TU honors campus leaders with Student Affairs Leadership Awards

By Kyle Hobstetter on May 5, 2022

On Wed., May 4, Towson University celebrated its campus leaders inside the University Union ballrooms as the Division of Student Affairs and the TU Student Government Association (SGA) held its annual Student Affairs Leadership Awards ceremony.

With more than 300 student organizations on campus, the awards honor outstanding students, staff, faculty and organizations that promote the spirit of active campus participation.  

This includes those who have excelled in the past year through student government, community service, student employment, Greek Life, student leadership and much more.

“We are fortunate to have students who are committed to leadership that makes a positive impact on the TU community and beyond,” says Vernon Hurte, TU’s vice president of student affairs. “One of the things I was impressed with is how our students find ways to lead in diverse arenas—from student organizations to community involvement and even the creation of new knowledge through research pursuits.

“Our student leaders really do have a footprint in every facet of campus and community life.”

The event wasn’t black tie but it was black and gold, as the ballrooms were decorated in the university’s colors.

The awards had hundreds of nominations this year, and winners were selected by a committee of 17 student affairs staff members and SGA leaders. The event also had opening remarks from President Kim Schatzel, who couldn’t hold back her excitement.

“We all know that leaders lead from different places within organizations, and, within our student body here at TU, we see leaders everywhere,” Schatzel said during her speech. “Our future is truly in great hands when it comes to leadership.” 

The event featured a capacity crowd and was livestreamed on YouTube. Here is a complete list of this year’s winners:

Individual Awards Category

• The Margie Tversky Outstanding Adviser Award — Rhiannon Rio Napoli Clements
• The Outstanding Service-Learning Faculty Member Award — Alison McCartney, Ph.D.
• The Outstanding Campus Employer Award — Kristen Luther
• The Student Employee of the Year Award —Kaitlynn Wieler and Nate Brewer
• The Eco-Tiger Award — Jayden Johnstone
• The Outstanding Graduate Student Award — Brittany Wagner and Sophia Rampolla
• The Mary Leeper Emerging Leader Award — Grace Larocque
• The Unsung Hero Award — Karrington Hatton and Emily Kubrick
• The Raft Woodus Social Activist Award — Anna Dieme
• The James R. Saxon Memorial Scholarship — Jackson Miller and Crystal Johnson
• The SGA Pride Award — Jaden Beall
• The SGA Empowering Women Award — Anna Dieme
• The SGA Student Leader of the Year Award — Hannah Diveley
• The SGA International Student of the Year Award — Ahmed Ahmed
• The Mary Lee Farlow Scholarship — Liann Rodriquez, Nicholas Hamlett and Anna Lloyd
• Sports Club Leader of the Year — Anja Prien
• Fraternity and Sorority Leaders of Distinction — Arly Hernandez, Nick Edge and Kaylee Franc
• The Tiger Pride Award — Avery Walton and Kaylee Franc
• The Vice President of Student Affairs Award — Olivier Ambush, Christelle Etienne, Crystal Johnson, Jillian McIntyre, John Ottenberg, Taryn Painter, Jisela Ramos and Grace Werner
• The Marion Hoffman Ethical Leadership Award — Hannah Diveley

Organizational Awards Category

• The Outstanding Community Building Award — Towson Hillel
• Sport Club of the Year — Equestrian Club
• Dr. Teresa Hall Fraternity and Sorority Chapter of the Year — Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
• The Hoke L. Smith Organization of the Year Award — Campus Activities Board

Program Awards Category

• Outstanding Multicultural Program Award — Homage: Traveling Black History Month Exhibit, presented by Campus Activities Board & The Center for Student Diversity
• Outstanding Program Award — Beach Day, presented by Campus Activities Board

Roodinz Vital, Towson University’s assistant director of leadership—who hosted the event with Kelly Carpenter, TU’s assistant director of programming—says that the students in the room were truly a great representation of Towson University. 

“We are beyond thrilled to recognize an incredible group of student leaders,” Vital says. “Whether they were a nominee or an award recipient, every student leader in th[e] room is a contributor to the story of what it means to be TU proud.”

Students who want to get involved in an organization can learn more by emailing Involved@Towson.edu. They can also learn more about leadership programs and workshops offered through TU.