Schenectady Student Earns Top Honor

According to dailygazette.com, a former Schenectady High School student has earned Colgate University's top honor.

Providence Ryan, who will embark on a teaching career in New York City this summer, received Colgate's 1819 Award in April. The prestigious award is given to the student "whose character, scholarship and service to others best exemplify the university's spirit." Colgate's interim president Jill Harrison praised Ryan for working to "break down traditional academic barriers." Her work includes advocacy and promotion of open discourse around sexual orientation and academic research in Costa Rican rainforests. "Colgate will foreber be impacted by the way she upholds standards of leadership, support, and service", said one of Ryan's supporters.

Ryan learned how to be a teacher as a biology student while attending Schenectady High School, with the guidance of her teacher Annie Chien. She will graduate later this month and plans to teach high school biology in New York City and pursue a master's degree in education.