This post was written by Hatchet reporter Andrew Goudsward.
The 30th annual Excellence in Student Life Awards were held Wednesday night at Lisner Auditorium honoring students, student organizations, faculty and staff for extracurricular achievements at the University.
Twenty-two awards were handed out at the ceremony, and the winners for each award were determined by a committee comprised of students, faculty and staff. Stephen Nelson, a senior and one of the night’s emcees, told the crowd the night was a “very special occasion.”
“Each year, the GW community comes together to celebrate the ones who are really making a difference on campus – you,” Nelson said.
Allied in Pride, Students Against Sexual Assault and the Residence Hall Association were awarded the Pyramid Award for Student Organization of the Year. Anne Graham, a representative from the Center for Student Engagement, presented the groups with the awards.
“Each of these groups shows us on a daily basis what excellence is by organizing and motivating students to participate in student life,” Graham said.
The night also featured performances by student performance groups like the Sons of Pitch, GW Pitches and The GW Law Revue, who donned matching Jurassic Park T-shirts and took home the award for Performance Group of the Year following a text-in vote from the audience.
Six more faces will be added to the GW Wall of Fame on the fifth floor of the Marvin Center as Dr. Melinda Whitlow, Dr. Tara Radin, Brian Doyle, Ian Mellul, Lauren Davis and Jovanni Mahonez were honored with a spots.
Ashley Trick was awarded Resident Adviser of the Year for outstanding commitment to her residents and the Center for Student Engagement.
“Your RA’s aren’t just about baked goods and bulletin boards, they’re the big brothers and sisters on this campus that keep the community together,” emcee Niki Nourmohammadi said.
Incoming Student Association President Andie Dowd took home two awards for University pride and individual excellence.
Emcees Nelson, Nourmohammadi and Nejla Day entertained the audience with a game of keep away, a human pyramid, a fake roommate fight, a rap paying homage to the Mount Vernon Campus and even a reference to the infamous “#thedress” Internet debate.
Following the event, more than 200 luminaries lit up Kogan Plaza, one for each of the night’s nominees.
The ceremony ended with the singing of “Happy Birthday,” marking the 30th anniversary of the University’s student awards ceremony.
Tuesday’s other winners included:
Greek life chapters of the Year: Sigma Phi Epsilon, Alpha Delta Pi and Kappa Phi Lambda
Greek Woman of the Year: Katie Takeuchi, Phi Sigma Sigma
Greek Man of the Year: Tim Kenna, Delta Tau Delta
#OnlyatGW Photo Contest: Gianna Gagliardi
Honey Nashman Spark A Life Award for Faculty Member of the Year: Dr. Kelly Sherrill Linkous
Robert A. Chernak Spark A Life Award for Staff Member of the Year: Dean Lisa Schenck
Baer Awards for Individual Excellence: Andie Dowd, Chris Evans, Omeed Firouzi, Ari Massefski, Laura Porter
Class of 2009 University Pride Award: Andie Dowd
Class of 2005 9/11 Memorial Scholarship: Veronica Hoyer
Marc A. Zambetti Award: Andrew Avitabile
Outstanding Student Service Awards: GW Alternative Breaks, Gabriella Malek, Aislynn Raymond
Graduate Award for Individual Excellence: Maja Cavlovic
Mount Vernon Award: Kendall Meyer
Learning through Action Award: Lemonade Day DC
Joint Committee of Faculty and Students’ Scholarships for Undergraduate Student Leadership Development: Michella Sparks, Chris Evans, Evan Nielson, Victoria Goncalves
Menatt-Trachtenberg Prize: Zac Ruckert
Student Employee of the Year: Jessica Stevens (undergraduate) Doyon Won (graduate)
Excellence in Diversity: GW South Asian Society and Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad/ Lambda Pi Chi Sorority Inc.
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award: Nicholas Gumas, Fizza Shaikh, Farah Albani, Floyd Jones
