Four Students Win J. Scott Fleming Merit Awards

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Four students at the University at Buffalo have received J. Scott Fleming Merit Awards for leadership and volunteer efforts that promote student involvement and the student experience.

The award winners are: Mehr Nida Aftab of Getzville; Jason Barocas of Plainview; Adam Haney of Baldwinsville, and Rachelle Anne Ricotta of Dunkirk. Each received a certificate and a $500 check.

The award, named for a former executive director of UB's Office of Alumni Relations, is presented by the University Student Alumni Board, student affiliate of the alumni association. The awards were presented recently at the UB Alumni Association's Celebration of Excellence annual awards dinner. Recipients and their parents were invited to a luncheon at the home of UB President and Mrs. William R. Greiner prior to the awards dinner.

Aftab, a senior majoring in biomedical sciences and minoring in biochemical pharmacology, has been a member of the Association for Premedical Students since 1999, and now is president of the organization. She has been instrumental in bringing APMS-sponsored programming to the UB campus, including blood drives, first-aid kit sales, and food and clothing drives.

In addition, she is a Crisis Services hotline counselor and works as a clinical research assistant at the Erie County Medical Center emergency room. Aftab also directed volunteer services at the Islamic Community Center and worked with the Indian Student Association to organize the screening of films to increase cultural awareness in the community.

Barocas is a senior majoring in business administration with a concentration in accounting, finance and internal audit. He has taken his experience as a residence-hall advisor (RA) to new heights, implementing an RA Council at UB and being named to a national position as regional director for the National Association of College and University Residence Halls.

He also works with UB's Admissions Office as part of the UB STARS program, which helps to recruit new students, and is a member of the University Student Programming Board.

Haney is a junior majoring in communication. He has demonstrated leadership through his work as a resident advisor, as a community assistant in the University Resident Halls and Apartments and as a student programming board representative in the Office of Student Life. In addition, he is vice president of recognition for the National Residence Hall Honorary and a senator in the UB Student Association.

Haney also has been a peer mentor and a STARS representative in UB's admissions office.

Ricotta, a junior majoring in urban and public policy and sociology, has dedicated herself to both on- and off-campus activities, including the Phi Eta Freshman Honor Society, for which she is philanthropic chair. She also is a founding member of the University Student Programming Board and a student assistant in the Leadership Development Center.

Her off-campus involvement includes being a member of the volunteer-based service organization Circle K, assisting with such events as the American Heart Association's Heart Ball and the Just Buffalo Literary Center Bash.