Two SUNY Canton Graduates Receive Prestigious Chancellor's Award

Two SUNY Canton seniors have been selected by SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson to receive the 2019 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.

Hughes M. Ntwari from Burundi and Ryan Schubert from Centereach were recognized at a special ceremony held April 24 in Albany. They will wear a medallion denoting their accomplishment at the college’s 111th Commencement Ceremony Saturday, May 11.

“This year’s award recipients emerged from their campuses as the top scholars, athletes, performers, and achievers, as well as a tremendous source of inspiration,” said Johnson. “The students being recognized made the choice to be leaders on their campuses, prioritize their studies, and serve their communities.”

As a member of the Order of the Sword and Shield, Alpha Phi Sigma, and Golden Key honor societies, Schubert has completed a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Investigation in three years, in addition to earning a Forensic Science and Economics double minor.

Student Ryan Schubert ’19, center, receives the 2019 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence from SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson, right, at a ceremony in Albany April 24. Also pictured is SUNY Canton Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Courtney B. Bish.

“Ryan has continually demonstrated her intelligence, competence, and willingness to work hard to achieve her goals,” said SUNY Canton Visiting Associate Professor Susan E. Buckley, who teaches in the Criminal Investigation program. “She is a tremendous example of everything that we would love for our SUNY students to achieve.”

A standout athlete, Schubert is described as a leader and role model to her soccer teammates. In 2018, she was the second student in SUNY Canton’s history to be named to the 2018 Google Cloud Academic All-District Women’s Soccer Team, which recognizes the top students in the U.S. and Canada. She was also chosen for the American Collegiate Athletic Association and United States Collegiate Association all-athletic teams.

She has volunteered at numerous community and campus events, including the Special Olympics, the “Hop to Help” Day, and youth soccer clinics.

Ntwari, who is receiving a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Management, has provided outstanding support to his peers through his extensive work as a tutor for the Equal Opportunity Program and in the college’s Business Tutoring Lab, where he specializes in accounting, business law, and finance. 

Student Hughes M. Ntwari ’19, center, receives the 2019 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence from SUNY Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson, right, at a ceremony in Albany April 24. Also pictured is SUNY Canton Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students Courtney B. Bish.

Fluent in five languages, Ntwari was selected to serve as a volunteer translator for the 2019 International Children’s Winter Games in Lake Placid, where he was assigned to the French delegation.

As the college’s varsity esports “FIFA” team captain, he led the squad to their first Eastern College Athletic Conference championship title in 2018. Ntwari has also displayed outstanding leadership abilities and conflict resolution skills as a Resident Assistant in Kennedy Hall and a Student Ambassador in the college’s Admissions Office.

“Hughes approaches his role as a student with professionalism—he is reliable, enthusiastic, and easy to work with,” said SUNY Canton Director of International Programs Erin E. Lassial. “SUNY Canton is honored to call him our graduate.”

The Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence was created in 1997 to recognize students who have best demonstrated, and have been recognized for, the integration of academic excellence with accomplishments in the areas of leadership, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, campus involvement, or career achievement.

Each year, SUNY campus presidents establish a selection committee, which reviews the accomplishments of exemplary students. Nominees are then forwarded to the chancellor’s Office for a second round of review. Finalists are then recommended to the chancellor to become recipients of the award. This year, 210 students across the state received the honor.

About SUNY Canton

SUNY Canton is Northern New York’s premier college for career-driven bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees and professional certificate programs. The college delivers quality hands-on programs in digital design, engineering technology, health, management and public service. Faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. As SUNY’s leader in online education, SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses as well as 18 online degree programs. The college placed first in 14 categories in a SUNY-Wide Student Opinion Survey, most notably in career services, tutoring, library resources, and classroom facilities. The college’s 15 traditional athletic teams compete at the NCAA Division III level as part of the North Atlantic Conference. SUNY Canton also offers varsity esports and cheerleading.