UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Office of Student Activities, a unit of Penn State Student Affairs, recognized the recipients of the Service and Leadership Awards and the Student Organization and Involvement Awards at the end of April. The Office of Student Activities congratulates all of its 2022 award recipients and nominees for their continued contributions to the University and community.

Below is a list of the 2022 Service and Leadership Award winners, which were recognized during a ceremony on April 21 in the HUB-Robeson Center.

Craig and Maxine Millar Award — Heather Witherow: Witherow is a senior at Penn State Harrisburg studying secondary education social studies and minoring in human development and family studies.

Charles and Sharon Bell Scholarship for Citizenship and Leadership

• Katrina Bynum — Bynum is a senior adult learner at University Park studying pre-medicine, biobehavioral health and microbiology.
• Jacob Malizio — Malizio is a sophomore at University Park studying public relations and theatre studies.
• Isabella Gayoso — Gayoso is a junior at University Park studying mechanical engineering and aerospace engineering and minoring in entrepreneurship and innovation and IST for aerospace engineers.
• Gabrielle Nibert — Nibert is a sophomore at University Park studying aerospace engineering.
• Samantha Finger — Finger is a junior at University Park studying psychology with a life sciences focus and minoring in human development and family studies and child maltreatment and advocacy studies.
• Star Lawson — Lawson is a junior at University Park studying public relations and minoring in digital media trends and analytics.
• Madison Edwards — Edwards is a junior at University Park studying biology and minoring in women’s studies.
• Alexander Wu — Wu is a senior at University Park and Schreyer Scholar studying political science and cello performance.

Felsburg/Gohn Leadership Award — Jaylen Carr: Carr is a senior at University Park studying civil engineering and minoring in engineering leadership and development.

Mary Lee Hobbs Steel Emerging Leader Award — Linda Zhang: Zhang is a junior at Penn State Abington studying accounting.

Jamie Desmond Leadership Scholarship Fund — TaiRe Daniel: Daniel is a senior at University Park majoring in mechanical engineering.

Stan Latta Dedication Scholarship — Erin Boas: Boas is a senior Schreyer Scholar and Paterno Fellow at University Park studying international political economy and minoring in business and the liberal arts and entrepreneurship and innovation.

Jane Wood Reno Memorial Scholarship — Michael Russell: Russell is a senior at Penn State Schuylkill studying biology with an option in genetics and developmental biology.

Leopard Family Eclipse Award — Nicholas Birosik: Birosik is a senior at University Park studying social data analytics and minoring in history. Birosik is also pursuing a master’s degree in international affairs.

B.A. Boyer Family Scholarship

• Lydia Mabamije — Mabamije is a sophomore studying marketing and minoring in digital media trends and analytics.
• Shyanne Torres — Torres is a freshman at University Park studying marketing.

John and Veda Black Award

• Adeola Adewole — Adewole is a junior at Penn State Altoona studying nursing.
• Elise DuFour — DuFour is a sophomore at Penn State DuBois studying pre-medicine.

Smile for Sam Scholarship

• Elijah Akinade — Akinade is a junior at Penn State Greater Allegheny studying biobehavioral health and minoring in neuroscience.
• April Demsko — Demsko is a junior and Schreyer Scholar at Penn State Harrisburg studying marketing.

Laurel Award for Outstanding Service — Nick Ritter: Ritter is a junior at University Park studying recreation, park and tourism management.

Partisan Award — Ang Chen: Chen is a senior and Schreyer Scholar at University Park studying electrical engineering and minoring in mathematics.

Rose Cologne Keystone Citizen Award — Hanna Bernett: Bernett is a junior at University Park studying marketing.

Outstanding Adult Student Award

• Katrina Bynum — Bynum is a senior Adult Learner at University Park studying pre-medicine, biobehavioral health and microbiology.
• Jodi Thompson — Thompson is an undergraduate adult learner, studying elementary and early childhood education.

 

Below is a list of the Student Organization and Involvement Award winners, which were recognized during a ceremony on April 26 in the HUB-Robeson Center.

New Initiative: Pan-African Professional Alliance

The New Initiative Award recognizes an organization that implemented new initiatives and programs in the past year. This award will be given to recognize a new program or initiative created and implemented by a recognized student organization that contributed to the overall student experience.

Membership Engagement: Student Nutrition Association

The Membership Engagement Award recognizes an organization that has prioritized the retention and active involvement of their membership. This organization has worked to foster a sense of community within their membership, from new to returning members. They value all member and encourage involvement in the organization no matter the time spent in the organization.

Professional/Student Development: First Gen Advocates

The Professional/Student Development Award recognizes an organization that serve the needs of its members through speakers, workshops, retreats, conferences, and other acts to continually educate its members. This organizations values the development of all its members and actively works to create an environment that promotes learning and growth.

Community Impact: Lightbulb Junior Enterprise

The Community Impact Award recognizes an organization that positively impacts the campus and the greater Penn State community. This organization strives to be a community builder through service, education, inspiration and connection. The recipient of this award has made outstanding and meaningful connections inside and outside of the Penn State community. Through programs and initiatives, this student organization has had the opportunity to have a real and meaningful impact on both the campus and local communities.

Collaborative Efforts and Initiative: Lightbulb Junior Enterprise

The Collaborative Efforts and Initiative Award recognizes a co-sponsored program or initiative that demonstrates synergy and success as a result of working together. This award celebrates student organizations that have made collaboration a top priority. The recipients have demonstrated they can break down barriers between diverse student populations and foster greater communication between different organizations on campus. This may have occurred through programs, conversations or publicity for a cause. These organizations have enhanced the Penn State experience and made a larger contribution to the community with their collaboration.

Diversity and Inclusion Enhancement: Queer and Trans People of Color

The Diversity and Inclusion Enhancement Award recognizes an organization that has had a significant impact in advancing diversity and inclusion through their membership and activities at Penn State and the community. Their programming embodies Penn State’s Statement on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and demonstrates a commitment to enhancing the Penn State community.

OrgCentral Maximizer: Unity Christian Campus Ministry

The OrgCentral Maximizer Award recognizes an organization that has taken full advantage of the OrgCentral platform. This organization will have taken advantage of features such as forms, elections, news, and updated their organization’s public-facing page with photos and descriptions. This is a staff-nominated award.

Outstanding Event Planners: Iranian Student Association

The Outstanding Event Planners Award recognizes an organization that has excelled in the event planning process, from simple to complex events. This organization has taken advantage of University resources in making their event(s) planning process a success and has had interactions with multiple offices throughout the process. This is a staff-nominated award.

Outstanding Financial Management: Andrew Lapeire, The Penn State Thespian Society

The Outstanding Financial Management Award recognizes an organization that has shown responsible financial procedures and fund usage. This is a staff-nominated award.

Outstanding Organization Advisors: Jennifer Fleming, Student Nutrition Association

The Outstanding Advisors Award recognizes Penn State faculty/staff advisers of a recognized student organization in good standing who have had a positive influence on an organization by providing support, approachability and encouragement of effective communication within the organization.

Outstanding Organization Member: Owen Haddad, University Park Undergraduate Association

The Outstanding Member Award recognizes a nonofficer member of a recognized student organization who has gone above and beyond. This member works hard to make their community a warm, friendly, exciting and educational experience for students. This award will be given to recognize a student organization member (not an officer) of a recognized student organization who often places their heart and soul into everything. This member may be classified as often taking a “behind the scenes” approach but always goes above and beyond the standard to help their student organization, who displays outstanding leadership, dedication and involvement with their organization.

Outstanding Organization Officer: Kara Miller, Days for Girls at Penn State, and Rhea Baweja, Indian Culture and Language Club

The Outstanding Officer Award recognizes an executive board officer that has made an impact on their organization. The officer has helped define the missions of their groups, build plans to achieve their goals, provide encouragement and motivation to members while also managing expectations and providing important oversight, and maintains integrity even in difficult situations. The award celebrates the student organization officers who often dedicate much of their time and effort to ensure that their organization is successful and tirelessly give themselves to the projects and events associated with their organization. This award recognizes a student organization officer who displays outstanding organizational leadership, dedication and involvement to the overall success of their organization.

Outstanding Student Organization: The National Society of Black Engineers

The Outstanding Student Organization Award recognizes an organization that has made a significant effort to further its purpose through its contribution to Penn State and the State College community. This award recognizes the student organization that has demonstrated consistent flexibility, initiative, creativity and perseverance through their activities and programs. Furthermore, the organization embodies a commitment to leadership development, collaboration among groups, and programmatic efforts to enhance the quality of campus life at Penn State. The Outstanding Student Organization is considered a role model for other organizations on our campus.