UM-Flint awards students for exceptional campus leadership

Share or print this article
The UM-Flint Department of Student Involvement and Leadership (SIL) recognizes the leadership contributions of students at the university with the Celebrating Wolverine Excellence awards. (Photo by UM-Flint)
The UM-Flint Department of Student Involvement and Leadership (SIL) recognizes the leadership contributions of students at the university with the Celebrating Wolverine Excellence awards. (Photo by UM-Flint)

University of Michigan-Flint students show exceptional leadership and dedication to the university, their organizations, and to the community.

Every year, the UM-Flint Department of Student Involvement and Leadership (SIL) recognizes the leadership contributions of students at the university with the Celebrating Wolverine Excellence awards. SIL honors the individuals and groups who exhibit exemplary leadership skills, engage with the campus and/or Flint community, problem-solve, and develop new ideas or initiatives while working toward a community that is inclusive of various identities and perspectives.

This year, SIL hosted the awards via a recorded video conference. Campus partners also offered their congratulations and thanks via video.

Congratulations to all of the nominees. Winners appear in bold.

Emerging Leader Award

The Emerging Leader Award recognizes a student in their first or second year here at the University of Michigan-Flint who has made a positive impact on campus and is actively involved on campus while maintaining a high GPA. Here are the nominees for the Emerging Leader Award:

  • Luisa Tittle
  • Anna Combest
  • Talyn Tureaud
  • Fernando Ramirez-Medina 
  • Alaina Strauss 
  • Lauren Clark 

Student Leader Community Contribution

The Student Leader Community Contribution award recognizes the contribution made by a student to the greater Flint or Genesee County community. Nominees have engaged in service that addresses a community issue and made a positive impact for the community served. Here are the nominees for the Student Leader Community Contribution:

  • Rebecca Kinard
  • Georgina Brown
  • Anna Pirker-Fruehauf

Student Organization Community Contribution

The Student Organization Community Contribution award recognizes the contribution made by a student organization to the greater Flint or Genesee County community through service or collaboration with community partners.

Winner: Entrepreneurs Society

Club Sports Most Valuable Player

The Club Sports Most Valuable Player award is given to an individual club sport athlete for positively impacting their team's culture and/or competition performances. The MVP may make their impact felt in several different ways. Nominees must display strong sportsmanship. Here are the nominees for Club Sports Most Valuable Player:

  • Holly Parker
  • Cecelia Munro
  • Clay Dupuis
  • Alexis House
  • Allison Vondaggenhausen
  • Jaycie Bos
  • Raymond Kusch

Club Sports Outstanding Leadership Award

The Club Sports Outstanding Leadership Award recognizes someone who has shown exceptional leadership as an officer for their Club Sports team and embodies important leadership qualities such as strong professional communication, the ability to motivate others, integrity, and solid critical thinking skills. Here are the nominees for Club Sports Outstanding Leadership:

  • Anna Rosario
  • Shbeib Dabaja
  • Allison Vondaggenhausen
  • Diamond Davis
  • Raymond Kusch
  • Timothy McGlinchey
  • Antasia Copeland

Housing and Residential Life Desk Assistant of the Year

The Desk Assistant of the Year award is given to an outstanding staff member who demonstrates a positive attitude, supports their team, and fosters an environment of care and quality service to the residential communities. Recipients of this award are consistently reliable, innovative, display a spirit of ingenuity throughout their work, and exhibit a voluntary willingness to go above and beyond in their role. Here are the nominees for Desk Assistant of the Year:

  • Patti Carr
  • Katie Smith
  • Mary Gaffney

Housing and Residential Life Resident Advisor of the Year

This Housing and Residential Life Resident Advisor of the Year award recognizes someone who has shown a commitment to living the mission and serving as an exceptional leader within the community. The person nominated for this award is a role model, leader within the community, goes above and beyond to assist their peers, residents, and the department. Here are the nominees for Resident Advisor of the Year:

  • Euba Thomas
  • Maria England
  • Manny Wright

Sorority Woman of the Year

The Sorority Woman of the Year award is awarded up to two University of Michigan-Flint students who are current members of the College Panhellenic Association (CPA) or National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). The award recognizes a sorority woman for her outstanding scholarship, leadership, service, and sisterhood during the 2019-2020 academic year. Here are the nominees for Sorority Woman of the Year:

  • Jas'mine Lee
  • Katelyn Johnson
  • Courtney Reddy
  • Maggie Stafford
  • Tori Finazzi (CPA)
  • Niyah Lewis (NPHC)
  • Lauren Clark
  • Danielle Edwards
  • Kamryn Hoadley
  • Erica Hagood
  • Bridget Farmer

Fraternity Man of the Year

The Fraternity Man of the Year award is awarded up to two University of Michigan-Flint students who are current members from the Interfraternity Council (IFC) or National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC). The award recognizes a fraternity man for his outstanding scholarship, leadership, service, and brotherhood during the 2019-2020 academic year. Here are the nominees for Fraternity Man of the Year:

  • Nickxit Bhardwaj
  • Joshua Bedford (NPHC)
  • Tyler Wetherell
  • Carl Grolle
  • Elijah Madar
  • Mustafa Salim (IFC)

Outstanding Advisor

The Outstanding Advisor award recognizes the dedication of student organization faculty or staff advisor. Nominees have demonstrated a commitment to the organization, effectively motivated the organization to fulfill their mission and goals, and served as a resource. Here are the nominees for Outstanding Advisor:

  • Stephen Mayfield
  • Wade Merrill
  • Dr. Erica Britt
  • Stephanie Vidaillet Gelderloos

Inclusive Community Award

The Inclusive Community Award recognizes a student organization that demonstrates an active commitment to issues of diversity, inclusion, and social justice. The organization should demonstrate this active commitment through its programming and initiatives.

Winner: LUNA- Latinos United for Advancement

Outstanding Student Organization

Outstanding Student Organization award recognizes a student organization that has contributed to the University of Michigan-Flint during the 2019-2020 academic year. An outstanding organization exhibits collaboration, communication, while also implementing initiatives that fulfill the mission of their organization and positively impacting student life on campus. Here are the nominees for Outstanding Student Organization:

  • Block Club
  • Turning Point USA
  • Campus Activities Board (CAB)
  • Entrepreneurs Society
  • Sigma Sigma Sigma

Outstanding Student Leader

Outstanding Student Leader award award recognizes a student leader who has shown exceptional leadership during their time at the University of Michigan-Flint. This individual has demonstrated a commitment to creating positive change on our campus. This is the top award that we give to an individual student leader. Here are the nominees for Outstanding Student Leader:

  • Melody Brooks
  • Alysia Treviño
  • Marquise (Mia) Medal
  • Diamond Davis
  • Nickxit Bhardwaj
  • Todd Fridline
  • Marcus J. Williams
  • Brooke Erhardt
  • Samantha Uptmor
  • Madeline Rasberry
  • Veronica Rosas Paredes

Lindsay Knake is the Communications Coordinator for the UM-Flint Division of Student Affairs. Contact her with any questions, comments, or ideas about the DSA newsletter, social media, events, and communications.