The Educational Opportunity Program/Advancement on Individual Merit (EOP/AIM) at Stony Brook University held its annual awards ceremony on May 1 at the DeVries Center. The event celebrated academic excellence, moral leadership, civic engagement, integrity, and personal and social responsibility.
Executive Vice President and Provost Carl Lezuez addressed attendees: “It’s a difficult time for higher education but being able to be here tonight and celebrate your achievements and accomplishments is a reminder of who we are and why what we do matters.” He added, “You are the foundation for our future, and looking out at this room, I’m encouraged and full of hope for what is to come.”
The ceremony recognized students in the Alpha Iota Mu Honor Society as well as those who made the Fall 2024 Dean’s List. A total of 308 students received the SUNY Office of Opportunity Academic Achievement Award for maintaining a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
Graduating seniors Danette Llivicura and Ceasar Johnson were awarded the 2025 James Nobles Memorial Scholarship. Llivicura is pursuing a biology major with a pre-physician assistant track. She transferred to Stony Brook in 2022 and has been an active leader within underserved communities. Her roles include president of the EOP Student Association, success coach for first-year EOP students, SUNY EOP student ambassador, volunteer Emergency Medical Technician at Port Jefferson EMS Training Academy, and Residential Life graduate assistant at the EOP Summer Academy.
Johnson majors in engineering science with a focus on civil engineering. He has shown dedication to academic excellence, leadership, and community service. Johnson was recently accepted into NYU Tandon School of Engineering's Master of Science program in civil engineering with a structural concentration. His contributions include serving as a teaching assistant for both EOP/AIM and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, math tutor, success coach, and upcoming water resources engineering intern at Arup.
Pamela Matzner, director of EOP/AIM recognized "our incredible EOP team," stating they "empower students to build confidence as campus leaders."
Stony Brook EOP alumnus Bergre Escorbores delivered closing remarks.
Additional awards presented included:
- **EOP Distinguished Advocate Award**: Victoria Kobel
- **SUNY Norman McConney Jr. Student Excellence Award**: Victor Canela
- **EOP Outstanding Ally Award**: Bergre (Gabriel) Escobores; Madeline Franz
- **Student Leadership Award**: Alexander Azcona Almonte; Anahje Hector; Reyshawn Jackson; Abbygale Lindsay; Hannah Ramirez; Tajeira (TT) Thomas
- **Community Service Award**: Angela Amigon; Veronica Castano; Viktoriya Gayryan; Limei Liu; Maisuma Mahin; Cyndi Orr; Brigitte Rivera; Sheena Bailey Wilkerson
- **Outstanding Senior Award**: Joshua Hardaway; Jamelly Diaz Mena; Temidayo Taiwo
- **Outstanding Junior Award**: Denisse Cortorreal; Yamile Joseph; Enis Mata Santana; Isabella Salgado; Nowshin Shairey
- **Outstanding Sophomore Award**: Madeleine Cherico; Mylai Diallo; Nicole Feng; Afsana Jim
- **Outstanding Freshman Award**: Gabriel Hernandez Haneen Mohammed Jayden Hoff-Isabell