Honors & Awards

Gregory (Greg) Pittz is a December 2019 graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education. Greg, a resident of Delmar, NY, is the son of Sheree Wright (Minard Carkner) and Jerry Pittz (Jennifer Pittz). Greg described how his earlier academic performance made it difficult for him to get into Sage, but how his dedication to his education paid off. “Coming back as an adult, I had a defined purpose and knew what I wanted to do.” Greg remembers two classes most fondly - a Tactics/Skills course and an Instructional Strategies course - indicating that they stood out because they provided opportunities for him to make a difference in the lives of the students with whom they worked. Not one to play favorites with faculty members, though, Greg lauds all of his PE faculty – Dr. Stapleton, Prof. Brock, and Dr. McCormick – for their enthusiasm, high expectations, and approachability.

For his next steps, Greg is entering the work environment and considering a potential graduate school trajectory. When not pursuing his studies, he plays guitar in a local rock band.

Mackenzie Akin is a May 2020 graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education. Mackenzie’s home town is Johnsonville, NY, and she is the daughter of Todd and Joyce Akin. During her time as an undergraduate, she became a member of NYSAHPERD, which allowed her to attend professional conferences as a student. Mackenzie also enjoyed her Tactics courses the most, as they helped her to develop her own teaching style, and she, too, cites all three faculty members – Dr. Stapleton, Prof. Brock, and Dr.. McCormick - for being both challenging and supportive.

Mackenzie will be entering the graduate program School Health Education in Sage’s Estevez School of Education, so that she will be able to teach both PE and Health. She shared this fun fact: “While teaching is my first passion, I am also a writer. I hope to publish poetry and novels in the future!”

Dr. Pete Stapleton, Chair of the Professional Education Program said of them both, “Greg and Mackenzie are going to make outstanding physical education professionals and their hard work and determination are a testament to their strong work ethics and commitment to bettering the lives of children through physical education.”

Neha Goel was born in Ludhiana, Punjab, India, spent time in Qatar, and moved to the United States in 2018. She is the daughter of Neerja Singla, the wife of Parul Goel, and the mother of Aadvit and Aayush. Although focused on her academics while at Sage, Neha found time to serve as the Treasurer for the Law and Society Club. When asked about a favorite course, Neha noted that her Domestic Violence course was instrumental in helping her reflect on cultures and beliefs and their relation to domestic violence. Although fond of all of her professors, it was Prof. Gabrenya who helped Neha choose her career path, providing crucial academic advisement to prepare her for law school. According to Professor Gabrenya, “Neha’s performance in her classes was outstanding … she was an active participant in class (at times, the only one who laughed at my jokes!), and challenged herself by taking graduate-level courses... She also completed an internship with the Vermont-based organization, Have Justice, Will Travel - a mobile, multi-service program that assists victims of domestic abuse through the legal process.”

Neha had the good fortune to be accepted at all three law schools to which she applied, and has chosen to attend Albany Law School this fall, planning to focus on immigration and domestic violence. As a fun fact, Neha shared that she prefers to dress up every day (even during quarantine), and is the “…proud owner of about 77 pairs of shoes.”