Mohawk Valley Community College has awarded the annual Dr. Jim Dyer Award for Academic Excellence to Hannah Gwozdz of Rome, the 2025 Liberal Arts graduate with the highest grade point average in the humanities.
Gwozdz graduated in May with an associate of arts degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences: Humanities and Social Sciences. Throughout her time at MVCC, Gwozdz distinguished herself with academic excellence, earning consistent placement on the President’s List and an invitation to join Phi Theta Kappa, the international honor society for two-year colleges. In April, she was named a PTK All-New York Academic Team Scholar, an award recognizing students who excel academically and demonstrate leadership and community service that enhances the impact of their education.
In addition to her academic achievements, Gwozdz was a student-athlete on MVCC’s Women’s Track and Field team. A graduate of Holland Patent High School, she is also an accomplished musician, playing violin in a community band and singing in her church choir. She plans to continue her education at Binghamton University, where she will pursue an interdisciplinary degree in philosophy, politics, and law.
The Dr. Jim Dyer Award for Academic Excellence was established by MVCC faculty in honor of Jim Dyer, Ph.D., a beloved humanities professor dedicated nearly 50 years to the College. Upon his retirement from full-time teaching in 1996, he was named Professor Emeritus by the MVCC Board of Trustees. His commitment to education endured, and he continued teaching as an adjunct professor through 2011. He passed away in May of 2012.
Presented annually by the School of Humanities in conjunction with the MVCC Foundation, the award celebrates the graduating Liberal Arts major with the highest GPA. It includes a certificate and $500 prize, and the recipient’s name is added to an engraved plaque on permanent display outside the President’s Office, which is located on the third floor of Payne Hall at MVCC’s Utica Campus.
For more information on MVCC and its programs, visit www.mvcc.edu.
