Eight Students Receive Special Awards At UB Commencement

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Eight graduating seniors received special awards during UB's 154th general commencement ceremony on May 14.

Three students received the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence. They were:

• Daniel J. Heims of Williamsville, who received a bachelor's degree in communication. Heims served in various roles in the Office of Student Unions and Activities, as well as participating in such activities as Brush-Up Buffalo and the B'nai B'rith Youth Organization. He was president of Pi Sigma Alpha Mortar Board Leadership Honor Society and a member of Golden Key National Honor Society. His studies at the University of South Australia led him to an internship in the Office of International Education at Buffalo State College. He will begin graduate studies this fall in the UB Graduate School of Education.

• Michael G. Patterson of Tully, who received a bachelor's degree in business administration. Patterson has been dedicated to activities that improve the quality of campus life. He was named Outstanding Resident Advisor of the Year and received the Service Award from the Northeast Affiliate of College and University Residence Halls. Patterson has been a leader in the University Student Alumni Board and is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society. He plans to pursue graduate studies in higher education this fall at Ohio State University.

• Nicole Piotrowski of Williamsville, who received a bachelor's degree in business administration. Piotrowski is past president of the undergraduate Student Association. She was Sub-Board I, Inc. finance director and active in AIESEC, an international business organization. A University Honors Scholar, Piotrowski is a recipient of a J. Scott Fleming Merit Award and the Steven B. Sample Panhellenic Scholarship Award for outstanding scholastic achievement. She is a member of Alpha Gamma Delta sorority, Golden Key National Honor Society and on the National Dean's List.

Four students received the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Dean's Outstanding Senior Awards:

• Jessica K. Cavano of Rome received the award as Outstanding Senior in the Arts. She also was named Outstanding Graduate in the departments of History and Media Study, her major areas of study. She developed a non-traditional, interdisciplinary documentary thesis that explored issues of race and representation at the Pan-American Exposition. She is a founding intern to the CAS Channel for Academic Departments and Events (CASCADE) and helped develop standards and protocol for the new campus-wide television channel. Recipient of a Grace W. Capen Award for Academic Excellence, Cavano is listed in "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges" and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Alpha Theta and the Golden Key and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor societies. She plans to work in promotion and production of cultural media and events.

• Shari A. Salisbury of Buffalo received the award as Outstanding Senior in the Humanities. Graduating with a triple major in art history, women's studies and linguistics, Salisbury was recognized as the Outstanding Graduate in the Department of Art History and in the Women's Studies Program. Proficient in six languages, her study interests centered around the interdisciplinary examination of gender in relation to language and visual culture. She has been president of the Art History Club and is listed in "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges." A member of Golden Key National Honor Society, she plans to pursue graduate studies in the UB School of Information Studies.

• Wing Leong Teo of Williamsville received the award as Outstanding Senior in the Social and Behavioral Sciences. Graduating with a major in economics, he also is the Outstanding Graduate in the Department of Economics. A native of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Teo served as an undergraduate teaching assistant. He is a member of the University Honors Program, an elected student representative to the Honors Council and a member of Omicron Delta Epsilon and Golden Key National Honor societies. He plans to pursue a doctoral degree in economics with a concentration in economic development.

• Srinivas Raghu of East Amherst received the award as the Outstanding Senior in Science and Mathematics. Raghu, who graduated with a double major in physics and chemistry, is the Outstanding Graduate in the Department of Physics. He participated in a published research project on chemosensory transduction in paramecium, earned an Award for Excellence in General Chemistry and the Sekula Scholarship in the physics department. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa, listed in "Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges" and received the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship in Mathematics, Science and Engineering. Raghu will enter Princeton University this summer to pursue doctoral study in physics.

• Betty Voltaire of Brooklyn is the recipient of the Division of Student Affairs Senior Leadership Award. An English major, Voltaire was the student speaker at commencement. Instrumental in helping UB students make a successful transition to college life, she has been involved in student government, the Office of Admissions and the Office of Residence Life, and such projects as orientation, UB 101 and the "Reach" student handbook. As a "diversity advocate" and member of the Committee for the Promotion of Tolerance and Diversity, she has worked to raise awareness of diversity issues on campus.

Also at the general commencement ceremony, the College of Arts and Sciences recognized the Outstanding Graduates each of its 30 departments and programs.

In addition to Cavano, Teo, Salisbury and Raghu, Outstanding Graduates, their hometowns and departments are:

ALDEN: Teresa Kaczynski, Linguistics

AMHERST: Jenny Y. Luk, Art; Timothy A. Boebel, Chemistry; Mor Wetzler, English; Amber M. Coriale, Modern Languages and Literatures, and Kamir Tambur, Special Major.

AUBURN: Laura Mills, Social Sciences/Interdisciplinary Program.

BUFFALO: Randa H. Hill, African American Studies; Kristina DeCicco, American Studies; Kathleen Marie Szalda, Communicative Disorders and Sciences, and Andrew Fiorella, Philosophy.

CLARENCE CENTER: Mary Frances Musso, Anthropology

FAIRPORT: Joseph E. Price, Computer Science and Engineering

GRAND ISLAND: Mark D. Robida, Biological Sciences, and Deborah Anne Reid, Communication

HILTON: Courtney Lugert, Geology

KENMORE: Jeremy P. Kilburn, Psychology

LEWISTON: Gary N. Beach, Geography

MERCER ISLAND, WASH: Malcolm Seymour, Political Science

NEW CITY: Ian T. Blumenfeld, Mathematics

NORTH SYRACUSE: Holly Hamister, Classics

NORTH TONAWANDA: Kenneth Pasciak, Music

PORT WASHINGTON: Jason Hare, Theatre and Dance

QUEENSBURY: Jessica R. Spielberger, Sociology