POTSDAM— SUNY Potsdam seniors Casey Asaro and Eve Borelli were recently among those honored with the 2025 Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence. Chancellor John B. King, Jr., recognized the recipients of the statewide award in a ceremony in Albany on April 29.

Originally from Pittsford, Eve Borrelli is set to graduate with her Bachelor of Arts degree in art history, with minors in history and museum studies.

Borrelli has worked hard to promote civic engagement on campus, including through her work with the Empire State Service Corps, where she partnered with the League of Women Voters to educate first-time voters and show students the power that their voice has.

She is a member of the Phi Alpha Theta history honor society, and the recipient of numerous scholarships and academic awards. She plans to go on to earn a degree in urban planning and historic preservation, working to make Revolutionary War homes livable again.

"Throughout my education at SUNY Potsdam, I learned the skills needed to acquire resources for community projects, and the importance of preservation and the role it has on creating a sense of identity and belonging within communities. These courses allowed me to realize how interconnected history, culture, and urban development are. Holding the same importance, my role in student government helped me along my path as well," Borelli said.

"In the same way that effective leadership requires listening to people, effective planning requires listening to the past to create spaces that acknowledge past, present and future communities. My leadership experience has also allowed me to realize how much I value initiative and community work in both my education and career. I learned the importance of collaboration, flexibility, and most importantly, listening -- skills that I believe are essential for planning and preservation."

Casey Asaro of Waterford, is a double-major in music performance and psychology. An accomplished performer on the trumpet, he believes that music has a unique ability to bring people together in a common goal and wants to emphasize the power of unity in his future career.

At Crane, he has had many opportunities to perform with different groups in a variety of settings, including being a member of the Crane Latin Ensemble since his freshman year.

After graduation, Asaro will begin graduate school at the University at Albany to complete his Master of Social Work degree. He plans to work as a clinical social worker, meeting one-on-one with clients and advocating for mental health programs and resources to better support his community.

The Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence was created in 1997 to honor students who excel academically and show involvement in leadership roles, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts, campus involvement, or career achievement.

Each year, campus presidents establish a selection committee, which reviews exemplary students. Nominees are then forwarded to the Chancellor's Office and are subject to a second round of review. Finalists are then recommended to the Chancellor to become recipients of the award.