success."
Major: Communication Disorders
Year: Senior
Quote: "Everyday you wake up you have one job: to be better than yesterday" - Chris Glod
Faculty Member: Dr. Telesca
Academic Moment: "An academic moment that impacted my experience at New Paltz was being on the Deans List my first semester freshmen year. From then on, with my classes getting most difficult each year, I made it my goal to get on the Deans List each semester and I was able to do so. This goal kept me working hard each semester and kept me on track with my school work."
Secret to Success: "Time management has been my secret to success. I have gotten very good at managing my time and getting my work done in-between classes, swim practice and working at the pool as a lifeguard. This has helped me throughout my time at New Paltz, given me the ability to be able to complete all of my work to the best of my ability and has prepared me for graduate school next year where time management is the most important skill to have."
Major: Graphic Design
Year: Junior
Academic Accolades: Dean's List (every semester), SUNYAC Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll (every cross country season), studied abroad in Cuba during winter intersession 2019.
Quote: "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard."
Faculty Member: Keely Heuer
"Professor Heuer made art history fun and interesting."
Academic Moment: "I decided to take "Modern China" as a GE freshman year because it was the only class that would fit into my schedule. It turned out to be one of my all-time favorite classes. My first grade in the class was near failing. It was a wake up call that I needed to work harder and be more thorough with my readings. After that I worked extremely hard, did every assigned reading, and volunteered in class all the time. All of my hard work paid off at the end of the semester when I got an A, along with a passion for Chinese history and art. The work ethic I developed in this class has followed me throughout my college experience."
Secret to Success: "Loving what I do, hard work, and being goal-oriented."
