Caris Kraty Receives SUNY’s Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for EOP Student Excellence
March 11, 2026
Caris Kraty, a second-year Individual Studies A.S. student and Student Senate president, is the Hudson Valley Community College recipient of the 2026 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Student Excellence. The award recognizes the academic and personal achievements of outstanding EOP students from colleges and universities across the SUNY system.
Along with 48 other SUNY students, Kraty was recognized for her academic achievements and dedication to completing her education despite facing challenges. This year’s recipients were honored at a ceremony held on March 9 at the Franklin Terrace Ballroom in Troy.
Kraty has served as president of the Student Senate and president of the Black and Latino Student Union since 2024, and also serves as a board member of the Faculty Student Association and treasurer of the EOP Club. In addition, she is an active volunteer on campus and has participated as a student speaker and media spokesperson at several college press conferences and events.
As an EOP student, Kraty has demonstrated resilience and a commitment to reaching her own long-term goals. She has also contributed as a peer mentor and advocate for the program, helping incoming students navigate the college environment, get support, acquire resources, and prepare for college study.
After graduation, Kraty plans to pursue a bachelor's degree in media studies at SUNY New Paltz.
“Over nearly 60 years, SUNY’s EOP has supported tens of thousands of students and empowered them to achieve their full potential,” SUNY Chancellor John B. King said. “I am honored to recognize this year's recipients of the Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Student Excellence. Our McConney award winners’ hard work as they move forward on their path to academic excellence and upward mobility makes them an inspiration for all of our students, faculty, staff, and administrators.”
“As an EOP student, I’m here today because this program didn’t just open doors — it empowered me to walk through them with confidence,” said Kraty. “EOP is more than support; it is opportunity in action. Coming to this country from Liberia at a young age, I had big dreams but limited resources. Through Hudson Valley, SUNY and EOP, I found mentors, leadership opportunities, and a community that reminded me my circumstances do not define my potential. This award reflects what happens when access meets empowerment. EOP gives students the tools to rise, to lead, and to create brighter futures for ourselves and our communities.”
“The Educational Opportunity Program was created to open doors for talented, driven students like Caris,” said Hudson Valley Community College President Michael Brophy. “She has fully embraced those opportunities and turned them into meaningful leadership and service. Her success story reflects both her personal determination and the life-changing impact of EOP.”
The SUNY Award for EOP Student Excellence is awarded in memory of Norman R. McConney Jr., along with former NYS Assembly Deputy Speaker Arthur O. Eve, who helped to establish the Educational Opportunity Program in 1967. In addition to celebrating the accomplishments of current SUNY EOP students, Chancellor King recognized State Assemblymember Latrice Walker, a graduate of SUNY Purchase and an EOP alum, with an honorary Norman R. McConney Jr. Award in recognition of her long-standing commitment to the EOP program and service as a leader and inspiration for all SUNY students.
SUNY Educational Opportunity Programs provide access, academic support, and supplemental financial assistance to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. In its 58-year history, EOP has graduated nearly 90,000 students and served as one of the country’s most successful college access programs. EOP eligibility is based on income and academic readiness and currently serves more than 9,000 students across 55 SUNY campuses.