Chancellor’s and President’s awards honor 14 Binghamton University students

Fourteen students have been recognized by the University and SUNY for their outstanding accomplishments and contributions during their time at Binghamton.

“Congratulations to the recipients of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence and the President’s Award for Undergraduate Student Excellence,” President Anne D’Alleva said.

“These students represent the very best of Binghamton University, and I commend them for their outstanding achievements across academics, research, leadership, and service. I am deeply grateful for their contributions to our community; beyond their individual accomplishments, they inspire others to pursue excellence. I wish them every success in the next chapter of their lives.”

The Chancellor’s Award winners will be honored on April 27 at a SUNY reception in Albany, and the President’s Award winners will be recognized at a reception on campus on May 4.

The SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

The Chancellor’s Award acknowledges students for outstanding achievements that have demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership, campus involvement, civics and service, research and development, or creative and performing arts. It is the highest honor bestowed on a SUNY student.

Senior Recipients

Carissa Bayack

Middletown, New York

English and Philosophy, Politics, and Law major; Human Rights minor

Bayack conducts interdisciplinary research on wrongful convictions through the Upstate New York Policing Research Consortium. She also serves as a Writing Center tutor, research ambassador, and managing editor of the Binghamton University Undergraduate Journal. As a first-generation college student and McNair Scholar, she will begin her PhD in English at Syracuse University this fall, where she will continue advancing scholarship and advocating for systemic change in the criminal justice system.

Rachel Liu

Staten Island, New York

Biological Sciences major; Chinese Studies minor

Liu has demonstrated extensive leadership as the vice president of service for Alpha Phi Omega, an anatomy and physiology teaching assistant, and a First-Year Research Immersion Program (FRI) peer mentor. Her research background includes two semesters of independent study with Associate Professor Michel Shamoon-Pour following her completion of the FRI program, which led to presentations at conferences, including the American Association of Biological Anthropologists 2023, SUNY Undergraduate Research Conference 2024, and HIV & Respi-DART 2024. Following graduation, she will pursue a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree at Decker College through the baccalaureate accelerated track (BAT) program.

Amari Pavati

Austin, Texas

Geography and Ancient Mediterranean Studies double major; Judaic Studies minor

Pavati is a student, scholar, and political activist who has made the most of his time at Binghamton University pursuing what he loves. Last summer, he was an SSAP scholar and conducted research on the reign of Roman Emperor Elagabalus. He is finishing another research project for the AMS Honors Program, examining the archaeology at a specific synagogue to understand what Jewish life and its surrounding communities were like during antiquity. Outside of academics, he helped to found the Yiddish Bund in 2023. The Bund is a left-leaning Jewish organization dedicated to political education, local activism, and cultural exchange, where he hopes to bring more attention to lesser-known aspects of Jewish history and culture, especially Yiddish.

Lauren Peralata

Ronkonkoma, New York

Integrative Neuroscience major

Peralata has pursued opportunities for campus involvement through her roles as a Scholars student mentor, Scholars program assistant, teaching assistant for four classes, and Residential Life operations assistant. She participated in the Philippine-American League as publicity chair, secretary, and senior advisor, and in the Asian-Pacific American Medical Student Association as the educational chair and president. She held an undergraduate research position in Graduate School Dean Terrence Deak’s lab, as well as two publications on venous thromboembolism and the prevalence of hairy-cell leukemia at Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital.

​Rachel Pitt

New Paltz, New York

Biological Sciences major

Pitt is recognized for her research in plant speciation and fungal diversity. She is completing an honors thesis and will pursue a Master of Science degree in biology next year. She serves as the president of the Evolutionary Studies (EvoS) Club, vice president of the Outdoors Club, and an apartment assistant, demonstrating her strong commitment to leadership and community. She is also involved in Wind Symphony and Flute Ensemble, where she builds community through music.

​Jaclyn Printz

Old Bethpage, New York

Biological Sciences major

Printz has excelled in scientific research while contributing extensively to the campus as a mentor and leader. She conducted research on biofilms through the First-year Research Immersion (FRI) program and independent projects, including investigating biofilm dispersion in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and leading a project on fungal biofilm formation. She also participated in a summer research experience in immunology at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, where she characterized the immunomodulatory effects of protein-coated nanoparticles for treating infections such as sepsis. She is co-authoring a STEM education paper on scientific poster design, and she has multiple manuscripts in preparation and under review from her various research experiences. She serves as a lead peer mentor in the FRI biofilms stream, guiding and supporting students through their research and first-year college experiences. She is also an FRI ambassador, contributing to program outreach and education. As a campus ambassador and president of Gift of Life, she has led recruitment and awareness efforts that have added over 2,800 people to the stem cell registry, contributing to 51 donor matches and one lifesaving transplant.

Amanda Treulich

Farmingdale, New York

Integrative Neuroscience major; Global Studies minor

Treulich is a leader in campus outreach and community-building as president of the Speech and Debate Club, a senior tour guide, a Residential Life community assistant, and a student assistant for B-Healthy. In addition, she is part of an independent study program in Research Assistant Professor Deborah Kreiss’ lab, working on a publication regarding neuroscience education. Outside these roles, Treulich is involved in the arts as soprano section leader for Treble Choir, a member of Chamber Singers, and a violinist for Explorchestra.

Deborah Zeleny

Brooklyn, New York

Social Work major and Education minor; pre-law track

Zeleny is a student leader known for her involvement in student mentorship and community service initiatives. She has supported first-generation and underrepresented students through TRIO Student Support Services, led campus initiatives as president of the Education Club and a member of the Education Minor Steering Committee, and contributed to student life through roles in campus programming, research, and social work. Dedicated to the campus community, she has served as a tour guide, Late Nite event coordinator, and BSW intern at Harpursville Central School District through BUCS. Her work reflects a deep commitment to empowering students and strengthening school and campus communities, with an emphasis on belonging, support, and connection.

Graduate Student Recipients

Abigail Connors

Montgomery, New York

Human Rights MS (Philosophy, Politics, and Law, and Law and Human Rights double major as an undergraduate)

Connors became engaged in research and community service in her first year through the Source Project, where she worked with the Broome County Public Defender’s Office to research reproductive rights access through a human rights lens. She continued her research in human rights during her junior year, where she researched how sexual violence in online spaces obstructs women’s peace-building efforts. She published this work. For the past four years, she has been engaged in the campus community as the vice president of mentorship for the Scholars Program, the policy director for the Student Association’s vice president of student success, a wellness assistant, and a tour guide. She also embedded herself in the broader Binghamton community, serving as president of Binghamton Policy Project, a fellow with the New York Democratic Committee, and intern for both Journey’s End Refugee Services and New York State Sen. Lea Webb.

Lotus Taylor

Pleasantville, New York

MS in Higher Education and Student Affairs (Sociology major as an undergraduate)

Taylor is a student leader and activist. She has spent her time at Binghamton fighting for improvements for the campus and higher education through her work in the Student Association, the SUNY Student Assembly, and the United States Student Association. Her commitment to making higher education a protected right, ensuring that all students’ basic needs are met at all levels, and her high academic performance showcase her strengths.

President’s Award for Undergraduate Student Excellence

The President’s Award for Undergraduate Student Excellence is awarded to junior and senior students for their outstanding contributions to the Binghamton campus and/or the local community based on their academic excellence, campus involvement, community engagement, leadership, and creative and scholarly activities.

Clay Jeon

Syosset, New York

Philosophy, Politics, and Law major

Jeon has been engaged in several student-facing organizations during his time at Binghamton. He serves as the chief justice of the Student Association Judicial Board, one of the directors of publication for the Binghamton Policy Project, and the vice president of the Pre-Law Education Organization. He was selected as the 2025 undergraduate speaker for Binghamton University’s TEDx Conference. He has also been involved in research, participating in the Pell Honors Program and the Source Project.

Amari Pavati

(See Chancellor’s Awards)

Katelyn Wasilenko

Ossining, New York

Biology major; Health and Wellness Studies minor

Wasilenko is dedicated to her research on nutrition and mental health and translating her findings into community impact. She serves medically underserved food pantry families, older adults, and college students by developing and delivering hands-on cooking workshops and community nutrition programs as a research lead of BMINDS (Binghamton Mentors for the Interdisciplinary Nutrition and Distress Study), and through her clinical work as a medical assistant. She is also recognized for her BMINDS research accomplishments, leading data analysis, abstracts, conference presentations, and a journal publication examining diet quality and health behaviors through novel study designs.

Roxy Dias (Honorable Mention)

Hicksville, New York

English and Human Development double major

Dias has a passion for social justice. She interns at Journey’s End Refugee Services and has participated in service events whenever possible. She hopes to publish a novel in the future and would like to pursue human rights law.

​Miraz Hossain Sakif (Honorable Mention)

Buffalo, New York

Electrical Engineering major

Sakif has served as an undergraduate course assistant and has been nominated for the IEEE-HKN honor society. As an active-duty soldier in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he serves as a power project manager and an electric power generation specialist (91D). He earned several medals of excellence for his Army leadership and was injured during his military service. He has been conducting critical research on energy storage since 2017. He is close to inventing an ultra-lightweight battery in Argonne National Lab-HEP and founded a clean-energy company called PlasmaX Technology.