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Two Cayuga Community College student leaders with exceptional records of academic success and campus engagement have received the celebrated Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence (CASE) for 2023-24.

Cayuga sophomores Nathanael Hand of Auburn and Zach Ingersoll of Hannibal were among the 193 SUNY students who received the award, which is the highest accolade awarded to SUNY students. The award recognizes students who balance academic success with other aspects of college, including campus involvement, athletics, career achievement, leadership responsibilities and community service.

Cayuga President Dr. Brian Durant applauded Hand and Ingersoll for their academic accomplishments, leadership and avid participation in on-campus events and other opportunities.

“Cayuga is fortunate to have students like Nathanael and Zach, who are determined to succeed and are also committed to enhancing the college experience of the students around them. Both of them have done that through their leadership and genuine interest in the lives of their classmates,” said Dr. Durant. “I’m proud of all their accomplishments at Cayuga, and I congratulate them on earning the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence.”

Hand and Ingersoll are graduating in Cayuga’s Class of 2024, Hand with an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) in Media Arts: Audio Production with a Music Production Option and Ingersoll with an AAS in Business Administration. They both started at Cayuga in 2022 and were immediately successful, earning multiple semesters on the College’s academic accolades list.

Both students said they were honored and surprised to receive the award for their time at Cayuga.

“I met some of the most creative people I’ve ever known at Cayuga, built strong friendships and great connections with my professors. I don’t think I could get that anywhere else. The experience here is truly one of a kind,” said Hand. “I want to thank everyone — family, friends, staff and faculty — who’ve helped me and supported me along the way.”

“I’ve loved every second at Cayuga. Thinking about my college choices before I came here, I have zero regrets about coming to Cayuga,” said Ingersoll. “As students at a smaller college, we’ve had the chance to play greater roles in impacting our campus community. I think a lot of us have done that, and it’s made us better students and leaders.”

Hand, a graduate of Southern Cayuga School District who is pursuing a career in music, became the president of the Radio and Television Guild and the secretary for Cayuga Records, the College’s student-run record company. He was also a co-manager for Win-89 FM, Cayuga’s student-run radio station. Recently he’s enjoyed an internship with Finger Lakes Radio Group, where he announced on-air his selection as a CASE recipient.

Ingersoll, who graduated from Hannibal High School, was voted the president of Cayuga’s Student Government Organization (SGO) in just his second semester at the College. Now in his third semester leading SGO, Ingersoll is present at almost all college and student events and has been a leading voice in creating new opportunities for Cayuga students to enjoy their college experience.

Both students are planning on continuing their education at SUNY Oswego, where Hand will study broadcasting and media communications and Ingersoll will study business administration.

For more information about the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, visit https://system.suny.edu/university-life/student-excellence/.