Awards
The SUNY Chancellor's award for Student Excellence annually recognizes a select number of graduating seniors who have demonstrated and been recognized for the integration of SUNY excellence with many aspects of their lives which must include three of the following areas: academics; leadership; diversity, equity, inclusion & justice; campus involvement, civics and service; research & development; and/or creative and performing arts. Examples of achievements and accomplishments to consider may include, but are not limited to, athletics, advocacy, military service, student government, teaching and service positions, involvement in clubs and organizations, volunteer work, and research experience.
Eligibility. Stony Brook undergraduates graduating between June 2024 and May 2025 who have received recognition for outstanding achievement AND have a GPA of 3.5 or higher are encouraged to complete the online nomination/application form (see below), and to submit a current CV/resume to be considered for the campus nomination/endorsement. Note: Nomination letters/letters of support from University faculty/staff are strongly encouraged but not required. Students can self nominate.
Campus nomination & SUNY selection process. The student's nomination materials (i.e. the completed online application plus a CV/resume) will be forwarded to the internal campus nomination selection committee which can recommend up to 14 candidates for consideration. All applicants/nominees will be notified by the end of January as to whether they have been recommended as a candidate for this SUNY award. If recommended as a campus nominee/finalist for the SUNY award, the nominee's application materials will then be forwarded to Albany for consideration. The Stony Brook-recommended nominees will be notified directly by SUNY of their award status, and if selected by SUNY as a recipient of the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence will be officially recognized at a ceremony in April2025.
Per SUNY guidelines, nominated students with measurable, long-term accomplishments and achievements will be measured (scored) at a higher level than other achievements. In addition, students’ achievements that affect the greater campus community and/or a large number of students and/or community members will be valued higher than other achievements.
Application instructions. The online application/nomination form should be completed by the student being nominated. (Attention Nominators!!: please share the link to the application with eligible students and encourage them to apply!) Please note that applicants are asked to provide descriptions/summaries of their awards, honors, accomplishments and/or achievement in THREE (3) primary areas, from the following categories: Academic Excellence; Leadership; Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Justice; Campus Involvement, Civics & Service; Research & Development; Arts (Creative or Performing). Applicants should be prepared to provide specifics such as the name of any awards previously received, the organization(s) sponsoring the award/recognition, leadership positions held, and dates. Note: Applicants may list and/or describe as many recognitions/honors as space permits in any one category but should avoid duplicating entries in multiple categories. In some cases, there may be multiple categories available to detail a particular activity or accomplishment and the applicant/nominee must choose the best category among several valid options. For example, an applicant who served as an officer of a club or an honor society could potentially describe relevant accomplishments in either the Leadership or the Campus Involvement/Community Service categories, but not both. If that same applicant spent the majority of time volunteering and organizing food drives, then Community Service might be the best category for detailing this activity.
Please note that awards/achievements/honors from another college or high school should not be included as part of the application/nomination.If you have questions as to how to complete the form, please do not hesitate to contact Karen Kernan, Campus Representative. Nominators who wish to submit a letter of nomination to supplement the application package (optional) may send a letter detailing student's outstanding accomplishments to karen.kernan@stonybrook.edu
Application Form:
Nomination Package (application) includes: Online form (to be completed by student) + a current CV or resume (please upload); + a letter (optional/recommended)
Campus Deadline. December 20, 2024
Contact: Karen Kernan, URECA. Tel: 631.632.7114. Email: karen.kernan@stonybrook.edu
Supporting letters of nomination are strongly encouraged but are not required, and may be emailed to Karen Kernan.This award is given annually to a very select number of graduating seniors who have shown true academic excellence, not just in the classroom, but in other ways as well, in research or creative activities, or in building an academic community.
Faculty/staff interested in nominating a graduating senior for this award should send a letter summarizing the reasons for the nominee's candidacy to Karen Kernan by April 5.Please also include the nominee's ID#, a resume, and a description of the student's achievements beyond the classroom (e.g. co-authorship of a paper, presentation at national meetings and/or professional conferences, development of an outstanding creative project).
*Note that students previously nominated for the Chancellor's award for Student Excellence will be automatically be considered for the Provost's award (additional letters of support are encouraged).
Campus Deadline. April 4, 2025
Contact: Karen Kernan: 631.632.7114 (tel); karen.kernan@stonybrook.eduThis award is given on the basis of an essay on a selected legal topic that changes annually. The essay has a maximum length of 2,000 words excluding the bibliography. University endorsement is required: each participating SUNY campus may submit up to 3 essays.
Competition is open to students in their junior year at SUNY State-operated campuses who are interested in legal issues, or are interested in pursuing a career in the legal field. Awards include: $1,500-First prize for best essay describing the role and relevance of law in dealing with a current legal issue; $1,000 - Second Prize. This year’s essay competition topic centers on legal possession of the property: "A Fox in Whose Hen House."
Note: the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.)generators is prohibited. Any essay submissions found to be a product of A.I. will be disqualified.Application Instructions.
Application Form: 2025 Scharps legal essay: application cover sheet and detailed instructions - view PDF
Campus Deadline: Noon, January 22*, 2025 (*internal campus deadline).
Contact / campus coordinator: Karen Kernan, URECA. Tel: 631.632.7114. Email: karen.kernan@stonybrook.edu
Ward Melville Valedictorian Award
In honor of the first chairperson of the Stony Brook Council, the University presents its most distinguished undergraduate honor, the Ward Melville Valedictorian Award, to the graduating senior who has attained the highest academic average during four years at Stony Brook. Note: no application is necessary for consideration; awards are based on academic achievement/GPA. Awards are announced annually in late May or early June (including those awardees who were recent December and/or August graduates).
H. Lee Dennison Award
The H. Lee Dennison Award, named in honor of Suffolk County's first chief executive, is presented by the University to the graduating senior who entered Stony Brook as a transfer student, completed at least 60 credits of letter grade work at Stony Brook, and attained the highest academic average in that work. Note: no application is necessary for consideration; awards are based on academic achievement/GPA. Awards are announced annually in late May or early June (including those awardees who were recent December and/or August graduates).
Contact: Karen Kernan: 631.632.7114 (tel); karen.kernan@stonybrook.edu
Please contact Karen Kernan (URECA) if you have further questions regarding these valedictory awards.