SUNY Potsdam Student Travis Crickard of St. John's Honored with Chancellor's Award

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From left, Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher with Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence recipient Travis Crickard and SUNY Potsdam President John F. Schwaller.

POTSDAM, NY (05/27/2011)(readMedia)-- Three SUNY Potsdam students were recently honored with the prestigious Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence, one of the highest academic honors that a State University of New York student can receive.

SUNY Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher presented the awards in a ceremony at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany on April 5. The chancellor presented 249 students with the 2011 award.

The SUNY Potsdam students receiving the 2011 Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence included Travis Crickard of St. John's, New Labrador, Canada.

Travis Crickard graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in community health on May 22, 2011. While an undergraduate, he was a member of SUNY Potsdam's men's ice hockey team, where he was also a member of the SUNYAC All-Academic Team, the SUNYAC Commissioner's List, and President of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. He has also participated in the community as a volunteer with the A.A. Kingston Middle School Mentoring Program for at-risk youths, Potsdam Fire Department, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Relay for Life and Habitat for Humanity.

Prior to receiving the Chancellor's Award, he has also been the recipient of the Neil Johnson Award for community health students who portray exceptional abilities in academics, athletics and community service. Along with being an honors student at the College, Crickard has been inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi, Omicron Psi, Eta Sigma Gamma, Lambda Alpha and Phi Eta Sigma national honor societies.

The other SUNY Potsdam award recipients were Joseph Bernier of Chateaugay, N.Y., and Justin Moniz of Lake Ronkonkoma, N.Y.

"The students we honor today have excelled academically and taken advantage of what SUNY has to offer in and outside the classroom," said Chancellor Zimpher. "These students are proven leaders, athletes, artists, community servants, and much more. They represent the future of our state and are perfect examples of The Power of SUNY. I congratulate all of the students receiving recognition today and thank them for the positive impact each of them has had on SUNY and the communities we serve."

The Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence was created 14 years ago to recognize students who have best demonstrated, and have 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 (GPA) for all recipients this year was 3.8.

Each year, campus presidents establish a selection committee, which reviews exemplary students. Nominees are then forwarded to the Chancellor's Office and are subject to a second round of review. Finalists are then recommended to the Chancellor to become recipients of the award. Each recipient receives a framed certificate and medallion, which is traditionally worn at Commencement.

For more information about the many achievements of SUNY Potsdam's students, visit www.potsdam.edu/newsandevents.

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 4,350 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.

-www.potsdam.edu-