PSC Awards Mitchell

PAUL SMITHS—Ariah Mitchell of West Edmeston, a dual-major in environmental studies and communications with a minor in craft beer studies and management, recently received the Ray Agnew Award from Paul Smith’s College. The announcement from the college reads: “Ariah Mitchell…has the secret sauce blend of openness, curiosity, love for learning, humility, compassion, great sense of humor, motivation, and dedication to make her successful in any field. She loves to explore, to learn, and to meet new people every chance that she can. As an example, after we had a guest speaker in class, she took the initiative to contact the guest speaker and made arrangements to meet her in Philadelphia for lunch to learn more about her career path, her life, and her challenges along the way. Curiosity and a sense of adventure made her first volunteer to try something new. And her patience in assisting her classmates created a positive learning experience for the whole class. When you see her name on your class list for an upcoming class, you can’t help but smile, knowing that everything goes a bit smoother with her in the room. Without a doubt, she is a dedicated and gifted student, but what really strikes us is how her presence enriches the environment for everyone around her in academic, social, and creative ways. At Paul Smith’s College, everyone knows Ariah. She is everywhere, doing everything. Whether she is zooming by on her skateboard, sharing her art and poetry, or offering a pleasant greeting on a dreary day, it is always a pleasure to be in her presence.” Above, Ariah Mitchell receives the Ray Agnew Award at Paul Smith’s College Commencement, May 11, 2024.