Four Exceptional Students Named Recipients of SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence

April 28, 2026

Four Hudson Valley Community College students have been named recipients of the prestigious State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, the highest student honor awarded by the SUNY system for academic excellence and leadership. The award acknowledges students each year for outstanding contributions in academics; leadership; diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice; campus involvement; civics and service; research; and the arts. Hudson Valley’s awardees were amongst 205 student Chancellor’s Award winners from all 64 SUNY campuses to be recognized this year during a special SUNY awards ceremony on Monday, April 27.

This year’s Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence recipients from Hudson Valley Community College are:

Frank DePalma of Troy, NY
Business Administration A.S.
Frank DePalma is a Business Administration A.S. student who maintains a 4.0 GPA and demonstrates outstanding dedication through his academic success and active involvement on campus. He serves as vice president of the Investment Club and participates in many other student clubs and organizations, such as the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Frank also gives back as a peer mentor for the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) and has been recognized with the EOP Career Development Scholarship. Despite overcoming personal challenges, he continues to serve as a role model for his peers and remains a valued member of the campus community.

Molly Graiff of Troy, NY
Early Childhood and Childhood Education Studies A.S.
Molly Graiff is an Honors College student studying Early Childhood and Childhood Education Studies who maintains a 4.0 GPA while actively engaging in campus leadership and service. She serves as president of the Human Services Club, co-president of the college’s Alpha Xi Sigma chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and as a staff contributor for the college’s student newspaper, The Hudsonian. She also dedicates nearly ten hours each week to the Empire State Service Corps through the Basic Needs Corps and K–12 Tutoring Corps. Molly has consistently demonstrated exceptional organizational skills, dedication, and professionalism across campus and within the community.

Kercel Montes of Albany, NY
Liberal Arts and Sciences A.A.
Kercel Montes is a student in the Liberal Arts and Sciences A.A. program and is involved in several organizations on campus. He serves as the elected student representative on the college’s Board of Trustees, as well as vice president of the Student Senate and vice president of the Black and Latino Student Union, demonstrating a deep commitment to inclusion and advocacy. Kercel has elevated student voices at SUNY Student Assembly meetings, through his work with the college’s Academic Senate, and during NYS Advocacy Day. Off campus, he works with Youth FX, a non-profit organization designed to empower young people ages 10-25 by teaching them the technical and creative aspects of digital filmmaking and media production. Through sustained service and impactful leadership, Kercel has made lasting contributions across campus and within the community.

Noah Renzi of Clifton Park, NY
Mathematics and Science A.S. 
Noah Renzi is an Honors College student studying Mathematics and Science who aspires to become a mathematics educator at the high school or college level. Noah actively organizes study groups on campus and excels in complex problem solving, making him a trusted academic resource for his peers. He has completed rigorous honors coursework in classes such as Honors Composition, Public Speaking, and Cultural Diversity in American Society. His academic excellence is also recognized through his membership in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, the National Collegiate Honors Council, and the Northeast Regional Honors Council. Noah demonstrates a strong commitment to education and makes a positive difference throughout the campus community.

“On behalf of Hudson Valley, I'm thrilled to congratulate these four outstanding students on earning the prestigious SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence,” said Hudson Valley Community College President Michael Brophy. “Their dedication, perseverance and leadership are truly inspiring and has certainly made a lasting impact across campus and in our local community."

"SUNY students are New York's future, and the outstanding individuals I am proud to recognize with the Chancellor's Awards for Student Excellence embody the very best of our state university system," said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. "The students who have earned this recognition have inspired their classmates, their educators, their campuses and me with their inspiring work, tenacious drive, and dedication to their academic success. I commend each of the awardees and thank them for being examples for others to follow."