Students Recognized as Pillars of Leadership

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Students at the University at Buffalo who received accolades for their leadership achievements during the 2004-05 academic year recently were recognized during the Pillars of Leadership Ceremony sponsored by the Leadership Development Center in the Division of Student Affairs.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, the largest and most comprehensive campus in the State University of New York system. UB's more than 27,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. The university offers the only degrees in law, pharmacy and architecture in the SUNY system, and is the home of the only comprehensive public school of engineering and school of informatics in New York State.

Thirteen students received SUNY Chancellor's Awards for Student Excellence. They are:

• Philip Badaszweski of Amherst

• Surbhi Bansal of Williamsville

• Amy Daniels of Tonawanda

• Ruth Amy Kleinman of Port Washington

• Susan Min of New Hartford

• Rahul Nayyar of Amherst

• Timothy Olewniczak of Cheektowaga

• Derek Daniel Reformat of Depew

• Sujata Sofat of Williamsville. Sofat also received the J. Scott Fleming Award from the Office of Alumni Relations.

• Elizabeth Marie Terragnoli of Williamsville

• David Colin Turnbull of Vestal

• Matthew Watkins of Ballston

• Bryan Weinstein of Getzville

Also receiving awards were:

• Mahoganey Jackson of Buffalo, the Arthur O. Eve Award from the Educational Opportunity Program.

• Turner Battle of Kernersville, N.C.; Mark Bortz of Commerce Township, Mich.; Brenna McJury of Brockport and Nicholas Zieziula of Hamburg, the UB Student-Athlete Leader Award from the Intercollegiate Athletics Board. Battle also was named UB Male Student-Athlete of the Year by the Division of Athletics.

• Jennifer Koeppel of Amherst, UB Female Student-Athlete of the Year, awarded by the Division of Athletics.

• Heather Housh of Vestal, Residence Hall Association Executive Board Member of the Year, awarded by the Residence Hall Association.

• Amy Zuchlewski of Buffalo, Exemplary Leadership Award from the Leadership Development Center. Zuchlewski also received the Dorothy H. Haas Scholarship Award from the Division of Student Affairs.

• Jennifer Pugh of Depew, and Mario Tlatenchi of Brooklyn, the J. Scott Fleming Award from the Office of Alumni Relations.

• Kriselle Rodricks of Jericho and Matthew Ulmann of Great Neck, Greek Spirit Award from the Office of Greek Affairs.

• Shereefat O. Balogun of Rosedale, the William R. Greiner Leadership Award from the Educational Opportunity Program.

• Jason Fuller of Keeseville, the Dorothy H. Haas Scholarship Award from the Division of Student Affairs.

• Ekua Mends-Aidoo of Liverpool, named Hall Council Member of the Year by the Residence Hall Association.

• Melitta East of Buffalo, Multicultural Program Award from the Division of Student Affairs.

• Donna Kurayev of Rego Park, named Resident Advisor of the Year by the Residence Hall Association.

• Emily M. Donnelly of Williamsville, named Student Association Outstanding Staff Member

• Hillary Yan Hong Chen of Brooklyn, the Percy Sutton Award from the Educational Opportunity Program.

• Kara Bates of Deerfield, the UB Pride and Service Award from the Office of Student Life.

• Christopher Gorri of Watertown, Senior Leadership Award from the Division of Student Affairs. Gorri also received the J. Scott Fleming Award from the Office of Alumni Relations.

• Irina Gorodetskaya of Brooklyn, the Nancy Welch Award from the Division of Student Affairs.