University at Albany

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 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.

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.

The Distinguished Scholar-Leader Award at UAlbany recognizes and honors graduating undergraduate seniors who best exemplify the scholar-leader-service ideal. Student awardees have demonstrated academic excellence, effective leadership in the University community and a commitment to serving others. Distinguished-Scholar-Leaders have also demonstrated a strong commitment to their academic and intellectual development as evidenced by participation in research or other creative scholarly activity. This award is among the highest conferred upon undergraduates. The President's Awards for Leadership recognize and reward undergraduate and graduate students, as well as organizations that have made significant 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.

The Great Dane Academic Leadership Award recognizes student leadership in academic settings. Students will have showcased outstanding academic achievement in the classroom, research laboratories and other research settings and through internships. The President's Awards for Leadership recognize and reward undergraduate and graduate students, as well as organizations that have made significant 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.

The Spellman Awards program at the University at Albany was established in 1986 as a way to recognize and acknowledge the academic achievements of UAlbany students of African, Asian, Latino and Native American heritage. The Spellman Award for Academic Achievement is presented annually to scholars who are full-time undergraduates with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above and have been matriculated at the University for a minimum of two consecutive semesters. Top Academic Achievement Award honorees are the highest-ranking male and female recipients of African, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino and Native American heritage in their class. The program and the awards are named in honor and memory of Seth Spellman, Jr., past dean of the University's School of Social Welfare, serving until 1980. He was also a professor and past chair of the Department of Africana Studies, which he helped establish in 1969. In 1984, Spellman was awarded the rank of Distinguished Service Professor by the SUNY Board of Trustees for personifying excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership and community service.

Eight UAlbany students have been recognized with the Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence, the highest award the State University of New York bestows upon a student. Nearly 200 scholars across the 64-campus system were selected to receive awards this year, which acknowledge students for outstanding achievements and excellence within academics, leadership, campus involvement, community service and the arts. Chancellor John B. King, Jr. presented winners with a medallion at an awards ceremony on April 11 at the Albany Capital Center. UAlbany President Havidan Rodriguez and Vice President for Student Affairs Michael Christakis were also in attendance to congratulate students.