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Student leaders honored at red-carpet event

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Mindy Duong, BE 2006, leader of the Vietnamese Student Association, chosen as UD’s Best New Registered Student Organization.

6:01 p.m., May 14, 2004--UD students and representatives from Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), Greek life and sports clubs received star treatment Thursday evening, May 13, at the Leadership Awards Ceremony, a reception honoring excellence in leadership at the University and in the surrounding community.

Attendees of the annual invitation-only event, dressed in their best formal attire, enjoyed mingling with each other and sampling the catered hors d’oeuvres before receiving their awards at the front of Multipurpose Rooms A, B and C in the Trabant University Center. As names were announced, YoUDee recipients enjoyed their moments of limelight amidst the glitz and glitter of a decked-out stage before going to the back of the room to get their pictures taken with a tuxedoed YoUDee.

Similar to the Academy Awards ceremony, certificates, plaques and coveted statuettes—YoUDees, not Oscars—were given to recognize student organizations and their mentors.

Students and organizations were nominated in April, either through self-nomination or by others. A committee of administrators and students from the Allocations Board and Solar Council (an advisory group representing various RSOs and chartered Greek organizations) then narrowed the pool to several YoUDee recipients. YoUDee recipients each received a certificate, and winners took home the YoUDee awards.

And the YoUDee recipients are . . .

The Grossman Memorial Award was established by the Class of 1963 in remembrance of their classmates, Judy and Bill Grossman. Each year, a junior or senior undergraduate is honored for outstanding contributions to campus-wide cocurricular programs, as well as a high quality of leadership and organizational ability in helping plan and present programs. This year the YoUDee recipients were Robyn Alston, AS ’04, and Kaitlin Hoffman, AS ’05.

Blood Drive awards are given to those groups that have the best turnout for campus blood drives. This year’s awards went to Gamma Sigma Sigma sorority and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Kaitlin Hoffman, AS ’05, accepts the Grossman Memorial Award.
Alternative Campus Events awards are given to student groups that hold outstanding alcohol-free programs. Criteria include good turnout and marketing the program effectively to the UD community. This year’s awards went to Delaware Undergraduate Student Congress (DUSC) and Dark Arts Dance Company.

Outstanding Advisers are nominated based on their commitment and devotion to mentoring and caring for students. Alex Keen was elected in the RSO category for his work with Student Center Programs Advisory Board (SCPAB), and Sharon Richardson was elected in the Greek category, for her work with the Alpha Xi Delta sorority.

Best New RSO was chosen for its strong presence on campus, despite being established for less than two years. This year’s YoUDee recipient was the Vietnamese Student Association (VSA).

Outstanding Greek Scholarship award recognizes the Greek chapter that best promotes academic achievement by way of awards and incentives. This year’s YoUDee recipient was Sigma Kappa sorority.

Greek Chapter Grade Point Average awards honor Greek chapters that maintain the highest overall GPAs. This year’s elected fraternity was Tau Epsilon Phi, and the elected sorority was Gamma Sigma Sigma.

Outstanding Community Service awards went to two organizations. Kappa Alpha Psi earned the award in the Greek category for its Black Male Leadership Conference, and Operation Smile earned the award in the RSO category for its dedication to the international organization that provides medical intervention for disadvantaged children born with facial defects.

Best Web site awards went to two groups. Alpha Sigma Alpha took the award in the Greek category, and the Indian Students Association earned the award in the RSO category.

Outstanding Late Night/Alternative Program award recognizes a student group that holds an outstanding program beyond or after midnight or that organizes an outstanding program that addresses an unusual but critical need. Criteria include a good turnout and marketing the program effectively to the UD community. Delta Sigma Theta earned the award in the Greek category for its organization of the Artistic Expressions event, while the following organizations earned the award in the RSO category for their organization of the Foam Party: American Chemical Society, DUSC, SCPAB, Mortar Board, Alpha Omega Epsilon, Chi Omega, Persian Club, Hispanic Student Association (HOLA), Indian Students Association, Operation Smile and VSA.

Robyn Alston, AS ‘04, accepts the Grossman Memorial Award.
Outstanding Diversity Program
awards honor organizations that educate the campus community about diversity issues, including, but not limited to, gender, race, culture, religion, handicap and sexual orientation. Lambda Pi Chi earned the award in the Greek category for its organization of the Hispanic Heritage Month Opening Ceremony, and HAVEN earned the award in the RSO category for its organization of the Marry In event.

Outstanding Cosponsored Program award was given to four RSO groups and two Greek organizations. Awards in the RSO category went to the Panhellenic Council, HAVEN, Students Acting for Gender Equality (SAGE) and the Men Against Rape Society for their help with organizing and promoting the production of “The Vagina Monologues.” Awards in the Greek category went to the Lambda Pi Chi sorority and HOLA for their help with organizing and promoting “Yo Soy Latina.”

Outstanding Female Sports Leader award went to Erin Blackiston, HNS 2004, for Women’s Softball.

Outstanding Sports Adviser award went to Kathie Troutman, for the Equestrian Team.

Outstanding Sports Clubs Overall Achievement award went to Women’s Softball.

Outstanding Overall Program
award was given, in the RSO category, to the Chinese Cultural Student Association for its production of the Chinese New Year festival. In the Greek category, the award went to Phi Sigma Kappa for its production of the Ms. Greek event.

Outstanding Overall Achievement
award is the highest honor a student organization can achieve. Organizations are nominated for following their mission statements with excellent programs, activities, services or for doing what they do exceedingly well. Sigma Chi fraternity earned the award in the Greek category, while SCPAB earned the award in the RSO category.

Outstanding RSO Treasurer
award goes to students nominated for their skills in keeping treasury books and maintaining treasury files. Billy Collins, AS 2006, earned the award in the RSO category for his work as treasurer of HAVEN.

Outstanding Leader
awards went to four students for their excellence in providing leadership to their organizations and the University community. Mindy Duong, BE 2006, earned the award for her dedication to the Vietnamese Student Association, Jonathan Ginsberg, CHEP 2004, earned the award for his dedication to the National Society of Minorities in Hospitality, Brynne Obeid, CHEP 2004, earned the award for her involvement with the Alpha Xi Delta sorority and Steven Becker, BE 2004, earned the award for his involvement with the Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.

Students in the SS LeaderSHIP and Women’s Leadership Workshop series also were recognized and received certificates.

Article by Becca Hutchinson
Photos by Duane Perry

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