Raymond Hebert Receives Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for EOP Student Excellence
April 23, 2025
Second-year student Raymond Hebert is the Hudson Valley Community College recipient of the 2025 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Student Excellence.
Hebert, a Heating/Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Technical Services student, was recognized for academic achievement and perseverance to complete his education in the face of significant challenges. He was honored, along with 49 other SUNY students, at a ceremony held on March 11 at Troy’s Franklin Plaza.
Set to graduate this May, Hebert has already secured a full-time position in the field with one of the region’s largest HVAC companies.
He said a friend convinced him to return to school a few years after high school graduation.
“One of my friends went through the construction program here and he got a really good job after graduation. I always liked hands-on stuff, so it was really like a just a choice between the electrical, the HVAC and the welding programs for me,” he said. “After the first couple of weeks, I knew it was the right choice. I like the diagnosing part of it, the combination of electrical and that we use different gases, refrigerants. My goal is to get into the industrial track.”
In nominating him for the McConney Award, EOP counselor Michelle Cavalieri noted that Hebert had taken on a significant amount of responsibility in helping his family as a teenager. “Raymond showed real perseverance and leadership, working hard to provide for his family and inspire those around him,” she wrote. “He’s also received praise from his instructors and fellow students, while maintaining a nearly perfect GPA.”
Hebert said he was able to secure several scholarships with the assistance of EOP staff, and that helped offset the cost of his education and even pay for the tools required in the program. He also worked several jobs while pursuing his studies.
SUNY Educational Opportunity Programs provide access, academic support and financial aid to students who show promise for succeeding in college. The Award for EOP Student Excellence recognizes the academic and personal achievements of outstanding EOP students from colleges and universities across the SUNY system.
The SUNY Award for EOP Student Excellence is awarded in memory of Norman R. McConney Jr., who, along with former NYS Assembly Deputy Speaker Arthur O. Eve, helped to establish the Educational Opportunity Program in 1967.