Program: Student Leadership Recognition Banquet & Award Ceremony – May 2, 2023
5 to 6 p.m.
Social Hour
Enjoy a variety of stationary and passed appetizers, refreshments, cash bar, while listening to relaxing jazz. Pick up your Bridgewater Chocolates, make sure to take a photo with your friends and use the opportunity to get your club picture taken before the event starts.
6 p.m.
Welcome
Destiny Samuel and Raissatou Karim, Emcees
Julie Kushner, State Senator
Pre-Dinner Award Presentation
opens IMAGE file Hancock Student Leadership Program
The Hancock Student Leadership Program promotes, fosters, and identifies student leaders and develops their ability to inspire, motivate, and influence others after graduation. The program promotes students’ development of a body of practical ethics, good communication skills, compassion and empathy, team and community building, creative problem-solving, goal setting, conflict resolution, independent thinking, and the financial awareness required for sound financial stewardship for the management of budgets.
Claire E. Eastwood, Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants
Julie L. Hoff, WCSU Communication & Marketing
Emily J. Kappel, LPL Financial
Sara Risko, University of Connecticut’s Fairfield County Agricultural Extension Program
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.
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.
The 2023 graduates of the program are:
Kiana Andarowski
Skylar Bartush
Gabriella DeMaro
Molly Farquharson
Patrick Moody
Hela Patel
Lia Reynolds
Faythe Thibodeau
Omayra Vasquez
Orientation Leader of the Year Award
Awarded by the Center for Student Involvement
Presented by: Dennis Leszko, Director
This award is given to an Orientation Leader who has shown exemplary leadership.
John Tamas Memorial Emerging Student Leader Award
Awarded by the Division of Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
Presented by: Dr. Walter Cramer, Dean of Students
This award goes to a Freshman or Sophomore who has demonstrated superior leadership capability and potential.
Dinner
Please stay seated until your table is called to the buffet line. You may look at the LCCC displays or take more pictures before the award ceremony starts again. Please stay in your seats during the presentation.
Award Presentation
Inter-Residence Hall Association Awards
The awards are voted upon by the Inter-Residence Hall Association, which represents the residential student body.
Presented by: Mariah Segura, Inter-Residence Hall Association President
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.
Program Activities Council Award
Awarded by the Program Activities Council
Presented by: Riley Weaver, 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.
Fraternity and Sorority Life Awards
Awarded by Fraternity and Sorority Life
Presented by: Charles Wimer, FSL Council Vice President
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.
Highest GPA for a Greek Letter Organization
This award goes to the Greek organization with the highest cumulative grade point average at the end of the previous fall semester.
Most Philanthropic Chapter of the Year
This award goes to the Greek organization with the most significant contributions the WCSU and outside community. This organization has done so by committing time, effort and funds into important causes, fighting negative stigmas, and producing change for the better of everyone.
SLRB Committee Student Organization of the Year Awards
Awarded by the Student Leadership Recognition Banquet (SLRB) Committee
Presented by: John Murphy, Director of Event & Conference Management and Auxiliary Services
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.
Macricostas School of Arts & Sciences – 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.
Presented by: Daryle Dennis, Assistant Dean of Students
School of Professional Studies – 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 Visual and Performing Arts – 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.
Presented by: Michael Azzi, SGA President
General Interest and Community Service – 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.
Diversity – 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.
Campus REC Awards
Awarded by Campus REC
Presented by: Amy Shanks, Associate Director
Employee of the Year
Given to the employee that is an excellent role model to others, demonstrates exceptional leadership, inspires others to work collaboratively and creatively, has a strong work ethic, professional integrity, great initiative and a great attitude. This student employee also promotes a work environment that is respectful and supportive, and consistently goes above and beyond his/her work duties.
Rookie of the Year
Given to the employee that has shown exceptional work ethic, commitment to Campus REC’s core principles and has demonstrated strong leadership potential (during the first year of employment). This student employee has made great contributions to the department and embodies Recreation.
Event & Conference Management Awards
Awarded by Event & Conference Management
Presented by: Nicole Day, ECM Staff
Customer Service Award
The Customer Service Award goes to an employee who has demonstrated excellent customer service to all students and WestConn community, has excellent communication skills interacting with many individuals on an everyday basis, and has patience dealing with difficult customers and has strong problem-solving skills when it comes to resolving any issue.
Presented by: Jesse Bambach, ECM Staff
Long Journey Award
The Long Journey Award goes to an employee who has worked for ECM for 3 consecutive years/6 consecutive semesters, been vital to the success of the department by working in all areas: Centers/ONC/Ives/Midtown, constantly is on time and reliable for multiple shifts, has gone above and beyond what is asked of them, and is a leader and a mentor to other students in the department.
Presented by: Jennifer Arigoni, ECM Staff
ECM All-Star
The ECM All-Star Award goes to an employee who is available for any task needed, takes on responsibility and initiatives on learning new skills, shows excellent leadership to all students of our department, is a versatile worker able to apply themselves in many different manners, and displayed a large variety of skills such as customer service, punctuality, dependency, enthusiasm, and a great work ethic.
Student Government Association Awards
Presented by: Vince Diesta, Incoming SGA Director of Student Relations
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.
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 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.
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.
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 excelled in all areas.
Presented by: Sorreea Gagnebin, Current and continuing SGA Vice President
Outstanding Representative
Awarded to a senator in the Student Government Association for outstanding service.
Outstanding Senator
Awarded to a senator in the Student Government Association for outstanding service.
Presented by: Michael Azzi, Current and continuing SGA President
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.
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 Kathwari Honors Program
Presented by: Sabrina Marques, Director of the Kathwari Honors Program, Associate Professor of Studio Art
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 Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
Presented 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.
Outstanding Advisor Award
Awarded by the Center for Student Involvement
Presented by: Dennis Leszko, Director of the Center for Student Involvement
Awarded to the Advisor that best promotes the growth potential of student organizations, assists with their maintenance, and stimulates the development of programs that not only enrich the campus but also aid the development of students.
Alumni Association Outstanding Student Leader Award
Awarded by the WCSU Alumni Association
Presented by: Raymond Lubus, President, Alumni Association
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
Awarded by the Division of Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
Presented by: Jay Murray, Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
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
Dr. Paul Beran, Interim President of WCSU
A Special Thank You:
Platinum Table Sponsors
- Alumni Association
- EAP
- Event & Conference Management
- Kathwari Honors Program
- InterCultural Affairs
- International Services
- Library Services
- Recreation
- Sodexo
Gold Table Sponsors
- Fraternity and Sorority Life
- Inter-Residence Hall Association
- Program Activities Council
- Student Government Association
Other Contributions
- Destiny Samuel and Raissatou Karim – for emceeing the event
- Events & Conference Management for setting up the photo area
- Fraternity & Sorority Life – for sponsoring the gift baskets
- Inter-Residence Hall Association – for the Bridgewater Chocolates
- SLRB Committee – for putting on this entire event
- Student Government Association – for your sponsorship and support
- 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.
Members of the 2023 Student Leadership Recognition Banquet Committee (alphabetical by last name):
Michael Azzi, President, Student Government Association
Caitie Barry, Graduate Intern for Fraternity and Sorority Life & Leadership, CSI
Deborah Bisaccia, Head Cheer Coach, Recreation
Jade Carriero, President, Program Activities Council
Walter Cramer, Dean of Students, Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
Daryle Dennis, Assistant Dean of Students, Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
Virginia Diaz, Administrative Assistant, Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
Oni Figueroa, Administrative Assistant, Athletics
Christopher Henson, Residence Hall Director, Housing & Residence Life
Danielle King, Admissions, Cashiers, History
Dennis Leszko, Director, CSI
Lycia Lopez-Torres, Graduate Intern for Programming, CSI
Carly Mengler, Graduate Intern, Student Government Association Advisor
John Murphy, Director, Event & Conference Management and Auxiliary Services
Kathleen Nostrand, CSU Administrative Assistant, Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
Ellen Ober, Administrative Assistant, AccessAbility Services
Birte Pfitzner, CSU Administrative Assistant, Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
Peter Puccio, Assistant to the Director, Media Services
Mariah Segura, President, Inter-Residence Hall Association
Cory Silver, Event & Conference Coordinator
Charles Wimer, Vice President, Fraternity & Sorority Life Council