SUNY Chancellor King Celebrates Student Excellence in the Arts
May 13, 2026
Students from SUNY Purchase College and the State University of New York at Stony Brook Recognized with Thayer Fellowship of the Arts and Patricia Kerr Ross Awards
Albany, NY – State University of New York Chancellor John B. King Jr. today announced the recipients of the annual Thayer Fellowship of the Arts and the Patricia Kerr Ross Award winners – Bianca Calá, a dancer and senior at SUNY Purchase College, and Rebecca Osborn, a visual artist and Master of Fine Arts student from the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
"Works of art and artistic expression help nourish the spirit and expand the mind, and SUNY is proud to foster the talents of outstanding students who create artwork that connects, inspires, and transforms our communities," said SUNY Chancellor King. "The Thayer Fellowships and Patricia Kerr Ross Award exemplify our dedication to celebrating and supporting the next generation of artists as they follow their dreams. Congratulations to this year's exceptional awardees."
The SUNY Board of Trustees said, "We are honored to continue the legacies of former Trustee Jeanne C. Thayer and former artistic director Patricia Kerr Ross. Through these awards we continue the work to foster environments where artists have the support they need to thrive. We extend our sincerest congratulations to this year's awardees and commend their excellence and creativity."
State University of New York at Stony Brook President Andrea Goldsmith said, "Stony Brook University is an institution defined by excellence and impact, including in our deep commitment to the arts that inspires our imagination, speaks to our humanity and our emotions, and connects us to each other and our past in truly unique ways. Rebecca Osborn's recognition reflects the extraordinary creative talent flourishing at Stony Brook. The arts are essential to who we are as a university, to the communities we serve, and to how we shape a more thoughtful, innovative, and connected world."
SUNY Purchase College President Michael E. Steiper said, "I am truly delighted to congratulate Bianca Calá on being awarded the Thayer Fellowship and the Ross Award. Bianca has distinguished herself through her remarkable creativity, collaborative spirit, and unwavering determination throughout her time at Purchase. Her passion for her craft and commitment to artistic excellence have been evident in all that she does. We are incredibly proud of her accomplishments and look forward to following her journey as she continues to grow, evolve, and forge her own inspiring path in the dance world."
This year, Bianca Calá and Rebecca Osborn are both being honored as recipients of the Thayer Fellowship, as well as splitting the Patricia Kerr Ross Award. Bianca Calá's project, To Be a Calá, used choreography and storytelling to explore how personal history, culture, and family influence movement, musicality, and performance. Rebecca Osborn's project, Landscape of Awe, used ceramics, intricate textures, and multi-layered glazing to depict the communal and individual journeys of grief and loss and their connection to hope and joy.
Thayer Fellowships and Patricia Kerr Ross Award
The Thayer Fellowship was established in memory of Jeanne C. Thayer, SUNY Board Trustee from 1974-1984. Two recipients were chosen for the Thayer Fellowship and awarded $7,000 each. The Fellowship selection is based on talent, achievement, and potential as a professional artist.
The Patricia Kerr Ross Award was established in honor of the former artistic director of the Thayer Fellowship. These awards are provided each year to outstanding students preparing for graduation from a SUNY school. The Ross Award of $1,000 is given annually and will be divided between SUNY's two exceptional winners. The basis for this award is excellence, originality, and promise.
The fellowships are intended to provide post-graduate support for SUNY students pursuing careers in the arts. The awards may be used for, but not limited to, auditions, studio space, supplies, equipment, website development, rent, recording sessions, and publishing costs.
About the State University of New York
The State University of New York is the largest comprehensive system of higher education in the United States, and more than 95 percent of all New Yorkers live within 30 miles of any one of SUNY’s 64 colleges and universities. Across the system, SUNY has four academic health centers, five hospitals, four medical schools, two dental schools, a law school, the country’s oldest school of maritime, the state's only college of optometry, 12 Educational Opportunity Centers, over 30 ATTAIN digital literacy labs, and manages one US Department of Energy National Laboratory. In total, SUNY serves about 1.7 million students across its portfolio of credit- and non-credit-bearing courses and programs, continuing education, and community outreach programs. SUNY oversees nearly a quarter of academic research in New York. Research expenditures system-wide are nearly $1.5 billion in fiscal year 2025, including significant contributions from students and faculty. There are more than three million SUNY alumni worldwide, and annually one in three New Yorkers who earn a college degree is a SUNY alum. To learn more about how SUNY creates opportunities, visit suny.edu.
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Holly Liapis
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