SUNY Morrisville students Zainab Jimoh of Staten Island and Layne Martin of Cazenovia, have been honored with the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.
The prestigious award recognizes students who have best demonstrated integration of academic excellence with accomplishments in the areas of leadership, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, campus involvement, or career achievement. It is the highest honor bestowed upon a student by SUNY.
“Award recipients emerged from their campuses this year as the top scholars, athletes, performers, and achievers, as well as a tremendous source of inspiration,” said SUNY Chancellor Kristina Johnson. “These students made the choice to become leaders on their campuses, prioritize their studies and serve their communities.”
Jimoh, an applied psychology major, came to SUNY Morrisville through the Educational Opportunity Program, which provides access, academic support and financial aid to students who show promise for succeeding in college but who may not have otherwise been offered admission.
Excelling in the classroom, Jimoh was named to the Dean’s List multiple semesters and was selected to Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society, and is the recipient of numerous scholarships, including the Student Government Organization David Camp Scholarship, Morrisville Auxiliary Corporation Calvin Dunkle Scholarship and a Diversity Scholarship.
She made an impact on the campus and community through her many leadership roles, including serving as a resident assistant, program mentor, student ambassador and international ambassador. Her extensive campus involvement includes serving as chairperson of the Campus Activities Board, treasurer of the African Student Union Black Alliance, EOP Betas mentor and as a member of both the EOP Advisory and Campus Judicial boards.
She earned an associate degree in individual studies from SUNY Morrisville in 2017.
A 2015 graduate of Curtis High School in Staten Island, she is the daughter of Oyebolanle and Wasiu, of Nigeria.
Martin, a member of the first graduating class of nursing bachelor’s degree students on May 11, has been active on campus, serving as assistant resident director, resident assistant, peer tutor and a representative for the college at open houses.
A two-sport athlete, he was a four-year member of the men’s ice hockey team, and was a star member of the men’s golf team, earning two-time MVP honors while also serving as team captain. A member of the Professional Disc Golf Association, he is currently the assistant coach of the college’s men’s golf team.
Martin excelled in the classroom, receiving a Morrisville Auxiliary Corporation Laptop Scholarship and a Science, Technology & Health Studies Award, based on academic excellence and campus involvement, and was named to the Dean’s List, Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society, and All-Academic Team for both the NEAC and SUNYAC athletic conferences.
Driven to help in the community, Martin has been involved with various projects, including officiating and assisting at the Rome Special Olympics annual bocce ball tournament.
In addition to his campus involvement and carrying a full course load, he is a full-time registered nurse on a medical-surgical unit at Oswego Hospital, where he has been recognized multiple times for his outstanding patient care.
A 2017 graduate of SUNY Morrisville’s associate degree nursing program and a 2011 graduate of Findlay High School, Martin is the son of Tiffani and Thomas Martin of Findlay, Ohio.
He and his wife Katherine live in Cazenovia.