Recognized for leadership and service to the campus and community, 32 December graduates will receive the 2014 Chancellor's Leadership Award at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
The awards will be presented by Chancellor Bernie Patterson in a ceremony on Friday, Dec. 12.
Established in 1978 at the urging of former Chancellor Lee Sherman Dreyfus, the award honors graduates who contribute significant leadership, demonstrate university or community service and display a commitment to personal growth. Each recipient receives a bronze medallion emblazoned with the university seal, hanging from a purple and gold ribbon.
Those students receiving the Chancellor's Leadership Award, listed by hometown, include:- Kelly
Wirkus, Athens, the daughter of Allen and Barb Wirkus, majored in biology with a minor
in chemistry. She was vice president of Omicron Delta Kappa and was active with
campus blood drives, American Chemical Society, Gender and Sexuality Alliance,
4-H, Special Olympics and the Boys and Girls Club.
- Kelly Redmond, Brookfield, the daughter of Tim and
Karol Redmond, majored in wildlife ecology with a minor in biology. She was
active with the Students for Wetland Awareness Management and Protection, The
Wildlife Society, Animal Behavior Club, College of Natural Resources Student
Research Symposium and humane society. She also worked at the Tutoring-Learning
Center.
- Erin
Baudhuin, Brussels, the daughter of Michael and Connie Baudhuin, majored in business
administration and international studies with minors in economics and Spanish.
She was co-president of Pointers with Passports and active with Special
Olympics, International Club and varsity and club volleyball.
- Yujing Hu, Changsha, Hunan, daughter of Nengyong Hu and Rangping Cai,
majored in international studies and land use planning. She was active with the
International Club, Chinese Culture Club and Festival of India. She served as a
residence hall community adviser, tutor and peer mentor.
- Pierre
Clark, Chicago, was a dance major. He was vice president and sergeant-at-arms for Sigma
Tau Gamma and was active with the Gay Straight Alliance, Boys and Girls Club,
Make- A-Difference Day and International Dinner.
- Kristin Counihan, Green Bay, the daughter of Rick
and Lori Counihan, majored in early childhood education with a minor in early
childhood special education. She served as vice president and president of the
Association for the Education of Young Children, vice president and membership
coordinator of the Student Wisconsin Education Association and as a volunteer
for College Days for Kids, Labor of Love, Be the Change Day and the Central
Wisconsin Reading Council.
- Shannon McGinn, Hampton, Minn., the daughter of Jerry and Amy McGinn,
majored in interior architecture. She was co-president of the American Society
of Interior Designers and the Illuminating Engineering Society and president of
the International Interior Design Student Association. She also served as a
writing consultant for the Tutoring-Learning Center.
- Ian
Hackett, Holmen, the son of Lon and Michele Hackett, majored in fisheries and water
resources and biology. He was a CRU student mentor, residential living
community advisor, public relations officer for the Fisheries Society, member
of the Adventure Club and a small group bible study leader.
- Jessica
Cox, Hurley, the daughter of Norman and Leilah Cox, majored in elementary education
with a minor in mathematics. Cox was active with Kappa Delta Pi, the National Residence
Hall Honorary and Big Brothers Big Sisters. She also served as a peer adviser,
tutor and guide for College Days for Kids and Women and Science Day. She also
was a residence hall community adviser and volunteer with Americorps VISTA.
- Jenna
Furger, Lodi, the daughter of Jim and Norma Furger, majored in communication with an
emphasis in public relations. She was active in the Public Relations Student
Society of America, National Society of Leadership and Success, Society of
Human Resources Management, UWSP Conduct Board, Pink Week, Portage County
Coalition for Drug and Alcohol Abuse, Homecoming and the Student Government
Association. She also was co-founder of the Bring-A-Buddy campaign and an
intern with University Relations and Communications.
- Sammy
Chaara, Madison, the son of Mabrouk Chaara and Patricia Chaara, majored in biochemistry
with a minor in physics. He was a member of the National Residence Hall
Honorary, a Labor of Love site leader and a volunteer with the Children’s
Museum, Homecoming cleanup, St. Michael’s Hospital and Wisconsin State Science
Olympiad competition. He also served as a residence hall community adviser.
- Stephanie
Mohrmann, Madison, the daughter of Sue Besler and Paul Mohrmann, majored in
communication with an emphasis in public relations. She was a member of the
University Centers Advisory and Policy Board, and Public Relations Student
Society of America.
- Brock
Hanke, Mayville, the son of Andrew and Kimberly Hanke, majored in health science
pre-physical therapy. He was active with the UW-Stevens Point Fire Crew, Sigma
Mu Tau, National Society of Leadership and Success, Bass Fishing Club and the
Muscle Dystrophy Association Summer Camp.
- Katherine
Knight, Medford, the daughter of Greg and Barb Knight, majored in communication with a
minor in political science. She was active with the Public Relations Student
Society of America, residence hall governance, ArtsBash, 90FM Trivia,
Make-A-Difference Day and Salvation Army. She worked for the UWSP Foundation
and Residential Living.
- Nigel Golden, Milwaukee, the son of Emma
Golden-Kearney, majored in biology and wildlife ecology research and
management. He was treasurer and president of the Black Student Union, founder
and treasurer of Multicultural Awareness in Natural Resources and Related Sciences,
a senator with the Student Government Association and a research associate with
the Biology Department.
- Jacob Marty, Monticello, the son of James and Linda
Marty, majored in wildlife ecology research and management with minors in
conservation biology and biology. He served as a liaison and project leader for
The Wildlife Society and was the Quiz Bowl Project founder and leader. He also
was a peer adviser for the College of Natural Resources, an intramurals
official and a volunteer with Special Olympics.
- Mykalia
Lo, Neenah, the daughter of Leeseng Lo and Malee Lo, majored in elementary education
with a minor in English as a second language. She was active with CRU, Hmong
and Southeast Asian Club, Relay for Life, Student Wisconsin Education
Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters, The Homework Center and The Latchkey
Program. She served as an intern in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and volunteered at a
nursing home.
- Lauren
Gilchrist, Plover, the daughter of Dan and Carla Gilchrist, majored in communications
with an emphasis in public relations and a minor in professional writing. She
was active in the Newman Student Association and Public Relations Student
Society of America and acted as the Stevie Pointer mascot. She also served as
an intern for Make-A-Wish Wisconsin. She has volunteered more than 165 hours of
volunteer work in the community.
- Jennifer
O’Rourke, Portage, the daughter of Phil and Cathy O’Rourke, majored in economics and
business administration with a minor in finance. She was president of the
Student Finance Association, a volunteer with Relay for Life and Labor of Love
and a peer mentor and adviser with the School of Business and Economics.
- Krista
Kamke, Pulaski, the daughter of Warren and Janet Kamke, majored in water resources with
minors in biology and geographic information systems for emergency management.
She was active with the Public Relations Student Society of America, STEM Day
for Girls, Habitat for Humanity and the Residence Hall Association. She served
as a residence hall community adviser and assistant hall director as well as a
student ambassador.
- Samantha Martinez, Rhinelander, the daughter of Tony
Martinez and Jeanne Thorne, majored in Spanish and minored in anthropology,
ethnobotany and environmental studies. She was active with the Spanish Club,
Society of Ethnobiology, Residential Living and Sustainable Agriculture in
Communities. She helped with local food and energy fairs.
- Cullen Sutherland, Stevens Point, the son of Kay Lockwood and
James Sutherland, majored in vocal performance and choral music education with
a minor in German. He was a peer adviser in the Music Department and performed
in the UW-Stevens Point Opera Workshop. He also worked in the University
Centers.
- Di Yang, Stevens Point, the son of Peiming Yang and Fenglian
Guo, majored in mathematics – actuarial science and economics. He was active in
the Chinese Culture Club, International Club and Boxing Club. He served as a
student ambassador and tutor.
- Emily Wisinski, Stevens Point, the daughter of Richard and
Laurie Geesey and the spouse of Scott Wisinski, earned a Master of Science in Education degree. She was
active with Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Career Day
for both boys and girls, Stevens Point Academic Advising Association and the
annual Teaching Conference on campus. She also worked in the Tutoring-Learning
Center.
- Jesse Kosobucki, Stevens Point, the daughter of Deb and Dave
Kosobucki, majored in business administration, communication and German. She
was active with German Club, the College of Letters and Science Dean’s Advisory
Council, School of Business and Economics Student Mentor program and Big
Brothers Big Sisters. She also worked in
the Career Services Office and Department of Foreign Languages.
- Joshua Philon, Stevens Point, the son of Cashona Riley and
Phillip James, majored in communication with a media studies emphasis. He was
active with the International Club and a volunteer with UW-Stevens Point
Commencement, Portage County Girls and Boys Club, The United Way,
Make-A-Difference Day, Special Olympics Wisconsin State Summer Games, Salvation
Army and Relay 4 Life.
- Nkaohly Xiong, Stevens Point, is the daughter of Johnny Xiong
and Pahying Lee and majored in pre-occupational therapy with a minor in
psychology. She was active with the American Multicultural Student Leadership
Conference, Blood Drive, Hmong and South East Asian-American Club, Portage
County Cultural Festival and Make a Difference Day.
- Sarah McQueen, Stevens Point, the granddaughter of Jean
McQueen, majored in international studies and English with a minor in
communication. She served as vice president of the Lincoln Hills Poetry Project
and volunteered at the Humane Society of Portage County. She also worked as an
associate editor for the Portage County Gazette.
- Julie
Martin, Waukesha, the daughter of David and Cathy Martin, majored in family and consumer
sciences secondary education, with a minor in nutrition and health education.
She was president of the Stevens Point Association of Family and Consumer
Sciences and active with Student Wisconsin Education Association, National
Residence Hall Honorary, the Wisconsin Affiliate of Family and Consumer
Sciences and American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences. She worked
with Big Brothers Big Sisters and was a residence hall community adviser and
reproductive health peer educator.
- Ge
Xiong, Wausau, the daughter of Tou Xiong and Khoua Xiong and the spouse of Andrew
Nicholson, majored in physical education with a minor in health education. She
was active in the Hmong and Southeast Asian American Club, International Club,
Portage County Cultural Festival and Boys and Girls Club.
- Danae Jaslow, White Bear Lake, Minn., the daughter of Ken Jaslow and
Sharon Jaslow, majored in elementary education with a minor in psychology. She
was active in Sign Language Club and residence hall government and volunteered
for the annual statewide Family Conference.
- Jennifer Bartram, Wisconsin Rapids, the daughter of Daniel and Tina
Bartram, majored in psychology with a concentration in human services and a
minor in sociology. She volunteered with Neighborhood Table, Salvation Army,
the humane society and her church. She also was a teaching assistant in the
psychology and English departments and a writing consultant for the
Tutoring-Learning Center.