MEDIA, Pa. — Penn State Brandywine students who have impacted the campus through their leadership and service were honored at a ceremony on April 29. The annual leadership awards program highlights the achievements of students involved with clubs, student government and campus programs.

Kennesha Busby, a senior biology major and international student, received the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award. This award recognizes undergraduate students whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship have been directed into programs and services that have positively influenced fellow students and have contributed to the prestige and well-being of their campus and Penn State at large.

Busby has been president of the Multicultural Club, co-chair of the Brandywine Events & Activities Support Team (BEAST), diversity chair and events coordinator for the Student Government Association (SGA), a peer tutor and a student assistant for Multilingual and International Student Programs.

One of her three nominators said: “Kennesha consistently demonstrates a commitment to our campus, a commitment to her academics and a commitment to our community, and she contributes her time, talents and energy to Brandywine and Penn State in many ways. Her impact has been far reaching and she has positively influenced a wide range of people — from leading clubs to sharing her culture both on campus and in the community.”

Individual leadership awards were presented to the following students who demonstrated leadership qualities and contributed to student life:

• Laila Boujida, public relations chair of SGA and a member of the Chancellor’s Commission on Empowering Women
• Kennesha Busby, president of the Multicultural Club and a member of BEAST
• Victor Ficarra, president of the Lion Ambassadors and captain of the tennis team
• Danielle Guth, president of the DMAX Club, vice president of the Active Minds Club and a member of the Chancellor’s Commission on Disability and Advancing Accessibility
• Dana Hallahan, event co-chair of BEAST and vice president of the Lion Ambassadors
• Nicole Jimenez, marketing co-chair for BEAST, sustainability chair for SGA and a member of the Chancellor’s Commission on Racial and Ethnic Justice
• Christianna Kile, president of the Paws and Clubs Club
• Jack Kwok, vice president of SGA and president of the Sustainability and History Clubs
• Brisa Luzzi Castro, a member of the Chancellor’s Commission on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and a panelist for the diversity summit and social justice fair
• Jemimah Mwaba, a resident assistant, Lion Ambassador and president of the Nittany Christian Fellowship
• Himani Vommi, administrative co-chair of BEAST and president of the Information Sciences & Technology/Security & Risk Analysis Club
• Matthew Wickel, president of SGA and vice president of the Sustainability Club

Group leadership awards were presented to the following students who have worked together to enhance the experience of other students on campus – virtually and/or in-person:

• Brandywine Events & Activities Support Team (Dana Hallahan, Nicole Jimenez and Himani Vommi)
• Center for Ethics and Civic Engagement interns (Ammar Jannat Chowdhury, Sumaya Islam, Roshni Ohi, Md Rahman, Lisa Yang and Nina Yang)
• Peer Mentor class (Hawa Baro, Kennesha Busby, Ammar Jannat Chowdhury, Garet Church, Ryan Dawson, Naimah Dristi, Tahjir Ellis, Seretha Germany, Kenya Gordon, Danielle Guth, Keiaisha Jackson, Nicole Jimenez, Mackenzie Kelly, Nivia McNeil, Andrew Orr and Rabia Rafiqzadah)
• Student Government Association (Laila Boujida, Kennesha Busby, Ammar Jannat Chowdhury, Nicole DiMauro, Tommy Dreyer, Vidhi Dwivedi, Jessica Gore, Tanmay Gupta, Shane Houseman, Sumaya Islam, Nicole Jimenez, Griffin Kok, Jack Kwok, Alexander Lyle, Jacob Mejias, Obaid Al-Rehman Mohsin, Kiran Shazadi, Kazi Tassen, Matthew Wickel, Lisa Yang and Nina Yang)

The Student Affairs Office named Jessica Gore as the Outstanding First Year Student and Danielle Guth as the Outstanding Senior Student. Gore is involved with the Brandywine Events & Activities Support Team, the Multicultural Club, Nittany Christian Fellowship, the Student Government Association and the Chancellor’s Commission on Student Success. Guth is active with the DMAX and Active Minds Clubs, a member of the Chancellor’s Commission on Disability and Advancing Accessibility, and a peer mentor.

Residence Life presented awards to several outstanding students who assisted their department this year.

Nicole DiMauro received the Resident Assistant of the Year Award, which honors the RA who has been the most consistent, dependable staff member in all aspects of their responsibilities while creating a stronger, more vibrant and inclusive residential community through their work and attitude.

Counseling Services (Ed Dixon, Liz Egg-Krings and Connie Stankowski) was honored with the Residence Life Faculty/Staff Partner of the Year Award, given to a an individual or department that has done a tremendous job in partnership with Residence Life to educate residential students in one of the five areas of our residential curriculum: community expectations, bystander intervention, conflict resolution, equity and inclusion, and emotional intelligence.