Student leaders honored for impact
Friday, May 30, 2025
Photos by Alexandra Butler, photographer/photo editor
The evening's honorees gather following the Student Leadership & Involvement Awards, an annual tradition celebrating the impressive impact they have made on campus and in the community.
It’s been a busy “awards season” as Penn College closes out the 2024-25 academic year, and among the top traditions is the Student Leadership & Involvement Awards.
Hosted by the Office of Student Engagement in the Thompson Professional Development Center, the recent gathering honored student leaders, their mentors and the student organizations who make a positive impact on campus and in the community.
Also at the gathering, Student Leader Legacy Scholarships (supported by the annual Student Government Association Auction) were presented; each recipient was awarded $1,360. In other SGA traditions, outgoing president Hayden Lester passed the gavel to the organization's incoming president, Chandra Apker.
The list of honorees and a few photos from the celebration are offered below:
Student Leader Legacy Scholarship: Carter Flory, Alexis Manhart and Ian Mwaura
Outstanding Community Service Project: "Wildcat Kids in Motion" by the Physical Therapist Assistant Club
New Program of the Year: "Arts, Culture, and Heritage" by the Black Student Union
Outstanding Student Organization of the Year: Penn College Classic Cruisers
Unsung Hero of the Year: Ian Mwaura
Advisor of the Year: Roy Klinger
Student Leader Committed to Diversity and Social Justice – Be the Change: Leslie Escamilla-Ambrosio
Outstanding Program of the Year: "Safe and Saucy" by the Clinton, Dauphin & Juniata Halls Residence Life Staff
Emerging Student Leader of the Year: Kayla Wojcik
Most Improved Student Organization of the Year: Black Student Union
Student Leader of the Year: Giovanni Barbarossa and Morgan Bartholomew
SGA Senator of the Year: Katherine Farley
Glass trophies are lined up, awaiting award winners.
Ian Mwaura is one of three recipients of the Student Leader Legacy Scholarship, presented by Maria E. Weisser, manager of Penn College Foundation operations.
Carter Flory is another recipient of the Student Leader Legacy Scholarship, made possible by the annual SGA Auction.
Weisser also presented the scholarship to Alexis Manhart, who was unable to attend the gathering.
Stepping up to receive the Outstanding Community Service Project for "Wildcat Kids in Motion" are members of the Physical Therapist Assistant Club.
Black Student Union members are on hand to collect two awards: New Program of the Year for "Arts, Culture, and Heritage" and Most Improved Student Organization of the Year.
Mwaura returns to the front for the Unsung Hero of the Year award, delivered by Ashlee C. Felix-Taveras, assistant director of student engagement.
Faculty member Roy Klinger is honored as Advisor of the Year for his work with the Penn College Classic Cruisers, recognized as Outstanding Student Organization of the Year.
Leslie Escamilla-Ambrosio (right) takes home some "glass" as Student Leader Committed to Diversity and Social Justice – Be the Change. Presenting the honor is Meghan Delsite Coleman, assistant director of student engagement.
Accepting Outstanding Program of the Year, awarded to CDJ Residence Life Staff are senior resident assistants Samir Pringle and Olivia Magann.
Kayla Wojcik (left) is the Emerging Student Leader of the Year and pauses for a photo up with Delsite Coleman.
Giovanni Barbarossa accepts Student Leader of the Year honors from Delsite Coleman. Morgan Bartholomew also received the award but was unable to attend the ceremony.
The passing of the gavel is marked by SGA outgoing president Hayden Lester (left) and incoming president Chandra Apker.
PTA Club advisors Victoria Hurwitz (left) and Christine Tilburg (right) join their team for a photo op on the PDC patio.