SUNY Orange Honors Program students Stephen D’Ambrosio, Samreen Saleel, and Devshi Saxena were selected to share their capstone research at the Northeast Regional Honors Council (NRHC) Conference in New Haven, CT, March 26–29.

The 2026 conference theme was “The Haven of Honors: Cultivating Innovative, Upstanding, and Impactful Leaders.” Each SUNY Orange student selected was a second-year student and delivered a 10-minute talk as part of a small panel in their respective topic area. Honors Program Coordinator, Chair of Interdisciplinary Studies and Professor of English, Elaine Torda, noted that SUNY Orange students had achieved a 100 percent acceptance rate over the past five years when submissions had been made.

D’Ambrosio, of Warwick, discussed “Democratic Renewal: Electoral Innovation in the U.S.” His research explored arguments for and against the two-party system and the Electoral College, proposing an approach that fostered more inclusive and representative leadership, reduced political polarization, and promoted a more democratic society.

"I am not looking forward to adulthood in a polarized America. It’s important to discuss our opinions, but we are so beholden to these two parties that we cannot talk to each other as many Americans are locked into their political identities,” D’Ambrosio said when explaining why the topic mattered to him.

Saleel, a resident of Goshen who is training to become a pilot, said, “As a female, I noticed a lot of barriers are still present that we need to overcome,” describing her personal connection to her research.

Her project, “Careers in Aviation: Access Restricted!” examined economic, geographic, and sociocultural barriers that limited participation in the rapidly growing aviation industry. Her work highlighted the need for more inclusive opportunities for women, people of color, and students from underrepresented communities.

While Saleel’s research focused on barriers within aviation, Saxena examined representation in the Indian film industry.

“Recognizing diverse films, either through social or technical means, provides knowledge on different cultures and perspectives beyond traditional Western media. They deserve a platform of recognition,” Saxena said of her research topic.

Also from Goshen, she explored the evolution of Bollywood in “Bollywood Bonafide.” The paper traced how the film industry challenged stereotypes, addressed social issues such as gender inequality and caste, and expanded its global cultural influence.

Two additional students, Connor Lynch, a Valley Central High School graduate, and Katelyn Whitmore, a Monroe-Woodbury High School graduate, attended to observe the conference. Whitmore hopes to be among those presenting in 2027.

The Northeast Regional Honors Council is an organization of students, faculty, and administrators from more than 200 colleges and universities dedicated to encouraging and supporting undergraduate honors learning. The NRHC provides members with opportunities to exchange information, share ideas, and offers assistance through its annual conference, newsletter, and scholarships.

“I am proud of our honors program students and the excellent work they do on both their capstone and NRHC research projects,” Torda said. “These projects require a serious commitment of time and effort, and we are thrilled that their work could be recognized in this way.”

Anyone interested in attending SUNY Orange’s capstone presentations may do so April 7, 8, and 9 at 4 p.m. in the Gilman Center on the Middletown campus. The events are open to the public.

To learn more about how to apply to SUNY Orange, visit www.sunyorange.edu/getstarted, email apply@sunyorange.edu, or call 845-341-4030.