Commencement Profile: Timea Kernacova

Timea Kernacova has earned a bachelor of science degree in English education (7–12), attaining a 3.97 GPA while working as part-time education director at Boys and Girls Club of Buffalo as well as launching several campus and community initiatives.

Kernacova will receive the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence and thePresident’s Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate Student during the 2:00 p.m. baccalaureate ceremony at Buffalo State’s 142nd Commencement, Saturday, May 17, in the Sports Arena. Kernacova will address the audiences at the morning and afternoon ceremonies.

A talented and hardworking student, Kernacova represents Buffalo State’s best ideals. In class, she was eager to contribute to discussions and course activities, and she regularly produced outstanding papers on important topics in education. At the same time, she turned her ideas into action by successfully completing student-teaching experiences at local schools. Her two supervising teachers praised her work ethic and ability to receive and use constructive feedback to improve her instructional practices, and ranked her among the best student-teachers they have worked with in their careers.

Kernacova cofounded and served as president of the English Education Student Association, a professional social network focused on providing peer support for Buffalo State students. She also served as president of Buffalo State’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta honor society, where she started the group’s popular book blog, Book Autopsy. In addition, she founded and served as president of Buffalo State Runners, which trained non-varsity students for local running events. She also served as a senator for United Students Government, volunteered at Buffalo City Mission’s literacy program for single mothers, and tutored students at local schools. As a member of the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), she represented Buffalo State at the 2013 NCTE annual convention.

Always looking for ways to broaden her academic experience, Kernacova participated in the National Student Exchange program, studying at California State University, San Bernardino, where she recorded a 4.0 GPA during the winter 2012 quarter and earned the Yotie Award for Student Leadership.

Kernacova’s altruism, entrepreneurship, and leadership have allowed her to excel in and out of the classroom and have served as an inspiration for her fellow students.