Outstanding students, organizations recognized at April 16 ceremony

“We have so many outstanding students that continue to give back to the university, community and to other students in so many ways. It's important we celebrate all they do,” said Dean of Students Michael Mardis.

2011 Homecoming Queen Olivia Feldkamp and the 2012 Ms. Cardinal Janessa Siegel emceed the awards ceremony. Here are the recipients:

The Cardinal Award of Excellence – Scholar/Leader Award: Alison Voit

As outreach outreach coordinator for the PEACC program, Voit works on issues of power-based interpersonal violence, through advocacy for victims and prevention efforts. She was central to the creation of the PEACC People and has trained hundreds of volunteers for the PEACC program, playing a crucial part in their efforts both to raise awareness and provide staffing for events and programs. Voit also designed her social justice major. As part of her internship for this minor, she sought to bridge the gaps between such violence prevention agencies as PEACC and faith-based groups.

Harold Adams Award: Larry Owsley, vice president for business affairs

As vice president for business affairs, Larry Owsley oversees many units that affect students’ campus experiences. Students and alumni nominated Owsley to receive the Harold Adams Award, which recognizes a faculty or staff member who excels at contributing to a diverse and vibrant campus student life experience through his or her attitude, behavior and extraordinary involvement in the students’ lives. Owsley’s nominations commended him for going above and beyond to involve students in bettering the university and for nurturing students to find their success. “I can honestly say that my college experience was shaped by Mr. Owsley. He was and is the example for how to engage students and encourage them to work on their own. Few administrators develop a relationship with students like he does, one that is built upon trust,” one student wrote in a nomination letter.

Outstanding Students

The outstanding student awards recognize undergraduate, graduate and professional students for academic achievement and overall leadership and service within the campus community

Graduate or Professional: Tanya Ward Aebersold

Aebersold is a graduate student pursuing a specialist in educational administration degree. She teaches English as Second Language and is the Teachers and Learners Collaborating for Success Resource Teacher at Roosevelt-Perry Elementary School. She constantly implements new programs to help her students and to bridge the gap to the university campus. She brought UofL nursing students to the school to put on a health fair for students and parents. She also brought in student athletes to conduct a reading program for students. Aebersold also served as the student representative on the interview panel to select a dean for the College of Education and Human Development.

Skylar Graudick: Graudick has actively represented the commuter student population and other underrepresented students at UofL. As an arts and sciences senator, he served on the Appropriations, Student Grievance, Meal Plan Waiver and Constitution Revision committees. He was co-chair of the A&S Student Art Show for three years and served as the adviser for one year. He is the president of the Off-Campus Student Association.

Megan Payne: Payne has been a part of the offices of Admissions and New Student Programs for the past four years, serving two years as a student orientation leader. She also served as a resident assistant for UofL Properties. Payne was the president of Kappa Delta Sorority, a chapter with 102 members, and has been a volunteer and student teacher in the Jefferson County Public Schools system for four years.

Kristin Ramey: Throughout her time at UofL, Ramey has made an impact on campus. She created the first silent auction and serves as president of Sigma Kappa Sorority. She is secretary of the Panhellenic Council, and a member of Rho Lambda and Order of Omega honor societies, and she has served on the Student Conduct Hearing Board and is part of the Cardinal Leadership Certificate Program.

Kristia Worthy: Worthy has been a part of the board to set up the Harriet B. Porter Academy for Success, a program to help in the development of college women by contributing to their personal, professional and philanthropic journey. She is a Cardinal Host, CAPS Leader and president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She is vice president of Undergraduate Students Helping to Recruit. She is also a member of the Order of Omega Honor Society and the UofL Library Student Advisory Board.

Juniors

Abhi M. Mehta: Mehta is president of the 85-member Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity chapter. He also has been involved with Greeks Advocating the Mature Management of Alcohol, including serving as the group’s president. He is the secretary of the Arts and Sciences Student Council, a Student Government Association senator and a Relay for Life Executive Board member.

Lauren Nehus: Nehus, vice chair of the Engaging Issues Committee for the Student Activities Board, has worked on such programming as the Collins Tuohy event, campus Block Party and International Fashion Show. She is a Cardinal Ambassador and a Cardinal Host. She is president of Delta Zeta Sorority and also served as vice president of New Member Education. She is the secretary for Student Outreaching Alumni Relations and serves on the Club Programming Committee that awards funding to student groups.

Ivy Nguyen: Nguyen is vice president of the College of Arts and Sciences council, an Arts and Sciences senator, and a member of the Student Organization Board. She also serves as vice president of the Pre- Dental Society and created a toothbrush donation drive, where all the toothbrushes are donated to UofL’s International Service Learning Program and the India Alternative Winter break program, of which she participate. She served two years on the board for the Relay for Life.

Sophomores

Carrie Marie Mattingly: Mattingly is a senator representing arts and sciences in the Student Government Association. She authored such bills as the Kentucky Higher Education Lobbying Program, and wrote a bill creating the first student-driven campus financial literacy program, “College on a Budget.” She was elected as the 2012-13 SGA academic vice president and has held an internship in the office of Congressman John Yarmuth. She is the academic excellence chair for Kappa Delta sorority.

Spencer E. Scruggs: Scruggs organized, founded and served as president of Cards for the Appreciation for Musical Theater. Last month, the group produced the musical “Chicago,” the result of a fundraising drive to hold the production. Scruggs served as the producer and director for the successful production.

Freshmen

Alexandra “Allie” Funk: Funk is a member of Freshman LEAD, a Task Force Freshman for SGA, and works for the senior adviser to the student body president. As a freshman, she was selected to serve on Sigma Kappa Sorority’s Executive Council as vice president of scholarship.

Nick Lynch: Lynch is a member of Freshman LEAD, Alpha Epsilon Delta Pre-med Honor Society and serves as the scholarship chair for Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He is an active volunteer in the community.

Student Organization of the Year: Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity

Outstanding New Organization: Cardinals for the Appreciation of Musical Theatre

Collaboration Award: Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity, the Interfraternity Council, the Panhellenic Council and UofL Properties for the “Secret Santa Shootout”

Outstanding New Program/Initiative: “How Can We Best Serve” hosted by The Bonner Leader Program.

Outstanding Entertainment/Social Program: NPHC “Stroll-Off Competition” hosted by Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.

Spirit of Service-Organization: Project Sunshine

Spirit of Service-Individual: Ben Donlon

Spirit of Diversity-Organization: Arts & Sciences Student Council

Spirit of Diversity Individual: Emory Williamson

Spirit of Community-Project: Honors Student Council Book and Media Sale

Spirit of Community-Individual: Craig Peden

Departmental Awards

Student Orientation Staff

Student Orientation Staff Rookie of the Year: Clay Berry

Student Orientation Staff Member of the Year: Scott Ruhlig

Disability Resource Center

2012 Disabled Student of the Year: Megan Dutcher

Office of Civic Engagement and Leadership

Outstanding Bonner Leader Recognitions: Amanda Lukas, Gilda’s Place; Beth Ross, Liberty High School  College Access Program; and Kelsey Smithson, Alliance for Girls Louisville Girls Leadership

The Bonner Leader of the Year Award: Julia Hunter, Project SUNSHINE

The Engage Lead Serve Red Wagon Award: Morgan Forrester, Katlyn Nasseri, Annie Muller, Raven Darko-Mensah, Kristin Love and Lydia Baki

“True to Form Award for Outstanding Freshmen LEADers: Emily Bockweg, John Deis, Jacob Jones and Ruth Wooten

Housing and Residence Life

National Residence Hall Honorary Regional of the Month Award: Valerie Gibbs and Craig Peden

Student Government Association

Staff members of the year: Spencer Scruggs and Austin Lopesilvero

Senator of the Year: Carrie Mattingly

Panhellenic Council, Interfraternity Council and National Pan-Hellenic Council

Interfraternity Council “Greek Man of the Year”: Rodney Williams

The Panhellenic Council “Greek Woman of the Year”: Alison Cox

The NPHC Spirit of Leadership Award: Wesley T. Smith, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.

The NPHC Outstanding New Member/Neophyte Award: William “Bill Bill” Savoy, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.

NPHC Scholarship Award: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Outstanding Greek Chapter/Council presidents: Ryan Khuri, Kaysara Mandry and Amanda Free

Student Activities Board

Member of the Year: Elizabeth Hammond

Office for LGBT Services

Amber Carrier Student Ally Award: Jessica Bellamy

Katy Garrison LGBT Student Leadership Award: Lindsay Ferguson, Grace Howard, Crystal Newman, Andrea Tucker, Ashley Auld and Dejai Herald

REACH

Tutor Award of Excellence: Jake Bell

Ambassador Award of Excellence: Mason Gatch

Ambassador Spirit Award: Trevor Collinsworth

PEACC

PEACC Program Leadership Award:Eric Kleppe

Office of Student Activities

George J. Howe Leadership Award: Noor Yussef

Athletics

Field hockey: Haley Turner

Football: Jake Smith, Teddy Bridgewater

Lacrosse: Bergan Foley, Emily Dashiell

Men’s soccer: Austin Berry, Colin Rolfe, Nick DeLeon

Volleyball: Lola Arslanbekova

Women’s basketball: Bria Smith, Shoni Schimmel

Women’s soccer: Christine Exeter

Track and field: Amashi Kendall, Michelle Theophille

Kentuckiana Metroversity Council

Undergraduate award: Tonya Sexton

Graduate Professional: Jiying Ling