Five SUNY Oswego students active in academics, leadership, community service, campus involvement, arts and career-long achievement will receive the 2015 SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence—the highest student recognition through the statewide university system.
This year’s Oswego honorees for outstanding achievements inside and outside the classroom are Dianora DeMarco, a five-year accounting-MBA major; Joshua Drake, a biology major; Molly Matott, a meteorology major; David Owens, a studio art major; and Eyub Yegen, dual major in finance and applied mathematical economics.
Dianora DeMarco
President of the Student Investment Club, the Bronx resident monitored and helped manage a six-figure portfolio to a 30 percent gain in two years. DeMarco, an honors student, won a top award at a Shanghai research forum and completed the Costa Rican Business Program. Recipient of multiple scholarships, DeMarco made Oswego’s team for the 2013 College Fed Challenge and served on the School of Business Student Advisory Board and Beta Alpha Psi’s executive board. She and her sorority, Alpha Epsilon Phi, established an annual event to benefit an Oswego boy with a rare cancer, raising more than $5,000.
The future: “I have received job offers from two Big Four accounting firms where I interned, and I’m awaiting word on whether I’ll receive one of six positions for new graduates nationally on the Financial Accounting Standards Board.”
Joshua Drake
Passionate and prolific in community service, Drake, of Fulton, serves as the Habitat for Humanity Club president, helping homeowners in the region. He volunteered as a Mentor Oswego group leader, for Head Start during alternative winter break in New Jersey and for Oswego Health and Oswego Hospital, where he also has interned and served as an emergency room technician. Treasurer and a founding member of the Pre-Healthcare Club, Drake has served as teaching assistant in “Cellular Foundations” and “Genetics” classes. He has received college grants for work in evolutionary genetics, presenting scholarly posters at symposia in Rochester and Oswego.
The future: “I have been accepted to a medical school and I’m awaiting another response, with a goal of pursuing a career in pediatric medicine.”
Molly Matott
Chief meteorologist at WTOP-TV, Matott, of North Syracuse, helped coordinate research for a multi-university lake-effect study, served as project leader to acquire a new weather graphics system, joined the Honors Program and Phi Kappa Phi and Omicron Delta Kappa national honor societies, and made national appearances on Al Roker’s “Wake Up with Al” on the Weather Channel and “The Tomorrow Show” in October. A Meteorology Club officer and peer tutor with the Office of Learning Services, Matott also has been a member of and choreographer for Del Sarte, Laker Leader captain and a member of the “best problem solving” group at a regional conference on student retention.
The future: “I plan on pursuing a job in broadcast meteorology in the Syracuse area—I have actually already interviewed for a position and am just waiting to hear back.”
David Owens
Artist, entrepreneur and volunteer Owens, of Cato, completed “Twelve in Oswego,” paintings in the city to evoke each month, presenting it at the college’s Quest, the State Museum and, upcoming, at Schweinfurth Memorial Art Center in Auburn. Recipient of two Presidential Purchase awards at college exhibitions, Owens is an Oswegonian cartoonist and twice Great Lake Review cover artist. He presented an art history paper at Quest and won a Dean’s Writing Award for it. Founder of a company to accept freelance work and commissions, Owens also volunteers for his church, managing a concession crew, planning activities for a youth group and helping coach soccer.
The future: “I’ve applied to graduate school, but I also plan to work as an in-house graphic designer of marketing, and to freelance as an illustrator.”
Eyub Yegen
International accomplishments underscore the scholarship of Yegen, a resident of Germany who has made 10 conference presentations, including ones in China (where he won a best paper award), Dubai and Hungary; published papers in multiple peer-reviewed academic journals; served as a SUNY Big Data Fellow; assisted numerous professors’ research projects; and served as president and founder of the Turkish Culture Club and as president of the International Student Association, Financial Management Association and Future Alumni Network Advisory Board. A teaching assistant and tutor, Yegen has earned many scholarships and his service includes refereeing articles for the Journal of Applied Statistics.
The future: “I am planning to start a doctoral program in either economics or finance this August, with an ultimate goal to work on groundbreaking research that will have a positive impact on societies.”