The Chawla/Ochoa Academic Achievement Award

Presented to students who have shown a commitment to enhancing their educational experience through research, conference presentatins, and published works, while maintaining a high level of academic achievement (cumulative 3.3 GPA or higher).

Our Namesakes: Drs. Kalpana Chawla and Severo Ochoa

Dr. Kalpana Chawla was the first Indian-American woman to fly in space. She was selected for a second flight in 2000 and tragically died in the 2003 Columbia disaster. She logged 30 days, 14 hours, and 54 minutes in space.

Dr. Severo Ochoa was born in Spain in 1905 and naturalized to the United States in 1956. Four years later, in 1959, He received the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his work with Dr. Marianne Grunberg-Manago in discovering an enzyme that builds RNA and DNA.

Our 2023 Award Recipients

The 2023 Chawla-Ochoa Academic Achievement Award recipients along with their majors, minors, and a small highlight of their involvement on campus. Congratulations to all our awardees!

Alissa Michele Cooney

Alissa is posing in front of dark grey background. Is wearing white top and necklace. Has light blonde hair extending past shoulders. Is looking at camera and smiling.

Major: Athletic Training

Ithaca College Fitness Center Senior Facility Monitor January 2022-Present | Ithaca College Student Athlete Preparticipation Exams, August 2021, 2022 | Ithaca College Wrestling Invitational, November 2021 | Movement Gait Analysis, April 2021| Ithaca College Athletic Training Student Association, President, July 2022-Present | Ithaca College Women’s Club Lacrosse, President, May 2022-Present | Student Advisory Council for the School of Health Sciences, Undergraduate Representative, Department of Athletic Training and Exercise Science, September 2022-Present | Research Experience: Capturing the Critical Psychological Factors that Influence Return to Sport in Those Who Undergo Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction, a Critically Appraised Topic. Submitted to the Whalen Symposium | Professional Development: Member, National Athletic Trainers’ Association | Strong Bodies & Minds: An Athlete's Journey with Mental Health, February 2022 | Eastern Athletic Trainers’ Association Annual Convention, January 2022, 2023 | Interprofessional Education Event, Ithaca College Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training, October 2022 Interprofessional Education Event, Ithaca College Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training, April 2022Ithaca College Department of Exercise Science and Athletic Training’s Spring 2021 Distinguished Lecture Event, March 2021, Dr. Anthony Hackney, PhD, Dsc, FNAK, FACSM from the School of Public Health & Medicine at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill presented the science, policy, and complexity of The Caster Semenya Case: Is Testosterone Essential in Athletics?Ellen J. Staurowsky, Ed.D. Professor, Sports Media Roy H. Park School of Communications, Ithaca College, April 2021, Dr. Staurowsky presented on Gender, Sport, and the Madness of March: Lessons from the 2021 NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament.NFL Presents: Diversity and Inclusion in Sports Medicine, November 2021

Emily Hung

Emily is posing with building in background. Is wearing a grey shirt and has long dark hair extending past shoulders. Is smiling.

Major: Television and Digital Media Production and Legal Studies

IC Students Consulting for Nonprofit Organizations — Club Member (August - December 2019) | Service Saturday — Participant (Fall 2019) | Alternative Fall Break in Buffalo, NY (October 2019) | Women Leaders Series in Seneca, NY (March 2022) | WICB 91.7 FM — Newscaster (September 2019 - August 2022) | Ithaca College Television — News Director (May 2021 - May 2022), Content Producer (Spring 2020 - May 2022), Reporter (Spring 2020 - May 2022), Assistant Producer (September - December 2019) | Society of Professional Journalists — President (January - May 2021), Treasurer (January 2020 - January 2021 and May 2021 - January 2022), National Member (January 2020 - PRESENT) | Ithaca College Office of Communications — Staff Writer (November 2021 - PRESENT) | Ithaca College Commencement — Camera Operator (May 2022) | MacCormick Secure Center in Brooktondale, NY — Youth Tutor/Coach (September 2019 - May 2022) | Open Doors English — ESL Tutor (January - May 2020) | Village at Ithaca — Elementary School Tutor (September 2020 - May 2021) | WRFI Community Radio: Which Way Forward (policing reform series) — Volunteer Reporter (September 2020 - May 2021) | Prison Journalism Project — Transcriber (September 2022 - PRESENT) | Azusa City Library in Los Angeles, CA — Citizenship Coach (January 2023 - PRESENT)

Frances Alia Bu

Frances is posing for photo in urban setting at night. Is wearing light jeans and black coat with white scarf. Has long dark hair extending past shoulders.

Major: Speech Pathology and Audiology, Deaf Studies

President of Island Fusion: Fall 2022-Spring 2023 | Secretary of Island Fusion: Fall 2021-Spring 2022 | iAP: Fall 2019-Spring 2023 | Student Employee-Towers Dining/ Towers Eatery: Fall 2019- Spring 2023 | Dean’s List: Fall 2019, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, Spring 2022, Fall 2022 | Research with Professors : Fall 2021 (Dr.Hajjar), Spring 2022 (Dr. Hajjar, Dr. Rominger) | ASHA Poster Presented: Fall 2022 | CUMEP Winter Program: 2021

Jeannette Elizabeth Rodriguez

Jeannette is posing for photo with white blooming tree in background. Is wearing white dress with exposed shoulders. Has a pearl necklace. Is looking into the distance to the left of the camera and smiling. Has dark shoulder-length hair.

Major: Film, Photography and Visual Arts; Business Administration

Macabre Theatre Ensemble (2019-2023) | ICTV (2020-2021) | Internship with professor Sen-I Yu (2021-2022) | Internship with professor John Scott (2022-2023) | Teaching Assistant in Cinema Production 1(2023)

Julie Ann Raigosa

Julie is posing for photo on dark grey background. Is wearing blue and white patterned shirt with blue blazer. Has long brown hair extending past shoulders. Is looking at camera and smiling.

Major: Business Administration (Finance Concentration); Spanish and Economics

Beta Alpha Psi President: Fall 2021 – Spring 2023 | Women in Business Treasurer: Spring 2019 - Spring 2023 | Core Trading Consultants Senior Analyst: Fall 2019 - Spring 2023 | Club Soccer: Fall 2021 - Fall 2023 | CFA Institute Research Challenge Captain: Spring 2023 | Beta Gamma Sigma: Spring 2022 - Spring 2023 | Phi Kappa Phi: Spring 2022 - Spring 2023| Sigma Delta Pi: Spring 2022 - Spring 2023 | Omicron Delta Epsilon: Spring 2022 - Spring 2023 | Oracle Honor Society: Fall 2020 - Spring 2023 | Student Services Team Member: Spring 2019 - Spring 2023 | Finance Teacher's Assistant: Fall 2021 - Spring 2023

Kristin Cady-Grace Ho

Kristin is posing for photo on grey patterned background. Is wearing green overcoat with gold pins. Has brown shoulder length hair and is smiling at camera.

Major: Occupational Therapy, Deaf Studies

OT Peer Mentorship Program: Fall 2022 - Present | MLK Scholar Program: Fall 2019 - Present | OT Elected DEI Committee Member: Spring 2023 - Present | Audio-Visual Technician: Fall 2021 - Present | IC Nature Club Member: Fall 2022 - Present | Sanvello Volunteer Ambassador: Fall 2022 - Present | IDEAS Peer Educator: Fall 2020 - Fall 2022 | Jumpstart Community Plunge: Fall 2019 | HOME RLC: Fall 2019 - Spring 2020 | OA RLC: Fall 2020 - Spring 2021 | IC Accidentals Acapella: Fall 2019 - Spring 2021

Mia Loretto

Mia is posing for photo on white background. Is wearing a white polo shirt with red and blue accents. Has long dark hair extending past shoulders. Is not smiling.

Major: Sociology, Politics

Information Technology Student Coordinator Assistant: Summer 2021 – Present | Information Technology Learning Technology Consultant: Fall 2020 - Spring 2021 | Mandarin Language Tutor- Fall 2019 - Spring 2020 | Eastern Sociological Society Conference Presenter: Spring 2022 | Whalen Symposium Presenter: Spring 2022 | AKD Sociology Honors Society: Fall 2021 - Present | School of Huminites & Sciences Summer Scholar: Summer 2022 | Women's Lacrosse Club: Fall 2019 - Present

Nano Win

Nano is posing for photo with road and buildings and tree in background. Is wearing a white top with blue striped blazer. Is wearing a necklace. Has short dark hair.

Major: Health Sciences, Health Policy and Management; Chemistry

Treasurer of IC Chemistry: Fall 2022- Spring 2023 | Chair of Multimedia of Asian American Alliance: Fall 2022- Spring 2023

Stephanie Monteiro

Stephanie is posing for photo in front of brick wall covered in green ivy. Serindipity building is in the background as well as two bypassers. Stephanie is wearing light blue sweater and white pants. Has dark curly hair extending to shoulders. Is looking at camera and smiling.

Major: Music; Journalism

Q&A with The Ithacan about my Senior Voice Recital: Spring 2023 | Senior Voice Recital dedicated to traditional and popular Brazilian music, Black American popular music, and Brazilian and Black American activism: Spring 2023 | Junior Voice Recital dedicated to Latin American classical and folk music: Spring 2022 | WICB's "Weekend Rhythms" (Hip-hop and R&B shows) Director: Fall 2022 - Spring 2023 | Musicians of Color Alliance Secretary: Fall 2021 - Spring 2023 | Musicians of Color Alliance Showcase singer: Spring 2023 | Attended the Haitian Music Celebration Recital: Spring 2023 | Amani Gospel Choir member: Fall 2022 - Spring 2023 | African Drumming and Dance dancer: Fall 2022 - Spring 2023 | MLK Celebration dancer, singer: Spring 2022, Spring 2023 | Dorothy Cotton Jubilee Singers: Spring 2023 | The Ithacan Life and Culture Writer: Fall 2021 - Spring 2022 | Brazilian Association Member: Fall 2022 - Spring 2023 | Food Court Cashier: Fall 2019 - Spring 2020 | Magna Cum LaudeDean's List: Fall 2019, Fall 2021 | Attended the Pulse Dance Showcase.

Theo Mitchell Summerville

Theo is posing for picture with white background. Is wearing a white shirt with blue sport coat. Has a beard and is smiling.

Major: Environmental Science | Minor: Outdoor Pursuits