Four SUNY Oneonta students have been named 2022 recipients of the prestigious SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence.
Teresa Lopez-Long, Gabrielle Cecere, Alyssa Carbone and Alexa Laska were among a select group of State University of New York students recognized by SUNY Interim Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley during a reception in their honor Tuesday, April 26, at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Carbone and Lopez-Long graduated last year, and Cecere and Laska will graduate in May.
“Teresa, Gabby, Alyssa and Alexa are impressive scholars and exceptional leaders who have served as role models for their campus peers,” said SUNY Oneonta President Alberto Cardelle. “I have seen their dedication first hand, and I am confident that their exemplary service and achievements will be the groundwork for great things beyond SUNY Oneonta.”
Created in 1997, the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence is the highest honor that SUNY bestows upon students. It is presented annually to SUNY students who demonstrate academic excellence and integrate it with accomplishments in other areas, such as leadership, career achievement, campus involvement, athletics, community service, or creative and performing arts.
Teresa Lopez-Long, Scotia, NY
Political Science, Communication Studies
Teresa Lopez-Long is a determined, driven student leader who worked hard to graduate early, with honors, in December 2021. Her GPA consistently earned her a spot on the Dean’s List, she is a member of four national honor societies, and she earned three academic scholarships. Lopez-Long is a natural leader, having served as a Resident Advisor, PACE Coach student mentor and Academic Team Leader, as well as student coordinator for the college’s Center for Social Responsibility and Community. In this role, she organized and participated in countless blood drives and service days and promoted volunteerism among her peers by connecting them with service opportunities in the community. In 2020, Lopez-Long represented SUNY Oneonta while presenting a workshop at the IMPACT National Conference on how to effectively coordinate a campus-wide service day. That same year, she also took part in the Up to Us Campus Campaign, managing a budget and producing an educational podcast. In her spare time, Lopez-Long served as treasurer and events coordinator for Chi Alpha Epsilon and was an active member of the campus television station, WireTV, co-creating and producing the show “Girl Talk.”
Gabrielle Cecere, Smithtown, NY
Psychology, Child and Family Studies
Gabby Cecere is an outstanding student leader who has earned the respect of faculty, administrators and peers. Her GPA has consistently earned her a spot on the Dean’s List, she is a member of two national honor societies, and she has been awarded an impressive four scholarships during her time at SUNY Oneonta. Cecere recently completed research and an independent study on the theme of free will. As president of the Student Association, Cecere acts as CEO of a $1.4 million operation, controlling and allocating funds from the Student Activity Fee and overseeing an Executive Council of more than 12 members. She sits on numerous campus committees and boards including the President’s Cabinet, Budget Council, COVID Response Team, Health and Wellness Committee, Oneonta Finance Board, and more. Cecere has been an outspoken advocate for mental health awareness and increasing resources on campus, especially during the height of the COVID pandemic. She is a dedicated member of sorority Pi Delta Chi and a frequent volunteer with the Oneonta Family Service Association and Club Odyssey, a local organization for teenagers.
Alyssa Carbone, New City, NY
Spanish
Alyssa Carbone is an exceptional student leader with a passion for social justice. Her consistently perfect GPA earned her a spot on the Provost's List every semester. She was an active member of two national honor societies and the recipient of four prestigious scholarships and awards. Carbone is an accomplished author and researcher, having co-authored an OER project now being used in advanced courses. She has widely presented her research on climate change and how it affects Latinx communities in the U.S., most notably as a Refugee Representation Intern at Human Rights First in NYC. She served as secretary for Vice-Presidential Affairs for the SUNY-wide Student Assembly as well as senator and attorney general for SUNY Oneonta’s Student Association, and she served on a variety of campus councils, committees and task forces. She was also vice president for the Hispanic Organization for Learning Advancement (HOLA) club, volunteer coordinator for the Students of Color Coalition, a frequent participant in The Luminous Letter Project, and a mentor to more than 30 international students through the Office of Global Education.
Alexa Laska, Lancaster, NY
Economics
Alexa Laska is a goal-oriented, driven student leader. Her GPA has consistently earned her a spot on the Dean’s List. She is one of only four SUNY Oneonta students in Omicron Delta Epsilon, the international economics honor society, and she has earned an impressive eight scholarships, including the Economics and Business Endowed Scholarship. Laska is conducting independent research on the Holocaust Memorial Museum. She presented her findings at Student Research Day and is looking forward to publication upon completion of her paper. Laska is vice president of Omicron Delta Epsilon, coordinator for the College Fed Challenge Prep Night presentation, founding president of Lamba Alpha Chi, president of the Economics Club, and president of the National Residence Hall Honorary’s Oneonta Chapter. Laska also serves as a Resident Advisor and mentor for new RAs as well as a Career Peer Mentor through the Career Development Center. Laska’s community service efforts – including sending care packages through the U.S. Marine Corps and organizing blood drives – are so prolific that she was elected into the Lancaster Youth Bureau Hall of Fame.