Kelsey McKeighan Receives Academic Achievement Award

2016 May 31

Kelsey McKeighan of Gansevoort, NY, was one of 54 outstanding SUNY Oneonta students selected to receive a 2016 Academic Achievement Award this spring. Each academic department or program selected one to three outstanding seniors to receive the award.

McKeighan received the Geography and Environmental Sustainability Department award.

To be considered for the award, a student must have a minimum grade-point average of 3.5 in his or her major and must demonstrate exceptional academic improvement over four semesters, as well as excellence in research; leadership and involvement in department, campus and community activities; and/or participation in academic and/or professional situation outside the college.

McKeighan has been on the dean's list every semester and is graduating after only three years. She is the recipient of the Craig Richard Sturdevant ‘88 Scholarship and the NYS Scholarship for Academic Excellence. After traveling to Guatemala as part of a faculty-led field course, McKeighan earned a grant to conduct an independent research project through the SUNY Oneonta 2016 Student Grant Program for Research and Creative Activity. Her project, “Lake Atitlán: Securing Water, Sustaining Development,” focused on sustainable water quality solutions in the Lake Atitlán watershed. As the invasive species education intern for the Lake George Association during summer 2015, she conducted outreach and assisted with educational programming. During the spring 2016 semester, she served as the environmental planning intern for the Otsego County Conservation Association, focusing on policy and planning. She has been active in many activities on campus, including the Environmental Science Club and the Environmental Activism Club.