Cora Mason, middle, poses with her award with SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher and Morrisville State College President Dr. William J.Murabito
Hai Nguyen, middle, poses with his award with SUNY Chancellor Nancy Zimpher and Morrisville State College President Dr. William J.Murabito
By Franci Valenzano, public relations associate
(Morrisville, NY – May 2, 2013) Morrisville State College students, Cora Mason and Hai Nguyen, were recently honored with 2013 SUNY-wide Chancellor’s Awards for Student Excellence.
The prestigious award is based on outstanding academic achievement and service and leadership on campus and in the community.
Mason, an agricultural business development bachelor degree major from Silver Springs, and Nguyen, of Vietnam, an architectural studies and design student, are among candidates set to graduate during the college’s 102nd commencement ceremony May 18 at 1 p.m. in the recreation center.
A member of the Morrisville Dairy Club, Mason served as a tour guide for the college’s Agripolluza event to educate elementary students about agriculture and is also an active member of Morrisville Fresh LLC, a student-operated business managed by the college’s agricultural business students.
Mason participated in the New York Agri-Women conference held in New York City, and also competed in the Northeast Regional Intercollegiate Dairy Challenge competition. She was chosen as a representative at the annual New York Farm Day held in Washington, D.C., and also SUNY Discover in Albany, an undergraduate symposium for state assembly members.
Actively involved with 4-H for 11 years, she was also involved with FFA, serving as a regional judge in competitions, and was a volunteer for NRCS Earth Team and AmeriCorps. She excelled academically and was named to Omicron Delta Kappa, the national honor society for baccalaureate students and the Deans and President’s lists.
A 2010 graduate of Letchworth Central School in Gainesville, and class valedictorian, Mason is the daughter of Allen and Patricia Mason of Silver Springs.
Mason is a program technician for the Farm Service Agency (FSA) at the Steuben/Yates USDA Service Center.
Nguyen served as president of the American Institute of Architecture Students (AIAS), Morrisville State College Chapter. He also participated in the New York State Mathematics Association of Two-Year Colleges Math League Competition, taking first place in 2011 and third place in 2012 and 2010.
A resident assistant (RA), and member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, he also served as a peer tutor in the college’s Academic Support Center.
Additionally, he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity Madison County Chapter and helped organize the college’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day celebration.