Buffalo State student-athletes Tiffany Ciolek (Limestone/Salamanca) and Krista Wierzbicki (Cheektowaga/Maryvale) will be among the approximately 175 students from all of the State University of New York (SUNY) institutions honored as Chancellor Robert L. King will recognize SUNY's outstanding students at a ceremony on April 19 at the Empire State Plaza Convention Center in Albany.

The Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence honors students who have best demonstrated and been recognized for their integration of academic excellence with other aspects of their lives, which may included leadership, entrepreneurship, athletics, community service, creative and performing arts or career achievement.

“We are incredibly proud of the accomplishments of both Tiffany and Krista,” said Athletics Director Jerry Boyes. “They have excelled in all phases of their collegiate careers and have exemplified what student-athletes should strive to be. They both possess the characteristics necessary to ensure success in their future endeavors.”

Ciolek, a native of Limestone, will earn her bachelor's degree in public communication in May. A four-year member of Buffalo State's softball team, she has maintained a 3.69 grade point average. The team's starting second baseman, Tiffany has been one Bengals' top offensive players for all four seasons, and was named the Most Valuable Player last year. A three-time All-Conference player, she has been named to the SUNYAC All-Academic Team each semester. She also has earned numerous accolades beyond the softball field. At the end of this month, she will receive the Dean's Award for Excellence in Communication, the top-honor within the department. Tiffany was also selected for inclusion in the 2004 edition of Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges, and was a finalist for the 2004 Buffalo State College President's Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate Student. In addition, Tiffany was chosen to represent Buffalo State at the NCAA National Leadership Conference last May. After working as a student-assistant in the athletics department for her first three years, Tiffany has interned as the department's Special Events Coordinator this year. She will attend Johnson and Wales University next year to pursue a master's degree in global organizational leadership.

A Cheektowaga resident, Wierzbicki has maintained a 3.90 grade point average, and will complete her bachelor's degree in public communication in May. A four-year starting setter with the Buffalo State volleyball program, she finished her career with four school records including most assists in a season and career and most aces in a career. She was a three-time All-SUNYAC selection, was named to the All-SUNYAC All-Academic Team every semester, and earned All-District All-Academic honors as a senior. Krista will receive the Buffalo State Female Alumni Scholar Athlete Award this May, given to the graduating student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade point average. Krista will also receive the award for Outstanding Student in Public Communication later this month. After spending last spring at Sonoma State University in California on the National Student Exchange Program, she has worked as a communications in with Rich Products, Travers Collins and Company, and the Erie County Fair. She has also served as a member of the Public Relations Students Society of America, Brainstorm Inc., the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and the Intercollegiate Athletic Board. Krista is actively searching for a position in public relations either in Buffalo or in the Bay Area of California.

Ciolek and Wierzbicki are just the second and third Buffalo State student-athletes to earn the SUNY Chancellor's Award for Student Excellence. Football player Craig Dana was the first to receive the award in 1999.