2024 Chancellor’s Awards for Student Excellence Presented to SUNY Potsdam Students Frances Irene Beshers ’24 & Grace Romer ’24
Grace Romer ’24, left, and Frances “Frankie” Irene Beshers ’24, right.
Two outstanding SUNY Potsdam seniors were recently among those honored with the 2024 Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence. Chancellor John B. King, Jr., recognized the recipients in a ceremony in Albany on April 11. The SUNY Potsdam recipients included Frances Irene Beshers ’24 and Grace Romer ’24.
Frances “Frankie” Irene Beshers ’24 of Oakland Gardens, N.Y., is graduating with majors in both history and dance. She chose SUNY Potsdam to further her academic success and foster her love for the arts. Frankie is a ballet dancer who became interested in different choreography, composition and technique classes. She has worked to make dance more accessible for all students. Frankie loves finding the humanity in history, looking beyond mere dates to what life looked like for historically oppressed populations, and exploring how that can better us today. Her interest in history is passionately intertwined with her work in social justice issues. In addition to her hard work in the classroom, Frankie helped to revitalize the History Students Association as served as chief justice for the Student Government Association.
An environmental studies major from Garrison, N.Y., Grace Romer ’24 originally planned on studying photojournalism, but she developed an interest in environmental advocacy while studying film and audio production and decided to pursue environmental law and policy instead. This diverse range of interests helped her to develop independence and find encouragement to pursue her own path, engage in leadership positions and use her voice. A thoroughly passionate individual, Grace uses her voice to advocate tirelessly for environmental justice and issues in diversity, equity and inclusion.
This year’s keynote speaker for the CASE ceremony was SUNY Potsdam alumnus Saad Hajidin ‘88, the founder and creative director of inPhorm, an international designer, active, and lifestyle brand dedicated to sustainable production and empowering responsible consumers to choose products that are eco-forward.
"I'm incredibly honored to be a part of this celebration of excellence at SUNY, an institution that has transformed the lives of nearly three million graduates across its 64 campuses,” Hajidin said. “From pioneers like Jef Raskin, who revolutionized technology with the Macintosh project, to artistic icons like Renee Fleming, SUNY fosters a remarkable range of talent. Today's Chancellor's Awards recipients are joining a legacy of innovators, leaders, and changemakers who have left their mark on every field imaginable – scientists, doctors, authors, astronauts, journalists, and even Hollywood stars. SUNY's commitment to exceptional education empowers its graduates to achieve greatness, and I'm thrilled to be here to recognize their outstanding accomplishments."
The Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence was created in 1997 to honor students who excel academically and show involvement in leadership roles, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, campus involvement, or career achievement. Each year, campus presidents establish a selection committee, which reviews exemplary students. Nominees are then forwarded to the Chancellor's Office and are subject to a second round of review. Finalists are then recommended to the Chancellor to become recipients of the award.
Each recipient receives a framed certificate and medallion, which is traditionally worn at Commencement. SUNY Potsdam will honor the two Chancellor’s Award recipients and the other graduates of the Class of 2024 in ceremonies on Saturday, May 18. For more information, visit www.potsdam.edu/commencement.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.
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