2018 Student Leadership Awards

The Outstanding Student Leader Awards are among the most prestigious awards presented by the University of Vermont. The students recognized today have been nominated by fellow members of the campus community, including students, faculty and staff, for their leadership, scholarship and service to the University. It now gives me great pleasure to announce for the first time, here today, the award recipients. Students when your name is called please come forward and join me on stage. Audience, please hold your applause until all the students are on stage.

The Mary Jean Simpson Award is presented to the senior female student who best exemplifies the qualities of character, leadership and scholarship. There are two recipients. The first is Ashley Archangelo.

Ashley is a Nutrition and Food Sciences major and Microbiology minor in the College of Agriculture and Life  Sciences. She is graduating magna cum laude. Ashley is deeply devoted to learning and helping others. Whether spending spring break on a farm to help others learn about the importance of food access and food security or working to encourage conversations about diversity and inclusion on campus through her role as the Social Justice Coordinator for the Fraternity and Sorority Life office, she approaches her commitments with integrity, diligence and honesty. She is the recipient of the College’s Bertha Terrill Award, Student Life Office Sustained Commitment Award, a member of Rho Lambda and Order of Omega, and was recognized as a “Rising Star” by the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. Reflecting on her UVM expereince, Ashley said, “The most authentic version of self begins when you live with intention, pursue your passions, love unconditionally, strive for greatness, and open yourself to opportunities.”

The second recipient of the Mary Jean Simpson Award is Sonya Buglion Gluck. 

Sonya is an Honors College Scholar and Integrated Natural Resources major in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resouces. She is graduating summa cum laude.
Through an individualized program of study, Sonya has worked to fully intergrate social and environmental justice as a field of study by focusing on a more interdisciplinary exploration of ecology, natural resources, racism, and other forms of oppression. She is a tireless advocate for the environment and environmental education. For her outstanding commitment to the environment she received the Envrionmental Citizen Award at UVM. Support through the Carl Reidel Summer Research Fellowship and the Kate Svitek Memorial Award took her to Kyrgystan to participate in creating a Ecological Leadership Program for a univerisity there. Throughout her time at UVM, Sonya has been a member of the Black Student Union, the Mosaic Center for Students of Color, a resident advisor, and writing mentor. She is a a Green and Gold Scholar,
member of the Tower Society, and Phi Beta Kappa. Reflecting on her UVM expereince, Sonya said, “Mulitplicity inspires me to risk for deep learning.”

The F.T. Kidder Medal is presented to the senior male student who best exemplifies the qualities of character, leadership and scholarship. This year’s award is given to Kunal Palawat.

Kunal is an Environmental Science major and Soil Science and Plant Biology minor in the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources. He is graduating magna cum laude. Kunal’s academic interest is in how nutrients move around the Earth. To that end, he has been honing his signifcant skills as a research assistant and intern supervisor in Dr. Carol Adair’s Lab on Terristrial Biogeochemistry for a Changing world, and with Dr. Gilian Galford at the Gund Institute. He has also been the Manager and Educator for the UVM Sustainability House Gardens. Finding his space on campus led Kunal to engage with the campus community as an RA, a Rubenstein Steward, Admissions Representative and Tour Guide, Chemistry tutor and much more. He also used his leaderhship skills to help others find their space. He has facilitated Queer and Trans People of Color spaces and the People of Color Environmental Collective. Its members have worked to make UVM more diverse, inclusive and equitable. He a member of the Boulder Society and is the recipient of the Resident of the Year Award and the Ram Vincent-Bryan Community Builders Award. Reflecting on his UVM experience, Kunal quotes one of his favorite authors, “When we love we always strive to become better than we are. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”
 
The Class of ’67 Award is presented to the senior student who has been active in student activities, has received university recognition in a varsity sport, and/or has been elected to an office in a recognized student activity. There are 2 recipients, the first is Christopher Petrillo.

Chris is a Mechanical Engineering major and Mathematics minor in the College of Engineering and Mathematical Sciences. He is a hardworking successful student with a passion for learning beyond his major. As president of the Student Government Association, he has served this campus and this community with the utmost dedication. He has managed the challenge of organizational decision making, and how to best prioitize his time for the best outcomes with great compassion and skill. Our Common Ground, for him, is a guiding principle and he has endeavored to bring justice and equity into all his interactions and in all his many roles on campus. In addition, Chris is a member of the Boulder Society, a volunteer with the Williston Fire Deparment, and the recipient of the Pi Kappa Alpha Scholar of the Year Award. Reflecting on his UVM experience, Chris said, “I didn’t begin my formal education here, but I wouldn’t end it anywhere else. What an unexpected pleasure and challenge my years here have been.”

The second recipient of the Class of ’67 Award is Caitlin Beaudet.

Caitlin is an Honors College Scholar and a Molecular Genetics major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She is graduating magna cum laude. Caitlin credits her work on her Honors College thesis as the reason for helping her become a better communicator, a better organizer and planner of club events, better at creating a team dynamic, and perhaps most importantly, learning to be more patient. Her thesis was a two-year project that involved preforming cell culture, doing western blots and analizing RNA. Participating in research has been one of her most challenging academic experiences and most rewarding. On campus she has served as treasurer for Volunteers in Action, helping to manage the budgets of 11 service based clubs; vice president and service coordinator for Mortar Board, shift leader for Campus Kitchens, president of the Pre-Medical Club, and facilitator for the Next Step Social Justice Retreat, to name a few. She is also the recipient of the Lawrence K. Forcier Outstanding Senior Award and member of the Golden Key International Honors Society, Tower Society, and Alpha Zeta Honors Fraternity. Reflecting on her UVM experience Caitlin said, “Engaging in social justice, becoming vulnerable, building bonds with communities near and far, cultivating relationships and my personal development were all possible thanks to UVM.”

 
The Keith M. Miser Leadership Award is presented to the student who has been successful in campus leadership. There are 2 recipients, the first is Frankie Jacob Lyon.

Frankie is a Community Entrepreneurship major in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. He is a Dean’s List student and has been recognized for his countless hours of community service. Frankie’s dream has been to “design stuff in a funky lab” with a melting pot of people to “solve the world’s problems.” A chance class in Design Thinking and the Art of Innovation, equipped him with the tools he needed in design thinking and community mobilization. The result, Frankie and a few like-minded friends rallied 65 people and co-founded the UVM Design for America studio and successfully created a prototype for their first challenge: to design a more dignified hospital gown. For Frankie, leadership is more about inspiring than directing, and empowering every individual to be their own leader. His success is seen in the next generation of Design for America leaders who are already bringing new design ideas and entrepreneurship to campus to create a world that is a better place. Reflecting on his UVM experience, Frankie said, “Never underestimate the possibilities that can come from a room full of hopeful strangers.”

The second Keith Miser Leadership Award recipient is Valeria Pinzon-Mendez.

Valeria is a Community and Internatinal Development major and spanish minor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. A hard working, determined, and Dean’s List student, she recevied Scholastic Recognition in her major this spring. Her interest is community development is to learn to be able to help people in her community, much like the support she found when her family arrived in the United States. She credits her family and the Mosaic Center for Students of Color community for empowering her to believe in herself, take risks and grow. Valeria has been a Tutor Counselor for the UVM Upward Bound program, and RA and lead RA for residents of Trinity Campus where she planned numerous events for students to meet, bond with their roommates and feel like they belong on campus. From all of her leadership roles, she believes the power of truly listening to people can be the most important way to make a positive difference in someone else’s experience. Reflecting on her UVM experience, Valeria said, “At UVM, I have transitioned from girlhood into womanhood and have discovered a community of people that, like me, want to change the world.”

The Elmer Nicholson Achievement Prize is presented to the student who has emerged from their total UVM experience with the promise of great expectations in their field of interest. There are three recipients. The first is Warrick Sahene.

Warrick is an Honors College Scholar and Neuroscience major and Chemistry minor in the College of Arts and Sciences. He joined the Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students in his first year and has been president of MAPS the last two. Knowing that the classroom experience is only a fraction of the experience of getting into medical school and seeking to fill a need, Warrick created a pre-med support mentorship program in MAPS in which students are paired with upperclassmen mentors and go through a 3-phase readiness program to ensure a smoother transition into medical school for students of color. He believes commitment to building and fostering community is imperative for growth. As Director of Alternate Spring Break he helped train site leaders to become culturally competent, socially just and active citizens as they engage in social issues. Warrick is an Emergency Medical Technician, Alternative Spring Break Director, and on the Dean of Students Advisory Board. He is also a member of Mortar Board and Vice President of the Boulder Society. Reflecting on his UVM experience, Warrick said, “Four years full of opportunity, encouragement, and mentorship to craft my own experience, tackle challenges and arm myself with skills to succeed in the world.”

The second Elmer Nicholson Achievement Prize recipient is William L. Sudbay.

William is a Public Communication major and Community Entrepreneurship minor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. William defines character as 3 components: Perseverence, Selflessness, and Metamorphosis. He has excelled in his studies, been there to help and support his community, and open to change and growth. His experiences have confirmed that the more effort you put in, the more you will get out of it. William is a two-time a senator on the Student Government Association, and served as Chairman of the Committee on Legislative and Community Affairs where he succeeded in building relationships between diverse consitutent groups, identifying problem areas and creatively generating policy recommendations and initiatives. He participated in campuswide activities including Community Cleanups, Veterans Day Flag Planting, City Council Forum Planning Committee and RALLYTHON. He is also the UVM campaign manager for the Movember Foundation, a member of the Boulder Society and executive secretary of the Sigma Phi Society, Alpha of Vermont. These collective experiences have garnered William’s interest in becoming an active citizen in the field of policy, advocacy, and government. He hopes to get a masters degree in Public Administration or Public Policy, or attend law school. Reflecting on his UVM experience, William said, “Capture the greatest moment each day, and remember deep down that it’s the UVM family who will be by your side when life gets difficult.”

The third Elmer Nicholson Achievement Prize recipient is Ivonne Headley.

Ivonne is an Honors College Scholar and Dietetics, Nutrition and Food Sciences major and Spanish minor in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She has served on the executive board of the Black Student Union for two consecutive years, and in that capacity has made a major contribution to the UVM community through her efforts to build positive affirmation and encouragement for people of color. Through events such as the Soul Food Social and the Fashion Show she help to motivate other students of color to become next year’s leaders. Ivonne has never shied away from her studies, work, or social commitments. Helping others has been a rewarding experience that she will always seek. Her sense of self as a Black Latina Woman is her source of strength. Ivonne is the recipient of the Blair Williams Award in recognition of her high professional standards, interest in the area of human nutrition and foods and deep concern for people. She has also been recognized with the Emerging Student Award, Roger Summers Award and the Ram Vincent Bryan Community Builders Award. She is a member of the Tower Society, Sigma Delta Pi National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society, and Order of the Key International Leadership Society. Reflecting on her UVM experience, Ivonne said,

“Mountains of green
Sunsets of gold
Little did I know,
Vermont would become home.
Thank you for the the wisdom
Thank you for the care
Because of you I am ready,
To spread my wings and fly steady.”