Program: Student Leadership Recognition Award Ceremony - May 7, 2021

Program: Student Leadership Recognition Award Ceremony – May 7, 2021

Welcome

Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Keith Betts

Incoming SGA President Patrick Moody

Outgoing SGA President Anna Adebambo

Award Presentation

Inter-Residence Hall Association Awards

The awards are voted upon by the Inter-Residence Hall Association, which represents the residential student body.
Announced by: Tamia Scott, IRHA President

Resident of the Year

This award is given to a member of the residential student body who has served the campus community above and beyond the call of duty. This individual is an outstanding leader and motivator to all students, but particularly the residential students.

Housing and Residence Life Staff Member of the Year – RA

This award is given to a Resident Assistant who has shown extreme dedication to Housing throughout the academic year. Through programming, office work, and showing support for the residents of Western Connecticut State University, the award recipient is being honored for his/her service.

Housing and Residence Life Staff Member of the Year – ARM

This award is given to an Academic Resource Mentor who has shown extreme dedication to Housing throughout the academic year. Through programming, office work, and showing support for the residents of Western Connecticut State University, the award recipient is being honored for his/her service.

Program of the Year

This award is given either to a Hall Council, Resident Assistant, Academic Resource Mentor, or a member of the residential student body who has hosted a program that has best suited the university and the needs of the community.

Hall Council of the Year

This award is given to a Hall Council that has facilitated successful programming, has made an impact on their resident hall, and has ultimately coincided with the Department of Housing and Residence Life’s C.U.L.T.U.R.E. program. The award is voted upon by the Inter-Residence Hall Association, which represents the residential student body.

Program Activities Council Award

Awarded by the Program Activities Council
Announced by: Marisa Gueli, PAC President

Outstanding Student Program

This award is presented to a student or group who is deemed to have initiated and executed the program, excluding PAC programs, that had the largest impact on the campus community during the year.

Leadership, Compassion and Creativity Certificate Program Graduates

opens IMAGE file The Leadership, Compassion and Creativity Certificate program is a leadership program that provides an opportunity for students to receive a certificate by exploring the values of leadership, compassion & creativity across all Student Affairs disciplines and with people of all communities. This program takes a student’s co-curricular activities, leadership roles and community service hours and combines them into one leadership certificate.
Announced by: Dennis Leszko, Director of the Center for Student Involvement.

LCCC leaders are those who are innovative and inspire others to find new and diverse ways to solve problems. They lead sympathetically by understanding that all people learn and succeed through different avenues of guidance. At the end of completing the LCCC, students are able to explain how they have become more compassionate and creative leaders; and explain how participation in LCCC has shaped their understanding of leadership.

Fraternity and Sorority Life Awards

Awarded by Fraternity and Sorority Life
Announced by: Lycia Lopez-Torres, President, Panhellenic Council

New Greek Member of the Year

This award goes to an individual who is new to the Greek community and has made a significant contribution to his/her Greek organization, the Greek Council, and the university. Nominations were solicited from individuals and Greek organizations.

Outstanding Greek Member of the Year

This award goes to the individual who has made a significant contribution to his/her Greek organization, the Greek Council, and the university. Nominations were solicited from individuals and Greek organizations.

Outstanding Greek Letter Organization

This award goes to the organization that has made a significant contribution to the Greek Council, the university, and the greater community.

John Tamas Memorial Emerging Student Leader

Awarded by the Division of Student Affairs
Announced by: Dr. Walter Cramer, Dean of Students

This award goes to a Freshman or Sophomore who has demonstrated superior leadership capability and potential.

SLRB Committee Student Organization of the Year Awards

Awarded by the Student Leadership Recognition Banquet (SLRB) Committee
Announced by: Eden Edwards-Harris, Assistant to the Director of Housing & Residence Life and Residence Director of Centennial Hall; Caitie Barry, Graduate Intern for Fraternity and Sorority Life & Leadership, CSI

Ancell School of Business – Student Organization of the Year

This award is presented to a student organization that has shown outstanding commitment to its organizational goals and program planning, has made an impact on the campus and surrounding community, and the leadership development of its group members.

School of Professional Studies – Student Organization of the Year

Macricostas School of Arts & Sciences – Student Organization of the Year

School of Visual and Performing Arts – Student Organization of the Year

General Interest and Community Service – Student Organization of the Year

Diversity – Student Organization of the Year

Student Government Association Awards

Awarded by the Student Government Association

Announced by: Anna Adebambo, SGA President

Macricostas School of Arts and Sciences – Outstanding Faculty Member

This award is given to a faculty member from the Macricostas School of Arts & Sciences for outstanding contribution to WCSU students.

School of Visual & Performing Arts – Outstanding Faculty Member

This award is given to a faculty member from the School of Visual & Performing Arts for outstanding contribution to WCSU students.

School of Professional Studies – Outstanding Faculty Member

This award is given to a faculty member from the School of Professional Studies for outstanding contribution to WCSU students.

Ancell School of Business – Outstanding Faculty Member

This award is given to a faculty member from the Ancell School of Business for outstanding contribution to WCSU students.

The Fernando & Alice Fernandes Award

Awarded to a member of the classified staff who has made significant contribution to student life.

Award of Merit

Awarded for outstanding service to the entire student body. A non-student member of the WCSU community whose dedication to the students and student life has gone far above and beyond his/her obligations.

Outstanding Student Organization

Awarded to a student organization that has excelled in all areas.

Outstanding New Student Organization

Awarded to a student organization that has formed this year and has shown outstanding progress, programming, and development.

Outstanding Senator

Awarded to a senator in the Student Government Association for outstanding service.

Outstanding Representative

Awarded to a senator in the Student Government Association for outstanding service.

Achieve Through Adversity (Resilience) Award

Students who have experienced adversity and have continued to push through and excel during these challenges. Students do not have to hold any specific position to be eligible for this award.

Acts of Service Award

Awarded to students who have actively contributed to the improvement of the campus through multiple positions and activities. Students must have excelled in at least two positions, activities, or areas. This includes, however is not limited, to clubs/organizations, student worker positions, university committee student representatives, university representatives at conferences, etc.

Equity and Justice Award

Awarded to students who consistently speak up and step up, using their knowledge and spheres of influence to inspire equity and justice from the student body up to administration or beyond. Students do not have to hold any specific position to be eligible for this award.

Unsung Hero Award

Awarded to students who did not hold any specific positions on campus yet have demonstrated significant contributions or initiative. Students who hold an executive position for a club or organization are not eligible..

Student Award of Merit

Awarded to a student who has dedicated him/herself to outstanding service to the student body.

SGA President’s Award

Awarded to a student or other member of the university community who has contributed to helping student organizations on campus.

SGA President’s Award for Outstanding Student Leadership

This award is presented to a student who has displayed outstanding leadership skills and has actively worked toward bettering the community and student life on campus during their time here at Western Connecticut State University.

Jesse Lewis Compassion Award

Awarded by the Center for Compassion, Creativity & Innovation
Announced by: Scarlett Lewis, mother of Jesse Lewis, and founder of the Jesse Lewis Choose Love Foundation

This award is presented to a student whose compassion (actively helping others to solve or overcome their problems or suffering) knows no bounds. This award is in memory of Jesse Lewis, the 6-year-old Sandy Hook student who saved the lives of 9 other first graders on December 14, 2012.

Community Service Award

Awarded by the Division of Student Affairs
Announced by Dr. Walter Cramer, Dean of Students.

This award is presented to the club, organization or student that shows exemplary effort to volunteer and serve the community around them.

Alumni Association Outstanding Student Leader Award

Awarded by the WCSU Alumni Association
Announced by: Elaine Salem, Lifetime Member of the Alumni Board of Directors

This award is given each year to a student who has exemplified the qualities of a student leader.

Walter B. Bernstein Vice President’s Award for Student Leadership
Presented by the Vice President for Student Affairs, Dr. Keith Betts

This award is given each year to a student who has shown dedication, passion, and immense effort toward the improvement of Student Life throughout their tenure at WCSU.

Closing Remarks

WCSU President Dr. John Clark

A Special Thank You:

Bakhtavar Izzat and Anna Adebambo – for emceeing the event
Event & Conference Management – for setting up the O’Neill Center
Fraternity & Sorority Life – for sponsoring the gift baskets
Inter-Residence Hall Association – for the candy
Media Services – for putting the video together
Program Activities Council – for organizing the screen
SLRB Committee – for putting on this entire event
Student Government Association – for your sponsorship

Last but not least, on behalf of the SLRB Committee, a huge thank you to all of the student leaders who stepped up this year, whether you were recognized with an award or not. The same to all of the advisors to student organizations; all of your hard work is appreciated. And a special thank you to all of the presenters who found a way to record themselves or ventured on campus to be recorded and announce the recipients of this year’s awards.

Members of the 2021 Student Leadership Recognition Banquet Committee (alphabetical by last name):

Caitie Barry, Graduate Intern for Fraternity and Sorority Life & Leadership, CSI

Ashley Christensen, Graduate Intern for Programming, CSI

Walter Cramer, Dean of Students, Student Affairs

Daryle Dennis, Assistant Dean of Students, Student Affairs

Virginia Diaz, Administrative Assistant, Student Affairs

Eden Edwards-Harris, Residence Hall Director, Housing & Residence Life

Ryan Farrell, Residence Hall Director, Housing & Residence Life

Oni Figueroa, Administrative Assistant, CSI

Marisa Gueli, President, Program Activities Council

Danielle King, Secretary, HPX and English Departments

Dennis Leszko, Director, CSI & SGA Advisor

Lycia Lopez-Torres, President, Panhellenic Council

Patrick Moody, Senator, Student Government Association

John Murphy, Director, Event & Conference Management & SGA Advisor

Ellen Ober, Administrative Assistant, AccessAbility Services

Birte Pfitzner, CSU Administrative Assistant, Student Affairs

Keith Purdie, Digital Media Assistant, Media Services

Tamia Scott, President, Inter-Residence Hall Association