LAP Names SUNY Adirondack as 2026 Community Champion of the Year
Glens Falls, New York - Lower Adirondack Pride is proud to announce that SUNY Adirondack has been selected as the 2026 Community Champion of the Year by the organization’s Board of Directors. This distinguished honor recognizes an institution whose leadership, partnership, and commitment to LGBTQIA+ visibility and equity have made a transformative impact across the North Country.
For years, SUNY Adirondack has demonstrated what it truly means to show up for community—openly, consistently, and with purpose. From cultivating inclusive campus spaces to engaging in year-round collaboration with regional LGBTQIA+ initiatives, the college has embodied the values that drive Lower Adirondack Pride’s mission forward: safety, visibility, education, and collective resilience.
“SUNY Adirondack doesn’t just talk about inclusion—they live it. Their leadership has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with our LGBTQIA+ students and community in moments of joy, in moments of hardship, and in the everyday work of building a North Country where everyone can belong. This award reflects not only what SUNY Adirondack has accomplished, but the future we are building together.”
— Cam Cardinale, President, Lower Adirondack Pride
Lower Adirondack Pride notes that SUNY Adirondack’s continued commitment to creating affirming environments has strengthened conversations around belonging across educational, civic, and cultural spaces throughout the region.
“Our partnership with Lower Adirondack Pride reflects our deepest belief: that every person deserves to learn, live and grow in a community where they are valued. SUNY Adirondack is honored to be recognized, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to fostering belonging on our campus and across the region.”
— President Anastasia L. Urtz, J.D., SUNY Adirondack
The award will be formally presented at the Lower Adirondack Pride Gayla on June 12, 2026, at The Queensbury Hotel in Glens Falls. The Gayla—one of the region’s most anticipated annual celebrations—brings together community leaders, advocates, families, and allies to honor progress, uplift LGBTQIA+ voices, and reaffirm the shared commitment to justice, dignity, and joy for all.
Lower Adirondack Pride congratulates SUNY Adirondack on this well-deserved recognition and looks forward to celebrating alongside the community in June.
Media Contact:
Cam Cardinale
President, Lower Adirondack Pride
cam@loweradkpride.org | (518) 680-7814
Rhonda Triller
Director of Marketing, SUNY Adirondack
trillerr@sunyacc.edu | (518) 743-2230
