05/04/2016
The SUNY Cortland chapter of a national honor society for all academic disciplines has named its “Scholars of the Year,” and they represent a diverse range of majors — from biomedical sciences to business economics.
Six outstanding members of the College’s chapter of Phi Kappa Phi were recognized April 16 for the high standards they set for future scholars through excellence in discipline, dedication and time management. The accolades were based on academic accomplishments as well as leadership and volunteer involvement at the College and in the community.
Founded in 1897, Phi Kappa Phi annually initiates about 30,000 new members from nearly 300 campuses in the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Philippines.
Here’s a closer look at this year’s Phi Kappa Phi scholars:
Jessica Chiodo
Major: criminology
Hometown: Staten Island, N.Y.
Proudest academic accomplishment: “The moment I realized I was going to graduate with summa cum laude honors would have to be my proudest academic achievement at SUNY Cortland, because it affirmed that all of the effort and long hours over the past four years were worth it.”
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Chiodo has been an active member of the National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) and a resident assistant for the Residence Life and Housing Office. She also has served as a student justice for the Student Conduct Office, participates in College Singers and has represented SUNY Cortland as a presenter at numerous regional conferences.
A member of the President’s and Dean’s lists nearly every semester, she’s been honored with several awards including the Outstanding Academic Achievement in Political Science Award and the Outstanding Achievement in Criminology Award plus several other scholarships.
Chiodo worked closely in the Cortland community as an intern for both the City of Cortland Police Department and Cortland Public Defenders.
Kadeeja Fredankey
Major: biomedical sciences
Hometown: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Proudest Academic Accomplishment: “I’m the first in my family to do and achieve many things; earning a bachelor’s degree being my proudest accomplishment so far. I am humbled by the realization of this goal because it was bourne on the sacrifices of my parents. None of my other awards or grants can compare.”
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Fredankey put her passion for medicine into practice as a member of the SUNY Cortland Emergency Medical Service (EMS). She also serves as an academic peer mentor for Randall Hall, and has worked as a supplemental instruction leader (SI) for general chemistry.
She is a member of NRHH and in the past was actively involved in the College’s A Capella group as founder and president of a smaller group, Good God.
Fredankey has conducted research for the biofilm laboratory for pathogenesis at the College. She has presented at Transformations, the College’s annual academic conference showcasing student research and creativity, the past two years.
She has been awarded several honors including the senior award for Outstanding Academic Achievement in Biological Sciences, and the Irmgard Mechlenburg Taylor Award, awarded to the student with the highest GPA in the School of Arts and Sciences. Fredankey also earned a spot on Dean’s List every semester and President’s List seven times.
In her free time, she serves as assistant youth and music director for Cortland Seventh Day Adventist (SDA) Church. She also has worked as an intern at the Family Practice of Cortland.
Nicole Lindel
Major: exercise science
Hometown: East Meadow, N.Y.
Proudest Academic Accomplishment: “My proudest moment at SUNY Cortland is not one specific moment in time — it is the full four years of my college experience. Through the many adversities I faced throughout my entire life, I am proud of myself for persevering and excelling as a student, club officer, and teammate. When I got my acceptance letter from Columbia University for graduate school, I realized that the time and effort I put forth was recognized. It was in this moment that I took a look back at my four years and prided myself in what I have accomplished, and who I have become.”
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Lindel tackled undergraduate research by examining the effects of five-hour energy drinks and dietary beetroot juice supplemental. She also worked with SUNY Cortland’s Auxiliary Services Corporation (ASC) as well as the NFL’s New York Jets during their summer training camp on the College’s campus.
Lindel has served as president and secretary for the SUNY Cortland Student Alumni Association (SPARK) and remains actively involved in the club volleyball team as member and treasurer.
A Dean’s List honoree every semester, Lindel also has been a member of SUNY Cortland’s Honors Program throughout her college career. She was awarded the SUNY Cortland Merit Scholarship for demonstrating exceptional academic excellence.
Lindel has volunteered at Goldwyn Boyland Physical Therapy locally and New York Presbyterian Hospital, where she worked with an array of patients. She is a HealthyNOW Teen Program nutritional presenter, which means she provides techniques to local teenagers looking to adapt a healthy lifestyle.
Emily Nagy
Major: speech and hearing science
Hometown: Merrimack, N.H.
Proudest Academic Accomplishment: “As a graduating senior, I would have to say that my proudest academic achievement was making the President’s List the past three semesters here at Cortland. In the heart of my toughest classes in my major and with gymnastics practice every day, I pushed through and received all A’s.”
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Nagy has taken the high beam as a four-year member of the College’s gymnastics team. Along with her practice and competition schedule, she has worked as a gymnastics coach for local children through Tumbling & More.
Nagy has earned several awards as a student-athlete including SUNYAC Commissioner’s List recognition, SUNYAC All-Academic Team accolades and on the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches Scholar All-America honors. In competition, she secured a spot as a second team All-American on uneven parallel bars and balance beam.
Nagy has been recognized on the Dean’s List every semester and has been a member of the College’s Honors Program all four years. For her dedication, she was awarded the SUNY Cortland Merit and Honors scholarships.
Kelly Quinn
Major: speech and hearing science
Hometown: Victor, N.Y.
Proudest Academic Accomplishment: “My proudest academic achievement would be graduating in three years while maintaining above a 4.0 cumulative and major GPA every semester.”
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Quinn serves as the president for the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) at the College — an academic club she joined in her first year on campus. Within NSSLHA, she coordinated Glamour Girls, a program that involves members visiting local nursing homes and interacting with residents.
Quinn also has been a Cortland Experience (COR 101) teaching assistant and served as a member of the Student Government Association (SGA) Senate.
Quinn recently received the Senior Academic Achievement Award for the School of Professional Studies, awarded to the top five seniors in that school. She also earned President’s and Dean’s list recognition every semester.
Patrick Viscome
Major: business economics
Hometown: Hartsdale, N.Y.
Proudest Academic Accomplishment: “My proudest academic achievement was growing to enjoy the challenges of learning difficult concepts — especially in finance — and realizing how the concepts influence the world around us.”
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Well-recognized as the College’s SGA president, Viscome has been an active member in student government and campus life, previously serving as parliamentarian and a senator. He also works as an assistant student supervisor of dining services at Neubig Hall.
As a Judson H. Taylor Leadership House resident, Viscome continuously stayed active on campus as a member of the Health Club, Colleges Against Cancer and New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG). He also is enrolled in the Honors Program.
Viscome has been recognized on several occasions with the Taylor Community Service Scholarship, the Civic Engagement Award and the SGA Leadership Scholarship, to name just a few of his honors. He has been a Dean’s List honoree every semester and a President’s List awardee twice.
Prepared by public relations intern Bethany Lunden