Four SUNY Plattsburgh Students Named Among 'Best of the Best at SUNY'

PLATTSBURGH, NY (04/08/2009)(readMedia)-- Four SUNY Plattsburgh students received the State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence at a ceremony in Albany yesterday.

Angell Acosta, Meagan Lebeau, Nicholas Ostroy and Sarah Warton were each presented with the award, which was created 12 years ago to recognize students who have best demonstrated and been recognized for, the integration of academic excellence with accomplishments in the areas of leadership, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts or career achievement. The average grade point average for all recipients this year is 3.77.

"A rigorous three-part process that begins at our campuses evaluates not only each student's academic, artistic and athletics performance, but also their service to the community," said SUNY Vice Chancellor and Officer-In-Charge John J. O'Connor. "It is my pleasure to congratulate this year's recipients, their families and the campuses for their remarkable achievements. These students are truly the best of the best at SUNY today."

Acosta, of New York, N.Y., is in his first year of graduate school, pursuing a master's in liberal arts with a concentration in leadership studies. He received his bachelor's degree from the college last December. Acosta has served as a student ambassador, resident assistant and president of the Student Association. He is a member of three honor societies: the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society, the Chi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society and the Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society. He is also a recipient of a SUNY Plattsburgh Graduate Diversity Fellowship.

Lebeau, of Plattsburgh, N.Y., is a biology major with minors in ecology and chemistry. She belongs to three honor societies including the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. Her accolades include the SUNY Plattsburgh Presidential Scholarship and the "Way to Glow" Award for Outstanding Patient Care at the Champlain Valley Physician's Hospital.

Nicholas Ostroy of Smithtown, N.Y., is a double major in history and Canadian studies and double minor in political science and Latin American studies. He is a member of two honor societies including the history honor society Phi Alpha. He was the recipient of a Killam Fellowship for the 2007-2008 academic year, through which he was able to study at Queen's University in Canada. This past summer, he had an internship with the U.S. State Department at the United States Mission to the United Nations.

Sarah Wharton, of Afton, N.Y., is an environmental science major with a minor in geographic information systems. She belongs to the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society and has received three scholarships including the Fitzpatrick Memorial Scholarship. She is currently an active student ambassador and the co-chair of the Campus Committee for Environmental Responsibility, a group which she helped to create.

Note: Photos available on request. E-mail Michelle at michelle.ouellette@plattsburgh.edu.