Awards honor student leadership, service

8:23 p.m., May 13, 2005--Excellence in student leadership on UD and in the neighboring community was recognized Wednesday evening, May 12, at the third annual YoUDee Student Leadership Awards Ceremony in the Multipurpose Rooms of the Trabant University Center.

Amid a glittering background of flashing lights and black and silver balloons, students and representatives from more than 200 Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), Greek life and sports clubs mingled before the award presentations to sample hors d’oeuvres and sway to tunes that ranged from jazz to salsa.

During the awards ceremony, finalists in each category drew a spirited round of applause as their names and the names of the winners were announced. After a walk across the stage, winning individuals, organization representatives and mentors received their awards before having their pictures taken in the back of the room with a tuxedoed YoUDee.

With a True Blue Hen nod to the Academy Awards ceremony, certificates, plaques and coveted statuettes--YoUDees, not Oscars--were given to recognize student organizations and their mentors.

Students and organizations were nominated in April, through self-nomination or by others. A committee of administrators and students from the Allocations Board and Solar Council (an advisory group representing various RSOs and chartered Greek organizations) then narrowed the pool to several YoUDee recipients. Honorees each received a certificate, and winners took home the YoUDee awards.

2005 YoUDee award recipients

The Grossman Memorial Award was established by members of the Class of 1963 in remembrance of their classmates, Judy and Bill Grossman. Each year, a junior or senior is honored for outstanding contributions to campuswide cocurricular program, as well as high quality leadership and organizational ability in helping plan and present programs. This year, the recipients were Todd Blass, AS ’05, president of Rubber Chickens, and Alfred Lance, AS ’05, president of Haven.

Blood Drive Awards are given to those groups that have the best turnout for campus blood drives. Shay Robb, school program and blood drive coordinator for Blood Bank of Delmarva, also congratulated UD for winning the America’s Blood Centers Gold Award for outstanding achievement for 2004. The award recognized UD for its leadership in proposing the Colonial Athletic Blood Challenge and for its outstanding support of the community blood program. UD has won the “Have A Heart” Blood Challenge for the last three years. Blood Bank of Delmarva also recognized UD student organizations for sponsoring blood drives during the 2004-05 academic year, including Alpha Phi; Gamma Sigma Sigma national service sorority, HOLA, Kappa Alpha; Kappa Alpha Theta sorority; Kappa Delta Rho; Lambda Chi Alpha; Phi Sigma Pi national honor fraternity, Phi Sigma Sigma, Resident Student Association; Sigma Chi and the Student Nurses Organization.

WVUD Awards went to Brendan Boylan, AS ’06, for most outstanding student member, and Joe Madonna, AS ’05, most outstanding station member. The awards are presented to two volunteers, one student and one community member who have shown exemplary dedication and commitment to the various responsibilities and tasks at UD’ nonprofit radio station at 91.3 FM.

Outstanding Advisers are nominated based on their commitment and devotion to mentoring and caring for students. Kasandra Moye, director of the Center for Black Culture, was elected in the RSO category, and Matt Lenno, assistant director of student centers, was elected in the Greek category.

Best New RSO is based on an organization’s strong presence on campus despite being established for less than two years. This year’s YoUDee recipient was the Campus Alliance de La Raza.

Outstanding Greek Program Award went to Kappa Sigma for its Haunted Spaces program. Outstanding RSO Program Award went to CPAB for the Cornel West lecture.

Outstanding Greek Scholarship Award recognizes the Greek chapter that best promotes academic achievement with awards and incentives. This year’s YoUDee recipient was Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

Greek Chapter Grade Point Average Awards honor Greek chapters that maintain the highest overall GPAs. This year’s fraternity was Sigma Phi Epsilon, and the sorority was Alpha Xi Delta.

Outstanding Community Service Awards went to two organizations. Kappa Alpha Psi-Halloween Party earned the award in the Greek category, and Wesley Foundation-Robeson Center earned the award in the RSO category.

Outstanding Web Site Awards were presented to three groups. Alpha Xi Delta took the award in the Greek category, the Chinese Cultural Student Association earned the award in the RSO category and Figure Skating won the sport club honor.

Outstanding Late Night/Alternative Program Award recognizes a student group that holds an outstanding program that extends beyond or begins after midnight or that organizes an outstanding program that addresses an unusual but critical need. Criteria include a good turnout and marketing the program effectively to the UD community. NPHC Step Show earned the award in the Greek category for its organization of the Artistic Expressions event, while the Men Against Rape Society earned the award in the RSO category for its organization of its third annual Superbowl.

Outstanding Diversity Program Awards honor organizations that educate the campus community about diversity issues, including, but not limited to, gender, race, culture, religion, handicap and sexual orientation. Kappa Alpha Psi, Delta Sigma Theta and Chi Upsilon Sigma-Kafe Kon Leche won the award in the Greek category. ISA (Indian Student Association)-Aap Ke Liye won the award in the RSO category.

Outstanding Cosponsored Program Award was given to four RSO groups and two Greek organizations. Awards in the RSO category went to the Deltones, Golden Blues, D Sharps, Vision, Vocal Point, Y Chromes, Alpha Lambda Delta, Rubber Chickens-Delacappela. Awards in the Greek category went to the Kappa Delta Rho and Alpha Xi Delta-Greek Feud.

Outstanding Overall Achievement Award is the highest honor a student organization can achieve. Organizations are nominated for following their mission statements with excellent programs, activities, services or for doing what they do exceedingly well. Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity earned the award in the Greek category, and the Rubber Chickens earned the award in the RSO category.

Outstanding RSO Treasurer Award goes to student nominated for his or her skills in keeping treasury books and maintaining treasury files. Suzannah Wilson, BE ’05, earned the award in the RSO category for her work as treasurer of Students Centers Programming Advisory Board (SCPAB).

Outstanding Greek Treasurer Award went to Doug Whitelock, BE ’06, in recognition of his work as treasurer with Phi Sigma Kappa.

Outstanding Sports Club Treasurer award went to Kelsey Davidson, CHNS ’05, for her work as treasurer of the Figure Skating Club.

Outstanding Sports Club Overall Achievement went to the Figure Skating Club.

Outstanding Sports Adviser Award was received by Mike McClay, assistant director, Academic Enrichment Center, for his work with the Women’s Rugby Club.

Outstanding Leader Awards for excellence in providing leadership to their organizations and the University community include Amy Coran, CHEP ’05, of Alpha Epsilon Phi, for Outstanding Greek Female Leader; and Joseph Amann, BE ’06, of Greek Council/Sigma Alpha Epsilon, for Outstanding Greek Male Leader.

Mara Lockowandt, AS ’05, of the Rubber Chickens won the Outstanding RSO Female Leader Award, and Adam Rosen, CHNS ’06, of RSA, won the Outstanding RSO Male Leader Award.

Outstanding Sports Club Female Leader Award went to Brie Hanusczek, of the Tennis Club, and Outstanding Sports Clubs Male Leader Award went to Adam Manger, BE ’05, of the Men’s Soccer Club.

Article by Jerry Rhodes
Photos by Duane Perry

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