Purchase College Students Receive Chancellor's Awards

State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor Kristina M. Johnson presented awards to 210 students across the university system on April 24 at the Empire State Plaza in Albany.

Two Purchase College, SUNY students were among the select group of students to receive the prestigious 2019 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.

Graduating seniors Takashi Mukoda and Bailey Vaughn each received the award, which recognizes students who have best demonstrated 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.

“Today’s 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 Chancellor Johnson. “The students being recognized today made the choice to be leaders on their campuses, prioritize their studies, and serve their communities. Congratulations to this year’s awardees, and I applaud you for pursuing excellence in all that you do.”

About the Purchase College Honorees

Takashi Mukoda is majoring in new media and mathematics/computer science from Hiroshima, Japan with an impressive 4.22 GPA. He is fascinated by technology and its new art forms. Takashi has integrated his academic excellence with leadership, campus involvement, community service, creative and performing arts, and career achievement. Respected by his peers and faculty, he is a learning assistant for several courses and a technical reviewer for publishers.

Bailey Vaughn is a dance major with a composition concentration and a minor in arts management. She will graduate from this rigorous and demanding program this May with a near-perfect GPA. Bailey, who hails from Ocala, Florida, has been featured in numerous roles from classical ballet to contemporary dance, and has created five original works. She is a resident assistant and an active volunteer who uses dance to enrich communities. Bailey has received a contract to dance professionally after graduation.

Purchase College President Thomas J. Schwarz said, “We congratulate Bailey and Takashi on receiving this prestigious award, which is the highest student recognition in the statewide university system. We have no doubt that they will continue to make us proud of their accomplishments in the years to come, and wish them well in their endeavors.”

About Purchase College, SUNY

Purchase College, part of the State University of New York (SUNY) network of 64 universities and colleges, was founded in 1967 by Governor Nelson Rockefeller. His aspiration for Purchase was to create a dynamic campus that combined conservatory training in the visual and performing arts with programs in the liberal arts and sciences, in order to inspire an appreciation for both intellectual and artistic talents in all students. Today, Purchase College–SUNY is a community of students, faculty, and friends where open-minded engagement with the creative process leads to a lifetime of intellectual growth and professional opportunity. For more information about the College, visit www.purchase.edu.