Buffalo State announces President’s Medal winners, student speakers for 153rd Commencement celebration

Three of Buffalo State University’s most accomplished students—two of whom will receive the Buffalo State President’s Medal—have been chosen to deliver the student address at the university’s 153rd Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, May 17, in the campus Sports Arena. 

Imran Fazal, recipient of the SUNY Chancellor’s Award for Student Excellence, will deliver the School of the Professions student address at the 9:00 a.m. ceremony; Mathea G. Riley, recipient of the President’s Medal for Outstanding Undergraduate Student, will deliver the School of Arts and Sciences student address at the 1:00 p.m. ceremony; and Kirby R. Briggs, recipient of the President’s Medal for Outstanding Graduate Student,  will deliver the School of Education student address at the university’s 5:00 p.m. ceremony.

The President’s Medal, the highest student honor bestowed by Buffalo State, recognizes one undergraduate student and one graduate student annually for their exceptional academic achievement, community service, leadership, and creativity.

Mathea G. Riley

PRESIDENT’S MEDAL FOR OUTSTANDING UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT
School of Arts and Sciences Student Address | 1:00 p.m.

Mathea Riley has earned a bachelor of arts in English, attaining a 3.96 GPA while being enrolled in the Combined Pathways Program, a competitive program that allows advanced students to begin taking graduate courses during their senior year of undergraduate studies. English Department faculty members note that Ms. Riley’s intellectual acumen and ability to produce original scholarly writing place her among the top 1% of recent students.

Each of Riley’s professors have lauded her insights on course texts and topics, her skill at constructing arguments, and her rare ability to synthesize complex ideas to draw perspective conclusions. Ms. Riley is a leader in any class and raises the level of discourse with her attention to detail, positive attitude, and diligent work ethic. She has participated in a graduate course on Research in Literature and Language, which culminated in a presentation of a paper on her independent research on the writings of Mary Wollstonecraft.

Riley has distinguished herself as an enthusiastic participant in class discussions and as an especially lucid interpreter of course texts. She has written response papers on Ralph Ellison’s Invisible Man, Toni Morrison’s Beloved, Angi Thomas’s The Hate U Give, and the formal and thematic elements of Black Arts poetry. As a student in a graduate seminar, her work on Walter White’s 1924 novel, The Fire in the Flint, garnered praise for being carefully organized, impressively detailed, and consistently engaging as it shed new light on social justice and representation of the marginalized and disenfranchised.

In addition to her studies, Riley works as a waitress at Cala’s Kitchen and her ability to balance the demands of schoolwork and long hours at work is truly impressive. Ms. Riley also dedicates time to causes she believes in such as running a 5K to raise money for the Epilepsy Association of Western New York.

As a junior, Riley won the prestigious English Department Excellence in English Award, which recognizes the outstanding student in the bachelor of arts program.

Kirby R. Briggs

PRESIDENT’S MEDAL FOR OUTSTANDING GRADUATE STUDENT
School of Education Student Address | 5:00 p.m.

Kirby Briggs, a passionate educator and advocate, has earned a master of science in education (7–12 generalist) with a 3.74 GPA. While completing her graduate studies, she served as a resident intern in the Exceptional Education Department through a highly selective partnership with local school districts—an opportunity extended to only a few top-tier teacher candidates.

She is the published author of D is for Different: An ABC Guide for Disabilities and Differences and its companion activity workbook, designed to engage students and families in conversations about inclusion and acceptance.

Briggs completed her teaching residency at Erie 1 BOCES Maryvale Work Readiness Program, where she provided specialized instruction to high school students with severe disabilities. She also is the founder and executive director of Kirby’s Korner, a nonprofit organization that has supported minority youth with physical disabilities for more than seven years, amplifying their voices and advocating for equity in education and community resources. Briggs is passionate about students because of her own life experiences living with a physical disability herself.

n recognition of her academic excellence, Briggs was inducted into Kappa Delta Pi in 2024, an international honor society that celebrates the top 20 percent of professionals in the field of education. She also is a proud life member and former vice president of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. A committed community leader, she was a featured speaker at the Bengals Dare to Care event, where she addressed the stigmas surrounding disability in the Black community and the importance of representation for disabled students.

Her professional experience extends beyond the classroom—Briggs has worked as a community school navigator at Say Yes Buffalo, coordinator at Buffalo All-Star Extreme, as well as a youth adviser for the Kappa Lambda Gamma Jr. sorority, which she participated in during her adolescent years. In 2024, Briggs was appointed by the Mayor to the City of Buffalo’s Disability Advisory Committee and now holds the chairperson position on the committee. The committee collaborates with city leaders to improve accessibility and inclusion for people with disabilities. She currently serves on several boards, including Black Boys Read Too.