Taylor Kelly and David Sudbrink (center in each photo) with SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. and SUNY Fredonia Vice President for Student Affairs Tracy Stenger.
Two remarkable SUNY Fredonia students in the schools of Music and Business have received SUNY’s highest honor for outstanding achievement.
Taylor Kelly, a candidate for a Mus.B. in Music Education, of Cape Coral, FL, and David Sudbrink, a dual major in Public Accountancy and Finance, of Nolensville, TN, were among 193 students throughout SUNY receiving the Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence (CASE).
Award recipients recognized at an April 29 ceremony in Albany, NY, demonstrate the integration of SUNY excellence within areas such as academics, leadership, campus involvement, community service or the arts.
“SUNY represents academic excellence, and our students have worked tirelessly to not only excel in their academic studies, but also stepped up as community leaders,” said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr.
“Congratulations to this year’s CASE awardees who’ve distinguished themselves amongst their peers through their work ethic, determination and commitment to their fields of study,” Chancellor King said.
Ms. Kelly has immersed herself in all things musical – both on campus and elsewhere – that positioned her well for a successful student teaching experience in the Hamburg Central School District in the spring semester. She has also served as a music teacher at the Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo, NY, and an ensemble director within the New Horizons Band of Western New York formed in the School of Music.
Leadership experience has been gained in the New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA), where Kelly is currently serving as its collegiate president. She is the first SUNY Fredonia student to hold this position. Kelly has directed initiatives that connect college members across the state with professional development and networking opportunities.
“My role has allowed me to influence decisions that impact state music education and policy, fostering a stronger connection between future and current educators,” Kelly said.
Kelly was president of the SUNY Fredonia chapter of the National Association for Music Education [NAfME) and the events coordinator of SUNY Fredonia’s chapter of the New York State Band Directors Association.
As a horn musician, Kelly has performed with School of Music ensembles that include the Quintessential Winds, Fredonia Wind Ensemble, Fredonia College Symphony Orchestra and Fredonia Concert Band. She’s also a passionate oboist, her secondary instrument, and began playing horn, saxophone, flute and oboe at an early age.
Performing at prestigious events such as the NYSSMA Winter Conference and NAfME Eastern Division Conference and with GRAMMY-nominated artist/composer Valerie Coleman during her Sorel residency, has reinforced Kelly’s belief in the transformative power of music through collaboration and inspired her to incorporate chamber music as a cornerstone of her own classroom curriculum.
Kelly is the recipient of four scholarships and is enrolled in Fredonia’s Honors Program.
Mr. Sudbrink has achieved stellar success in the classroom, compiling a 4.0 overall GPA, as well as 4.0 in his two majors, Accounting and Finance, and is the recipient of seven academic awards for scholastic and/or extracurricular activities.
Sudbrink has completed internships with two prominent accounting firms, including Deloitte & Touche LLP, the largest accounting firm in the world, which offered him a full-time position that he has accepted. The Bonadio group, where the other internship was done, is nationally ranked in the Top 50 accounting firms. Both internships took place in the Buffalo, NY, offices of the firms.
Sudbrink served as a volunteer tax preparer in the School of Business’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. “In total, Fredonia’s VITA location generated over $200,000 in tax returns for the community free of charge,” according to Sudbrink.
Sudbrink has served multiple years as vice president and program chair of the campus Accounting Society.
His outstanding academic performance along with on-ice contributions as a member of the SUNY Fredonia hockey team lead to Sudbrink being named a four-time American Hockey Coaches Association All-American Scholar.
Sudbrink provided leadership on the rink as a team captain for two consecutive years, directing his teammates to be the best both as students and as athletes. Working together with the team’s other captains and coaches in the fall of 2023, the Blue Devils achieved the highest combined GPA, 3.59, in program history. That was a short-lived record, though, and was eclipsed the following spring by the team.
Sudbrink participated in and coordinated many campus and community events with the hockey team that included Pink the Rink, DFT Community Day/Skate with the Blue Devils, a scrap metal drive to benefit the Lakeshore Humane Society, Community Safe Trick-or-Treat, a Community Easter Egg Hunt and in providing Christmas presents for underprivileged children.
Sudbrink has been a member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the international business honor society, since Spring 2022 and began serving as its vice president of finance in 2023. He has served on the Judicial Board since the fall of 2021.
