University at Albany

The University at Albany's Student Achievement Awards recognizes outstanding students who have demonstrated excellence in scholarship, leadership, and dedication to their field of study. This honor celebrates individuals who have gone above and beyond in their academic pursuits, contributed positively to their department and served as an inspiration to their peers. Recipients are selected based on their academic performance, innovative thinking, commitment to growth and embodiment of the school's values. By presenting this award, University at Albany's Massry School of Business aim to motivate students to strive for excellence in their disciplines, acknowledge hard work and encourage a culture of achievement and ambition.

Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

University at Albany Men's Lacrosse Freshman goalkeeper Brady Smith was named the America East Tournament's Most Outstanding Player. In the Championship Game, the rookie made 13 saves while allowing just seven goals. He also allowed just seven goals in the Semifinals against UMBC, making nine saves. Joining Smith on the America East's All-Championship Team was Silas Richmond, Max Neeson, and Jacob Smith. Smith brings his extensive experience from 91 Wolfpack where he played with Long Island for 10 years and Bayport Blue Point High School where he played three years of varsity lacrosse and varsity football. He also has high school accolates from 2023-2024 in both lacrosse and football. His high school background highlights include: all-division in lacrosse and all-county and champion titles in both lacrosse and football before joining UAlbany in fall 2024.

The National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation (NCEMSF) presented UAlbany's Five Quad students four national awards at their 2025 Conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Five Quad's first award was a recertification as a "Heart Safe Campus." Some requirements of this certification included offering cardiac arrest training and quality improvement initiatives, holding public CPR and AED training for the community and having early access to advanced care. They also received the "Striving for Excellence" recertification. To earn this award, organizations must meet certain standards such as delivery of care, training and continuing education of employees and volunteers and service to the community. A third recognition was the "CPR Save" award, which was given to a Five Quad crew that responded to a cardiac arrest on campus and was able to resuscitate the patient back to a normal heartbeat. The Gold Tier as an "EMS Ready Campus" was the final award Five Quad earned. Five Quad is a New York State-certified ambulance agency operated by UAlbany students. The agency provides emergency services to the Uptown Campus, along with Albany and Guilderland communities within a five-mile radius, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, during the fall and spring semesters. Student volunteers serve as CPR-certified ambulance attendants, emergency vehicle operators and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs). While also being on standby at events such as athletics, concerts and graduation. Five Quad Volunteer Ambulance Service has been proudly serving the University at Albany, as well as the Albany and Guilderland communities, since 1973. Founded in 1993, the National Collegiate Emergency Medical Services Foundation (NCEMSF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to scholarship, research and to creating a safer, healthier environment on college and university campuses through the support, promotion, and advocacy of campus-based emergency medical services. The Foundation is committed to the advancement of existing response groups and assisting in the development of new response groups.

The University at Albany women's rowing team made history this spring, competing in the program's first ever regatta - The Knecht Cup. The Great Danes had two boats competing, both advancing to race in final events. The Knecht Cup Regatta honors the memory of William J. Knecht and his passion for the sport of rowing. Every year, the Knecht Cup invites colleges from across the country to compete in a 3-day event.

The Dean's List at the University at Albany recognizes the outstanding academic achievements of full-time undergraduate students. To qualify for the Dean's List, students must earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or higher in their first semester of study and a GPA of 3.50 or higher in subsequent semesters.

Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

Jeesoo Jung, a PhD student in the School of Social Welfare at the University at Albany's College of Integrated Health Sciences, recently published an article in the British Journal of Social Work that assessed factors that influence how likely individuals are to prepare for disasters, including pandemics and natural disasters like hurricanes.

Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

The Dean's List at the University at Albany recognizes the outstanding academic achievements of full-time undergraduate students. To qualify for the Dean's List, students must earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or higher in their first semester of study and a GPA of 3.50 or higher in subsequent semesters.

The Dean's Letter of Commendation at the University at Albany recognizes the outstanding academic achievements of part-time undergraduate students. To qualify for the Dean's Letter of Commendation, students must earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or higher in their first semester of study and a GPA of 3.50 or higher in subsequent semesters.

The Cybersecurity Senior Capstone Project Partnership with TIAA Best-in-Class award recognizes exceptional contributions to the development of Incident Response and Data Loss Prevention plans. An outstanding collaboration with Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) cybersecurity professionals distinguished top performers to receive the Best-in-Class award. The Cybersecurity Senior Capstone Course is designed in a mixed asynchronous/synchronous format to combine a student's university skills and knowledge with a real-world scenario, empowering them to work directly with an industry partner to gain professional experience prior to graduation. The students log a total of 120 project hours before presenting their data loss prevention and incident response plan to industry partners at the end of the semester.

The Semiconductor and Microelectronics Leadership Program is an initiative from the College of Nanotechnology, Science, and Engineering to support high school and transfer students interested in semiconductor and microelectronics professions and provides scholars with a one-time, $5,000 award. This scholarship is funded through the Northeast Regional Defense Technology Hub, or NORDTECH, a $40 million consortium of academics, private sector chip companies and the Department of Defense. NORDTECH was established under the $52 billion U.S. CHIPS and Science Act. Through UAlbany's partnership with NY CREATES and industry leaders at the Albany NanoTech Complex, scholarship recipients also gain direct knowledge of the industry and its practices by participating in monthly activities. Students explore career opportunities, professional organizations, and they gain hands-on experiences and professional connections in semiconductors and electronics as they prepare for careers in these innovative, world-changing tech fields.

The Unsung Hero award recognizes a UAlbany department, student, student group, faculty or staff member who has made outstanding contributions to LGBTQ+ initiatives on campus or in the broader community. UAlbany has seen a large increase in resources and awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and strives to recognize and remember those who have contributed to this success. Lavender Celebration recognizes LGBTQ+ and allied students completing their bachelor's, master's or PhD degree who contribute to the LGBTQ+ community. Participating graduates are encouraged to invite friends, allies and family as they receive a rainbow tassel, hear from LGBTQ+ and allied alumni, meet fellow graduates and are received by LGBTQ+ faculty and allies.

The Cybersecurity Senior Capstone Project Partnership with TIAA Best-in-Class award recognizes exceptional contributions to the development of Incident Response and Data Loss Prevention plans. An outstanding collaboration with Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America (TIAA) cybersecurity professionals distinguished top performers to receive the Best-in-Class award. The Cybersecurity Senior Capstone Course is designed in a mixed asynchronous/synchronous format to combine a student's university skills and knowledge with a real-world scenario, empowering them to work directly with an industry partner to gain professional experience prior to graduation. The students log a total of 120 project hours before presenting their data loss prevention and incident response plan to industry partners at the end of the semester.

The Best-In-Class Award is a special recognition from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) for a top research poster that exemplifies a student's excellence in the field of Cybersecurity. The biannual CEHC Showcase offers the public and university community an array of interactive displays, innovative research, and poster presentations created by hundreds of undergraduate and graduate CEHC students, each highlighting the breadth of the college's disciplines in cybersecurity, emergency preparedness, homeland security, informatics, intelligence analysis, school library and software development.

World Ambassadors are sophomores who participated in a Living-Learning Community at the University at Albany in 2023-24. They connect with first-year students over the summer to answer new students' questions about life at UAlbany and assist the Community Assistant throughout the fall semester. Living-Learning Communities are a special opportunity to become engaged at UAlbany by bringing together new students, faculty, student leaders and advisors who create a unique experience around a special interest, such as a major, that helps students become involved and engaged with the campus community.

The University at Albany is welcoming students back to campus for the start of the Fall 2024 semester, including some 5,430 new Great Danes. More than 2,800 first-year students, from 32,320 applicants, are joining UAlbany's Class of 2028, with 223 students selected to be part of the University's Honors College, and 226 students enrolled as Presidential Scholars. In addition, more than 1,000 transfer students, including about 200 transfers from the College of Saint Rose, and 1,630 new graduate students are joining the campus community this fall. The Class of 2028 is among the most diverse in University history, with 55.6 percent coming from historically underrepresented groups. Students also hail from 23 different states and 33 countries. The class boasts an overall high school average of 90.3 percent.

Community Assistants are seniors or graduate students (often alumni of L-LCs) with a background that matches the Living-Learning Community. They host weekly events and activities for the first-year students to connect with them socially and academically. They assist first year students with their transition into their college experience and consequentially play a role in student persistence and retention.

World Diplomats are juniors who develop and lead engagement and community service opportunities for several Living-Learning Communities at the University at Albany. They also administratively support student engagement events. Living-Learning Communities at UAlbany bring together new students, faculty, student leaders and advisors who create a unique experience that helps students become involved and engaged with the campus community.

Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

The Eindhoven Semicon Summer School is designed to offer students a comprehensive program in the semiconductor industry, covering everything from equipment and devices to circuits, systems and applications, delivered by top specialists from a wide range of leading semiconductor companies and knowledge institutions. The summer school also includes team activities with professors from the Eindhoven University of Technology as well as discussions led by industry executives from two of the top semiconductor manufacturing and design companies in the world, the Dutch firms ASML and NXP. Arranged through a partnership between New York State and the government of the Netherlands to advance shared goals for the future of semiconductor manufacturing, the program provides sponsorship for up to five SUNY students to attend the four-day summer school.

The Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP) at the University at Albany provides a unique opportunity for qualified undergraduate students to conduct research and to explore new areas of science and engineering. The program provides unparalleled opportunities for students to: Enhance their academic skills, learning, and success Make intellectual and creative contributions to an academic discipline Learn about a specific field or career and develop competencies for future success Collaborate with faculty, staff, and students by exploring completely new areas of nanotechnology, science and engineering

More than 4,650 students in the Class of 2024 were celebrated during UAlbany's 180th commencement festivities. Among the graduates were an estimated 2,934 undergraduates and 1,719 graduate students, including recipients who completed their degrees during summer 2023, fall 2023 as well as winter 2024. The graduates join the ranks of mor ethan 200,000 UAlbany alumni worldwide. "For 180 years - since 1844 - UAlbany has been turning talented, driven students into globally engaged citizens. This year's class is no exception," UAlbany President Havidan Rodriguez told the graduates. "Yes, we know, you are graduating into an imperfect world. But all of the things that make this class uniquely special - your resilience, your values, your empathy, your thirst for understanding - will serve you well as you work toward greatness." An estimated 2,934 undergraduates from the Class of 2024 received degrees (including summer 2023, fall 2023 and winter 2024). The May 2024 graduates includes 34 percent who are first-generation college graduates and 27 who are veterans. The undergraduate degree recipients range in age from 19 to 68, with an average age of 23. Women make up 55 percent of the class. The graduates hail from 21 states and 27 countries. They received degrees in 55 different majors. Another 1,719 students from the Class of 2024 received master's degrees, doctoral degrees and graduate certificates, with 1,047 receiving their degrees in May. These graduate students come from 18 states and 37 nations. The average age of the graduate degree recipients is 28, with the oldest graduate student set to receive a doctoral degree at age 71, and the youngest receiving a master's degree at age 20. Among them are nine veterans.

Major General Ray Shields, the Adjutant General for the State of New York, announces the promotion of members of the New York Army National Guard in recognition of their capability for additional responsibility and leadership.

The State University of New York Climate Corps Internship Program consists of paid summer internships offering immersive work experience in research and policy at state agencies with environmental and sustainability missions. Selection is based on applicants' demonstrated interest in sustainability careers and potential for leadership and innovation, with a preference for students from disadvantaged communities as designated by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, and students facing related barriers to obtaining an internship experience. Climate Corps interns work with the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Department of Public Services (DPS), the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the Office of General Services (OGS), the Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP), or SUNY System Administration. Empire State Development is funding the $500,000 program.

The 2024 Academic All-District Women's At-Large Teams, selected by College Sports Communicators (CSC), recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in the athletic realm and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-America program separately recognizes honorees in four divisions - NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, and NAIA.

Team Harsh Environment Sensing successfully completed UAlbany's Regional I-Corps Short Course in the Summer of 2023, earning a recommendation for the National I-Corps Team award. In April of 2024, Team Harsh Environment Sensing successfully completed the National I-Corps program, earning a $50,000 award. The Entrepreneurial Lead was Sahyadri Anil Patil, with Dr. Mengbing Huang acting as Technical Lead.

The Veteran/Military Leadership Award recognizes a student veteran who has been involved on campus or in the local community, and/or has contributed to the success of other student veterans. The recipient must be a past or present member of the U.S. Armed Forces. The President's Awards for Leadership recognize and reward undergraduate and graduate students, as well as organizations that have made signficant contributions to enhance the quality of life at the University at Albany. Recipients have demonstrated a variety of accomplishments including extraordinary leadership, service, academic achievement and involvement within the University community