Morrisville State College students receive top award from SUNY

Morrisville State College students Thomas Longland, of Dunnville, Ontario, and Adam Houck, of Vernon Center, were recently honored with 2012 SUNY-wide Chancellor's Awards for Student Excellence.



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



Longland and Houck are among candidates set to graduate during the college's 101st commencement ceremony May 19 at 1 p.m. in the recreation center.



Longland, a human performance and health promotion bachelor degree major, served as president of the college's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for three years and also served as the community service coordinator for two years. During that time, he organized a campus-wide volunteer brigade, “Into the Streets,” that involved nearly 300 students and employees volunteering in the community.



He spearheaded and was involved in numerous fundraising efforts at Morrisville State College, including the “We Heart Haiti” project to raise funds for earthquake-ravaged Haiti, a lacrosse game that benefited injured veterans of Wounded Warriors, and the men's ice-hockey “Saves-For-A-Cure” program, which raised more than $6,000 to aid children suffering from cancer. He also organized and ran the Fighting MS charity hockey game this year, which raised more than $3,000, in addition to directing and supervising countless activities with college organizations.



A two-sport athlete competing in hockey and lacrosse, and caption of both teams, Longland started a program, Triple M (Morrisville Mustang Mentors), with a local elementary school which combined his interest in athletics and community service. Through this program, student varsity athletes visit local elementary schools where they read, teach math skills and mentor children who lack adult support at home.



Longland received numerous athletic awards including the 2010-2011 NEAC Male Individual Sportsmanship Award, was named a SUNYAC All-Academic Team member, a NEAC Scholar Athlete, and was a Commissioner's List recipient.



Longland also excelled in the classroom. A peer tutor, he maintained Dean's List honors throughout his academic career and was named to Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society. He was the recipient of the 2010 Rays of Light Service Award which recognizes community service, is a past recipient of the Madge Snyder Biology Award, and was named International Student of the Year in 2010 and Peer Tutor of the Year in 2010.



A 2006 graduate of Lakeshore Catholic High School, Longland is the son of Carol and John Longland, of Dunnville, Ontario.



Houck, a computer information technology; application software development bachelor degree major, was a resident assistant (RA) and peer tutor. A member of the cross country team, he was also named an NEAC Scholar Athlete.



He excelled academically and was named to the Dean's and President's lists, Phi Theta Kappa National Society and Omicron Delta Kappa, the honor society for baccalaureate students. He is also the recipient of the Marilyn and Larry Baker Scholarship based on academic excellence.



Additionally, Houck served on numerous committees. He was treasurer of the Mo'Pride Club, served as a student representative to the campus Judicial Board, was a member of the Morrisville Sate College Entrepreneurship Institute (MSCEI), and was also a member of the Resident Hall Association (RHA).



His extensive community service includes volunteering for the Wanderer's Rest Humane Association, in Canastota, N.Y., participating in a local Tour de Cure to raise money for diabetes, participating in AIDS Awareness Days and volunteering at the Green Project in New Orleans, assisting with Hurricane Katrina recovery.



A 2007 graduate of Vernon-Verona-Sherrill High School, Houck is the son of Therese and Norman Houck of Vernon Center.