Coulibaly honored with the Norman R. McConney Jr. Award for Student Excellence

Alfred State student Al-Aqib Coulibaly (Bronx) was one of 52 SUNY EOP students honored with the Norman R. McConney, Jr. Award for Student Excellence. The award, now celebrating its fourth class of awardees, recognizes outstanding EOP students for their academic merit and strength in overcoming significant personal obstacles throughout their lives.

Coulibaly, an architecture major that will graduate from the five-year BARCH program in May, is honored to receive this honor. “I have seen countless of my peer’s struggle, and it has inspired me to do my best. To see my hard work paying off is truly a blessing. I am nowhere near where I want to be in the future yet, receiving this award tells me that I am getting closer to my goal.”

“One of the most important lessons I have learned at Alfred State is to never be afraid to try new things. For a person to learn and grow, they must be open to change, and change comes in a variety of forms that at times can appear scary or confusing which leads people to closing their minds. Closing one’s mind to change can lead to stagnation and so it is vital to be open-minded and try new things at a steady and manageable pace.”  

The honor is named in memory of Norman R. McConney, Jr. (1946–2016), a graduate of the University at Albany and former assistant dean for special programs at SUNY. McConney, alongside former Assembly Deputy Speaker Arthur O. Eve, helped create the EOP as a statewide program.

Educational Opportunity Program Counselor Shelby Aquilina is incredibly proud of Coulibaly. “Al-Aqib is one of the kindest humans I have ever met. He is incredibly hard working and always views the world in a positive light. He never lets his obstacles impact his positive outlook or willingness to find ways to reach success regardless of his struggles. His future is bright, and we can’t wait to see what he will achieve.”

“We celebrate the resilience and success of our SUNY EOP students. A student who is the granddaughter of an undocumented immigrant who struggled academically in high school, but today excels with a 3.7 GPA. A student who made it on the dean’s list while helping raise and provide for their siblings. Students who give back to their community to help younger kids have a better life," said SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. “Each student we celebrate today has shown strength time and time again in pursuit of an education that will open the doors of opportunity and upward mobility."

Coulibaly shared a piece of advice he received at Alfred State that he will take with him on the chapters of his journey. “You should never wait until the last minute to determine what you are going to do next. By planning your next moves, you not only can direct yourself as to what you want to do with your life, but also identify the challenges that you will face along the way, making your journey towards your goals a much easier trip.

Since its inception in 1967, the EOP 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 56-year history, the EOP has served more than 80,000 students and evolved into one of the country's most successful college access programs.

About Norman R. McConney, Jr. 
SUNY awards Educational Opportunity Program students for their academic achievements in honor of Norman R. McConney, Jr. due to his legacy of public service, which encompassed several statewide initiatives to benefit underrepresented New Yorkers, including programs to prepare minority high school students for careers in the sciences and medicine and scholarships for students underrepresented in the licensed professions. Mr. McConney is also credited with helping found the Black and Puerto Rican Legislative Caucus, which later became the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus.