Maurice Davoren and Devshi Saxena

SUNY Orange students Maurice Davoren and Devshi Saxena were named recipients of the 2026 State University of New York (SUNY) Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence during a ceremony held April 27 in Albany.

In total, 205 students from all 64 two- and four-year campuses across the SUNY system were recognized by Chancellor John B. King Jr. The 2026 Chancellor’s Awards for Student Excellence recognize students for outstanding achievements throughout their SUNY experience in areas including academics, leadership, diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice, campus involvement, civics and service, research, and the arts. This is the highest honor SUNY provides students for academic excellence and leadership. This year’s recipients include a wide range of honorees, including veterans, parents, policy advocates and athletes.

"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 King. "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."

Davoren is a graduate of Chapel Field High School and lives in Otisville. The Student Senate president has received the James Ottaway Jr. Honors Scholarship and the James Bonacic Scholarship for political science. On Feb. 4, Davoren joined the SUNY Student Assembly delegation for Albany Advocacy Day, where students advocate for support from state legislators. He is a member of both the Honors Program and Honors Social Club and plans to transfer to SUNY New Paltz to major in political science.

“I love SUNY Orange and wish it were a four-year school. My passion for government, history and politics really came to life through my role as student senate president, where I was able to bring my personality into the work, gain experiences beyond the classroom and grow by connecting with so many people,” Davoren said.

Saxena is an honors student at SUNY Orange who has distinguished herself through exceptional academic achievement, leadership and community engagement. An international student and member of the Honors Program, she will graduate with an associate of arts degree with honors distinction. Saxena serves as president and co-founder of the Honors Social Club and as a lead peer mentor, while also contributing as a student representative on the Honors Advisory Board. Her interdisciplinary academic work includes capstone research on stereotypes in the Bollywood film industry, which she has presented at both campus and regional conferences. Beyond the classroom, she has held leadership roles, including founding vice president of the Asian Students Union, and has supported student communications as student director of honors publicity and editor of the honors newsletter. She plans to pursue a career in journalism focused on amplifying underrepresented voices.

“I’m truly honored to receive the SUNY Chancellor’s Award, but what matters most to me is the opportunity to continue serving my community in a meaningful way,” Saxena said. “I’m deeply grateful for the support and opportunities I’ve been given, and I remain committed to being intentional and conscientious in how I move forward.” Saxena was also recently named the Northeast Regional Honors Council Two-Year College Student of the Year, a prestigious recognition honoring outstanding academic achievement, leadership, service and commitment to the honors community.

The SUNY Chancellor’s Awards are presented during April’s Community College Month, a national observance highlighting the impact and value of community colleges, including SUNY Orange, across the country.

SUNY Orange offers 40 degree and certificate programs housed within seven academic communities: Arts and Media; Business; Culture, Society and the Mind; Education and Human Services; Health Sciences and Wellness; Justice and Community Engagement; and Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM).

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