SUNY New Paltz

SUNY New Paltz sculpture student Savannah Blum '14, of Pleasant Valley, N.Y., has been awarded the International Sculpture Center's Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award for 2014.

The State University of New York at New Paltz recently conferred more than 100 graduate degrees during its 2014 Commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 16.

The State University of New York at New Paltz recently conferred over 1,000 undergraduate degrees during its 2014 Commencement ceremonies on Sunday, May 18.

The SUNY New Paltz School of Business recently held its Awards & Graduation Ceremony, where students were inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, Faculty & Staff Awards were presented, as were Student Academic and Service Awards.

The State University of New York at New Paltz has announced its Dean's List for the spring 2014 semester. Dean's List designation is reserved for students who excel academically and earn at least a 3.3 grade point average in a semester with a full-time course load.

The School of Business at SUNY New Paltz announced the winners of its business plan contest on Wednesday, May 7, in the Student Union Building on campus.

Kaitlin Camporese of Yorktown Heights, N.Y., an accounting major, has been named as the salutatorian for the class of 2014 at the State University of New York at New Paltz.

Arielle Rubinstein of Robbinsville, N.J., a double major in communication disorders and linguistics, has been named the class of 2014 valedictorian at the State University of New York at New Paltz.

The SUNY New Paltz chapter of the American Marketing Association (AMA) was awarded Silver Chapter status at the 36th International Collegiate Conference in New Orleans, La.

SUNY New Paltz recently selected 42 students to Who's Who Among Students, a nationally recognized award program for college students.

Five SUNY New Paltz students were honored by SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher with the 2014 Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence on Wednesday, April 2 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany, N.Y. "Students honored with the Chancellor's Award for Excellence, and those recognized by Phi Theta Kappa, truly embody the power of SUNY," said Chancellor Zimpher. "As proven leaders and role models, scholar athletes, creative artists, and civic volunteers, each student is recognized not just for academic achievement, but also for the profound impact they have on college campuses and local communities across New York State. Congratulations to all of the students being recognized today." The Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence was created in 1997 to recognize students who have best demonstrated, and have been recognized for, the integration of academic excellence with accomplishments in the areas of leadership, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, campus involvement, or career achievement. Each year, campus presidents establish a selection committee, which reviews exemplary students. Nominees are then forwarded to the Chancellor's Office and are subject to a second round of review. Finalists are then recommended to the Chancellor to become recipients of the award. Each recipient receives a framed certificate and medallion, which is traditionally worn at commencement. Congratulations to:

The School of Business at the State University of New York at New Paltz held its ethical debates competition in van den Berg Hall over a three-week period in March. Six teams of students participated in the competition and debated timely topics, including the Common Core, the Keystone XL Pipeline, and the Affordable Care Act, in front of a panel of judges. Teams had a total of 15 minutes to present their arguments and were judged on their effective use of evidence and knowledge of the topic, persuasiveness, opening and closing statements and rebuttals, language use, and performance. "The debates provide an opportunity for the participating students to develop their critical thinking and oral communication skills," said Chih-Yang Tsai, interim dean of the School of Business. "I commend the courage of the students who chose to take the challenge. I would also like to thank those Business Advisory Council members who served as judges for their valuable comments to the students." After each round of debates, the judges provided personal feedback and recommendations to the students on how to improve their public speaking and presentation skills for their future academic and personal careers. "Debate participation allows students to practice their analytical, critical thinking, and presentation skills while learning to see issues from different perspectives," said Tom Sipos, of Hudson Valley Focus and chair of the Business Advisory Council at SUNY New Paltz. "When experienced business leaders judge and critique the debate teams, they effectively prepare students for the environment they will operate in upon graduation." Ying Zhan '15, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Kristen Bucki '17, Commack, N.Y.; Kemorene Henry '15, Poughkeepsie, N.Y.; and Joelle Bracco '15, Staten Island, N.Y., successfully made their way through two rounds of debates and won the championship. Each student on the winning team received a $100 scholarship. The debate competition was judged by SUNY New Paltz faculty members Professor Rief Kanan and Interim Associate Dean Sally Schultz, and local business leaders Ed Lane, Lane Asset Management; Vince Pangia, Pangia & Company, CPA's LLC; Stephen Digilio, Morgan Stanley; Scott Hutchins, Jabil Circuit, Inc.; and Gene Moncrief, Moncrief Associates. Tom Sipos, of Hudson Valley Focus and chair of the Business Advisory Council at SUNY New Paltz, moderated the event. Local students who participated in this year's competition are:

The following local residents were named to the Dean's List at the State University of New York at New Paltz for the fall 2013 semester.

The following SUNY New Paltz students were recently recognized at the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival (Region I) in Hyannis, Ma.:

Seven students from the State University of New York at New Paltz were selected from thousands of applicants across the United States to receive the prestigious Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship to study abroad during the spring 2014 semester. Established by the International Academic Opportunity Act of 2000, and sponsored by the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, the Gilman Scholarship Program is intended to provide students with the opportunity to gain a better understanding of other cultures, countries, languages, and economiesaEUR"making them better prepared to assume leadership roles in an increasingly global economy and interdependent world. Scholars are selected from over 8,500 scholarship applications annually and receive up to $5,000 to apply toward their study abroad program costs. Congratulations to:

On Jan. 25, 2014, Absolut A Capella, SUNY New Paltz's premiere co-ed a capella group, took first prize in the 2014 International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) quarterfinals for the Northeast region. The competition took place at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y. Absolut A Capella faced off against nine other a capella groups from various schools around New York State and received accolades for Outstanding Arrangements and Outstanding Choreography. Absolut A Capella now moves on to compete in the Northeast semifinals in Boston on March 29. Absolut A Capella has been a part of SUNY New Paltz for more than a decade now, and New Paltz students are familiar with them from their performances at Freshman Convocation, Undergraduate Commencement, and Alumni Weekend among other events. "Absolut A Capella is very excited to move forward in the International Championship for Collegiate A Capella in Boston on March 29. Being able to share this win with SUNY New Paltz is really exciting for us," explains Absolut A Capella president Emily Holub. "We are thankful that we get to make first and lasting impressions on the students at this university by performing at Freshman Convocation, Undergraduate Commencement, Alumni Weekend, as well as other events. We hope to make New Paltz proud in the upcoming semi-finals!" Congratulations to:

The following local residents are among more than 400 students who recently received undergraduate degrees from the State University of New York at New Paltz:

The following local residents are among more than 100 students who recently received graduate degrees from the State University of New York at New Paltz:

The School of Business at the State University of New York at New Paltz inducted 32 members into the New Paltz chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma on Friday, Dec. 6 at Studley Theatre on the New Paltz campus. President Donald P. Christian was inducted as Chapter Honoree. Following the induction ceremony, graduating students were honored with awards for academic excellence and outstanding service. In order to be nominated for membership in the Honor Society, students of junior or senior standing must be in the top 10% of their class and have a weighted GPA of at least 3.64, and master's students must be in the top 20% of their class and have a GPA of at least 3.8. Membership in Beta Gamma Sigma is the highest recognition a student can receive in a business program accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) International. The following local students were inducted and/or received awards:

The following local SUNY New Paltz Ceramics students came together on Thursday evening, Dec. 12 to discuss and display their work at A Tavola, a rustic Tuscan-style restaurant in downtown New Paltz in an event titled "Clay-to-Table":

The State University of New York at New Paltz will hold the May 2013 Graduate Commencement Ceremony on Friday, May 17 at 6 p.m. on the Old Main Quadrangle. This year, there are 721 graduate degrees being conferred. There will be more than 260 graduate candidates participating in the ceremony and celebrating their achievements in the presence of their family and friends. The ceremony will recognize two cohorts of students: August and December 2012 and May and August 2013 candidates. The following local residents are among more than 260 students to participate in the May 2013 Graduate Commencement Ceremony:

The State University of New York at New Paltz will hold the May 2013 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 19 at 10 a.m. on the Old Main Quadrangle. This year, there are 2,059 undergraduate degrees being conferred. There will be more than 1,400 undergraduate candidates participating in the ceremony and celebrating their achievements in the presence of their family and friends. The ceremony will recognize two cohorts of students: August and December 2012 and May and August 2013 candidates. The following local residents are among more than 1,400 students to partcipate in the May 2013 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony:

The following local residents were named to the Dean's List at the State University of New York at New Paltz for the Fall 2012 semester.

The following local residents are among more than 600 students who recently received undergraduate degrees from the State University of New York at New Paltz:

The following local residents are among more than 200 students who recently received graduate degrees from the State University of New York at New Paltz:

The following local residents were named to the Dean's List at the State University of New York at New Paltz for the Spring 2012 semester.

The following local residents are among more than 1,000 students who recently received undergraduate degrees from the State University of New York at New Paltz:

The following local residents are among more than 200 students who recently received graduate degrees from the State University of New York at New Paltz:

The Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) at the State University of New York at New Paltz inducted 44 students into the Chi Alpha Epsilon (XAE) Honor Society at a special ceremony held on April 27 at the college. To be eligible for induction into XAE, a student must be part of EOP and achieve a 3.0 cumulative grade point average or greater for two consecutive semesters of full-time course work. (See attached inductee list.) Keynote speaker Rendesia Scott '96, the college's director of advising for the School of Business and former EOP advisor, addressed the new inductees, congratulating them and saying "and they said you couldn't do it." Scott is a charter member of XAE and was instrumental in establishing the chapter at New Paltz. Two EOP graduating seniors, who earned the highest cumulative grade point average, were given two special awards - the Percy Sutton and Arthur Eve Awards. These awards were established in honor of the two prominent "founding fathers" of the opportunity program in New York State. Marissa Ward '12 (Women's Studies and Journalism) received the Percy Sutton Award for having the highest grade point average of 3.85. Caitlyn D'Apice '12 (Childhood Education 1-6) received the Arthur Eve Award for earning the second highest grade point average of 3.82. In addition to the new inductees, 24 additional students were recognized for upgrades to their grade point averages. They received the following pins for these honors: ruby (3.5-3.74), emerald (3.75-3.99), and diamond (4.0) (See attached student list). Since its founding in 1967, EOP has provided academic and financial support to New York State residents with a high school diploma, or its equivalent, and who do not meet general admission criteria, but have the academic potential to earn a college degree. The program, offered at both two- and four-year colleges, serves students from a variety of circumstances that may present barriers to academic success. Many EOP students are also first generation college students. All campuses that participate in EOP offer financial aid for room, board, books and expenses, as well as academic support and counseling. XAE is a national honor society for opportunity program students, with over 125 chapters in the U.S. The Beta Omicron Chapter at SUNY New was chartered on May 9, 2003, with a record-breaking induction of 72 members. This was the largest chartering induction within XAE's history. The chapter also bears the distinction of having one of the largest undergraduate memberships in the country. The following student(s) were honored at this year's EOP Chi Alpha Epsilon (XAE) Honor Society Induction Ceremony:

The State University of New York at New Paltz will hold the May 2012 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony on Sunday, May 20 at 10 a.m. on the Old Main Quadrangle. This year, there are more than 1,900 undergraduate degrees being conferred. There will be 1,291 undergraduate candidates participating in the ceremonies who will celebrate their achievements in the presence of their family and friends. Danielle Brown (Merrick, N.Y.) was selected as this year's valedictorian. Brown will deliver a short speech to her fellow graduates during the ceremony. Corinna L. Ridgeway (Port Crane, N.Y.) is the salutatorian. Ridgeway, who also has a 4.0 GPA, will receive her Bachelor of Science degree in biology with a cell and molecular concentration. This ceremony recognizes degrees granted in August and December 2011 and the May 2012 candidates. The following local residents are among more than 1,200 students to participate in the May 2012 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony: