Anthony Pensabene of Mahopac, NY, earned an academic award at SUNY Canton's 2021 Honors Convocation Celebration. Pensabene is a Legal Studies major and earned the highest GPA as a second semester freshman.
Approximately 200 students were recognized at the ceremony, which was held virtually and is available online.
"It's no exaggeration to say your achievements are more impressive because you are able to persevere while facing an enormous hardship," said SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran. "It would have been easy to quit when the going got tough, but you didn't. You kept moving forward. Your persistence has undoubtably proved that you are ready for anything life throws at you."
SUNY Canton Provost Peggy A. De Cooke said she was in awe of students' ability to adapt to a completely new academic environment.
"On top of adjusting to virtual classes, online labs, video presentations, and conference calls, you've also had to do so in a changing social landscape," she said. "As you finish the semester and continue on your path, I hope you will remain aware of the challenges that our society is facing. Your professors have given you the ability to take what you've learned here and apply it to real-world problems. We have prepared you to be doers and that's a competency that companies and organizations will need desperately as we recover from the pandemic."
This year's ceremony was named to recognize Professor Emeritus Brian Washburn, who served the college for more than 40 years. De Cooke introduced Washburn by highlighting his demonstrated commitment to applied learning and real-world educational strategies in addition to his outstanding record as an educator.
Washburn encouraged students to continue their excellence and never stop striving for distinction as they move forward in their education and in their careers. "Congratulations on your academic success at SUNY Canton," he said.
About SUNY Canton
As Northern New York's premier college for career-driven bachelor's degrees, associate degrees and professional certificate programs, SUNY Canton delivers quality hands-on programs in digital design, engineering technology, health, management and public service. Faculty members are noted for their professional real-world experience in addition to outstanding academic credentials. As SUNY's leader in online education, SUNY Canton OnLine offers hundreds of flexible and convenient courses as well as 22 online degree programs. The college placed first in 14 categories in a SUNY-Wide Student Opinion Survey, most notably in career services, tutoring, library resources, and classroom facilities. The SUNY Canton Kangaroos 15 traditional athletic teams compete at the NCAA Division III level as part of the North Atlantic Conference. SUNY Canton also features varsity esports and cheerleading.