SUNY Potsdam Awards Prestigious Mt. Emmons Scholarship to Five Incoming Students

The State University of New York at Potsdam Recognizes Five Incoming Freshmen with College's Most Prestigious Scholarship

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Mt. Emmons Scholarship recipient Mahala Nyberg poses in her new SUNY Potsdam dance T-shirt.

POTSDAM, NY (06/09/2014)(readMedia)-- SUNY Potsdam has awarded its most prestigious scholarship award to five remarkable incoming first-year students. The Mt. Emmons Scholarship is named for the most difficult mountain to climb in the Adirondacks, and covers the entire cost of each student's in-state tuition and fees. It also waives room and board costs, and includes a $500 stipend for the recipients to purchase textbooks and supplies.

The incoming Class of 2018 will include five Mt. Emmons Scholarship recipients, including Andrew Caswell, Bradley Cech, Ivan Jukic, Julie LeVonne and Mahala Nyberg.

The scholarship is renewable for three additional years of undergraduate study, as long as students maintain a 3.25 minimum grade point average. Each year, SUNY Potsdam considers the top 1 percent of its applicant pool as possible recipients of the Mt. Emmons Scholarship. The College awards the scholarship based on academic excellence, leadership, community service, extracurricular activities, employment history, letters of recommendation and an interview.

About the recipients:

Andrew Caswell of Plattsburgh, N.Y., is set to graduate from Peru Central School, and he plans to major in music education at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music. Caswell has been a member of the Math League, Model United Nations and National Honor Society, in addition to working as a volunteer coach for Chazy Youth Hockey and as a referee for USA Hockey. An accomplished violinist, Caswell has performed as concertmaster with the Peru High School Avanti Orchestra, the Adirondack Youth Orchestra, the New York State School Music Association Area All-State Orchestra, as well as with the SUNY Plattsburgh Sinfonia String Ensemble. In addition, he has competed on the varsity cross-country team.

Bradley Cech of Plattsburgh, N.Y., is set to graduate from Beekmantown Central School, and plans to major in mathematics at SUNY Potsdam. Cech has served as the Area 6 president and executive board president for the Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Seminar, in addition to being Student Council president. A member of the National Honor Society, Model United Nations, Concert Band and Concert Choir, Cech has volunteered with Journey into Reading, MVP Kids, Peer Connecting and Relay for Life.

Ivan Jukic of Potsdam, N.Y., is set to graduate from Potsdam Central School, and plans to major in music business at SUNY Potsdam's Crane School of Music. He has served as president of the National Honor Society and the Model United Nations, in addition to being a member of the Speech and Debate Club. Jukic has performed with the Concert Choir, Concert Band, Canta Sera Chamber Singers, Jazz Band and Drama Club, and has appeared in three musicals, including "Aida," "Little Women" and "Crazy for You." A peer tutor, Jukic also volunteered at the "Sveti Mihovil" horse ranch in Trilj, Croatia last summer, and has attended the Crane Youth Music summer camp.

Julie LeVonne of Binghamton, N.Y., is set to graduate from Chenango Valley Central School, and plans to major in either chemistry or biology at SUNY Potsdam. She has interned at the Kopernik Observatory and Science Center, and served as president of the Science Olympiad and Mathletes. Levine has also been a member of Students Against Destructive Decisions, Student Council, the Drama Club, French Club, Art Club and the Yearbook Club. LeVonne has also raised funds and donations for the Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse (CHOW) Hunger Walk and Thanksgiving food drives, as well as volunteering for the Levene, Golden & Thompson Tennis Challenger Tournament.

Mahala Nyberg of Oriskany Falls, N.Y., is set to graduate from Madison Central School, and plans to major in history and dance at SUNY Potsdam. An accomplished performer, she has studied ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, lyrical and Scottish Highland dance, in addition to serving as a volunteer assistant dance instructor and starting an after-school ballet program. Nyberg also studies the harp and has served as class secretary, as well as interning for the Bogardus Performing Arts Center and the Oneida County Historical Museum. A member of National Honor Society, she has attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Camp, and has volunteered to assist in elementary classrooms.

For more information about scholarships at SUNY Potsdam, visit www.potsdam.edu/admissions/financial/types/scholarships.

Founded in 1816, and located on the outskirts of the beautiful Adirondack Park, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges. SUNY Potsdam currently enrolls approximately 4,300 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its handcrafted education, challenging liberal arts and sciences core, excellence in teacher training and leadership in the performing and visual arts. Empowered by a culture of creativity, the campus community recently launched Take the Lead: The Campaign for Potsdam, which aims to raise $27 million by the College's bicentennial in 2016.

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