SUNY Delhi Student Honored with Statewide EOP Award
03/21/2025 — SUNY Delhi student Donovan Church is among 50 exceptional students in SUNY's Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) whose academic merit and perseverance were recognized with the 2025 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Student Excellence. SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr. presented the awards at a ceremony held in Albany, NY, earlier this month. Church was accompanied to the event by SUNY Delhi President Mary Bonderoff, EOP counselor Jessica Blake, and his grandmother.
Donovan Church of Altamont, NY, is a senior in SUNY Delhi's Construction Management program. After facing academic and disciplinary challenges early in his college journey, he embraced the support offered by EOP and other campus resources, emerging as a leader among his peers at Delhi. His many campus roles now include serving as a senior resident assistant, an EOP peer mentor, an EOP ambassador, and the president of the Associated General Contractors student chapter.
"Donovan is a testament to the transformative power that EOP can hold," says Gabriella Vasta, interim director of accessibility and opportunity programs at SUNY Delhi. "He is a compassionate and dedicated young man who has used his challenges and obstacles as motivation to help others in and outside of his community."
"This award represents a sense of accomplishment and pride for my family - succeeding despite all the hurdles," Church says. "Seeing all the hard work pay off feels like a weight starting to lift off my shoulders. After four years in college, I've gained recognition, and others are starting to look up to me. It's important to me to be a good role model and inspire others, especially my younger siblings."
Church describes the role of EOP during his college years as "the family that always has your back."
"EOP pushes you to be better and supports you through thick or thin through counseling, tutoring, and financial assistance. You can't do it without other people."
Church's career choice in construction was inspired by role models in his life who worked in the field. He graduates this spring with a bachelor's degree in construction management and has already received multiple lucrative job offers. He has accepted a civil construction position in Tennessee.
Since 1967, EOP has provided access, academic support, and supplemental financial assistance to students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The EOP award is named in memory of Norman R. McConney Jr., a former assistant dean for special programs at SUNY, who helped create EOP as a statewide program.
