GCC EOP Student Said Adam Honored with SUNY's Prestigious Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for Student Excellence

Please Note: Title Correction

Batavia, NY (06/04/2026) — Genesee Community College proudly announces that Said Adam, a dedicated student in GCC's Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), has been named a recipient of the 2026 Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for Student Excellence. The honor, awarded by the State University of New York (SUNY) Board of Trustees and SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr., recognizes 49 outstanding EOP students across the state for their academic achievement and extraordinary perseverance.

Now in its seventh year, the Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for Student Excellence celebrates students who exemplify the spirit and mission of the EOP, a transformative initiative designed to provide access, academic support, and financial assistance to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Since its inception in 1967, the EOP has empowered nearly 90,000 students-many of them the first in their families to attend college-with the tools to succeed in higher education and beyond.

"This award honors not just academic excellence, but the grit and determination it takes to overcome obstacles and achieve success," said GCC Associate Dean of Students and EOP Coordinator Tanya Lane-Herbert. "Said Adam embodies these values, and we are incredibly proud of his accomplishments and the bright future that lies ahead."

The award is named in honor of Norman R. McConney, Jr., a 1971 graduate from the State University of New York at Albany and former Assistant Dean for Special Programs at SUNY. McConney, alongside former Assembly Deputy Speaker Arthur O. Eve, helped create EOP as a statewide program.

GCC's EOP continues to support students like Said through personalized academic advising, tutoring, mentorship and financial assistance-creating opportunities for success that extend far beyond the classroom.

To learn more about the Educational Opportunity Program at Genesee Community College, visit www.genesee.edu/eop or contact the EOP Office at (585) 343-0055 Ext. 6473.

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Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for Student Excellence recipient Said Adam with Associate Dean of Students and EOP Coordinator Tanya Lane-Herbert

Genesee Community College

GCC EOP Student Said Adam Honored with SUNY's Prestigious Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for Student Excellence

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Genesee Community College

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