Four Students Win J. Scott Fleming Scholarship Awards

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Four students have been selected to receive the J. Scott Fleming Scholarship Awards for leadership and volunteer efforts that promote student involvement and enhance the student experience at the University at Buffalo.

The award winners are Christopher Gorri of Watertown, Jennifer Pugh of Depew, Sujata Sofat of Williamsville and Mario Tlatenchi of Brooklyn. Each will receive a $500 scholarship.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York.

The awards are presented annually by the University Student Alumni Board, student affiliate of the UB Alumni Association. They are named after a former executive director of UB's Office of Alumni Relations, J. Scott Fleming, who referred to UB students as "alumni-in-residence."

This year's awards will be presented at the UB Alumni Association's Celebration of Excellence annual awards ceremony on April 15. Recipients and their guests will be invited to a private reception with UB President John B. Simpson prior to the ceremony.

Christopher Gorri, a resident of Watertown, is a senior majoring in business administration with a dual concentration in human resource management and marketing. He has been a member of the Residence Hall Association since 2001, and served as treasurer from 2002-04. During both of his terms as treasurer, Gorri was elected by the RHA Senate as Executive Board Member of the Year.

He also works with the UB Office of Admissions as a member of UB STARS, which helps to recruit new students, and as a tour guide. He is co-membership chair for the UB Launch Chapter of Mortar Board National Honor Society and serves as a peer mentor for the UB School of Management.

Jennifer Pugh, a first-year medical student, graduated from UB in 2004 with a degree in biomedical sciences with a minor in biochemical pharmacology. The Depew native has been involved with the Shussmeisters Ski Club, and her efforts as its business manager led to increased membership and awareness of the club. She also served as treasurer.

Pugh also served as president and secretary for the Association of Pre-Medical Students, has been a member of the Gross Anatomy Memorial Service Committee and is a member of the Student Sight Savers Committee for the American Medical Association-Medical Student Section.

Sujata Sofat of Williamsville is a senior majoring in biomedical sciences with minors in Spanish, medicinal chemistry and biochemical pharmacology. She is president of the Association of Pre-Medical Students and served as its treasurer for two years. Sofat organized the club's annual banquet and has helped with its fundraising efforts to support club activities and charitable organizations.

In addition, Sujata served as treasurer of Alpha Epsilon Delta National Pre-Health Honor Society and has been a member of the Faculty Senate Teaching and Learning Committee. She is a member of UB STARS and has been a volunteer for Hospice and Life Transitions Center since 2001.

Mario Tlatenchi, a native of Brooklyn, is a senior majoring in geography and political science. He has served as vice president of Outgoing Exchange for AIESEC, where he connected students with internships abroad. Tlatenchi also has acted as activities coordinator for PODER: Latinos Unidos, where he worked on an orientation session in which 75 minority high school seniors from the New York City area visited UB for a weekend.

Tlatenchi also serves as People of Color Council coordinator for the Student Association, working to revamp several minority clubs to help them better meet their potential. He has also been a tutor for the Reading First Program for the past four years at several Buffalo high schools.