UTICA - SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) is proud to announce that students Lucas Nowlan and Ryan Primus have been named recipients of the prestigious 2025 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. This honor is the highest bestowed upon students by the State University of New York (SUNY) system and celebrates those who have demonstrated remarkable achievements across multiple areas of their college careers.

“Lucas and Ryan represent the very best of SUNY Poly—students who lead with purpose, serve with humility, and achieve with excellence,” said SUNY Poly President Dr. Winston Soboyejo. “Their commitment to research, athletics, service, and community stands as a shining example for others to follow.”

“These remarkable students have gone above and beyond, not only in the classroom but across campus and in their communities,” said Jennifer Adams, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students. “We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments and grateful for the positive impact they’ve made at SUNY Poly.”

Nowlan, a senior majoring in Network and Computer Security (Cybersecurity), exemplifies commitment to community and campus service. A bunk-in firefighter with the Maynard Fire Department, Nowlan spends countless hours each week on call, while also dedicating hundreds of volunteer hours supporting the homeless population in Utica. His leadership has been equally impactful on campus, where he served as both Director of Community Outreach and Chief Justice in student government.

Nowlan has also made academic contributions through university-based research during the 2023 academic year and the summer of 2024. His blend of public service, academic dedication, and campus involvement highlights the spirit of the Chancellor’s Award and SUNY Poly’s mission of civic engagement and excellence.

Primus, a graduating senior in SUNY Poly’s 4+1 BS/MS Computer Science program with a specialization in artificial intelligence and modeling, has excelled as both a scholar and student-athlete. As the starting goalkeeper for the men’s soccer team, he helped secure a North Atlantic Conference (NAC) Championship and a berth in the NCAA Division III tournament in 2023. His performance earned him numerous accolades including All-Conference honors, Defensive Player of the Week, and Rookie of the Week.

Outside of athletics, Primus has conducted extensive undergraduate and graduate research with SUNY Poly’s WINGS team under the mentorship of Dr. Arjun Singh. His research has been recognized internationally, with publications in the 2024 International Conference on Embedded Wireless Systems and Networks (EWSN) and the 2025 IEEE International Conference on Machine Learning for Communications and Networking (ICMLCN). He has presented in Abu Dhabi and Barcelona, maintained President’s List distinction, and actively contributed to campus life through CSTEP, the BS/MS program, and the Golf Club.

Established in 1997, the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence recognizes students for “outstanding achievements that have demonstrated the integration of SUNY excellence within many aspects of their lives in areas such as academics, leadership, campus involvement, community service, or the arts.”

A selection committee established by each SUNY campus, with the concurrence of the campus president, reviews the accomplishments of top-performing candidates. Nominees are forwarded to the Chancellor’s Office for a second round of review, and finalists are recommended to the Chancellor to become recipients of the award.

Recipients of this prestigious award from across the SUNY System attended an awards ceremony in Albany on April 29.