Student leaders honored for enriching campus life

The Lehigh community gathered in late April to honor the individuals, clubs, groups, organizations and programs that enriched the student life experience over the past academic year. The 30th annual Student Life Leadership Awards ceremony, which took place in Packard Auditorium, was attended by several hundred of the honorees and their families, colleagues and supporters.

“For the past three decades, we’ve enjoyed the tradition of coming together as a community to recognize, honor and celebrate the accomplishments and dedication of some of the university’s most remarkable young men and women,” Dean of Students Sharon Basso said in opening the ceremony.

The Student Life Leadership Awards ceremony concludes a series of year-end events that recognize students who have positively influenced Lehigh.

“Many of us who work and teach here and have been at these events to honor these students are consistently amazed by their accomplishments,” said Basso.

For the first time, Trustee Emeritus James J. Duane III ’73 was on hand to present the award named in his honor. In introducing him, Vice Provost of Student Affairs John Smeaton spoke of Duane’s unwavering dedication to his alma mater as an alumnus, his outstanding scholarship as an undergrad, and his impact as a student leader.

“I am most indebted to Jim for his outstanding eight-year tenure as chairman of the trustees’ committee on Student Affairs,” said Smeaton, who described Duane as “a loyal and dedicated alum, a man who possesses that rare balance of wisdom and humility, and a dear friend.”

The Deborah Pearsall Prize was awarded by Allison Gulati, associate dean of students, who spoke of Pearsall, a beloved member of the campus community who inspired the award. Pearsall, an undergraduate student who died four years ago, “had the gift of being able to spread joy, and she continues to be missed dearly by all of us at Lehigh who had the privilege to call her a friend,” Gulati said.

This year’s recipients of the Pearsall Prize were Marguerite “Maggie” Boyle and Madison McGahan.

The capstone awards included the Bosey Reiter Leadership Cup, which was presented by Provost Pat Farrell, and the University Service Award, which was presented by Interim President Kevin Clayton.

This year’s recipients of the Bosey Reiter Cup to honor leadership, fearlessness, resolution and moral character were Ashley Banks, Ralph Jean Noel and Ryan Newcomer.

The University Service Award was presented to Madeleine Smith and Alexandra Stephanou.

In introducing the honorees, Clayton noted that the University Service Award was “not so much a measure of the number of activities or their prominence as it is a measure of the devotion and unselfishness with which they have given of their time and effort to help serve students.  

“The individuals who receive this honor have greatly impacted the culture of Lehigh through their thoughtful engagement and have admirably demonstrated their dedication to the Lehigh community,” Clayton said.

Those honored both at the ceremony and in earlier end-of-year events include the following:

The Office of Multicultural Affairs Recognition Banquet
Most Changed Award: Ralph Jean-Noel and MyTresa Taylor

Office of Student Leadership Development Recognition Banquet
Choir Director Award: Jessica Scott
Barn Builder Award: Maggie Boyle

Volunteer Recognition Banquet
Brian J. Lime Award: Jake Grudberg
Vice Provost Award for Service: Michael DeCrosta and Emily Gibbs.

Greek Awards Banquet
Panhellenic Emerging Greek Leader: Kallyse Duddlesten, Pi Beta Phi
Multicultural Greek Council Emerging Greek Leader: Alejandra Silguero, Lambda Theta Alpha
Greek Man of the Year Award: Sean Purcell, Chi Phi
Greek Woman of the Year Award: Riley-Elizabeth Barry, Alpha Phi

Contribution to Student Life Awards
Alyssa Altman
Elif Anda
Gladys Castellon
Linette Caudillo Zavala
Johnathan Densa
Anna D’Ginto
Dakota DiMattio
Danielle DiStefano
Robert Epes
Kendall Garden
Katie Hatler
Celeen Hefele
Karen Konkoly
Paul. Lyons
Alexis Martins
Amy Matula
Evan Mulbry
Esther Petit-Frere  
Elizabeth Pines
Elizabeth Sharlow
Rachel Sholder
Carlie Skellington
Sarah Sheu Wei   
Elizabeth Weiler
Qiwei Wen   

James J. Duane III Student Life Leadership Awards
Harley Abrams
Riley-Elizabeth Barry
Ashley Blanks
Savannah Boylan
Evan Boyle
Maggie Boyle
Abigail Farrell
Morgan Fletcher
Ralph Jean-Noel
Jonathan Jean-Pierre
Kerry Mallett
Madison McGahan
Ryan Newcomer
DeVaughn Roberts
Jesssica Scott
Madeleine Smith
Alexandra Stephanou  
Shannon Varcoe

Graduate Student Life Leadership Awards
Sara Farwell
Nipun Goel
Kavita Jain-Cocks
Laura Kremmel
Helen Malenda

Outstanding Educational Programming
The Global Union-LU/UN Partnership: Secretary General Youth Envoy Speaker
(Marina Kudasova and Savannah Boylan)

Excellence in Entertainment Programming Award
The Gatsby Gala
(Cristina DiScisciolo, Kerry Mallett and Alexandra Stephanou)

Outstanding Cultural Program of the Year
The Holi Festival
(Joseph Bhaskar, Ama Chan, Kris Datta, Tanay Paliwal and Nisha Singh)

Student Club/Organization of the Year Award
Swing Dance Club
(Adam Schaub)

Women in Business
(Ly Nguyen, Neha Rachumallu, Janine Miller and Catherine Wright)

Student Club/Organization Advisor of the Year Award
Rita Jones, director of the Women’s Center and advisor to the Lambda Theta Alpha Latin
        Sorority, Inc.
Mary Kay Baker and David Joseph, Colleges Against Cancer (CAC)

Student Senate Leadership Award
Anna M. D’Ginto
Cristina L. DeScisciolo
Katherine T. Fletcher
Marissa L. Flores
Alexandria M. Kennedy
Ryan N. Newcomer

Residence Hall Association Character Award
Anna D’Ginto
Paul Lyons

UJIMA Award
Danielle Taitt

Service Above Self Award
Katelyn Armbruster
Lehigh University UNICEF Club
(Marina Kudasova, Cecilia Lesomar and Anastasiya Perevezentseva)

Allegiance Award
Savannah Boylan
Maggie Boyle
Corey Johnson
Kerry Mallett

Alumni Association Undergraduate Merit Awards
Nathaniel Brown
Eiman Elkafrawi
Kerry Mallett
Rachel Mayer

Alumni Association Graduate Merit Awards
Nikolai Artemev
Joe Brague


Photos by John Kish IV