Angela Aldatz represented SUNY Oswego among the 49 students in SUNY’s Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) honored this spring with the statewide Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Student Excellence. 

The award, an annual tradition now in its seventh year, was presented by SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. to recognize outstanding EOP students for their academic merit and perseverance. 

“This award means a great deal to me,” said Aldatz, who graduated from SUNY Oswego in December 2025, a semester early with a degree in bioloty. ”This award will forever be a reminder of all the hard work I went through to get my degree.”

“Angela's story is a powerful testament to perseverance through hardships and unyielding commitment to academic success in the face of immense challenges,” Joey Tse, director of Oswego’s EOP, wrote in a nomination letter. “Angela's life story is an incredible example of strength, which perfectly illustrates how one can seize opportunities in the face of challenges that can lead to remarkable success.”

The journey to a SUNY Oswego degree involved navigating financial difficulties and external situations that raised additional challenges. As a result, Aldatz often had very long days involving classes, schoolwork in a rigorous major and working multiple campus jobs.

But through it all, the support of EOP helped immensely.

“Honestly EOP has been the best thing for me both personally and professionally,” Aldatz said. “No matter the problem, they were supportive and helped me find a solution.”

Aldatz noted that the assistance began almost instantly in a first meeting with EOP advisor Kelly Exware.

“On my first day with my EOP advisor Kelly, I mentioned that my goal was to graduate early and she provided me with a success plan to do just that,” Aldatz said, noting that Exware also helped find jobs and scholarships to help pay for school.

“During Angela’s time as an EOP student at SUNY Oswego, her efforts reached beyond seeking resources and advocating for her own needs,” Tse noted. “She also captured leadership opportunities that allowed her to make a significant impact in supporting and promoting EOP.”

These roles included serving as a SUNY Oswego EOP student representative, an EOP Summer Program peer leader, AmeriCorps FAFSA Corps student worker and Empire State Service Corps student worker -- all positions that helped others. 

“As an EOP student representative and peer leader, she made a difference in the lives of current, prospective and first-year students by ensuring they understand the benefits of EOP, supporting them in acclimating to campus and guiding them on how to navigate challenges as a new college student,” Tse said. 

“Angela is a self-starter and has been an impressive self-advocate in navigating access to higher education and her pursuit for her degree,” Tse added.  “While Angela’s academic journey has had its challenges, she managed to juggle all of the previously mentioned roles and responsibilities while completing her degree in under four years.“

Through it all, EOP provided a sense of stability and belonging, and Aldatz appreciates an honor that recognizes her achievements and personal story.

“Overall I am grateful for the experience SUNY Oswego EOP has given me and honored to be given the Norman R. McConney Award,” Aldatz said.

In honoring Aldatz and the other winners, Chancellor King noted the importance of EOP and the amazing stories behind those winning the award.

“Over nearly 60 years, SUNY’s EOP has supported tens of thousands of students and empowered them to achieve their full potential,” Chancellor King said. “I am honored to recognize this year's recipients of the Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Student Excellence. Our McConney award winners’ hard work as they move forward on their path to academic excellence and upward mobility makes them an inspiration for all of our students, faculty, staff and administrators.”