Melissa Olsen Receives Academic Achievement Award

2016 May 31

Melissa Olsen of Truckee, CA, 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.

Olsen received the Cooperstown Graduate Program 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.

Olsen is a non-traditional student who returned to school after several years of working in the real estate business. She aspires to be a museum director and has focused her study in museum administration, fundraising, finance and leadership. During her time at the Cooperstown Graduate Program, Olsen took on a variety of public service responsibilities, including serving as the Mid-Atlantic Association of Museums (MAAM) coordinator of volunteers for the annual conference and providing administrative support for the MAAM board of trustees.