SUNY Potsdam’s Office of College Communications Staff Member Jason Hunter Honored with Two First-Place Statewide Awards for Photography
SUNY Potsdam Director of Photography and Video Communications Jason Hunter has been honored with top statewide awards from the SUNY Council on University Advancement (SUNYCUAD).
Hunter won “Best in Category” for the two Excellence in Photography categories this year, including the top awards for both an individual photograph and for a photo series. The winners were announced during the annual SUNYCUAD Conference, which brings together professionals from across the SUNY System. This year’s conference was held in Syracuse, from June 7 to 9.
“At SUNY Potsdam, we believe in the power of storytelling, and Jason's photography plays a vital role in sharing our narrative. His ability to capture authentic moments—and convey the people and programs that make SUNY Potsdam so special—is a true gift. Jason’s latest statewide awards are a testament to his creativity and to the vibrant culture we strive to foster, both in our office and across campus,” said Associate Vice President for Communications and Chief Information Officer Mindy Thompson.
The SUNYCUAD Awards for Excellence highlight best practices by recognizing the creativity and talent of professionals across SUNY’s 64 campuses, who work in the areas of alumni engagement, community outreach, development, public and government relations, communications and marketing.
“Framing Music” by SUNY Potsdam staff member Jason Hunter, won “Best in Category” for the 2023 SUNYCUAD Awards for Excellence in Photography in the single image category.
Hunter’s winning individual photograph, titled “Framing Music,” captured Crane School of Music student Shannon Boyle ’20 & ’22, playing the harp, while framed in the shot by the doorways to the Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall. Hunter photographed Boyle as part of a feature story that he wrote about her for the College’s website, and the photos were used on social media and in campus publications.
His winning photo series, “Immersed in the Adirondacks,” included 12 photos from a trip organized by the SUNY Potsdam Center for Diversity’s Live Now program, which allows students from underrepresented backgrounds to experience outdoor recreational opportunities in and around the Adirondack Park. Hunter joined in on two field trips to capture the images, including a ziplining and ropes course at Experience Outdoors in Lake Placid and a whitewater rafting trip along the Indian and Hudson rivers. The photography and stories that Hunter produced ran in Potsdam People, the College’s alumni magazine, and were featured on the website, in social media and in other publications.
In order to best show the students in action, Hunter joined in the activities himself, while juggling his camera equipment—shooting images from elevated platforms after ziplining with students, and even falling into the river while photographing the rafting trip. Luckily, thanks to a waterproof case and quick reflexes, he was back in the boat in no time.
In all, Hunter has been honored with seven SUNYCUAD Awards for Excellence in Photography for his work at SUNY Potsdam, including one previous “Best in Category” win and four “Judges’ Citations.”
Hunter has been a staff member in SUNY Potsdam’s Office of College Communications since 2017, coming to the campus following an award-winning career as a photojournalist for the Watertown Daily Times and the Topeka Capital Journal. He holds a degree from the University of Vermont, and he studied visual journalism at Brooks Institute of Photography in Southern California.
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 3,000 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.