Starting at SUNY Ulster has paid off big for Jacob Berryann who has earned Clarkson University’s Transfer Leadership Award, the University’s highest honor.
The excelling engineering student from Kerhonkson will receive $15,000 per year to attend the tech university in Potsdam. Berryann says he was initially speechless and then ecstatic when he learned of the award.
Berryann credits Director of Transfer Kate Smith for opening his eyes to considering transferring to Clarkson or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), and his engineering professors, including Dr. Robert Cassidy, for giving him a good foundation in organic chemistry needed for his future studies in chemical engineering.
“A lot of students look past community colleges,” he says. “Community colleges are an experience you can’t get anywhere else. There’s a close atmosphere at SUNY Ulster and it’s easy to connect with anyone on campus.”
Berryann is looking forward to getting good exposure to the chemical and biomedical engineering fields at Clarkson and wants to one day own his own plant or business. He also aspires to play lacrosse at the college.
Both Berryann and his older sister, Kelsey, came to SUNY Ulster through the College Scholars Program that provided full-tuition for ranking in the top 10 percent of their graduating classes at Rondout Valley High School. Alum Kelsey, 2012, transferred to SUNY Cortland and is pursuing a teaching career.
A member of Phi Theta Kappa, Berryann was involved with the chess, math and physics clubs. He also has volunteered at the Rochester Reformed Church, where he sings in the church choir, and coaches boys and girls in the Kerhonkson Basketball Association (KBA).
