Members of the Muslim Student Association at Penn State Behrend celebrate after winning the award for Outstanding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program.
ERIE, Pa. — Student leaders and student-run clubs and organizations were recognized for their work at Penn State Behrend’s annual Excellence in Student Leadership and Service Awards on April 17.
The program, which was held in McGarvey Commons, honored the tradition of student involvement at the college.
“Even in our first year, in 1948, there was a strong sense of student life at Penn State Behrend, with organizations like Student Council and a campus newspaper called the Nittany Cub,” said Kelly Shrout, director of student affairs. “A lot has changed since then, but some things stay the same. From the very beginning, it has been you, the students, who bring this campus to life. You shape the Behrend experience not only for yourselves, but for those who will follow.”
The award recipients included:
Leadership Awards
- Outstanding Student Organization Member Award: Ariana Quam
- Outstanding Student Organization Officer Award: Aaron Bohley
- Outstanding Student Organization President Award: Zane Lewis, Student Government Association
- Outstanding Collaborative Program Award: “Lunar New Year” – South-East Asian Association, Asian Student Organization, Chinese Culture Club
- Outstanding Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Award: “Canvas of Cultures” – Muslim Student Association
- Outstanding Program Award: “Space Noodles” – South-East Asian Association
- Outstanding Student Organization: Black Student Union
- Guy W. Wilson Award: Haley Allen
- Student Government Association President’s Award: Sreekar Kakumani
- Penn State Behrend Alumni Society Leadership Award: Haley Allen
- Irvin H. Kochel Lion Ambassador Awards: Sri Ambatipudi, Justin Banko, Jason Chen
- Pride of the Lion Award: Lauren Cass
- Outstanding Adult Learner Award: Arsema Gebretsadik
- BBLAC Emerging Leader Award: Khadijah Nickson
Service Awards
- Christopher M. Geitner Award: Brooke Korb
- Dr. Martin Luther King Individual Service Award: Mairim Irizarry Perez
- Dr. Martin Luther King Organization Service Award: Muslim Student Organization
- Excellence in Service Award: “Community Dig Out” – Random Acts of Kindness, Lion Ambassadors, Residence Life, Housing and Food Services
A Behrend staff member also was recognized at the program: Lindsey Hopkins Hall, associate director of student leadership and involvement and interim director of Educational Equity and Diversity Programs, received the Benjamin A. Lane Outstanding Service Award, which honors a staff or faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding service and dedication to Behrend. She also received the Outstanding Student Advisor Award, for her work with the Panhellenic Council and the Interfraternity Council.
Robb Frederick
Director of Strategic Communications, Penn State Behrend
