Morrisville State students receive top award from SUNY

Morrisville State College students, Daniel Mirocco, of Morrisville, and Amanda Watkins, of Cazenovia, were recently honored with the SUNY Chancellor's Awards for Student Excellence.



The prestigious award is based on outstanding academic and career achievement, as well as service and leadership.



“Students honored with the Chancellor's Award for Excellence, truly embody the power of SUNY,” said Chancellor Nancy Zimpher. “As proven leaders and role models, scholar athletes, creative artists, and civic volunteers, each student is recognized not just for academic achievement, but also for the profound impact they have on college campuses and local communities across New York State.”



A native of Stony Brook, Mirocco, an automotive technology bachelor degree major, served as president of the Morrisville State Automotive Club. During that time, he spearheaded numerous volunteer and fundraising efforts including the first annual Bouckville Classics Car Show and organized the club's 2013 trip to SEMA, the largest automotive trade show of its kind. He was also involved with reviving the club's “rat rod” project and was part of the 2011 Syracuse Nationals Factory Five Build Team.



Mirocco has received numerous accolades including the 2013 Green Grand Prix Doris Bovee Award at Watkins Glen International, the Albany Rodz and Kustoms Award for exemplary performance in the auto program, and the college's David Vokins Memorial Award in 2011 and 2013. Excelling academically, he was named to Omicron Delta Kappa, the national honor society for baccalaureate students, in addition to the President's and Dean's lists.



An active member of the campus and community, he serves as a peer tutor for automotive and business courses at the Academic Enrichment Center and has volunteered at the Canine Classic for the Wanderer's Rest Humane Association, Community Bikes Program of Hamilton and participated in Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts on campus.



A 2010 graduate of Ward Melville High School, he is the son of Andrea DeLong of Morrisville and Daniel Mirocco, of Stony Brook.



An entrepreneurship and small business management bachelor degree student, Watkins' accomplishments leading to the Chancellor's Award include serving as president and state reporter of the Morrisville State Chapter of Phi Beta Lambda, the Collegiate Division of the Future Business Leaders of America.



She has been active on the Morrisville campus serving as a peer tutor in the Academic Enrichment Center and as a judge in the SkillsUSA competition. She has also participated in numerous campus and community service activities, including volunteering at the Madison County Winter Fest and the Morrisville Elementary School.



A graduate of the Institute for Leaders at the Phi Beta Lambda National Leadership Conference, Watkins

placed second in the PBL Institute for Leader's Shark Tank competition, received the Floyd L. Beebe Memorial Award for the 2013-2014 academic year and was named to the Dean's and President's List.



Named Student Intern Employee of the Month at the Institute for Veterans and Military families at Syracuse University where she is serving an internship, Watkins is also co-founder of the Tully Community Youth Center and served on its executive board and board of directors.



A 2008 graduate of Tully Junior-Senior High School, Watkins is the daughter of Cindy Watkins, of Cazenovia, and Andy Watkins, of Baldwinsville.