Please join us in congratulating the recipients of the following awards presented at the 2024 Celebration of Community Engagement for their outstanding achievements:
The Frederick Howe Outstanding Student Volunteer
Presented to the student who provided exceptional service to the community as a volunteer not through a course.
Nathan Palmer, Junior, Communication Studies
Niagara Falls Juneteenth Committee
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Outstanding Community Service by a Student Organization
Presented to the student group that provided valuable service to the community, extending its mission and influence beyond the SUNY Buffalo State campus.
Phi Alpha Kappa Omega, Social Work Honors Society
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Outstanding Community Partners
Presented to a not-for-profit agency, group, or institution that has a relationship with Buffalo State and demonstrated excellence in collaborative work, resulting in a partnership that produced positive differences in the community and enhanced student learning.
Long-Term Partner: The Belle Center | Jack Norton, Program Development
Emerging Partner: Karen Society of Buffalo | Faustina Palmatier, Executive Director
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Outstanding Service-Learning Course, 15 Hours or Less
Presented to the service-learning class with 15 hours or less of exceptional community engagement connecting learning to community work.
Course: PSY 481 Psychological Tests and Measures
Students: Levi Chavis, Katherine Haskins, Stephanie Laughner, Adella Malbrough, Sam Palya
Faculty Member: Jill Norvilitis, Professor, Psychology
Community Partner: ConnectLife
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Outstanding Service-Learning Course, 16 Hours or More
Presented to the service-learning class with more than 16 hours of exceptional community engagement connecting learning to community work.
Course: CIS 388 Service Learning in Computing
Students: Dieumerci Baunda, Colin Clark, Zaire Coore, Noble Corp, Jonathan Edmiston, David Greco, Emdadul Hoq, Joseph Idowu, Esrat Jahan, Abdul Khalik, Saim Mahmud, Addel Mothanna, Sadat Nurudeen, Jamie Olivier, Nga Reh, Sadegh Salamat, Sadid Siddique, Olurotimi Sofola
Faculty Member: Sarbani Banerjee, Professor, Computer Information Systems
Community Partners: The Belle Center, Karen Society of Buffalo, BPS School 197 Math Science Technology Preparatory School, BPS School 198 International Preparatory High School, Mt. Olive Baptist Church
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Outstanding Service-Learning Student
Presented to a student who provided exceptional achievement in a service-learning course through their contribution to the community and ability to connect their experiences to course curriculum.
Micah Stanton, Senior, Speech-Language Pathology
EXE 245 Community Service with Individuals with Special Needs
Danceability
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Campus-Community Sustained Partnership Award
This award recognizes campus and community partnerships that have been developed and sustained over time. It is presented to the campus representative(s) and community partner(s) who best demonstrate the principles of reciprocal, collaborative, and mutually beneficial partnerships in that one or more course (or program) objective is linked to addressing one or more community-identified priority.
Lisa Matthies-Wiza, Director, Erie County Office of Geographic Information Services
Tao Tang, Professor, Geosciences
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Early Career Faculty Award for Community Engagement
Presented to a pre-tenure faculty member or lecturer/adjunct with fewer than seven years of experience for innovative and outstanding service-learning, civic, or community engagement work. The engagement could include research, teaching, or service that is in partnership with the community and tied to the faculty member's academic expertise.
Shasti O'Leary Soudant, Assistant Professor, Art and Design
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Mid-Career Faculty Award for Community Engagement
Presented to a post-tenure faculty member or lecturer/adjunct with seven to 15 years of experience who has demonstrated ongoing integration of civic and community engagement in teaching, research, or service. The recipient has also demonstrated commitment and capacity to develop and sustain high-quality, reciprocal community partnerships to further Buffalo State's role as an urban-engaged institution.
Brandon Kawa, Director, International Graduate Programs for Educators
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Leadership in Community Engagement
Awarded to a member of the campus or community who has built and strengthened institutional commitments to service learning, civic engagement, and community engagement by demonstrating efforts to deepen and expand Buffalo State's role as an urban-engaged institution, conducting meaningful community-based research, or working to foster long-lasting impacts on students and the community.
Jonathan Lindner, Senior Coordinator of Health Promotion Programs, Center for Health and Social Research
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The Deborah K. Renzi Social Advocacy Award
Awarded to an individual who is committed to fostering societal and structural changes that create equity, justice, and inclusion. Awardees pursue knowledge, explore and understand varied perspectives of a societal issue, engage directly in creating actionable change, and create awareness in others to champion positive reform.
Imran Fazal, Junior, Social Work
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President's Certificate of Recognition for Community Engagement
A presidential recognition presented to students who demonstrated extended involvement in community service, service-learning, and other community-based work during their academic career.
Community Supporter - 200 Hours of Service
Lila Balali, Abbey McCarthy
Active Citizen - 1,000 Hours of Service
Cassandra Carter, Cayla Facey, Zahraa Faisal, Shenese Patterson, Timothy Snider
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Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellowship
Presented to the student nominated by the president to represent Buffalo State throughout the one-year Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellowship. The fellowship recognizes and supports community-committed students who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country.
Ashbiya Giri, Junior, Economics
2024 Campus Compact Newman Civic Fellow
