Students receive Leadership Award Scholarships

A. Sue Weisler

The annual Leadership Awards, presented on April 2, give special recognition to student leaders who significantly improve the quality of campus life.

Rochester Institute of Technology honored its star students who demonstrate leadership, service and positive spirit during the 2014 Leadership Awards April 2.

Students received scholarships from the RIT Leadership Institute Program, through the Center for Campus Life, for their involvement with student organizations on campus and other leadership positions.

The Alfred L. & Ruby C. Davis Leadership Award is given to student volunteers and campus leaders for their invaluable service. Winners are:

  • Paul Darragh, a third-year software engineering major from North Attleboro, Mass.
  • Mika Hongyu, a third-year hospitality and service management major from Montpelier, Vt.
  • Joyce Kasab, a second-year photography major from Great Neck, N.Y.
  • Sadie Kulhanek, a third-year psychology major from Lincoln, Neb.
  • Veronica Lin, a second-year industrial design major from Florence, Italy
  • Joseph Makowski, a third-year networking and security administration and international and global studies double major from Rochester, N.Y.
  • Ann Marie McFee, a fourth-year medical illustration major from Hemlock, N.Y.
  • Mariah Texidor, a third-year fine arts photography major from Bronx, N.Y.
  • Shannon Trudeau, a fifth-year software engineering major from Rochester, N.Y.
  • Deschana Washington, a second-year molecular bioscience and biotechnology major from Buffalo, N.Y.
  • Anika Wright, a third-year accounting major from Bronx, N.Y.
  • Helen Yu, a fourth-year business management major from Sunnyvale, Calif.

The Walls-Olson Memorial Scholarship is for students with extensive involvement or leadership in areas of student activities and campus life including, athletics, RIT Student Government, clubs, recognized organizations activities and community service. Winners are:

  • Ashley Carrington, a fourth-year accounting major from Stony Point, N.Y.
  • Elliana Fournier, a third-year information technology major from Stamford, Conn.

The Isaac L. Jordan Sr. Award is for humanitarian students who celebrate differences and allow individuals to develop to their fullest potential. Winners of the freshman and upperclassman award, respectively, are:

  • Casira Copes, a second-year advertising and public relations major from Bear, Del.
  • Shannon Trudeau, a fifth-year software engineering major from Rochester, N.Y.

The Joseph T. Ferraro Memorial Scholarship is for students who demonstrate extensive leadership involvement in areas of student activities and campus life, while also overcoming some degree of adversity in their life. The winner is:

  • Ann Marie McFee, a fourth-year medical illustration major from Hemlock, N.Y.

The Frederick Douglass Memorial Scholarships is for students who display leadership characteristics, awareness and appreciation of diversity. The winners are:

  • Casira Copes, a second-year advertising and public relations major from Bear, Del.
  • Kenya Hazell, a fifth-year chemical engineering major from Brooklyn, N.Y.
  • Joi Overby, a first-year media arts and technology major from Rochester, N.Y.

The Cheryl Bulls, Lanette Moore, and Susan Willoughby Scholarship is given to an AALANA student—African American, Hispanic American, Asian American or Native American—who demonstrates leadership through involvement in student groups and/or community activities. The winner is:

  • Anika Wright, a third-year accounting major from Bronx, N.Y.

The Outstanding International Student Service Award recognizes three outstanding international students who have made significant contributions to RIT. The winners are:

  • Kimberly Duru, a fourth-year biomedical science from Nigeria
  • Pedro Cruz Dilone, sustainable engineering graduate student from Dominican Republic

The Kathleen M. Keyes Memorial Award is given to a student who has served as an active leader or participant in RIT Student Government organizations. This person exhibits qualities such as dedication, open-mindedness, friendliness and willingness to help others. The winner is:

  • Sadie Kulhanek, a third-year psychology major from Lincoln, Neb.

The Eric Senna Award is given to a student who demonstrates significant and unique contributions toward the improvement and quality of campus life, tradition, pride, and spirit at RIT. The winner is

  • Ashley Carrington, a fourth-year accounting major from Stony Point, N.Y.

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