On April 5, four Geneseo seniors will receive the State University of New York Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence, standing among this year's recipients from all across the SUNY system.
Will Labate, Kerisha Hawthorne, Joseph Giles, and Michelle Milkovich will be recognized for their respective achievements in schoolwork, leadership, athletics, arts, community service and career advancement.
Will Labate
Labate, an international relations major from Queens, N.Y., has been a champion for academics, student organizations and the needs of the college since he arrived.
"I wasn't really sure of what I was getting into coming to Geneseo," he said. "But I've really come to love Geneseo."
Labate has worked in Residence Life and the Student Association, and recently organized a major lobbying trip to Albany.
He plans to attend Vermont Law School and focus on environmental law and policy.
Kerisha Hawthorne
Hawthorne, an international student from Montego Bay, Jamaica, said she was unsure of her future at Geneseo, but soon found a calling to work hard and a diverse collection of interests.
"Whatever situation or environment I'm placed in I try to make the best of it," she said. "I know that [coming to Geneseo] was the right decision. I really felt at home, like part of the community."
Hawthorne, who has consistently made the Dean's List, has served in the roles of assistant residence director, orientation advisor and tutor. She said her diversity of interests and constant activity keeps her focused.
She will go on to law school, attending the School of Law at Loyola University in Chicago with a focus on public interest law.
Michelle Milkovich
Milkovich, a business administration major, said she wants to receive her certificate in coaching. As senior captain of Geneseo's field hockey team, Milkovich finished her athletic career as Geneseo's all-time leader in points (104) and assists (36), and set single season records for goals (15), assists (13) and points (43) to become Geneseo's first field hockey All-American for the second team of the group. She has been named State University of New York Athletic Conference Player of the Year and MVP, and she was selected to the first teams of the All-North Atlantic Region and All-SUNYAC.
Milkovich also made the All-Academic Team and Commissioner's List every semester.
"I feel honored and very fortunate to be recognized by a school that I love," she said. "Geneseo gave me the opportunity to get the most out of my college experience."
She was recently admitted to the University of Central Florida's dual MBA and Master's of Science program in Sport Management.
Joseph Giles
Giles has an interest in the medical profession; he spent five semesters in the Residence Life Office, has served in Geneseo First Response for two years and completed research with local medical professionals. He presented this research at a regional biochemistry conference in Baltimore last semester.
Giles has yet to finalize his post-graduation plans pending notifications from medical programs.