The EOP Iluminadores (EOP Illuminators’) Award recognizes EOP students who are trailblazers. They are students who are committed to education and EOP, change agents in their community, and free thinkers. They are EOP students who are persevering every day and creating success in their own way.
Current Major: Social work
Hometown: Queens, NY
EOP Counselor: Fredrick Gilbert
"While at Buffalo State University, I’ve created success in my own way. One major success that I am proud of is becoming a peer mentor for freshmen EOP students, and being my natural authentic self, helped me achieve this. I have a passion for helping others and this opportunity allows me to give back."
Current Major: Individualized studies
Hometown: Bronx, NY
EOP Counselor: Erika Mitchell
"I thought of getting job to help her financially, but my mom was not too happy about that. All she wanted was for me to focus on school and not worry about her financial burden. This constantly brought arguments between us because we did not see eye to eye. I decided to go to college with no plan, but purpose to fulfill my mom’s wishes and find a job to take the burden off my mom’s shoulders."
Current Major: Health & Wellness
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
EOP Counselor: Kayla James
"I didn’t grow up wanting to play outside because I didn’t want to risk anything, I spent my days indoors doing my work or at practice for football. I was independent and I liked it like that. This allowed me to set goals for myself, and I felt like I was ahead of everyone else my age. Without school in general I wouldn’t have made it this far. I needed school to play the sport I love at every level. School does help you with social skills."
Read Amir's full statement
Current Major/Minor: Biology/Geography
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
EOP Counselor: Erika Mitchell
"My love for people has made me a strong agent in my community. I love to love people and I pray for nothing but the best for all I meet. I am proud of who I am, who I am becoming, and what I will become. These last 4 years of my life in college have really opened my eyes to the beauty of school and how I plan to shape my future, although I am not 100% sure what awaits I feel confident."
Current Major: Psychology
Hometown: Bronx, NY
EOP Counselor: Neil O'Donnell
"I strive daily to reach levels and surpass the limits set upon me and I look for ways to constantly grow whether that be academically, physically, emotionally, or mentally. I create success when I learn and improve as well as take the opportunity to help those around me. As a student athlete I’m given the chance to be a role model in my community and to those I meet daily."
Current Major: Art & Design
Hometown: Sylhet, Bangladesh
EOP Counselor: Erika Mitchell
"I had some awesome art teachers who helped me along the way, especially Mr. Wright. He was the bomb; he even let me stay after school to work on projects. By eighth grade, I was having a blast with art. It was something I'd always liked, but I never really found my style until Mr. Wright guided me. High school at Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts was... well, it had its ups and downs."
Current Major: Individualized Studies
Hometown: Buffalo, New York
EOP Counselor: Shelly Innis-Jackson
"What got me interested in going to college was my mentor Minister George Washington Jr. who was an EOP advisor at ECC and a member of the church I attended. He assisted me with applying to ECC through EOP. EOP not only helped me with my academic studies, they also helped with personal issues when I experienced the death of two of my aunts and my mother."
Current Major: MS, Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration
Hometown: Cheektowaga, New York
EOP Counselor: Shelly Innis-Jackson
"Working as a Youth Ministry director at my church, I always start by identifying social issues or causes that affect people around me the most and plan how to resolve these problems. I consistently advocate for changes and am involved in the events at my church to give back to the community. Every year we have a winter giveaway where we collect money to buy winter clothes and distribute them to people in need."
Read Bythovens's full statement
Current Major: Political Science - Public Legal Studies/ Intelligence Analysis
Hometown: Bronx, New York
EOP Counselor: Neil O'Donnell
"I continue to be a member of the Muslim Student Association at the same time, which helps me to interact with peers who are similar to me in terms of culture and religion and makes it possible for me to constructively contribute to the varied community on campus. My college journey has been formed by these events, as well as my commitment to education, my individuality of thought, and my proactive attitude to conquering obstacles."
Current Major: Communications
Hometown: Newburgh, New York
EOP Counselor: Neil O'Donnell
"I decided I didn’t want my mom’s sacrifices to be in vain, so I strived to be better so she could tell others that at least one of her kids accomplished something. However, there was one question I had when starting my path. What can I do to make that happen? At the time, I didn’t think it was a goal; I thought of it as a necessity, something I needed to do."
Current Major: Pre Business Administration
Hometown: Harlem, New York
EOP Counselor: Jude Jayatilleke
"I strongly value being a free thinker as it makes me someone who looks at challenges and adversity as opportunities, this allows me to show off my creative thinking and prove that I can overcome any obstacle that I face. My commitment to obtaining success is through education, bringing change within my community, and striving to go above and beyond the normal."
Current Major: Undeclared
Hometown: Rochester, New York
EOP Counselor: Fredrick Gilbert
"Success, in my view, isn't solely about academic awards. It's about personal growth and setting both short-term and long-term goals. Whether understanding a new subject or branching out by joining a campus organization, I strive to create my unique path to success. A significant part of this journey has been networking."
Current Major/Minor: Theater / Theater Dance
Hometown: Bronx, New York
EOP Counselor: Erika Mitchell
"My mother did not want me to go away to school because she wanted me to stay at home with her. Some days I wonder if I made the wrong choice leaving my mother. However, I have learned to become independent and have been taking care of myself. I have managed to stay motivated, I am doing well academically, and remind myself that I want a better life."
Current Major: Hospitality Administration
Hometown: Syracuse, New York
EOP Counselor: Jude Jayatilleke
"Now that I’m stable and confident in my major and I have learned from my bumps in the road I love to give back to EOP. Every summer I look forward to doing the EOP Summer Academy with incoming freshman. Even though my freshman year may have been completely online due to covid, I love sharing my experiences and encouraging students to learn from the mistakes I have made while building relationships with them."
Current Major: Undecided
Hometown: Harlem, New York
EOP Counselor: Kayla James
"This year I released my first song with my friends and later released my first debut release. Since then, I’ve released 2 more in September and I’m working om upcoming projects. I’m steadily working and improving my craft because I love music and I have a story to tell through it. My voice is extremely powerful and important to me and use it to be a change agent in my community."
Current Major: Early Childhood Education
Hometown: Bronx, New York
EOP Counselor: Jude Jayatilleke
"One of the best ways I have learned to create my own success is by not comparing myself and my success to others. As I said before, everyone travels at their own pace, I cannot say who is better than who when no one has the same circumstances or resources. I also make sure to take time to focus on myself, because I must be there for me, it is my life."
Current Major: Biology
Hometown: Far Rockaway, New York
EOP Counselor: Frederick Gilbert
"I’m deeply committed to helping those around me by using my collective action and skills to inspire and mobilize others for positive change. My ability to be a free thinker was developed with the help of those around me as a result, I don't settle for the conventional wisdom and will constantly seek solutions to complex problems."
Current Major: English Education
Hometown: Bronx, New York
EOP Counselor: Frederick Gilbert
"I am first generation American as well as the first in my family to move away and go to college. That being said, the path that i am on has not been paved for me. I completed my college applications by myself and signed up for loans and attended open houses on my own. When I was in the fall semester of my freshman year my mother told me that she could not afford to pay tuition, my sister took money out of her retirement plan in border for me to finish out the fall."
Current Major: Communications
Hometown: Bronx, New York
EOP Counselor: Neil O'Donnell
"I have always strived to blaze my own trail in terms of how my life would end up. Most of my family did not even graduate high school. My mother has reached the highest level of education within my family with an associate degree for Criminal Justice from Monroe College. Following this upcoming spring, I will become the first person in my family to earn a 4-year degree from a university."
Current Major: Psychology/Business
Hometown: Cairo
EOP Counselor: Carole Miller
"I am motivated by my peers who have now graduated, and I am currently having the best semester since I was a freshman. I do not compare myself to those around me but, boy am I proud. I am embarking on a journey to be the best version of Eboné regardless of the hurdles I have leaped."
Current Major: Health and Wellness
Hometown: Buffalo, New York
EOP Counselor: Carole Miller
"My ability to adapt and maintain a resilient mindset has guided me in overcoming obstacles and progressing towards my goals. I work to be a change agent in my community through various opportunities presented to me through Buffalo State University."
Current Major: Computer Information Systems
Hometown: New Rochelle, New York
EOP Counselor: Carole Miller
"I firmly believe that where there's a will, there's a way, and I've harnessed this mindset to overcome various obstacles where most would give up. Networking has played a crucial role in my journey, allowing me to leverage meaningful connections to further my progress and I have great mentors in my life that keep me on track."
Current Major: Business Administration
Hometown: Buffalo, New York
EOP Counselor: Shelly Innis-Jackson
"Maintaining a positive and optimistic attitude has been important to education journey. My ability to be creative and adjust in different situations has led me to be a free thinker. My journey in the EOP program has been nothing short of rewarding. Beginning at Erie Community College, I was offered an opportunity to assist and mentor in the summer session with incoming students."
Current Major: Hospitality Administration
Hometown: Spring Valley, New York
EOP Counselor: Jude Jayatilleke
"It took time and self-realization to figure out what it is I wanted to become in the city of Buffalo. My answer after one semester was successful. To that I committed myself to my craft. I changed my habits, paid more attention, and spent more of my energy on uplifting myself and at the end of the day worked hard to maintain my momentum. This formula led me from being a student who was failing most of his courses into someone who is now comfortably capable at maintaining a 4.0 semester GPA average which I've done every semester since then."
