SUNY Morrisville graduates Anastasia Edwards, of Morris, and Steven Frerichs, of Wilson, have been honored by the State University of New York (SUNY) with the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence (CASE).
The prestigious award recognizes students who have best demonstrated integration of academic excellence with accomplishments in the areas of leadership, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, campus involvement, or career achievement. It is the highest honor bestowed upon a student by SUNY.
Edwards, who earned a bachelor’s degree in renewable energy and an associate degree in renewable energy technology, is currently a global operations specialist for Onshore Wind at GE Vernova.
While she was a student, Edwards served as a resident assistant and head resident assistant, peer tutor and was an active member of the SUNY Morrisville Outdoor Recreation Club. She served in various leadership roles including Student Government Organization representative, treasurer, vice president and president.
Excelling academically, she was named to the SUNY Morrisville President’s and Dean’s lists multiple semesters and was inducted into the Phi Theta Kappa National Honor Society.
A three-year member of the SUNY Morrisville women’s basketball team, where she was part of two United East Conference championship runs by the Mustangs, Edwards was named to the Athletic Director Honor Roll seven times and was also inducted into the college’s national student-athlete honor society, Chi Alpha Sigma – Alpha Lambda Chapter.
Edwards earned first place in the college’s 2022 Cotton Family Business Competition and is awaiting approval on a patent for her idea — “Detection of Interference of the Operation of Smoke Detectors.”
During a 10-week summer internship through the Green Teams program, she worked with a group of students to research food waste policy in New Jersey, investigating ways to better improve the collection of food waste to be used in the creation of renewable natural gas through an anaerobic digestion process. Her findings were compiled into a written report and presentation.
Edwards plans to pursue a master’s degree focusing on engineering or sustainability with an ultimate goal of advancing renewable technologies and advocating for the importance of environmental sustainability.
Edwards is the daughter of Christine and John Edwards of Morris, New York.
Frerichs, a renewable energy bachelor’s degree and business administration associate degree graduate, had a storied career as a member of the SUNY Morrisville football team.
He was most recently honored as the 2023 SUNY Division III Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year, which recognizes outstanding academic achievement with success in the arena of athletic competition.
A three-year starter at quarterback and two-time team captain for the Mustangs, Frerichs was twice named an Empire 8 All-Conference honoree while also being selected as a semifinalist for the 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy from the National Football Foundation, which recognizes exemplary leadership. He helped lead Morrisville to the postseason as a junior, qualifying for the ECAC Scotty Whitelaw Bowl.
Frerichs set multiple program single-game, single-season and career records for the Mustangs, including the individual game mark for both the longest pass and passing touchdown on a 99-yard scoring toss during his senior season. He finished his playing career top-five all-time in passing touchdowns, passing yards, completions, completion percentage and total yards of offense, while being top-10 in both rushing yards and touchdowns.
In addition to his success on the field, Frerichs excelled in the classroom, achieving President’s List honors for the Empire 8 multiple times and being named to SUNY Morrisville’s Dean’s and President’s lists for academic achievement multiple semesters. He was also inducted into the college's national student-athlete honor society, Chi Alpha Sigma – Alpha Lambda Chapter, along with being an Enel Green Power Scholarship recipient.
Throughout his career he has assisted the football program with numerous community service initiatives, including Be The Match bone marrow donor programs, supplies for the local food pantry, as well as youth role model programs through Fun Friday's with the Morrisville-Eaton School District.
Frerichs, the son of Valerie and Steven Frerichs, of Wilson, is a geothermal technician for NOCO Energy Corp., in Tonowanda.
