Four Students Recognized for Exceptional Academic Achievements at Hudson Valley Community College
April 24, 2023
Four Hudson Valley Community College students were named recipients of the State University of New York’s Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, one of the highest student honors awarded by the SUNY system, which acknowledges students for outstanding academic and community service achievements. Recipients were recognized at a ceremony in Albany on Monday, April 24, 2023.
This year’s student Chancellor’s Award recipients are Ledina Banushllari, an Engineering Science student from Albany; Michael Galvin, a Business Administration graduate from Clifton Park; Ellicia Swedish, a Business Administration student from Waterford; and Hannah Taylor, an Architectural Technology student from Chatham.
Banushllari and Galvin were also recently named to the Phi Theta Kappa All-New York Academic Team, earning the Coca-Cola Academic Team Bronze Scholar awards. Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) is the largest honor society in higher education, and the college’s Alpha Xi Sigma chapter is one of the most active in the SUNY community college system. Members of the All-New York Academic Team are recognized for their academic achievements, leadership accomplishments and engagement in community service. The PTK awards ceremony was also held in Albany on April 24.
Ledina Banushllari
Ledina Banushllari is a second-year international student with a passion for chemistry. Known as a leader with a positive attitude, she has taken on many roles at Hudson Valley, including service as the elected student trustee; as a peer tutor in chemistry; an Admissions tour guide; and a leader for the STEM Outreach Program. She has also served as president of the Engineering Science Club and secretary of PTK. Banushllari has remarkably earned both a Student Excellence Scholarship and a President’s Innovation Fund Scholarship.
Michael Galvin
Michael Galvin graduated from Hudson Valley in December 2022 with an associate degree in Business Administration and has since transferred to Columbia University to continue his academic career. During his time at the college, he served as treasurer of the Student Senate; co-chair of the Programming Committee; president of the Entrepreneurship Club; a volunteer contributor on the Middle States re-accreditation team; and was active member of both the Investment Club and PTK. Galvin also led a book drive to help the incarcerated community, collecting 1,000 books that went to the Greene County Correctional Facility.
Ellicia Swedish
Ellicia Swedish is a second-year student studying Business Administration. She is involved in several clubs and organizations at the college, and serves as president of the Garden and Horticulture Club; business manager for the Hudsonian, the college’s student-run newspaper; an Admissions tour guide; a board member of the Faculty Student Association; and an volunteer for the Middle States re-accreditation team. She is also an accomplished athlete on both the Women’s Cross Country and Track and Field teams, winning the Hudson Valley Athletics Academic Award for Cross Country in 2021 and the Hudson Valley Athletics Academic Award for Track and Field in 2022.
Hannah Taylor
Hannah Taylor, set to graduate this May, is an Architectural Technology student. As captain of the Women’s Softball team, she helped lead the Vikings on a 17-game winning streak last year, and is known as a valuable asset and leader of the team. Taylor is known for her dedication to community service and outreach: last fall, she led her teammates to participate in the college’s annual Race Away Stigma 5K on campus, an effort to raise awareness and overcome the negative stigma that can surround mental health concerns. She volunteers both at the local food pantry in Ghent and as a coach for her local high school’s basketball team. She is known for working hard and succeeding as she juggles academics, sports and community service.