May 11, 2012
Student leaders, organizations earn recognition
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Student Involvement and Leadership Development recently recognized several Southern Illinois University Carbondale student leaders and registered student organizations for service and dedication.
There were more than 90 nominations for the 2011-2012 annual awards. A special ceremony and reception earlier this month recognized the winners and offered highlights of noteworthy registered student organizations, programs, events, officers, advisers and members, and recognized their work within their organizations, the University and the community.
Winners of the annual RSO and Leadership Awards, along with a brief description of the awards and student hometowns and majors, include:
• Outstanding Philanthropic Initiative: Wesley Student Council. The RSO created a new food pantry for students, The Wesley Foundation Food Pantry, this year.
• Most Improved RSO: Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
• Outstanding Program/Event and Outstanding RSO: Up ‘til Dawn, an event with more than 1,200 students involved raising in excess of $65,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
• Outstanding RSO Adviser: Justin Schuch, a University Housing hall director and adviser for Residence Hall Association.
• Outstanding RSO Officer: Jessica Stout, a physiology/pre-medicine major from Taylorville and campus executive director for Up ‘til Dawn. Stout is a May graduate and will be attending the SIU School of Medicine this fall.
• Spirit of Diversity: Speaking and Teaching RSO, the award honors the RSO that best exemplifies commitment and support for diversity through programs and activities in the past year.
• Drum Major Instinct: Jennet Posey, a second year graduate student from Markham who completes her master’s in professional media and media management with concentration in documentary production this month. The award honors a student for promoting social justice and equality in the campus community.
• Steve Harris Outstanding Treasurer: Brooke Maurer, a special education/elementary education major from Alhambra who anticipates graduation in spring 2013. The award recognizes outstanding fiscal management work by an RSO treasurer.
• Dr. Katie “Spirit Award”: Darlyshia Cherry, a senior from Belleville majoring in speech communication with public relations specialization. The award, named in honor of Katherine Sermersheim, associate dean of students, goes to a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities and characteristics of its namesake who is supportive, diplomatic, dedicated, fair, vibrant, a problem solver, team-oriented and an advocate for students.
Student Involvement and Leadership Development is a unit of Student Life and Intercultural Relations.