SUNY Potsdam

« Back to Recent News

SUNY Potsdam Graduates Recognized as Class of 2026 Academic Honorees

SUNY Potsdam Class Leaders Sarah Dauenhauer '26 & Alyssa Spina '26 Recognized with 2026 Faculty Awards

Potsdam, NY (05/05/2026) — Two outstanding SUNY Potsdam graduates have been recognized as the academic honorees for the Class of 2026, earning the 2026 Faculty Awards. The award recipients, Sarah Dauenhauer '26 and Alyssa Spina '26, were chosen by the Faculty Senate and will be specially recognized during Commencement.

The SUNY Potsdam Faculty Award recognizes two students in the graduating class with the highest grade point averages. One recipient must have completed all of their degree requirements at SUNY Potsdam, and the other is a transfer student.

The honorees will receive a cash award and a certificate of recognition, and their names will be displayed on a plaque in the Lougheed Learning Commons.

About the academic honorees:

Sarah Dauenhauer '26 is a transfer student from Oregon, now living in Malone, N.Y., set to graduate summa cum laude with dual degrees in biology and psychology. After transferring to Potsdam from Portland State University. Dauenhauer participated in genetics research, working with Dr. Jan Trybula, and also completed psychology research with Dr. Heather Beauchamp, analyzing criminal eyewitness accuracy. She completed the selective Presidential Internship Program, serving as a health educator with the Seaway Valley Prevention Council. Additionally, Dauenhauer found time to tutor her classmates and served as a teaching assistant for ecology and genetics labs. She also completed the Summit Leadership Program while at SUNY Potsdam, and worked as a home health aide with Alice Hyde Medical Center, where she had previously been a peer support specialist. After graduation, Dauenhauer plans to pursue her graduate studies at SUNY Plattsburgh, and then hopes to continue on to receive her Ph.D. in clinical psychology, with a focus on neurodevelopmental disorders.

"A few years ago, I decided that if I do anything, then I will put my best into it or not do it at all. If I am not putting in my best effort, then I don't know why I am doing it, and I might as well quit. I am proud of what I have achieved, and even if I graduated with a low GPA, I would still be just as proud because I know I put my best effort into every assignment. This award just shows my children that setting your mindset and trying your best every day can lead to possibilities you might not have expected," Dauenhauer said.

Alyssa Spina '26 of Rome, N.Y., will graduate with a Bachelor of Music degree in musical studies, with a concentration in music history, as well as a performance certificate in violin performance. A graduate of Whitesboro High School, she went on to achieve general and advanced honors while studying at The Crane School of Music. She received the Frederick B. Kilmer Research Award for her project, "Jewish String Musicians Throughout the Holocaust," and also completed the Presidential Scholars Program, completing a paper titled "Exploring Shostakovich's Eighth String Quartet: Analyzing Myths and Musical Truths." Spina worked with faculty member Dr. Erin Brooks on both research projects, and was able to present at the American Musicological Society, the New York State School Music Association and the American String Teachers Association conferences as an undergraduate. She was the first place winner of the 2026 Stephan String Chamber Music Competition, and was a Crane student apprentice with the Orchestra of Northern New York. She is a College Reading and Learning Association-certified tutor for core music classes and Spanish. After graduation, Spina is headed to the University of Michigan, where she has a fellowship to pursue her doctorate in historical musicology.

"I am beyond thankful for the opportunities and mentorship I received during my time at SUNY Potsdam. As a first-generation university student, this recognition means more than I can fully express: It is an honor, a reminder of how far I have come in my academic career, and a commitment to where I am heading next in my journey," Spina said.

Both students will receive special recognition during SUNY Potsdam's Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 16. To learn more about Commencement at SUNY Potsdam, visit www.potsdam.edu/commencement.

About SUNY Potsdam:

Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America's first 50 colleges -- and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.

###

Media Attachments

Sarah Dauenhauer poses for a photo in the Academic Quad at SUNY Potsdam.

Sarah Dauenhauer ’26 is one of the academic honorees for the SUNY Potsdam Class of 2026.

Alyssa Spina poses for a photo in the Academic Quad at SUNY Potsdam.

Alyssa Spina ’26 is one of the academic honorees for the SUNY Potsdam Class of 2026.

Copyright © 2026 Merit Pages, Inc. • All Rights Reserved. • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy • Opt Out