Two Cayuga Community College students are being recognized at the highest level across the SUNY system for their academic achievement and leadership.
Carissa Quagliata and Jacob Soltero, both members of the Class of 2026, received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence — the system’s top honor for students — during a statewide recognition this week.
The award highlights success not only in academics, but also in leadership, campus involvement, and community service. Both Quagliata and Soltero are graduating summa cum laude and were among 205 students selected across SUNY institutions.
College President Dr. Brian Durant said both students distinguished themselves through a combination of academic performance and engagement beyond the classroom.
“Carissa and Jacob are outstanding students whose academic successes are matched by their dedication to their classmates and their community,” Durant said.
Quagliata is completing an associate degree in information technology with a focus on cybersecurity while simultaneously finishing high school through a dual-enrollment program. She plans to continue her studies at Rochester Institute of Technology.
During her time at Cayuga, she served as president of Phi Theta Kappa and participated in academic competitions and campus organizations.
Soltero, who is earning a degree in media arts with a concentration in audio production, also played a significant role in student life. He led both the Radio and Television Guild and Cayuga Records, the college’s student-run production company.
He contributed to campus-produced news programming and supported theater productions, while also helping produce high school sports broadcasts.
Soltero plans to transfer to SUNY Oswego to continue his studies in media and broadcasting.
College officials said the recognition reflects both students’ ability to balance rigorous academics with meaningful involvement on campus and in the community.
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