Commencement Profile: Amy Marciniak

Amy Marciniak has earned a bachelor of science degree in childhood education, attaining a 3.93 GPA while serving as an elected officer of United Students Government and Buffalo State’s student liaison to the Professional Development Schools Consortium.

Marciniak will receive the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence during the 10:00 a.m. baccalaureate ceremony at Buffalo State’s 143rd Commencement, Saturday, May 16, in the Sports Arena.

Throughout her career at Buffalo State, Marciniak has distinguished herself by performing above and beyond the increasingly demanding requirements of teacher candidates. Her ability to balance work, participation in campus life, and community volunteer activities is impressive. She consistently demonstrates excellence in the classroom: she is always prepared, actively participates in class, is well read, and is as passionate about learning as she is about teaching.

Her commitment to service led her to several leadership posts on campus. She served as co-president of the Elementary Education Club (EEC), leading readings for children at Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, a school-supplies collection for the Waterfront School in Buffalo, and a fund drive for a fellow teacher candidate whose home was lost in a fire. She also participated regularly in the Global Book Hour, a Saturday service opportunity for education and literacy students that offers multicultural reading and activities for local families. She has participated in many other events, such as the Elementary Education and Reading Department’s “Teacher Tailgate” for teacher candidates and college exploration events for bilingual middle schoolers.

One of her signature achievements was co-creating the EEC’s “Greater Than Me Network,” a voluntary project that builds strong communities through kindness and positive deeds. She presented information about the network at the Buffalo State Professional Development Schools Consortium retreat in 2013 and the Anne Frank Project conference in 2013 and 2014. She is always willing to be involved—and willing to encourage others to participate as well.

A delightful, intelligent, and compassionate educator and student, Marciniak has earned several honors, including induction into Kappa Delta Pi, the international honor society in education, and the Norma Toelsin Payne Scholarship.