Recognition

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

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

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

Dr. Jack Norton, Program Development, The Belle Center

Emerging Partner: Karen Society of Buffalo

Faustina Palmatier, Executive Director, Karen Society of Buffalo

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: Dr. Jill Norvilitis, Professor, Psychology

Partner: ConnectLife

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: Dr. Sarbani Banerjee, Professor, Computer Information Systems

Partners: The Belle Center, Karen Society of Buffalo, BPS School 197 – Math Science Technology Preparatory School , BPS School 198 – The International Preparatory High School, Mt. Olive Baptist Church

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

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) objectives is linked to addressing one or more community-identified priorities.

Lisa Matthies-Wiza, Director, Erie County Office of Geographic Information Services

Dr. Tao Tang, Professor, Geosciences

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, and/or community engagement work. The engagement could include research, teaching, and/or service that is in partnership with the community and tied to a faculty member’s academic expertise.

Shasti O’Leary Soudant, Assistant Professor, Art and Design

Mid-Career Faculty Award for Community Engagement

Presented to a post-tenure faculty member, or lecturer/adjunct with 7-15 years of experience, who has demonstrated ongoing integration of civic and community engagement in teaching, research, and/or service. The recipient has also demonstrated commitment and capacity to develop and sustain high-quality, reciprocal community partnerships to further our role as an urban-engaged institution.

Brandon Kawa, Director, International Graduate Programs for Educators

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, and/or working to foster long-lasting impacts on students and the community.

Dr. Jonathan Lindner, Senior Coordinator of Health Promotion Programs, Center for Health and Social Research

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

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

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