SUNY Potsdam

« Back to Recent News

SUNY Potsdam Student Sadie Brown '26 Honored with Statewide Educational Opportunity Program Award

SUNY Potsdam Student Sadie Brown '26 Presented with 2026 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for EOP Student Excellence

Potsdam, NY (05/01/2026) — SUNY Potsdam student Sadie Brown '26 of Bronx, N.Y., was among a select group of students from across New York State to be honored with the 2026 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for EOP Student Excellence.

The award, which bears the name of the late Norman McConney, one of the architects of the statewide Educational Opportunity Program and a champion of youth empowerment, celebrates EOP students who have overcome significant obstacles in life to achieve their educational and personal goals.

Brown is a sociology major with a minor in marketing who has been active in EOP since her freshman year. During her studies, she has been involved with activities at the WISER Greenhouse, TRiO, CSTEP, the Racquette, Photography Club. She is also president of Women in Business, has interned with the Center for Diversity.

"EOP has been nothing but blissful. When the world seems crazy and not at all like home, I could always find a home in EOP. It was the strength that held me together and continued to build me up. There aren't enough words in the dictionary that can explain how much EOP has impacted my life. It is an amazing program to be a part of and receive guidance from. I will never forget the things that EOP and its family have done for me and my life," Brown said.

Brown hopes to pursue graduate studies and become a faculty member doing her own sociological research. When asked what advice she had for future students, Brown shared: "Keep your magic. That is the very thing that will make you special. If you don't know where your magic is, then find it and hold it tight."

"Over nearly 60 years, SUNY's EOP has supported tens of thousands of students and empowered them to achieve their full potential," SUNY Chancellor King said. "I am honored to recognize this year's recipients of the Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Student Excellence. Our McConney award winners' hard work as they move forward on their path to academic excellence and upward mobility makes them an inspiration for all of our students, faculty, staff, and administrators."

The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "The Educational Opportunity Program continues to offer students statewide the support and guidance on their path to a college degree. We are proud to recognize the recipients of this year's Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Student Excellence for their hard work and perseverance during their academic journeys. SUNY is grateful to Governor Kathy Hochul and the State Legislature for their continued support of SUNY, and our EOP students."

The award is named in honor of Norman R. McConney Jr., a 1971 graduate from the State University of New York at Albany and former Assistant Dean for Special Programs at SUNY. McConney, alongside former Assembly Deputy Speaker Arthur O. Eve, helped create EOP as a statewide program.

Since its inception in 1967, SUNY's Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program has provided access, academic support, and supplemental financial assistance to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, many of whom are the first in their families to attend college. In its 58-year history, EOP has graduated nearly 90,000 students and served as one of the country's most successful college access programs. EOP eligibility is based on income and academic readiness. EOP currently serves more than 9,000 students across 55 SUNY campuses. More information about SUNY's EOP can be found here.

To learn more about EOP at SUNY Potsdam, visit www.potsdam.edu/eop.

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

Chancellor John B. King Jr. poses for a photo with SUNY Potsdam student Sadie Brown in front of a SUNY banner.

SUNY Potsdam student Sadie Brown ’26 (right) was honored with the 2026 Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for EOP Student Excellence by SUNY Chancellor John B. King, Jr.

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