East Otto native receives SUNY Chancellor’s Award

Shortly after graduating from West Valley Central School in 2008, James Wangelin of East Otto set out to complete his studies at Buffalo State College. “I expected to do college academics and get involved,” he said. “Just to be a regular freshman evolving.” What he said he did not expect was to receive the State University of New York Chancellor’s Award for student excellence, which he was presented with on Wednesday, April 4.

“I felt really honored,” Wangelin said. “It’s really just honoring and mind-blowing that something like that could happen.”

The Chancellor’s Award is presented annually to approximately 0.1 percent of students who attend state universities in New York for “their outstanding performance.” It is given by Nancy Zimpher, the SUNY chancellor, to graduating seniors based on certain criteria including academics, athletics, performing arts, career achievements and entrepreneurship. According to Wangelin, the number of individuals who receive this honor is “pretty limited.” Six other students from Buffalo State College were presented with the award.

Wangelin’s family, which still resides in East Otto, made the trip to Albany earlier this month to be present at the ceremony. Presidents or vice presidents from every state university in New York was also in attendance.

According to Wangelin’s family members, during the student’s four college years, he has been at or near the top of the pack, whether in academics, sports or school leadership. His credentials at Buffalo State include his positions as a resident assistant and an orientation leader.

In 2009, as a member of the National Orientation Director’s Association, Wangelin was named the undergraduate student leader of the year. He also received an award as the “best first-time presenter” at an orientation conference in Providence, R.I. and was a Who’s Who recipient for 2012.

In addition to being named a student athlete at his school, he was also the cross-country most valuable player and a leader in National Collegiate Athletic Association cross-country and track. Wangelin plays winter sports, as well, and he finished fifth in the nation at the USA nationals in snowboarding and is also a skier. He has been involved in each of these sports since elementary school.

This past weekend, Wangelin participated in the Cortland Classic in Cortland, N.Y. He took part in the decathlon, which consisted of 10 athletic events in one meet. He said his best event was the discus throw, in which he threw for 25.66 meters, earning 380 points. His 4,046 total points placed him 11th in the overall competition.

In a couple of weeks, Wangelin will finish something he said has been his goal from the very beginning of his undergraduate years. He will graduate on Saturday, May 12 and obtain a degree in business with a concentration in marketing. Wangelin has been offered a job with GEICO for its supervisor leadership program, an opportunity he accepted.

“He’s done very well,” his father Jim said.