Stony Brook Students Honored with Statewide Awards at Empire State Service Corps Summit

Several Stony Brook University students were recognized with prestigious statewide awards at the Empire State Service Corps (ESSC) Summit Year II in Albany.

The annual Summit brings together ESSC students from across SUNY to celebrate service, leadership, and community impact.

Three of Stony Brook's ESSC students - Aisha Mowla, Afiya Duncan and Emily Cheung - received statewide honors at the December event, including the Leadership in Service Award and Collaborative Impact Awards. These students, who serve in the Office of Military and Student Veterans Affairs and Student Success Coaching initiatives, were recognized for their exceptional commitment to public service, meaningful contributions to their host sites, and dedication to strengthening communities across New York State.

The Empire State Service Corps is a SUNY-wide initiative that provides students with paid public service opportunities addressing critical community needs. At Stony Brook, the Center for Service Learning and Community Service oversees ESSC programming and student support. Stony Brook students serve across a range of focus areas, including food insecurity, financial aid access, sustainability, early childhood education, and veteran support, while gaining leadership experience and career-ready skills.

The ESSC Summit brought together more than 300 students, coordinators, and SUNY leaders from 38 campuses, including SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. who led a Fireside Chat panel discussion, for professional development workshops, service projects, and opportunities to reflect on the impact of service. Highlights included leadership sessions, wellness activities, and a hands-on service project in partnership with United Way to support early childhood literacy. Governor Kathy Hochul was unable to attend in person, but recorded a special video message for ESSC students.

"Stony Brook University is proud of its Empire State Service Corps students and their continued commitment to service, leadership, and community engagement" said Jacqueline Romero, assistant director for the Center for Service Learning and Community Service. "Their statewide recognition reflects the meaningful impact Stony Brook students are making in their communities while preparing for lives of purpose beyond graduation."