Atika Naim, a Psychology major from Nesconset, New York, and David Alexander Garcia, a Physics major from Mastic, New York, are the 2026 SUNY Old Westbury recipients of the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence.
Honored on April 27, 2026, in Albany, New York, these students represent a commitment to SUNY excellence through civic engagement and a dedication to learning and leading in their communities. They have both taken a research-focused approach to immerse themselves in their respective fields with the goal of positively impacting their communities. The Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence is the highest honor a student can be awarded by the university.
"SUNY students are New York's future, and the outstanding individuals I am proud to recognize with the Chancellor's Awards for Student Excellence embody the very best of our state university system," said SUNY Chancellor King. "The students who have earned this recognition have inspired their classmates, their educators, their campuses and me with their inspiring work, tenacious drive, and dedication to their academic success. I commend each of the awardees and thank them for being examples for others to follow."
Atika Naim, 2026 CASE Award Winner
Naim completed her degree in December 2025 with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a microcredential in Foundational Counseling Skills with a 4.0 GPA.
After earning her associate’s degree from Suffolk Community College in 2021 and taking a break before transferring to SUNY Old Westbury in Fall 2024, she immersed herself into the Old Westbury community as a member of the Muslim Student Association and a highly engaged and intellectually curious learner.
“I am deeply passionate about helping people live their best lives, discover strength, healing and power within themselves and then spread that to others around them through uplifting interactions and meaningful connection,” said Naim.
As a Pakistani woman, a Muslim woman and a scholar, Naim brings a perspective to the SUNY Old Westbury community that is shaped by her identities, experiences, empathy, and resilience.
“What distinguishes Atika is her ability to translate her psychological training into immediate, tangible community leadership,” said President Sams. “She embodies the resilience, intellect, and community spirit that the Chancellor’s Award is designed to honor.”
Her recent work as a research assistant in Assistant Professor Quratulain Gulamhussein’s research lab is focused on investigating mental health stigma in Muslim communities. She also founded the Long Island Women’s Book Club, the Young Women’s Hiking Club and was Vice President of a Muslim Girls’ Youth Group. She co-coordinates “Awkward to Awesome,” speaks on immigrant and community justice, and works in Applied Behavioral Analysis and as a teacher and functional coach.
“My journey has shaped my commitment to helping others find their own light because I believe healing ourselves creates broader change and ability to help others,” said Naim.
As for the award, Naim is grateful to her community of mentors at SUNY Old Westbury. “I really owe this to the tight-knit and supportive environment at SUNY Old Westbury,” she said. “And especially all of my professors who went above and beyond to guide me and meet with me outside of class hours and lead me towards doors that I didn't even know existed.”
After graduation, Naim plans to continue gaining hands-on experience in mental health and counseling roles where she can support individuals’ growth and development. She will also explore graduate pathways in psychology with the possibility of pursuing a Ph.D. in counseling psychology.
David Alexander Garcia, 2026 CASE Award Winner
Garcia will graduate in Spring 2026 with a Bachelor of Science in Physics and has consistently earned a spot on the Dean’s list since his arrival to the university in 2024.
Garcia transferred to SUNY Old Westbury after earning his Associate of Arts and Sciences degree in Physics at Suffolk Community College and has quickly earned leadership status within the Physics program at Old Westbury, which launched as a major in 2023.
“Nuclear energy and its positives have always been a passion of mine,” said Garcia. “Being that physics is a language that can describe the universe around us, I went looking for the answers of the nucleus here.”
Upon his arrival, his professors instantly saw his passion for the field and genuine interest in learning the principles of physics concepts through his engagement in one-on-one sessions and his thorough completion of work. As the top performing student in the Physics program, Garcia excelled in Old Westbury's General Physics 3 and Electromagnetism courses and has engaged in independent research.
“Winning the CASE award shows the strength of the Physics Department at Old Westbury,” Garcia said. “My dedication and love for physics has been consistent because of the excellent professors and program we have.”
Under Old Westbury’s Long Island High-Energy and Astrophysics Undergraduate Pathway program, Garcia had the opportunity to work as a trainee during a 10-week summer research program at Brookhaven National Laboratory. He conducted full-time research working on data analysis on neutrinos with a water-based liquid scintillator as a lab assistant. After being asked to continue with BNL, Garcia has continued his research there and has volunteered to be a mentor.
Outside of the classroom, he played a pivotal role as a founding member of the Physics Club and worked his way to becoming the co-president. Through his guidance and work of the team, the Physics club has successfully been established as a Sigma Pi Sigma chapter.
“His efforts have revitalized student engagement through the organization of tutoring sessions, lecture series, and scientific events,” said President Sams. “He is a student who possesses both scientific brilliance and deep character, engaging in thoughtful discourse on topics ranging from nuclear engineering to the works of Camus and Dostoyevsky.”
Garcia has been accepted to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for graduate school and hopes to earn his Ph.D. in nuclear engineering with the goal of changing the current energy landscape.