SUNY Delhi Graduates Honored by Chancellor

DELHI, NY (04/01/2014)(readMedia)-- Two SUNY Delhi students have been named 2014 recipients of the Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence.

Virginia Giles, a Business Administration major from South Kortright, and Drew Laemmermann, a Construction Management: Design Build major from Watertown, are among an elite group of students to be honored by the State University of New York on April 2 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany.

"Virginia and Drew are among SUNY Delhi's best and brightest," said President Candace S. Vancko. "I am tremendously proud of them and very pleased to be able to recognize their accomplishments. Their academic excellence and commitment to serving the SUNY Delhi community and beyond will make them exceptional leaders in the future."

"Students honored with the Chancellor's Award for Excellence truly embody the power of SUNY," said Chancellor Zimpher. "As proven leaders and role models, scholar athletes, creative artists, and civic volunteers, each student is recognized not just for academic achievement, but also for the profound impact they have on college campuses and local communities across New York State. Congratulations to the SUNY Delhi students being recognized today."

With a GPA of 3.83, Virginia Giles is a SUNY Delhi graduate who achieved the highest levels as a student during her time on campus. She earned scholarships from the Merrill Family Foundation, the College Association at Delhi, Inc. and the Alumni Association and was named to Phi Eta Sigma, the college's honor society, of which she was president and treasurer. She completed an internship with the college's Records and Registration office and assisted her peers with their studies as a tutor with the Resnick Learning Center. In this capacity, she earned "Student of the Year."

Giles was highly engaged on campus, devoting her time outside the classroom to a number of activities. As a student leader, she served as president and treasurer of the Commuter Student Association, student coordinator and treasurer for the O'Connor Center for Community Engagement, vice president of the Photography Club, and was an orientation leader and Alumni Student Ambassador. Giles' commitment to volunteering led her to complete over 1,000 hours of community service, earning her the distinction of a Gold Level Leader. Recognized with a Student Life Leadership Award, Giles was a member of many clubs, including Fine Arts, Campus Voice and Student Veterans Association. She helped guide important campus initiatives as a member of the Alumni Advisory Board, the Business and IT Advisory Council, the College Conduct Council, the Common Hour Programming Committee, and the Student Library Advisory Board.

Drew Laemmermann is highly dedicated to his studies, achieving high honors for every semester he has attended SUNY Delhi, currently holding a GPA of 3.96. His exceptional grades and initiative have earned him scholarships within his field from the Associated General Contractors of America and The MOLES, a heavy civil construction organization, as well as a Student Life Leadership Scholarship. During the mid-winter break in 2013, he had the unique opportunity to use what he learned in the classroom to help Sandy victims by rebuilding their homes devastated by the hurricane.

A dynamic and enthusiastic SUNY Delhi student, Laemmermann has committed his time to many campus activities as a student leader. He has served as a senator and secretary for Delhi's student chapter of the Associated General Contractors of America, president and vice president of the Tri-Atelier professional fraternity, and vice president of the Fine Arts Club. He has assisted with Delhi's town-gown relations as a committee member of the Mayor's Task Force and a Community Outreach Assistant. His commitment to volunteering earned him a Silver Leader distinction for completing over 100 hours of community service.

SUNY Delhi is a member of the State University of New York, the largest public higher education system in the U.S. Delhi's seamless approach to education includes over 60 academic programs, which allow students to obtain one-year certificates and two-year associate degrees. Students may also pursue a four-year degree in select programs at Delhi. For more information about SUNY Delhi, call toll-free 1-800-96-DELHI or visit Delhi's web site at www.delhi.edu.