GK SUNY Fredonia Chapter President Wins Coveted Lanford Prize

Article below was published by The Observer (Dunkirk, NY).

Zhuojun “Georgie” Fu, the recipient of numerous awards and accolades throughout her career at SUNY Fredonia, will become the first international student to receive the prestigious Lanford Presidential Prize.

Fu, from Shanghai, China, will be given the 2012 award of the Oscar and Esther Lanford Endowment at the morning Commencement ceremony on Saturday, May 12, by SUNY Fredonia President Dennis L. Hefner. She will graduate summa cum laude with dual majors in Communication-Public Relations, with minors in Leadership Studies and Applied Mathematics, and Computer Science, with a concentration in Applied Mathematics.

The award, generously created and endowed by the late President Emeritus Oscar E. Lanford and Mrs. Lanford, recognizes a member of the graduating class who has exhibited balanced achievement and exemplifies SUNY Fredonia’s ideals. It was established in 1995.

Fu, daughter of Yufei Fu, has held leadership positions in several campus organizations and been active in many programs. She was president of SUNY Fredonia’s Chinese Club as well as the campus chapters of the Golden Key International Honour Society and the American Red Cross.

She has also served as an intern in the Public Relations and Sports Information offices and Campus Host Program, a tutor at the Learning Center, a volunteer with the Campus and Community Children’s Center, and a student coordinator with the LuWan Exchange Program for the College of Education.

Her list of honors and awards is equally impressive. Fu has received the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, L. Michael Dimitri Scholarship, Golden Key International Honour Society Scholarship, Feng Chiang Scholarship, Fiat Lux Scholarship, President’s International Scholar Award, Public Relations Society of America Buffalo Niagara Chapter May C. Randazzo Scholarship, SUNY Fredonia President International Scholar Award, SUNY Fredonia Scholar Award, Golden Key Regional Student Leader of the Year, Educational Development Program’s Tutor of the Year and Golden Key International Student Leader of the Year.

After graduation, Fu will pursue a master’s degree in international affairs with a merit fellowship at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University.

Also nominated for the 2012 Lanford Presidential Award were: Michael P. Baker, geology, Walworth; Marissa A. Carmello, communication disorders and sciences, Dunkirk; Lindsey Farrell, communication disorders and sciences, Lancaster; Kathleen Grace Fiori, musical theatre, Pittsford; Steven Gangloff, biology, Amherst; Keriann Ketcham, international studies/Spanish, Fredonia; Jessica Martorana, elementary inclusive education, Penfield; Maggie C. Oliver, communication-audio/radio and TV digital film, Redfield; Kristen Paler, communication disorders and sciences, Fredonia; Leonard Smith, exercise science, Brooklyn; and Jennifer Zelasko, business administration and economics, Cheektowaga.