Year-End Awards Banquet Honors Student Leadership, Service

Published 04.17.2013

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The Student Activities Awards Banquet, a rite of spring that applauds the initiative and involvement of Penn College students, mentors and the campus organizations that they champion, was held Wednesday night in Penn's Inn. The fast-paced celebration of leadership and community service was organized by Sara R. Hillis, associate director of student activities, and featured keynote remarks by Elliott Strickland, chief student affairs officer.

– Photos by Tom Wilson, writer/editor-PCToday

A full list of the night's honorees (in order of presentation):

SGA Cup
First place – U.S. Green Building Council, which will receive $700 in its club account
Second – Gamer's Guild, $500
Third – Campus Crusade for Christ, $300

Senator of the Year
Ashley J. Maietta

Outstanding Philanthropy
Phi Mu Delta, which prepared gift baskets for distribution by Wise Options

Outstanding Community Service
Construction Management Association, for ringing Salvation Army bells

New Program of the Year
Winterfest, a collaboration of the Wildcat Events Board and Students of Musical Development

Outstanding Program of the Year
WEBstock 2012, jointly organized by WEB and the Off-Campus Housing Organization

Greek Scholar of the Year
Clifford Nanfeldt, Phi Mu Delta

Greek Academic Achievement Award
Phi Mu Delta

Greek New Member of the Year
Mitchell J. Berninger

Greek of the Year
Steven J. Kanaley, Phi Mu Delta

Chapter of the Year
Phi Mu Delta

Most Improved Student Organization
Students of Musical Development

Outstanding Student Organization
Horticulture Club

Adviser of the Year
Jason K. Eichensehr, Phi Mu Delta

New Student Leader of the Year
Michael L. Spear

Student Leader of the Year
Jeremy L. Thorne

Student Leader Legacy Scholarship
Taylor R. Lapointe

The Student Leader Legacy Scholarship, which has grown from $500 when first presented in 2007 to $1,750 this year, was awarded to Taylor R. Lapointe. Making the presentation are Robb C. Dietrich, executive director of the Penn College Foundation (left), and outgoing SGA President Ryan M. Enders.

The Student Leader Legacy Scholarship, which has grown from $500 when first presented in 2007 to $1,750 this year, was awarded to Taylor R. Lapointe. Making the presentation are Robb C. Dietrich, executive director of the Penn College Foundation (left), and outgoing SGA President Ryan M. Enders.

The Horticulture Club, represented by Jeremy L. Thorne, was presented with Outstanding Student Organization honors by Whitnie-Rae Mays, SGA vice president of public relations. Not long after, Thorne was recalled to the podium as Student Leader of the Year.

The Horticulture Club, represented by Jeremy L. Thorne, was presented with Outstanding Student Organization honors by Whitnie-Rae Mays, SGA vice president of public relations. Not long after, Thorne was recalled to the podium as Student Leader of the Year.

Incoming SGA President Michael L. Spear, left, shakes hands with Bradley M. Webb, director of student affairs administration, after being named New Student Leader of the Year.

Incoming SGA President Michael L. Spear, left, shakes hands with Bradley M. Webb, director of student affairs administration, after being named New Student Leader of the Year.

Chosen as Adviser of the Year was Phi Mu Delta’s Jason K. Eichensehr (left), joined on stage by Michael J. Hersh, assistant director of student activities for programming and operations.

Chosen as Adviser of the Year was Phi Mu Delta’s Jason K. Eichensehr (left), joined on stage by Michael J. Hersh, assistant director of student activities for programming and operations.

The evening’s guest speaker – Elliott Strickland, chief student affairs officer – reminded students that “leadership is a journey, not a destination,” offering 10 examples of what NOT to do in the lifelong pursuit of their potential.

The evening’s guest speaker – Elliott Strickland, chief student affairs officer – reminded students that “leadership is a journey, not a destination,” offering 10 examples of what NOT to do in the lifelong pursuit of their potential.

Ashley G. Maietta, chosen as the Student Government Association’s “Senator of the Year,” is congratulated by SGA Senate Speaker Tyler J. Durham.

Ashley G. Maietta, chosen as the Student Government Association’s “Senator of the Year,” is congratulated by SGA Senate Speaker Tyler J. Durham.

Phi Mu Delta’s Steven J. Kanaley, the Interfraternity Council’s vice president of chapter relations, is presented with the Greek of the Year Award by Sara R. Hillis, associate director of student activities. Phi Mu Delta swept the evening’s Greek honors, including the Academic Achievement Award for a collective 3.02 GPA among its members.

Phi Mu Delta’s Steven J. Kanaley, the Interfraternity Council’s vice president of chapter relations, is presented with the Greek of the Year Award by Sara R. Hillis, associate director of student activities. Phi Mu Delta swept the evening’s Greek honors, including the Academic Achievement Award for a collective 3.02 GPA among its members.

The SGA gavel is passed: Michael L. Spear, 2013-14 president, takes the oath of office from predecessor Ryan M. Enders.

The SGA gavel is passed: Michael L. Spear, 2013-14 president, takes the oath of office from predecessor Ryan M. Enders.

Jeremy L. Thorne (right), SGA’s vice president of finance, presents the Most Improved Student Organization award to Joshua W. Nadonley from Students of Musical Development.

Jeremy L. Thorne (right), SGA’s vice president of finance, presents the Most Improved Student Organization award to Joshua W. Nadonley from Students of Musical Development.

The changing of the SGA guard is marked with a group photo in Penn’s Inn. Front row, from left: 2012-13 President Ryan M. Enders; Justin E. Eberhart, outgoing vice president of internal relations; Michael L. Spear, next year’s president; Christopher M. Scheller, 2013-14 executive vice president; and Whitnie-Rae Mays, 2012-13 vice president of public relations. Back row, from left, Kyle S. Mullin, last year’s executive vice president; Michael A. Reese, next year’s vice president of internal affairs; Jeremy L. Thorne, 2012-13 vice president of finance; and Dionisios

The changing of the SGA guard is marked with a group photo in Penn’s Inn. Front row, from left: 2012-13 President Ryan M. Enders; Justin E. Eberhart, outgoing vice president of internal relations; Michael L. Spear, next year’s president; Christopher M. Scheller, 2013-14 executive vice president; and Whitnie-Rae Mays, 2012-13 vice president of public relations. Back row, from left, Kyle S. Mullin, last year’s executive vice president; Michael A. Reese, next year’s vice president of internal affairs; Jeremy L. Thorne, 2012-13 vice president of finance; and Dionisios "Denny" D. Tomboris, Thorne’s successor for the coming academic year.

Students Samantha E. Purcell (left) and Jessica R. Wiegand accept the New Program of the Year award – honoring Winterfest, co-sponsored by the Wildcats Events Board and Students for Musical Development – from Katie L. Mackey, coordinator of off-campus living and commuter services. <br />

Students Samantha E. Purcell (left) and Jessica R. Wiegand accept the New Program of the Year award – honoring Winterfest, co-sponsored by the Wildcats Events Board and Students for Musical Development – from Katie L. Mackey, coordinator of off-campus living and commuter services.

SGA adviser Sara R. Hillis is surrounded by a hard-working assemblage of student leaders.

SGA adviser Sara R. Hillis is surrounded by a hard-working assemblage of student leaders.