Colonials Honored at ‘Excellence in Student Life’ Awards

30th annual ceremony celebrates students, faculty and staff for their contributions

April 19, 2015

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The George Washington University celebrated students, faculty and staff at the Excellence in Student Life Awards. The program was led by emcees Stephen Nelson, Niki Nourmohammadi and Nejla Day.

Brittney Dunkins

Applause and cheers filled the Lisner Auditorium Wednesday evening as George Washington University students, faculty and staff kicked off the Excellence in Student Life celebration.

The awards ceremony, presented by Administration and Hallmark Programs, celebrates the contributions of Colonials who exemplify what it means to “Raise High.” It is an opportunity to celebrate school spirit in a different way—by celebrating the achievements of students, staff and faculty who make a difference in this community.

George Washington President Steven Knapp offered his congratulations to the more than 200 nominees via video, commending them on their continuous efforts to “make this university an ever-better place to live and learn.”

Selfie sticks, advice from resident advisors, a school spirit human-pyramid, “the dress” controversy and more than a few sing-alongs colored the humorous performances by event emcees—seniors Niki  Nourmohammadi, Nejla Day and Stephen Nelson.

The trio led the audience through the two hour ceremony beginning with the #OnlyatGW photo contest award, presented to freshman Gianna Gagliardi for her photo of Freshman Day of Service.

Provost Steven Lerman presented the Honey Nashman Spark A Life Award for Faculty Member of the Year to Kelly Sherrill Linkous, assistant professor of education administration in the Graduate School of Education and Human Development.

“I chair 27 doctoral dissertations and advise 170 doctoral students, and each and every one of them will light the world on fire,” Dr. Linkous said. “I have absolutely fabulous students.”

GW Law Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Lisa Schenck, who was announced as the winner of the Robert A. Chernak Spark A Life Award for Staff Member of the Year, was followed by five students selected for the Baer Award for Individual Excellence.

Juniors Chris Evans and Laura Porter and seniors Ari Massefski and Omeed Firouzi were selected for the Baer Award for demonstrating “integrity and leadership in their overall conduct.”

Junior and 2015-16 Student Association President Andie Dowd also received the Baer Award. She quickly returned to the stage to accept the University Pride Award, for her “genuine passion” for the university.

The next recipient was U.S. Air Force veteran and student Veronica Hoyer, who received the Class of 2005 9/11 Memorial Scholarship, which provides tuition funds to a rising senior who is dedicated to service.

The program took a humorous turn with a GW Law Revue performance that included interpretive dance and a parody of the “Circle of Life.” The comical piece lampooned the stress of final exams and earned the organization the coveted award for Student’s Choice for Performance Group of the Year.

The contenders—the Sons of Pitch and the GW Pitches—also took the stage during the night, performing renditions of Florida Georgia Line’s “Cruise” and a three-song pop medley, respectively.

Student’s Choice for Performance Group of the Year winners GW Law Revue. 


Andrew Avitabile accepted the Marc A. Zambetti Award for his commitment to intramural sports, and Maja Čavlović received the Graduate Award for Individual Excellence for her work as a graduate intern for Disability Support Services.

“I love my work there because my co-workers and the people who come into the office are just so welcoming;” Ms. Čavlović said. “They are warm, and they make you feel good about yourself.”

Senior Ashley Trick was named Resident Advisor of the Year and the Mount Vernon Award was presented to Kendall Meyer. Lemonade Day, the GW School of Business social entrepreneurship mentorship program for D.C. youth, received the Learning Through Action Award.

Sophomore Gabriella Malek, second-year medical student Aislynn Raymond and GW Alternative Breaks also received recognition for their dedication to service-learning, earning the Outstanding Student Service Award.

Sophomores Mikeala Sparks and Victoria Goncalves and juniors Chris Evans and Evan Nielson were selected as the Joint Committee of Faculty and Students’ Scholarship for Leadership. And senior Zac Ruckert was honored with the 2015 Manatt-Trachtenberg Prize for challenging the “social and intellectual conscience of the university.”

The program spotlight turned to Greek Life with the presentation of the Greek Man and Woman of the Year awards presented to Tim Kenna, a junior in Delta Tau Delta, and Katie Takechi, a junior in Phi Sigma Sigma.

The Inter-fraternity Council Chapter of the Year Award went to Sigma Phi Epsilon; the Panhellenic Chapter of the Year Award went to Alpha Delta Pi; and the Multicultural Greek Life Award went to Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority, Inc.

“We are really honored and excited to win for the second year in a row,” said junior Courtney Stoner, who accepted the award on behalf of Kappa Phi Lambda Sorority. “We’ve just been working really hard to be the best we can be.”  

The Center for Career Services Undergraduate Student Employee of the Year Award was presented to senior Jessica Stevens, who works as an office assistant in the Office of Disability Support Services. The Graduate Student Employee of the Year Award went to second-year law student Doyon Won.

Three organizations were commemorated for building a more inclusive multicultural campus community. The 2015 Excellence in Diversity Award winners were the GW South Asia Society and Latinas Promoviendo Comunidad, also known as Lambda Pi Chi Sorority, Inc.

The Voice Gospel Choir offered an uplifting introduction to the presentation of the Martin Luther King Jr. Award. The 2015 recipients are outgoing Student Association President Nick Gumas, Pakistani Student Association President Fizza Shaikh, Presidential Scholar in the Arts Floyd Jones and Muslim Students Association President Farah Albani.

The 2015 recipients of the GW Wall of Fame Award are Malinda Whitlow, executive director of the Accelerated BSN Program in the School of Nursing, Tara Radin, the City Hall faculty-in-residence, senior Brian Doyle and junior Ian Mellul.

Lauren Davis, a senior and GW TRAiLS lead guide, and Jovanni Mahonez, the Alternative Breaks immersion service coordinator, also received the GW Wall of Fame Award.

Before the celebratory reception on Kogan Plaza, the prestigious Pyramid Award for Student Organization of Year was presented to Allied in Pride, GW Students Against Sexual Assault (SASA) and the Residence Hall Association for their diligence in promoting a safer, supportive campus community.

“This award is so important to us because we’ve made a large transition this year,” said SASA Co-President and sophomore Kirsten Dimovitz. “We’ve taken a lot of big steps with the “It’s on Us” campaign and Take Back the Night, and we’re really rallying people around these causes. I can’t wait to see what we do next as an organization and a campus.”