Morrisville State College Student, Morrisville Resident Receives Top Award From SUNY

Morrisville State College student Richard Roberts, of Morrisville, N.Y., was recently honored with a 2010 SUNY-wide Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence.



The prestigious award is based on outstanding academic achievement and service and leadership on campus and in the community.



Roberts will graduate on May 15 during the college's 99th commencement ceremony which will be held at 1 p.m. in the John W. Stewart Center for Student Activities (STUAC).



A resort and recreation service management bachelor degree major, Roberts has provided significant leadership on the Morrisville State College campus where he served as president of the Student Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC) and as a representative to the Student Government Association (SGO).



A member of The International Food Service Executives Association (IFSEA), he was selected to the IFSEA Bistro Challenge Team in 2010 and was awarded a silver medal as a member of the IFSEA Bistro Team Challenge in 2009.



He was also a member of Delta Kappa Gamma, the Casino Management Association and was selected to participate in Boys State in 2005.



An academic scholar, Roberts was named to the college's Dean's List and was a member of the Eta Sigma Delta Honor Society for hospitality students. He is the recipient of numerous awards including The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation Scholarship in 2008 and 2009, and The International Food Service Executives Association Scholarship.



Through his work with the SAAC, he organized the college's Student Athlete Day and participated in numerous activities, including volunteering at Heritage Farm, Inc., in Bouckville, N.Y., an organization which provides programs, experiences and services to individuals with developmental disabilities, and worked with seniors at Crouse Community Center in Morrisville. He participated in numerous campus activities and was a volunteer coach for track and field.



Roberts also excelled on the field. A member of the college's football team for three years, he received the National Football College Hall of Fame Scholarship in 2009 and was named to the SUNYAC All-Academic Team.



Roberts, who has worked at the Copper Turret, student-run restaurant in Morrisville since 2008, was recently promoted to line cook and is fulfilling an internship there. Part of his internship includes learning about food costing and menu engineering analysis.



“I have been in the hospitality field for more than 30 years and I can say without a doubt that he has what it takes to be successful in this field,” Kerry Beadle, executive chef at the Copper Turret and assistant professor of hospitality technology at Morrisville State College, said. “He possesses a passion for the industry and the personal attributes necessary to work in a service industry.”



“Richie is a very responsible student who frequently serves as a mentor and role model for other students,” Joan Johnson, professor of hospitality technology at Morrisville State College and president of Madison County Tourism, said. “He has made a solid commitment to the industry and has brought honor and recognition to the university.”



A 2006 graduate of Morrisville Middle/Senior High School, Roberts already has an associate degree in restaurant management from Morrisville State College.



He is the son of Theresa Davis of Morrisville and Arthur Roberts, of Canastota.