UTICA, NY – Two SUNY Polytechnic Institute (SUNY Poly) students, Veronika Palmova and Nicholas Rossi, are recipients of this year’s Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.

“We are incredibly proud of Veronika and Nicholas, both of whom are very involved on campus and well deserving of this honor,” said SUNY Poly President Dr. Winston Soboyejo. “Their futures are certainly bright and we can’t wait to celebrate them and all of our graduates at Commencement on May 4.”

Palmova is an international student from the Czech Republic currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in psychology with minors in criminal justice and community + behavioral health. On campus, she serves as a resident advisor, student ambassador, and statistics tutor, fostering a supporting environment for her peers. Post-graduation, her sights are set on pursuing a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling at SUNY Brockport, with the ultimate goal of becoming a licensed mental health counselor, specializing in helping young adults struggling with serious mental illnesses.

Rossi, a Rome native, is both a business administration and accounting major. He has served as the Student College Council Representative for the Student Government at Utica since Fall 2021, and Casual Debate Club Vice President. Rossi has worked in various positions throughout his time at SUNY Poly, including the Undergraduate Admissions Office as a student ambassador, the Center for Student Involvement as an orientation advisor and the SUNY Research Foundation as a research aide. After graduating this May, he will be attending Binghamton University to obtain an MBA, with ambitions of working within the accounting or finance department of a governmental research organization or tax firm. Rossi said he firmly believes that SUNY Poly has equipped him for a successful career and cherishes the connections he has made during his time there.

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.” It is the highest honor bestowed upon a student by the University.

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 11. 

To view SUNY’s news release, click here.