Two Cayuga CC Students Earn SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Excellence

Two members of Cayuga Community College’s Class of 2026 were recognized for their academic and leadership achievements this week when they received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence (CASE).

Carissa Quagliata and Jacob Soltero, both of whom are graduating summa cum laude, were among the 205 SUNY students honored with the prestigious accolade. The award is the highest academic and leadership distinction for SUNY students, recognizing them for their success and commitment in diverse categories, including academics, campus involvement, civics and service, and more.

“Carissa and Jacob are outstanding students whose academic successes are matched by their dedication to their classmates and their community. Both of them have been leaders in student-focused organizations at Cayuga, and I believe those experiences, combined with their academic excellence, will lead them to even greater successes in the future,” said Cayuga President Dr. Brian Durant. “Congratulations to both Carissa and Jacob for receiving this well-deserved award, and for all their accomplishments at Cayuga.”

Quagliata is one of the few students in the history of Cayuga who completed their regents and associate’s degrees in the same year. In 2026, she’s earning her Associate in Science in Information Technology with a concentration in Cybersecurity, and will also graduate from Synergy Virtual High School at CiTi BOCES.

“Dual enrollment is challenging, but it has set me up for success and has made me into someone I am proud of. The experiences I have gained will allow me to transition into a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science program far easier, which is a sense of stability that removes a lot of stress,” she said. “Receiving the Chancellor’s Award is reassurance that all of my efforts have not been in vain.”

At Cayuga, she served as the president of Phi Theta Kappa, competed in the New York State Mathematics Association of Two-Year Colleges, and was a member of the Book and History Clubs.

Quagliata is transferring to the Rochester Institute of Technology, where she will continue studying cybersecurity. She thanked the staff at Cayuga’s Learning Commons, and faculty members like Professor Linda Frank, for their support.

Throughout his time at Cayuga, Soltero has excelled academically while also immersing himself in student life opportunities through the College’s Media Arts programs. This spring he’s graduating with an Associate in Applied Science in Media Arts: Audio Production.

He has served as the president of the Radio and Television Guild and of Cayuga Records, the student-led production company at the college. Soltero also assisted in the production of “Beyond the Front Page with Guy Cosentino” and “Inside Government with Guy Cosentino,” two news programs produced by Cayuga students, staff and faculty.

Soltero also provided technical support for Harlequin Productions, Cayuga student-theatre group, and helped produce weekly high school football broadcasts aired on Spectrum News.

“I’ve had a great experience at Cayuga learning from my classmates and faculty like (Media & Telecommunications Director) Laura Bailey. They’re very genuine people who pushed me to be the best version of myself and helped me realize what I wanted to do in my life. My experience here, especially the hands-on learning, will genuinely help me in my next steps,” said Soltero.

This fall, Soltero is transferring to SUNY Oswego to continue studying media and broadcasting.

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