Commencement Profile: Melissa M. Ash

Melissa Ash has earned a bachelor of science degree in art education, attaining a 3.72 GPA while participating in intercollegiate athletics and many service activities.

Ash will receive the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence during the 2:00 p.m. baccalaureate ceremony at Buffalo State’s 142nd Commencement, Saturday, May 17, in the Sports Arena.

Ash is a diligent and well-spoken student who excels both inside and outside the classroom because of her innate desire to achieve new levels of learning. She is conscientious and reflective about developing her skills and is willing to share her talents with the community. As a student teacher, she regularly created interactive units that connected with students and met their needs in meaningful ways. In addition, she has taught art lessons to kindergartners through high schoolers as part of her coursework at Buffalo State. As an artist, she creates works of great merit. Several of her pieces were chosen by a professional jury to be featured in Buffalo State’s 34th annual Art Education Student Exhibition.

A natural leader, Ash played a significant role in the success of numerous Buffalo State initiatives within the community, including the Global Book Hour, a youth reading program held at Wegmans; Empty Bowls, an art sale to raise money for local food banks and homeless shelters; Skate for the Cure, a fundraising event sponsored by the women’s hockey team; and Kids Night Out, an event for local children sponsored by Buffalo State’s Intercollegiate Athletics Department. In addition, she served as secretary of the college’s Art Education Association and as a member of the Student Athletic Advisory Committee.

Ash earned SUNY Athletic Conference All-Academic Team honors each semester of her college career and was selected unanimously by her teammates and coaches to serve as captain of the Buffalo State women’s hockey team for the 2013–2014 season. Teachers and coaches attest that as a dedicated student, a committed athlete, and a compassionate citizen, Ash represents what it means to be a true scholar-athlete.