SUNY Canton Graduates Earn “Outstanding” Recognition at Commencement

Deviating from tradition, SUNY Canton will be recognizing three students with the Outstanding Graduate Award during the college’s 114th Commencement Ceremony.

“Typically, we select one student from an associate degree program and one student from a bachelor’s degree program for the Outstanding Graduate Award.” said Courtney B. Bish, vice president for student affairs and dean of students. “This year, we ended up with two scholars who were well deserving of this recognition from two different four-year programs. After consultation with SUNY Canton President Zvi Szafran, we decided to give it to them both.”

Cassidy Asiamah, a Criminal Investigation major from Harlem, and Bryan J. Levy, a Mechanical Engineering Technology major from Wappingers Falls, both received the Outstanding Graduate Award at the bachelor’s degree level. Kaitlynn M. Allen, a Physical Therapist Assistant major from Malone, received the Outstanding Graduate Award at the associate degree level.

All three will be members of the stage party and will address the 2022 graduating class at commencement, which begins at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 14, in the Roos House Convocation Athletic and Recreation Center. 

Cassidy Asiamah

As an inspiring student leader who has excelled academically, Asiamah made community service and campus involvement a priority during her education.

Her outstanding grades have earned her membership in the Chi Alpha Epsilon Honor Society. She is an Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) student and was nominated to serve as an EOP Ambassador, which involved meeting with state leaders and government officials.

She has balanced her academic responsibilities with extensive involvement in campus clubs, such as Sister 2 Sister, Caribbean United, and Styled. In her local community, she serves on the Board of Advocates for The Hilton Research Project, and volunteers with the Brotherhood/Sister Sol organization in Harlem, two organizations that serve socioeconomically disadvantaged youth.

“I admire her strength, resilience, and determination to achieve her goals,” said Assistant Director of Career Services Kathryn L. Kennedy. “I am also impressed with the work she has done outside of school to advocate for youth who have experienced trauma, homelessness, and have been in the foster care system. She has drawn from her own experience to support and champion youth in her home community.”

Asiamah is the recipient of several scholarships, including a Canton College Foundation award called “Promises Kept Pathways,” which was created by 2014 alumna Ornella Parker to assist financially disadvantaged Black scholars who display leadership skills.

She plans to continue her education and aspires to become a medical examiner.

Bryan J. Levy

Levy is a high-achieving nontraditional student who has helped lead several eco-friendly projects during his college career. He has held the highest cumulative GPA in his class for the past three years and is a member of the Golden Key International and Tau Alpha Pi honor societies.

In addition to attending school full-time and working full-time, Levy has contributed to several sustainability-themed projects, including the refinement of a wood gasifier that uses timber to power an internal-combustion engine that generates electricity.

“Bryan established the foundamach

tion for the research, fabrication, and troubleshooting for this year-long project,” said Associate Professor Dr. Lucas Craig, who teaches in the Mechanical Engineering Technology program. “He also shared his findings and lessons-learned with his peers, which are valuable skills that will make him an excellent mentor and leader.”

For his senior Capstone project, Levy was part of a team that retrofit a fuel-burning motorcycle with lithium-ion battery power.

To enhance the learning experience for future students, he led a Campus Enhancement Award effort to acquire two 3D scanners for the Mechanical Engineering Technology program.

Levy has been hired by Raytheon Technologies as a project test engineer at their missiles and defense headquarters in Tucson, Ariz.

Katlynn M. Allen

Allen is being recognized for her unwavering commitment to learning and growth.

In addition to earning President’s List honors, her professors describe her as attentive and thoughtful during lectures.

“As a part of her learning process, she continually self-assesses to determine areas in which she is doing well, and areas in which she needs to improve,” said Professor Jennifer S. McDonald, who teaches in the Physical Therapist Assistant program. “She seeks out feedback and is diligent in her quest to be the best physical therapist assistant she can be.”

In a clinical setting, instructors praised Allen’s knowledge, communication, cultural competence, and ability to interact with patients, caregivers, and families. She has been commended for consistently going above and beyond to assist her classmates when they requested guidance.

Allen is also an accomplished athlete on the Women’s Cross Country Team and was a top finisher in nearly every race during the 2021 season. Last Fall, she earned All-NAC honors and turned in impressive performances in highly competitive races.