Two Cayuga Students Receive SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence

Two Cayuga Community College students with outstanding records of academic success, campus engagement and leadership have received the distinguished Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence (CASE) for 2024-25.

Cayuga sophomores Jorge Jimenez of Bronx and Julia Wilson of Auburn were among the 193 SUNY students who received the award at a ceremony on Tuesday. The award, the highest accolade for SUNY students, honors recipients who combine academic achievement with campus involvement, athletic participation, career accomplishment, leadership and community service.

Cayuga President Dr. Brian Durant applauded Jimenez and Wilson for their academic success, leadership responsibilities and enthusiastic on-campus contributions.

“Jorge and Julia are tremendous students who have contributed in countless ways to our Cayuga community over the past two years. They’re dedicated in the classroom, determined to prepare themselves for dynamic futures, and are committed to enhancing the college experience for their classmates,” said Dr. Durant. “I congratulate them on earning the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, and wish them the best as they continue their education.”

Jimenez and Wilson both started at Cayuga in 2023 and are graduating in the College’s Class of 2025, Jimenez with an Associate in Arts in Liberal Arts and Sciences: Humanities and Social Sciences, and Wilson with an Associate in Science in Business Administration. Both students are members of Phi Theta Kappa, an academic honor society.

Jimenez and Wilson said they were proud and surprised to receive the award for their time at Cayuga.

“I’m honored to be recognized with all of the deserving students across SUNY who received this award,” said Jimenez. “I came to Cayuga knowing that I would do well if I worked hard and believed in myself. I was fortunate to have a great support system with my classmates and the Educational Opportunity Program at Cayuga. I know that between my hard work and their support, I’m prepared for any path I follow after earning my degree.”

“I set a goal for myself to earn this award, but I was definitely surprised when I was notified,” said Wilson. “One of my goals at Cayuga was to connect with other students and to work together to make our college experiences memorable. By being involved on-campus, and building ties through the Advancing Success in Associate Pathways program, I was able to do that and also prepare myself for my future.”

Jimenez is graduating magna cum laude in May, has worked in the College Student Services Center and played on the Men’s Basketball team for two seasons. He also received SUNY’s Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Student Excellence, which is awarded to outstanding students in the Educational Opportunity Program.

Wilson is graduating summa cum laude this spring, was a tutor in the College Learning Commons, and was the Secretary for the Student Government Organization. She is a member of the College’s Advancing Success in Associate Pathways program, a mother of one daughter, and earned her degree while also working part-time.

After graduating from Cayuga, Jimenez is considering transferring to a SUNY or private college to pursue a career in sports management. Wilson is transferring to Le Moyne College to study accounting.

For more information about the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, visit https://system.suny.edu/university-life/student-excellence/.