Cherizard Receives Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for Student Excellence

COBLESKILL —Senior Corey Cherizard (Richmondville, NY) is one of just 50 students in SUNY’s Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) to be honored with a 2025 Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for Student Excellence. The award, celebrating its sixth class of awardees, recognizes outstanding EOP students for their academic merit and perseverance.

The honor is named in memory of Norman R. McConney, Jr. (1946–2016), a graduate of the University at Albany and former assistant dean for special programs at SUNY. McConney, alongside former Assembly Deputy Speaker Arthur O. Eve, helped create the EOP as a statewide program.

Cherizard will graduate in May 2025 with a Bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Equipment Technology, having already earned an Associate’s degree in Diesel Technology in 2023.

"Corey has had a remarkable journey at SUNY Cobleskill, as both an EOP and Honors student, and has always demonstrated a natural ambition to learn and improve his knowledge, skillset, and experience,” said Jennifer Golden, Director of SUNY Cobleskill’s EOP Program. “He’s successfully balanced four years of academics with three internships and while serving as an Admissions Ambassador, sharing with others the success he’s found in College. We are so proud of Corey for all he’s been able to accomplish over the past four years, and this latest, well-deserved recognition from SUNY.”

Since its inception in 1967, the EOP has provided access, academic support, and supplemental financial assistance to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. In its 56-year history, the EOP has served more than 85,000 students and evolved into one of the country’s most successful college access programs.

“More than 8,000 SUNY students on 55 campuses are directly benefiting from the extraordinary services offered by the Educational Opportunity Program,” said the SUNY Board of Trustees. “Their paths towards a college education are immeasurably strengthened by the support offered by EOP, which is one of SUNY’s most powerful strategies for student success and upward mobility.”