6 Students Win SUNY Chancellor's Award for Excellence

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Six University at Buffalo students have been named winners of the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence for 2002.

The award recognizes 187 of SUNY's most outstanding students from 56 SUNY campuses, representing six foreign countries and eight states.

"These students are among State University's best and brightest," said Chancellor Robert L. King. "Their commitment not only to academic excellence, but also to serving the wider community indicates they are likely to emerge as New York's future leaders."

UB's award winners, all of whom graduated this month, are David P. Bartels of Buffalo, Melissa A. Burgio of Tonawanda, Naniette H. Coleman of Westbury, Amy E. Fuller of Cazenovia, Preethi Govindaraj of Williamsville and Jenna K. Keenan of Loudonville. The students were among 29 UB students named "Pillars of Leadership" by the university's Leadership Development Center in recognition of the leadership, service and excellence they have exhibited that has made an exceptional difference to the UB community.

Graduating with a bachelor's degree in English, David P. Bartels distinguished himself by earning a 4.0 grade-point average while completing minors in both political science and Spanish. Bartels is involved with the St. Peter and Paul Church gift collection and the Viva La Casa program to assist immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S., as well as working a full-time job with the Buffalo Sabres. He is a member of the Golden Key Honor Society and twice received the Distinguished Student in Political Science departmental award. Bartels plans to attend law school in the fall and work in the field of public service law, eventually hoping to pursue a political career.

A member of the University's Honors Program, Melissa A. Burgio graduated with a double major in environmental design and psychology. In addition to her membership in four honor societies, Burgio was very active in the campus community, serving as a UB STAR and tour guide, resident assistant, South Lake Village Hall Council secretary, orientation aide, UB 101 teaching assistant and a student assistant in the Graduate School. A past recipient of the J. Scott Fleming Merit Award and the Bloch Scholarship Award, she will pursue a master's degree in education at UB in the fall.

Since the beginning of her undergraduate career, Naniette H. Coleman was recognized for her exemplary leadership and initiative. As a sophomore, she was elected president of the undergraduate Student Association, and since that time has remained an active leader in promoting student growth and development. She served and represented UB students at the campus, state and national levels in such roles as speaker, panelist, fund-raiser, presenter and peer mentor. She also is the recipient of the UB Division of Student Affairs' Senior Leadership Award. Coleman graduated with a bachelor's degree in communication, and was student speaker at UB's 156th general commencement ceremony on May 12. In the fall, she will be attending Harvard University and pursuing a master's degree in public policy.

Graduating after only three years of undergraduate work and earning a double major in biology and psychology, Amy E. Fuller was a member of the University's Honor Program, as well as the Golden Key and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor societies. A past recipient of the Grace W. Capen Academic Award, Fuller volunteered as a teaching assistant and as a tutor helping seventh- and eighth-grade students in the Buffalo Public Schools. She is a founding member of Project CAFÉ (Community Activities for Everyone), which offers drug and alcohol-free events in her hometown of Cazenovia. Fuller plans to pursue a master's degree in science education.

During her undergraduate college career, Preethi Govindaraj took on numerous student-leadership roles, including those of athlete, musician, scholar, volunteer, tutor and peer mentor. She was a member of the University's Honor Program, as well as the Beta Gamma Sigma National Business Society and the Phi Eta Sigma, Golden Key, and Mortar Board National Honor societies. The recipient of the Gibbon's Management Award, the Phi Eta Sigma endowed scholarship award and the Extra Mile Award for tutoring and mentoring UB athletes, Govindaraj also is a Fulbright Award finalist. She has been a volunteer with Gilda's Club of Western New York and the Buffalo Niagara Community Tennis Association. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in management, with a concentration in marketing.

Jenna K. Keenan, a member of the University's Honor program, graduated from UB with a bachelor's degree in psychology. A member of the Psi Chi and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor societies, Keenan served in a variety of student-leadership and community-outreach roles. In addition to serving as a resident and community assistant for University Residence Halls and Apartments, she also worked with the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Treatment Program, participated in Leadership House and Emerging Leaders Forum, was a teaching assistant for an introductory psychology course and an honors colloquium, and served as the AIDS awareness convention coordinator. Keenan also volunteered for a number of university and community organizations and programs, including UB Funfest, Habitat for Humanity, the Linda Yalem Run, Kids Escaping Drugs and the St. Vincent's soup kitchen.