UI Students Awarded Prestigious Honors
Thursday, April 29 2004
April 29, 2004^MOSCOW – The Associated Students of the University of Idaho introduced its spring honorees at the Student Achievement Awards in Leadership and Service April 23.^These students are nominated by the faculty and scored on their academics and leadership involvements. Most of the awards provide scholarships as well. This year's recipients are:^--The Donald R. and Cora E. Theophilus Award was presented to Janna Leachman, a graduating senior from Lewiston, for outstanding academic achievement and service to the university and community. She also received the Individual Community Service Award, honoring a student with exceptional involvement in community service without regard for personal gain. Leachman has perfect grades and is a UI Presidential Scholarship recipient. She organized OXFAM America fund-raiser to fight poverty and hunger in Third-World countries, is a Rotary Study Abroad Scholar, and is recognized as Who’s Who among American College Students. She also is a member of the Residence Life Staff. ^--The Guy and Grace Wicks Memorial Award, for graduating seniors with outstanding records of activities and service for the community went to Anthony Georger, Boise, and Jenny Sue Anchondo, Coeur d'Alene.^Georger has a near-perfect grade average, is a business major and the recipient of numerous academic honors. He is an officer for Students in Free Enterprise and has been active in ASUI as a policy adviser and lobbyist in Boise during the legislative session. He studied abroad in the UK, and helped coordinate Moscow's summer Farmer's Market.^Anchondo is a member of the UI Cheer Squad, UI Dance Team and was captain of the UI Spirit Squad. She has been a kickboxing and aerobics instructor and helps with the National Cheerleaders Association. She was fundraising recruitment chair for the Up 'Til Dawn philanthropy for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. As a journalism and mass media major, she also belongs to the Communication Students Association, UI Society of Professional Journalists and two related honor societies.^--The Richard Gibb Award, for a non-traditional student who overcame obstacles in pursuit of an education while providing service and leadership to the campus community, went to Dimetri Gerard Wilker, Bremerton, Wash. He worked for Residence Life for almost two years, helping establish new traditions for the Living and Learning Center. He served as an ASUI senator and chair of the ASUI finance committee, and is a member of the U.S. Navy as well as a husband and father to two daughters.^-- ASUI President's Award for leadership, service and academic achievement went to Caroline Diane Miner, Boise. Miner is a leader in the UI Honors Program, has been involved in the Top Scholars program and the UI Core Curriculum development. She has held leadership positions with ASUI as a senator, chief-of-staff, academics board chair and elections coordinator. She also is a member and leader within the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.^-- The George E. Dafoe Memorial Award for leadership, dedication and integrity went to Justin Eslinger, Boise, who is considered a serious, thoughtful and dedicated student leader in the ASUI. Over three years, he has been a senator, parliamentarian, office assistant, blood drive coordinator, elections and policy adviser, among other duties.^-- The Frank W. Childs Award, designated for student involvement and scholastics, went to Mason Fuller, Boise. Fuller has held many UI leadership positions, most recently as the past-ASUI president, representing the student body in campus, community and state matters. He helped move numerous initiatives to improve student life on campus, including establishment of food service outlets and expanded ASUI programs. He currently studies abroad to finish his degree in business.^--The Multicultural Student Award, for students who show genuine concern and activity on behalf of multicultural issues, went to:^MOSCOW -- Kwapi Vengesayi, for his leadership in diversity efforts across campus: UNITY, the Students International Association, ASUI Diversity Affairs, Multicultural Students Organization and African Students Association. He was a recipient of a Dr. Martin Luther King Distinguished Service Award.^CALDWELL -- Jennifer Dion, as president of Iota Psi Phi, a multicultural service sorority, and chair of UNITY a coalition of multicultural student leaders. She helped with Adopt a Street, Breast Cancer and World AIDS awareness days, gift wrapping for Hospice and the Tutxinmepu Pow Wow and MLK Food Drive. She also was active in the Freedom Bus Ride, the Harlem Gospel Choir appearance, Black history month events and UNITY Thanksgiving Dinner.^BLACKFOOT -- Evelina Arevalos, as vice president and public relations officer of the Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority, a Latina service sorority, coordinator of seven Latino organizations on campus, treasurer of UNITY and member of MEChA, OELA and CAMPOS groups. She helped with Dia de los Muertos, Hispanic Heritage Month, Cesar Chavez and Cinco de Mayo celebrations. ^--Dean Vettrus scholarships for students with leadership and civic service commitment:^IDAHO^BONNERS FERRY Brenda F. Eby^COEUR D'ALENE Autumn Hansen^ELK CITY Bryn Elise Parker^MOSCOW Jessica Lynne Helsley; Clarisse Cecile Vaury; Aaron Scott Elder; Erin Manderville^PARMA Kristopher R. Kido^MISSOULA, MONT. Adair Denise Muth^SWANSBORO, N.C. Bernardo Arturo Alvarez Sanchez^SPOKANE, WASH. Curtis David Kvamme^--Outstanding Seniors^IDAHO^BOISE Melinda Marie White^COEUR D' ALENE Jenny Sue Anchondo, Lillian Kalise Mramba^LEWISTON Jana Leachman^MOSCOW Oriana Obiri, Krisandra Jill Allen^MOUNTAIN HOME Erika Pedroza^NAMPA Erik Todd Elordi^NEW PLYMOUTH Amanda Kikueye Shigeta^PORTLAND, ORE. Timothy John Sellin^--Outstanding Juniors^IDAHO^BONNERS FERRY Brenda F. Eby^COEUR D' ALENE Autumn Hansen^GOODING Elizabeth Rocha Bento^HAYDEN Megan Lee Thompson^MURTAUGH Natalia Bespyatova^PAYETTE Daniel Jerre Hubbard^SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ. Nicole Elise Frank^MISSOULA, MONT. Adair Denise Muth^SWANSBORO, N.C. Bernardo Arturo Alvarez Sanchez^FAIRVIEW, ORE. Nicole Renee Virell^--Outstanding Sophomores^IDAHO^BOISE Emily Davis; Hadley Allison Rush^ELK CITY Bryn Elise Parker^MOSCOW Clarisse Cecile Vaury; Aaron Scott Elder; Erin Manderville; Somdebda W. Flavien Sowadogo^CEDAR PARK, TEX. Rebecca Mowry^SPOKANE, WASH. Curtis David Kvamme^WALLA WALLA, WASH. Melissa Erin Lamb^--Outstanding Freshmen^IDAHO^BOISE Morgan Lacey Sims^LEWISTON Tony Allen Rhodes^MOSCOW Jessica Lynne Helsley^MOUNTAIN HOME Jonelle Yacapin^PARMA Kristopher R. Kido^GIRDWOOD, ALASKA Kimberly Sylvia Farnen^MORRISON, ILLINOIS Heather Siobhan Pearson^BEAVERTON, ORE. Hartley Anne Riedner^PENDLETON, ORE. Abby Anna Bell Anderson^PALOUSE, WASH. Mary Barstow^The Organizational Award went to Iota Psi Phi Sorority, which provided outstanding service to the community without regard for gain, while exhibiting commitment to its causes. Its projects included the “Writing on the Wall” awareness program to stop hate.^Faculty/Staff Awards went to history professor and interim graduate school administrator Katherine Aiken and to Steve Janowiak, student activities director. Student organization advisers of the year were Tim Helmke, alumni office, and Alton Campbell, natural resources.^Programs of Excellence were the Writing on the Wall and the Day of the Dead. ^The Writing on the Wall project, organized by Iota Psi Phi April 4, was a visual reminder to eradicate words that create hate. The wall was built from bricks enscribed with hateful words, and was destroyed into a heap. Another version was Anonymous Heroes Day, in which students could "write on the wall" names of those who have impacted their lives.^Day of the Dead Nov. 3 involved more than 100 students in a parade of various student groups and their cultures. The Latino-inspired commemoration was sponsored by OELA, CAMPOS, MEChA, Sigma Lamda Beta, Iota Psi Phi, Gamma Alpha Omega and Cores Discovery the Latino Story.^CONTACT: Nancy Hilliard, University Communications, (208) 885-6567, hilliard@uidaho.edu, ASUI office, asui@uidaho.edu, (208) 885-6331^-30-^NH-4/29/04-STS^
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