Honoring its pillars of academic excellence, moral leadership, civic engagement, integrity, and personal and social responsibility, the Educational Opportunity Program/Advancement on Individual Merit (EOP/AIM) at Stony Brook held its annual awards ceremony on May 1 at the DeVries Center.
“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,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Carl Lezuez. “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 event recognized students in the Alpha Iota Mu Honor Society as well as those who made the Fall 2024 Dean’s List. Additionally, a remarkable 308 students received the SUNY Office of Opportunity Academic Achievement Award — representing 42 percent of the program — with a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher.
Graduating seniors Danette Llivicura and Ceasar Johnson each received the 2025 James Nobles Memorial Scholarship. Llivicura is a biology major on the pre-physician assistant track who transferred to Stony Brook in 2022 and has since become a dynamic leader and dedicated advocate for underserved communities. She is president of the EOP Student Association; a success coach for first-year EOP students, offering individualized support to help them navigate the challenges of college life; and a SUNY EOP student ambassador. Llivicura is also a volunteer Emergency Medical Technician at Port Jefferson EMS Training Academy and will serve as a Residential Life graduate assistant at the EOP Summer Academy at Stony Brook.
Johnson is an engineering science major with a concentration in civil engineering and a member of the Alpha Iota Mu Honor Society. Ceasar has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to academic excellence, leadership and community service, culminating in his recent acceptance to NYU Tandon School of Engineering, where he will pursue a master of science in civil engineering with a structural engineering concentration. Johnson began his academic path in the 2021 Summer Academy and has been a teaching assistant for both EOP/AIM and the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, as well as a math tutor and success coach. This summer he will be a water resources engineering intern at Arup, helping create sustainable infrastructure solutions for urban environments.
EOP Director Pamela Matzner also recognized “our incredible EOP team, who empower students to build confidence as campus leaders and serve as guiding lights, connecting them to the resources they need to thrive academically.”
Closing remarks were delivered by Stony Brook EOP alumnus Bergre Escorbores.
Other awards presented at the ceremony included:
EOP Distinguished Advocate Award: Victoria Kobel, University Registrar’s Office
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
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