11:26 a.m., May 27, 2008--About 300 guests gathered to honor selected members of UD's registered student organizations (RSOs), Greek life and sports clubs at the sixth annual UD Student Leadership Awards ceremony Thursday evening, May 15, in the glittering Multipurpose Rooms of the Trabant University Center.
UD President Patrick Harker welcomed the guests and said it was an honor for him to attend the event, the first since he took the helm at UD.
“Tonight we honor you, and we honor you because you make the very best of the University of Delaware, you make the University of Delaware better,” Harker said. “What you do not only benefits the students who are here today, but the students who are going to be here in years to come.”
Marilyn Prime, director of student centers and assistant professor, individual and family studies, said the awards recognize the commitment and dedication of student leaders and organizations that have made a positive impact on the University and Newark community.
“It's been a wonderful year,” Prime said. “We've had an outstanding group of student leaders and organization efforts. This is a fun evening in recognition of their work, and we are very proud of them.”
Richie Holland, manager of human resources and affirmative action and instructor in women's studies, said the Student Centers have done an excellent job of coordinating student activities in areas ranging from philanthropy to community outreach.
Dressed in formal attire, the guests applauded the award recipients as they were presented with YoUDee statuettes. They also enjoyed hors d'oeuvres and jazz as a slideshow of this year's events and organizations flashed on a projection screen.
Students and organizations were nominated throughout the school year via 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. Honorees each received a certificate, and winners took home the YoUDee awards.
2008 YoUDee award recipients
The Grossman Memorial Award was established by members of the Class of 1963 in memory of their classmates, Judy and Bill Grossman. Each year, a junior or senior is honored for outstanding contributions to campuswide cocurricular programs, as well as high-quality leadership and organizational ability in helping plan and present programs. This year's recipients were Amanda Tomasetti, a junior English major with minors in Italian and journalism, from Claymont, Del., for using her creativity to invent attention-grabbing programs and events to raise awareness about, as well as funds for, important health matters, and Tyrone Edwards, a junior finance major from Lower Gwynedd, Pa., for stepping outside his role as treasurer of Student Government Association to help create one of the most successful new programs, an event called “One,” to raise awareness of world issues.
Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to Charles Tarver, assistant director of the student centers and WVUD-FM manager, for his dedication and constant support for students. Tarver is retiring from the University.
The Bernie Coslar Service Award was established last year in honor of Bernadette Coslar, a service representative in UD's Activities and Programs Office, who died on April 14, 2007. This year's award went to Vincent Jackson, conference technician at IT-University Media Services, for his support of student programs.
Outstanding Advisers are nominated based on their commitment and devotion to mentoring and caring for students. The awards went to Farina Cheramy, Sigma Kappa; Jack Lynn, UD Emergency Care Unit; and Laura Travis, tennis.
Best New RSO is based on an organization's strong presence on campus despite being established for less than two years. This year's YoUDee recipient was STAND: Anti-Genocide Coalition.
The Outstanding Greek Scholarship Award recognizes the Greek chapter that best promotes academic achievement with awards and incentives. This year's recipient was Phi Kappa Phi.
The Outstanding Philanthropy Awards went to Chi Omega in the the Greek category for Mr. Fraternity and the RSO winner was Gamma Sigma Sigma for DFRC.
Greek Chapter Grade Point Average Awards honor Greek chapters that maintain the highest overall GPAs. This year's winning fraternity was Sigma Phi Epsilon, which maintained an overall average of 3.16, and the winning sorority was Alpha Xi Delta, which maintained an overall average of 3.39.
Outstanding Community Service Awards went to Sigma Alpha Mu, Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Alpha Phi in the Greek category for Operation Nehemiah-New Orleans, and UD Emergency Care Unit and the Health and Physical Exercise Majors Club in the RSO category for Kidz Fit4 Life.
The 2008 RSO Lecture Award went to Interfraternity Council, Greek Council, SCPAB and STAND for Hotel Rwanda.
Outstanding Web Site Awards were presented to three groups. Sigma Alpha Mu took the award in the Greek category, Engineers Without Borders earned the award in the RSO category and women's golf won the sports club honor.
The Outstanding Late Night/Alternative Program Award recognizes a student group that holds an outstanding program that extends beyond or begins 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. HOLA, Caribbean Student Alliance won the award for Reggae vs. Reggaeton.
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. Sigma Alpha Mu and Uganda Untold won the award in the Greek category for Invisible Children, and Haven, NOW CAN, Student Government Association, HOLA, Campus Alliance de La Raza, Students Acting for Gender Equality and Civil Liberties Union won the award in the RSO category for Keith Boykin.
Overall Program Awards honor organizations that sponsor original, meaningful and educational programs during the year. Alpha Phi Alpha won the award in the Greek category for 2008 Miss Black and Gold, and E-52 won the award in the RSO category for Bare the Musical.
The Overall Advertising Award went to Chinese Cultural Student Association in the RSO category.
The Event Advertising Award went to the Chinese Cultural Student Association's Lunar New Year festival.
The Greek PR Individual Award went to Eloise Gardner, of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, and the RSO PR Individual Award went to Allie Williams of SCPAB.
The 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 or services, or for doing what they do exceedingly well. The award went to Student Government Association in the RSO category, and tennis in the sport club category.
The Chapter of the Year Award went to Sigma Phi Epsilon.
The Most Improved Chapter Award went to Pi Kappa Phi.
The Outstanding RSO Treasurer Award goes to a student nominated for his or her skill in keeping treasury books and maintaining treasury files. Dennis McBrearty earned the award for his work as treasurer of E-52 Student Theater.
Outstanding Sports Club Treasurer award went to Kaitlin Foley for her work with women's basketball.
Outstanding Leader Awards for excellence in providing leadership to their organizations and the University community include Elizabeth Sulick, Panhellenic Council for Outstanding Greek Female Leader; David Tully, Greek Council, for Outstanding Greek Male Leader; Jissell Martinez, Chi Upsilon Sigma, for Outstanding Female Chapter Leader; and Bryan Baker, Sigma Phi Epsilon, for Outstanding Male Chapter Leader.
Casey Patriarco of Student Government Association won the Outstanding RSO Female Leader Award, and Mike DeRienzo of SCPAB won the Outstanding RSO Male Leader Award.
The Outstanding Sports Club Female Leader Award went to Michelle Gill of women's golf, and the Outstanding Sports Clubs Male Leader Award went to Shane Baker, tennis.
Article by Martin Mbugua
Photos by Duane Perry