For Immediate Release
March 27, 2023

Nine Suffolk Students Recognized for Extraordinary Academic, Leadership Achievement

Seven students will be awarded The State University of New York’s (SUNY) highest honor, The Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence; six are Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All State recipients, and four are Coca-Cola scholars.

Nine Suffolk County Community College students are being honored for their academic achievements by three prestigious organizations that recognize academic achievement, excellence and leadership. Several of the students have earned multiple awards.

Seven students will be awarded The State University of New York’s (SUNY) highest honor, The Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence; six are Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All State recipients, and four are Coca-Cola scholars.

We are extremely proud of these exceptional students and their achievements,” said Suffolk County Community College President Dr. Edward Bonahue. “These are students who are engaged in their home and college communities; they innovate, dream, and achieve. They try their best and have proven that their best is extraordinary,” he said.

About the Awards

The student recipients of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence are recognized for their integration of academic excellence with other aspects of their lives including leadership, campus involvement, community service, arts (creative or performing), athletics, and/or career achievement.

Phi Theta Kappa is the premier honor society recognizing the academic achievement of students at associate degree-granting colleges and helping them to grow as scholars and leaders. The Society is made up of more than 3.8 million members and nearly 1,300 chapters in 11 countries, with approximately 240,000 active members in the nation’s colleges.

The Coca-Cola Academic Team recognizes high achieving college students who demonstrate academic excellence and intellectual rigor combined with leadership and service that extends their education beyond the classroom to benefit society.

The 2023 Coca-Cola Academic Team Gold Scholars are awarded $1,500 scholarships and Silver Scholar a $1,250 scholarship. Each scholar also receives a commemorative medallion. Students are nominated for the academic team by their college administrators. Selection is based on academic achievement, leadership, and engagement in college and community service.

Award Recipients

Chancellors Award

Adrianna Oliva is an American Sign Language major from Stony Brook, has a 4.0 grade point average and has earned Dean’s List recognition every semester for the last two years. Adrianna serves as vice president of the ASL Club, is an Honors Scholar, and Orientation Leader at the College. She is also heavily involved with the College’s theatre program and has worked as a stage hand and an assistant sound designer for several campus productions that earned her a Certificate of Merit and the Junior Mint Award presented by the theatre arts faculty.

Chancellors Award

Emily Lucana is a Business Administration major from Huntington, has a 3.8 grade point average and has earned Dean’s List recognition. Emily serves as vice president of the Honors Club, president of the Student Government Association, president of the Business and Accounting Club, Peer Mentor and SGA Representative at the Campus Activities Board. This Coca-Cola Leaders of Promise Scholar has already started her own art business, and is the recipient of the prestigious Honors Foundation Scholarship, which is the highest scholarship given by Suffolk County Community College’s Honors Program.

PTK All -State, Coca-Cola Silver Scholar, Chancellors Award

Ma Rodezsa (Dezsa) Santillan, a Liberal Arts major from Southold, has a 3.9 grade point average and has earned Dean’s List recognition every semester for the last two years. As one of only two Eastern Campus students nominated to the PTK All-USA Academic Team, Dezsa serves as president of the Campus Activities Board, where she has led events such as the Halloween Festival, FIFA Tournament, Oktoberfest and Bingo Day. Dezsa is also a Peer Mentor and an Orientation Leader, and is a regular blood donor at the Red Cross blood drives on campus.

Chancellors Award

Megan Ramirez, an Addiction Studies major from Bayshore, has a 4.0 grade point average and has earned Dean’s List recognition every semester for the last two years. Megan serves as president of the Addiction Studies Club, vice president of Alpha Sigma Lambda and is a Get There from Here Scholar. Megan is a regular volunteer at Brighter Tomorrows Inc., and ECLI/VIBES, speaking at events to raise awareness about domestic violence, distributing holiday toys, and organizing their clothing pantry. She has also appeared in Suffolk County’s Narcan Training Video as well as the College’s own photo shoots and commercials.

PTK All-State, Coca-Cola Gold Scholar, Chancellors Award

Nicholas Maloney, a Liberal Arts Psychology major from Lake Ronkonkoma, has a 4.0 grade point average and has earned Dean’s List recognition every semester for the last two years. Nicholas serves as vice president of service for PTK’s Alpha Zeta Nu Chapter and is a member of the Honors College. He is a recipient of the Get There from Here Scholarship, volunteers weekly in the campus food pantry, and also performs stand-up comedy while not on campus. His many contributions to the College have earned him one of only two nominations for the Ammerman Campus PTK All-USA Academic Team.

 

PTK All-State, Coca-Cola Gold Scholar, Chancellors Award

Christine Castillo, a Health Information Technology major from Brentwood, has a 3.8 grade point average and has earned Dean’s List recognition every semester for the last two years. Christine is the president and co-founder of the Global Connections Club, which promotes and celebrates student cultural diversity. She is also a Peer Mentor, senator in the Student Government and is a recipient of several prestigious scholarships, including the NSF-STEM Scholarship, Vanessa Todd Scholarship, and Get There from Here Scholarship. Christine also regularly volunteers as her church’s secretary and at Pronto of Long Island, helping LI’s needy population.

PTK All-State, Coca-Cola Gold Scholar, Chancellors Award

Kaycee Gracia, a Liberal Arts: Geology major from Sayville, has a 4.0 GPA and has earned Dean’s List recognition every semester for the last two years. Kaycee serves as President of PTK’s Alpha Zeta Nu Chapter, where she directed two major campaigns: to combat “fast fashion” and create an Autism Sensory Room on the Ammerman Campus. She is also an Orientation Leader and is the recipient of nine scholarships, most notably the Get There from Here Scholarship, Sartorius STEM Scholarship, and NSF-STEM Scholarship. She also actively volunteers with the Rotaract Community Service Club and campus food pantry.

PTK All-State

Meredith Rosa, a Business Marketing major from Central Islip and has a 3.8 grade point average. She has earned Dean’s List recognition every semester for the last two years. Meredith serves as president of the Dance Club, Executive Board, Peer Mentor and was one of the nominees for PTK All-USA, All-State Academic Team.

PTK All-State

Thursday Abad, a Liberal Arts major from Wading River, has a 3.7 grade point average and has earned Dean’s List recognition every semester for the last two years. This future art museum curator is one of only two Eastern Campus students nominated to the PTK All-USA Academic Team for the 2022-2023 academic year. Thursday also serves as secretary of PTK, is a peer mentor, and has one of her essays published in the Eastern Campus student Newspaper, Lighthouse News.