A diverse group of students and recent graduates representing Cornell’s four contract colleges have been selected to receive the 2022 State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence (CASE.)

The award acknowledges outstanding achievements that demonstrate excellence in areas including academics, leadership, campus involvement, community service or the arts, according to SUNY. A recognition ceremony for nearly 200 awardees across the SUNY system was held April 26 at the Hall of Springs in Saratoga, New York.

“Now more than ever, it is time to celebrate the accomplishments of our students who have helped one another get through this global pandemic and focus on getting the most out of their college education,” SUNY Interim Chancellor Deborah F. Stanley said at the event. “And this year’s CASE winners are at the top of the class.”

Enrolled in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), College of Human Ecology (CHE), College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) and School of Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR), Cornell’s recipients, who all boast GPAs near or exceeding 4.0, are:

• Malvika Narayan ’21 (CHE) of South Brunswick, New Jersey, graduated in December with a degree in global and public health sciences with minors in health equity and development sociology, and now works with the American Public Health Association. Previously she worked with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, a branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and made recommendations for policies addressing the growing mental health crisis among healthcare providers. Narayan held various leadership positions on campus including secretary-general for the Cornell Model United Nations Conference, vice president of Phi Mu Fraternity, senior residential adviser in the LGBTQ+ Residential Community and executive vice president for the Cornell University Class Councils.
• Jayden Robert (CVM) of Overland Park, Kansas, is a doctoral candidate in the field of veterinary medicine, with an anticipated graduation date of May 2022. When pandemic restrictions interrupted many students’ summer opportunities, she designed, marketed and coordinated a veterinary entrepreneurship online certificate to provide an alternative experience. She also founded the first annual regional veterinary business summit for the Northeast consortium of veterinary college students. In addition, she worked at the Cornell University Small Animal Hospital Emergency Room as a student assistant team leader.
• Anjali Velu ’21 (CHE, Cornell Brooks School) of Morrisville, North Carolina, majored in policy analysis and management with minors in data analysis and inequality studies, and will be working at EY-Parthenon in the fall. Through her time with Delta Sigma Pi, a business fraternity, she led campus resume workshops, served as the chapter’s vice president of diversity, equity and inclusion, created a more objective and accessible recruitment process, organized a fundraiser for racial justice causes and eventually served as senior vice rresident. She was on the equestrian team for four years, and served as captain her senior year.
• Audrey L. Vinton ’22 (CALS) of Rochester, New York, is an environment and sustainability major with honors in research. She has served as a research scientist in the lab of Robert W. Howarth, the David R. Atkinson Professor of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology, the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory and the Cornell Ocean Research Apprenticeship and has been awarded $8,650 in research grants. Audrey has volunteered with organizations committed to community service including Big Brothers Big Sisters; Epsilon Eta and Cornell’s Pre-Orientation Service Trips program in the David M. Einhorn Center for Community Engagement. She plans to study marine ecosystems in graduate school.
• Sherell Farmer ’22 (ILR) of Brooklyn, served as a residential adviser, co-founded Cornell Students 4 Black Lives and was co-executive director of the Undergraduate Labor Institute. In addition, she serves as the undergraduate legal coordinator of a group which partners with Cornell Law School students to provide free aid to low-income residents in the community. Sherell also participated in the ILR High Road program, which focuses on economic development, urban revitalization, small business development and poverty alleviation in Buffalo.