Two HVCC Students To Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

By Nolan Cleary, Editor-in-Chief

Two students at Hudson Valley Community College have been awarded the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. The award is meant to highlight exceptional student academic accomplishments. 

According to the official SUNY website, “the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence acknowledges students for outstanding achievements that have demonstrated the integration of SUNY excellence within many aspects of their lives in areas such as academics, leadership, campus involvement, community service, or the arts. It is the highest honor bestowed upon a student by the University.”

This year, the two students receiving the award include Tatianna Morange of Watervliet, a student studying environmental science, and Logan Simms, a student from Greenwich studying business administration. 

Morange is currently the Secretary of the Hudson Valley Community College Student Senate, as well as Secretary of the Black and Latino Student Union. She is an activist and community organizer, who is deeply involved in environmental activities. 

Simms is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa honor’s society, as well as the President of the Student Christian Association. 

As a member of PTK, Simms has volunteered at the school’s regional food bank. Simms has previously won awards for building furniture and has held crafting lessons on trips to Africa. 

“Tatianna and Logan epitomize the unique combination of service, leadership and academic achievement that are the hallmarks of Student Chancellor’s Award recipients,” HVCC’s President Roger Ramsammy said in an official statement.

 “They certainly are deserving of this honor and, on behalf of the college community, I am so proud to share in their recognition,” Ramsammy added. 

The ceremony was held on Wednesday, April 14. 

Morange told The Hudsonian she wasn’t expecting the award. 

“I certainly am super appreciative that I was selected. It’s a really big honor. I certainly did not expect it. I didn’t know the award existed before this, so it caught me by surprise,” Morange said. 

Morange credited Dr. Joseph Stenard, a business professor at Hudson Valley Community College for nominating her for the award. 

“Dr. Stenard nominated me. I’m extremely grateful to him. I really do appreciate it. Any time your hard work is acknowledged is nice,” Morange said. 

Morange said that it feels good to have her hard work pay off. “I work hard, but I didn’t expect to get an award for it,” Morange said. 

Morange said her persistence helped her overcome challenging situations. 

“Some of my accomplishments have been testing myself and sticking with it and continuing to be determined. School has not necessarily been easy, so I stick with it,” Morange said. 

Morange also said her advocacy against taking away Spring break, the tutoring programs she fought for, arranging for more classes to be held on campus and her role in putting together the COVID task force set up by the Student Senate are what she considers accomplishments.  

“Being the voice for students and being able to listen and speak up for them is a big accomplishment,” Morange said.