MCC News

2 MCC Students Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

April 15, 2021

BRIGHTON, N.Y. – The following Monroe Community College students, faculty and staff recently received awards and honors recognizing their achievements:

• Two Monroe Community College students are among 135 students from across the State University of New York (SUNY) system who recently received the 2021 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, the highest honor bestowed upon a student by SUNY.

The MCC students are:

• 

  Auven “Benny” Martinez III

  

  Jaelah Bundy

  Jaelah Bundy of Rochester, a fine arts major and a member of Phi Theta Kappa honor society. She maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout three semesters and was an art studio monitor and a resident assistant for two semesters. She has held clothing drives and was on the leadership board of a community arts organization.

• Auven “Benny” Martinez III of Rochester, a criminal justice major pursuing a career in politics in hopes of playing a significant role in reforming the criminal justice system. He aspires to ultimately lead Rochester as mayor. He began his leadership at MCC as a peer leader and later served as the vice president of membership for the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and the Downtown Campus student government president. He holds the position of student trustee.

The award recognizes students who have best demonstrated, and have been recognized for, their integration of academic excellence with accomplishments in the areas of leadership, athletics, civic engagement, creative and performing arts, campus involvement and/or career achievement, and with this year’s awards, the addition of diversity, equity & inclusion; military service; perseverance; and special service in relation to COVID-19.

“Our students have sacrificed so much over the last 13 months. Now more than ever, it is imperative that we mark the milestones and celebrate the brilliance, vision, resilience, and community stewardship of SUNY’s best and brightest,” said Chancellor Jim Malatras. “It is my great honor to present the Chancellor’s Awards for Student Excellence to these truly incredible students. Undeterred by the challenges of a once-in-a-generation health crisis, they have all overcome significant odds to pursue their academic passions, become campus and community leaders, help and inspire others, and foster a better world for us all. Congratulations to all the winners, and a heartfelt thank you for making the SUNY system proud.”

• Monroe Community College’s student chapter of the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) international honor society recently was named distinguished chapter and received a Distinguished Honors in Action Award from PTK for its project, themed “The Heirs of Our Ways,” incorporating academic research and analysis, action, collaboration and impact.

In addition, Jodi Oriel, director of Student Life and Leadership Development, received PTK’s Horizon Award for her 23 years as an advisor to the MCC chapter and for her leadership and contributions to the regional PTK advisory board.

Scott Rudd, associate professor of English, received PTK’s Distinguished Advisor Award for his significant contributions to the personal development of MCC student members and for his service as MCC chapter’s advocate for the past five years.

Phi Theta Kappa is an international community college honor society with 1,200 member chapters that include MCC’s Alpha Theta Iota.