SUNY Old Westbury seniors Sara Bey, Alicia Fyne and Nadia Hameed were recognized as 2017 State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence recipients, the highest honor bestowed upon students in the system. They were among 256 students from 64 campuses across the state that received this award.
"It is my honor to celebrate the achievements of students who have surpassed SUNY’s highest standards of academic excellence and leadership both on and off campus," said SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher. "Every student we recognize today has demonstrated a strong commitment to their degree program, home campus, greater community, and much more. Congratulations to all of the students receiving this year’s award.”
The Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence acknowledges students who have demonstrated strength in academics with other aspects of their lives including leadership, campus involvement, community service, creative or performing arts, athletics, and career achievement.
Sara Bey from Merrick, N.Y., is a scholar-athlete double majoring in Chemistry and Mathematics. She has maintained a 3.89 GPA, while contributing to the success of several athletic teams on-campus, including lacrosse, soccer, volleyball, and cross country. Bey has served in multiple leadership positions, including the Omicron Delta Kappa Honor Society, student government representative, and recently earned the “Her Story” community service award. She has published articles in two academic journals, and presented her work at a national conference.
Alicia Fyne is a Psychology major from West Babylon, N.Y., who is a member of multiple organizations including the transfer student Tau Sigma National Honor Society and student leadership national honor society. Fyne’s commitment to social justice has led her to study street harassment of women through a “Women in STEM” grant, and to serve as an advocate for the Old Westbury Women’s Center.
Nadia Hameed, from North Bellmore, N.Y., is a Biological Sciences major and serves as the editor of the Honors College art and literature journal, Synesthesia. She is an accomplished S.T.E.A.M. student who has interned with Brookhaven National Lab, conducts cancer cell research alongside her professor, and is a mentor for the Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Program (CSTEP). In addition, Hameed works in her community organizing events and speaking to promote religious tolerance.