MIDDLETOWN – The State University of New York (SUNY) presented SUNY Orange student Christina Weygant with the Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for EOP Student Excellence during a reception and ceremony in Albany, N.Y. today (April 18).
Weygant, of Wallkill, is majoring in accounting and business administration at SUNY Orange and is currently examining her options to either transfer to a four-year institution or join the workforce.
The McConney Award recognizes outstanding SUNY Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) students across SUNY who are on track to graduate this academic year and who have exhibited academic success, courage, perseverance, and leadership qualities throughout their collegiate academic journey. To be eligible for the award, students have to be nominated by an administrator at their institution. One awardee is then selected from the SUNY colleges and universities that offer EOP programs.
A first-generation college student and mother of five, Weygant is determined to be a positive role model and influence for her children. She admits juggling home life, working in the Advising Office, and attending classes on both campuses and online to accommodate an already tight schedule was challenging. Appreciative of the support she received from the College’s EOP and Collegiate Science and Technology Entry Programs (CSTEP) programs, Weygant credits Associate Director of Academic Advising Naomi Daven for providing encouragement and assurance.
Weygant will graduate in May and currently carries a grade point average (GPA) above a 3.75. She has received two scholarships, a book stipend, and an emergency fund grant during a period of financial distress. She has earned a variety of academic awards, to include an EOP Academic Achievement Award from the SUNY Office of Opportunity Programs and a Certificate of Merit for Outstanding Academic Achievement in AAS Accounting by the SUNY Orange Business Department, while also being inducted into in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society in June 2022. She has completed a business internship and the College’s “I am a Leader” program.
SUNY Orange’s EOP program is funded through a SUNY grant. It provides access, academic support and financial aid counseling to low-income and academically underprepared students. Students in the program receive comprehensive wraparound services throughout the academic year, including specialized advising; career assessment and planning; and financial literacy. Students also have access to a student success coach and a financial aid liaison.
