Purdue students, organizations earn awards

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The annual Student Activities and Organization awards were presented April 7 in Fowler Hall. More than 150 nominations were received for the awards, which are given to outstanding students, student organizations and organization advisers.

The Emerging Leader Award is given to those who have demonstrated knowledge of, and interest in, campus activities and organizations. The recipients are expected to display enthusiasm, motivation, communication and organizational skills. This year's winners were Zachary Schreiber, Lauren Huemmer, Shahin Mohseni, Grace Yun, Ashwin Sunderraj, Madeline DeLucenay and Priska Neehan-Numinen.

The Outstanding Adviser of the Year is awarded to the student organization adviser who serves as a role model to students and has a strong belief in the organization they represent. Nominees show a willingness to commit sufficient time to the organization and promote students' personal growth by involving them in the organization's decision-making process. The winners for this year's award were Sue Eiler and Margie Jones. Other nominees were Anna Bowers, Dee Bernhardt, Brent Bible, Daniel Leaird, Susan Huffman, Mark Daniel Ward, Amber Perkins and Myron McClure.

The Co-Sponsorship of the Year Award is presented to organizations that have provided the most outstanding co-sponsorship program or program series for the betterment of the campus, students and Purdue. Six events were nominated for this award. Purdue Student Union Board, Asian American and Asian Resource and Cultural Center, Black Graduate Student Association, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power Purdue, Queer Students of Color: Black LGBTQ + Alliance, LGBTQ Center and SNPhA won for the collaboration on the "HIV/AIDS Awareness Week.

The Outstanding Program Award is presented to the student organization that has implemented the most outstanding campus program during the academic year. The 2016 award was presented to Computer Science Undergraduate Student Board, for BoilerMake Hackathon, and Bangladesh Students Association International Mother Language Day.

The Community Engagement & Involvement Award is presented to the student organization that provides outstanding service to other people or a place. The event can be a large, one-time activity or a series of smaller projects that meet community needs. This year's recipient is the Purdue Nutrition Society for their "Hunger Doesn't Take a Spring Break" program.

The Boilermaker Pride Award honors a student organization for outstanding participation in a tournament competition. The organization must display outstanding sportsmanship, compete against a Big Ten opponent and have active participation by all members in most competitions. This year's recipient was the Latin and Ballroom Dance Team.

The Year of Excellence Award is a "yearly achievement award" for student organizations that demonstrate outstanding continuous programs, leadership and service. This year's recipient was Purdue Best Buddies.

Nominations for these awards are taken throughout the course of the year and are reviewed by a committee of students and faculty. Award winners receive plaques, pins or certificates for their organization and have their name inscribed on perpetual plaques on campus.  

Contact: Martia Brawner King, assistant dean of students, 765-494-1232, mbrawner@purdue.edu