Two Herkimer County Community College Graduates Honored with SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

Herkimer County Community College is proud to announce that Jeremy Bell ’25 and Olivia Stromecki ’26 have been named recipients of the 2026 State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence (CASE), the highest honor bestowed upon SUNY students.

This year, SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. recognized 205 students from all 64 SUNY campuses with the prestigious award at a reception on Monday, April 27. CASE honors students for outstanding achievements in academics, leadership, diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, campus involvement, civics and service, research, and the arts.

“SUNY students are New York’s future, and the outstanding individuals I am proud to recognize with the Chancellor’s Awards for Student Excellence embody the very best of our state university system,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “The students who have earned this recognition have inspired their classmates, their educators, their campuses and me with their inspiring work, tenacious drive, and dedication to their academic success. I commend each of the awardees and thank them for being examples for others to follow.”

Jeremy Bell, a first-generation, nontraditional student from Northville, New York, earned his associate in science degree in August 2025. Balancing a full-time course load with family responsibilities, Bell distinguished himself through extensive campus involvement and leadership, exemplifying the determination and resilience recognized by the CASE award.

He served as president of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and president of the Outdoor Adventure/Green Club, while also serving as a senior senator in the Student Government Association. Bell represented HCCC as a student ambassador and participated in the SUNY Advancing Success in Associate Pathways (ASAP) program, where he was recognized as a high-achieving student.

Bell’s academic accomplishments included recognition on the President’s and Dean’s lists, completion of the College’s Honors Program, and selection to the Phi Theta Kappa All-New York Academic Team. He is also a recipient of the Senator James H. Donovan Memorial Scholarship, the Grace McLaughlin Scholarship, and the College’s DEI Scholarship. He is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in environmental science at the University at Albany.

Olivia Stromecki, a first-generation college student from Chaffee, New York, is a May 2025 graduate with an associate in arts degree in psychology.

Stromecki served as Student Government Association secretary before being elected president and student trustee on the College Board of Trustees, representing the student body at the highest levels of the College. She contributed to shared governance as a student representative on the Faculty Student Association Board of Directors and the Academic Senate and served on the Presidential Search Committee in spring 2025.

In addition to her governance roles, Stromecki has been an active student ambassador and a member of Active Minds, promoting student mental health awareness. A standout student-athlete, she served as captain of the women’s bowling team and earned all-region team recognition. A Dean’s List honoree, Stromecki plans to continue her education at SUNY Potsdam.

“Jeremy and Olivia exemplify the very best of Herkimer County Community College,” said HCCC President Terri Grates Day. “Their dedication to academic excellence, leadership, and service reflects the spirit of this prestigious SUNY honor. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments.”

Bell and Stromecki will again be recognized during HCCC’s 58th annual Commencement ceremony on Friday, May 15, 2026.