CANTON – SUNY Canton has received a prestigious ranking on the 2024-2025 annual Military Friendly school list, which was released March 27.

The college earned sixth place nationally in the small public schools category and will be featured in G.I. Jobs magazine's May issue.

"This is the 13th consecutive year SUNY Canton has been recognized as a Military Friendly school, which is a reflection of the efforts we have made to assist active-duty service members, veterans and their families reach their educational goals," said SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran. 

The college currently has 147 military-affiliated students, and Patrick S. Massaro, SUNY Canton's veterans coordinator, helps connect them with available resources. Cybersecurity major and Data Science minor Eliza G. Ochoa, a Navy veteran from Los Angeles, said she selected the college because of its renowned academic program, as well as its standing as a military-friendly institution.

"I am very grateful for all the support and resources SUNY Canton has provided; most importantly, a safe, nurturing environment to better myself," she said. "This academic journey has been very positive and provided me with a career path where I can see myself being successful and passionate about what I do."

She is a SUNY Research Foundation intern, and her duties involve the creation and management of the organization's client relations system. In addition, Ochoa is part of a team of researchers in the college's Advanced Information Security and Privacy (AISP) Lab, where they are developing a cyber awareness training module.

She also assists with the upkeep of the Raymond G. Modell Veterans Lounge, maintaining equipment and ensuring the space is a comfortable area on campus where her peers can socialize and study. 

SUNY Canton has earned multiple awards recently for its commitment to the military community, including being named a 2024-2025 Military Spouse Friendly school and a 2024 "Best Regional Colleges for Veterans" by U.S. News and World Report.