Virtual award ceremony celebrates campus star power
Published 04.26.2020
Along with welcoming remarks by Patrick C. Ferguson, president of the Student Government Association, and Elliott Strickland, vice president for student affairs, award recipients in 13 categories were revealed by OSE staff – Sammie L. Davis, coordinator of diversity and cultural life; Allison A. Grove, director of student engagement; Shannon L. Skaluba, student organization and information center specialist; and Trisha M. Temple, coordinator of student engagement.
The unprecedented close to the spring semester, with students rounding out the year "alone together," was not lost on the speakers.
"This truly is a very chaotic time that I'm sure has affected each of you in varying degrees," Ferguson noted. "I'd like to think we're not only honoring those who won awards or were nominated, rather we are celebrating the resilience that each and every one of us has shown under these extreme conditions."
"This time has also allowed us to reflect on just how important you, as student leaders and organization advisers, are to the Penn College community," Strickland said. "I've often said that a Penn College degree is vitally important in today's world, but a true Penn College education involves engagement, leadership and service outside of the traditional classroom."
Recognized this year for excellence are:
Outstanding Program of the Year
Joey M. Morrin ("Weed 'em Out")
New Program of the Year
AIGA (Skillshare YouTube event)
Outstanding Philanthropy Project
Zachary J. Kravitz ("Give Thanks and Paw It Forward")
Student Leader Committed to Diversity and Social Justice
Dessa D. Valisno
Unsung Hero of the Year
Caila N. Flanagan
Student Leader of the Year
Joseph F. DiBucci
Emerging Student Leader of the Year
McKenna N. Myers
Outstanding Student Organization of the Year
ConCreate Design Club
Most Improved Student Organization of the Year
Penn College Benefiting THON
Adviser of the Year
Stephen R. Cheskiewicz, Wildcat Online Gaming Association
Fraternity Scholar of the Year
Jacob L. Caputo, Omega Delta Sigma
Fraternity Academic Achievement Award
Omega Delta Sigma
Fraternity Member of the Year
Cody Daniels, Phi Mu Delta