Commencement Profile: Jeremiah Perez-Torres

SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence

Jeremiah Perez-Torres has earned a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice, attaining a 3.86 GPA while participating in the Muriel A. Howard Honors Program, the McNair Scholars Program, and the Ross B. Kenzie Family Presidential Scholarship program.

He will receive the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence at Buffalo State’s 145th Commencement morning ceremony, Saturday, May 13, at 9:00 a.m. in the Sports Arena.

A bright, highly engaged, and ambitious student, Perez-Torres continually pursues opportunities to enrich his education and broaden his knowledge base and skill set. His experiences have taken him beyond the classroom setting to make valuable contributions in the community, and his upbeat, positive demeanor makes him welcome in any setting.

Perez-Torres completed a major research project examining college students’ attitudes toward university police. He collected and analyzed an extensive amount of original data, which he later used as the basis for a well-crafted, theoretically sound paper that he has presented at Buffalo State and the University at Buffalo. His work was so impressive that he was invited to serve as a member of the Community Policing Advisory Committee on campus. In addition, he was one of 50 McNair scholars from across the nation to be selected to participate in the Southern Regional Education Board’s Doctoral Scholars Institute on Teaching and Mentoring, an experience that inspired him to pursue doctoral studies.

Outside the classroom, he was promoted from team leader to coordinator of the University Police Student Assistant program, while attaining an internship within a federal intelligence agency, serving on the Residence Hall Judicial Board, and serving as treasurer of Buffalo State’s chapter of Alpha Phi Sigma, the national honor society for students of criminal justice. He is also a member of the Criminal Justice Club and assists the club in activities such as Orientation for freshman students and the clothing and food drive for the Buffalo State Child Care Center.

An active volunteer, Perez-Torres traveled to New Orleans, Louisiana, to participate in the Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC) Alternative Spring Break program and has worked with Habitat for Humanity. He also served as an assistant village leader for the Fresh Air Fund. He received the Northwell Health 2016 Spirit Award for his dedication to community service and commitment to helping others. His approach to education is refreshing, as he displays a true sense of maturity and eagerness to apply what he has learned to make a difference in the community.