Morrisville State College liberal arts students receive top departmental honors

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MORRISVILLE, NY—Morrisville State College students were honored for their outstanding achievements during the 17th annual School of Liberal Arts Banquet ceremony, which is part of the college’s annual celebration of academic excellence. 

A total of 11 awards were presented to liberal arts students by the department’s professors during the event, which was presided by Paul Griffin, Dean of the School of Liberal Arts. 

The Applied Psychology Student of the Year, chosen by the director of psychology and program faculty, was presented to Courtney Lavere, of Oswego. 

The Journalism and Communications for Online Media Student of the Year, chosen by the Journalism Department, was presented to Jamie Strong, of Elmira Heights.  

Joshua Frederick, of Vilas, NJ, was named the Video Journalism Student of the Year, as chosen by the Journalism Department. 

Criminal justice student Octavia Wright, of Bronx, received the Humanities and Social Science Student of the Year. The award is chosen from nominations made by program faculty. 

Nicole Allen, of Canastota, and Andrea Haley, of Limington, Maine, were each recipients of the Criminal Justice Student of the Year award. Chosen by the Criminal Justice Department, consideration for the award is based on academic drive, involvement in activities and service to the major and/or criminal justice field. 

The School of Liberal Arts Outstanding Graduate of the Year was presented to Joseph Santino, a criminal justice student from Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada. The honoree is chosen by the Liberal Arts Awards Banquet Committee based on nominations from school faculty, and recognizes a graduating student who has a strong academic record and demonstrates leadership and service. 

The School of Liberal Arts Scholar-Athlete of the Year was awarded to criminal justice student Angela Marriott, of Peekskill. The honor is presented to a student-athlete who has an outstanding record of academic achievement, service and leadership.

Journalism student Gabrielle Roselli, of Schoharie, was named Theater Participant of the Year, an award based on outstanding involvement in theater productions. 

The Art W. and Doris Roberts Scholarship, based on exemplary student achievement, was awarded to Elvia Domingueza journalism and communication for online media student from Patterson. The scholarship honors Art W. Roberts, professor emeritus of humanities at Morrisville State College, and his wife, Doris, a college supporter. 

Coralee Bechteler, a horticulture student from Syracuse, was selected by a committee of faculty judges as the winner of the Campus Poetry Contest. The contest, open to all MSC community members, was based on poetry submitted throughout April in honor of National Poetry Month. 

Morrisville State College’s curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs. 

The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News and World Report Best Colleges 2017 issue and was also recognized in the Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges North in the 2017 Best Colleges rankings.