By Sarah Kinney
Staff Writer
On April 13, students packed into the Linda K. Paresky Conference Center for one of the final events of the academic year — the Leadership Recognition Ceremony.
“Each of you has something very special to offer,” said Dean of Student Life, Sarah Neill. “When the chips are down, you can always rely on each other.”
President Helen Drinan cited Hillary Clinton’s leadership project and creating a world with “no glass ceilings.” She encouraged the students present to take advantage of those opportunities.
“It is very important that women take their proper place in the world,” Drinan said. “All you want is that fighting chance and you deserve it.”
The award portion of the evening began with various faculty and staff recognizing groups on campus. Members of the Honor Board, Conduct Board, ambassadors, student interviewers, resident advisors, hall council presidents, wellness ambassadors, orientation leaders, Simmons 101 facilitators, student athlete advisory committee, Emerging Leaders Program,Judicial Cabinet, Student Finance Board, and Alternative Spring Break were asked to stand.
After dinner, individual awards were bestowed.
Kaitlin DiPietro received the First Year Emergence award.
Sandy Lor presented Assistant Dean of Student Life Susan Antonelli with the Advisor Award, saying she is “always open to listening to student concerns.”
The Quiet Leader and P.A.S.S.I.O.N. award went to Caroline Coughlin.
Raymond Ou commended the Black Student Organization, Like Minds, SWAG, and PRSSA for assisting in bringing Janet Mock to Simmons, this year’s Student Life Program award event.
Krina Patel, Zara Ali, Nguyet Ly, and Kaitlin Maloney won their respective classes’s Class Leadership Award.
Maloney will also be next year’s “Woman on Campus” as Sarah Galvez is graduating this May.
Neill presented senior Shauna Deleon with the Robert Rankin Award for her “deep spirit of service to the college.”
The Joan Melber Warburg Award went to Lor.
“To call Sandy an involved student is an understatement,” said Neill.
Chelsea Keyes received the Carol Waller Pope award, and Ahalia Persaud received the Ruth H. Danielson Award.
The Charlotte May Morocco Award went to Priyal Goyal.
Neill said that as a first-year, Goyal had said, “I want to be the student everyone knows and remembers,” and that she had definitely lived up to that.
Ren Kenny was awarded the Activism Award, and LaShawn Holloway was awarded the Multicultural Community Award.
For group awards, the Simmons Islamic Society received the Student Organization Award, the Managment Liaison received the Academic Liaison, and Morse received the Hall Council Award.
“I know each of you are poised for greatness,” Antonelli said.
Student Organizations also had the opportunity to recognize an outstanding member. They are as follows.
Dix Scholars Association- Daphne Flowers and Donna Gall
Like Minds Coalition – Dee Moore
Simmons College Dance Company – Kate Stieper and Eliza Zimmerman
Student Nursing Association – Marissa Lewis
Active Minds – Jenna Chenevert
SWAG – Kate Connelly
Simmons Science Fiction and Fantasy Club – Patti Mansbach
Class Council for 2016 – Savannah Young
Campus Activities Board – Claire Campbell
Class Council for 2017 – Hannah Hast
Black Student Organization – Sandy Fonseca-Lopes
Catholic Student Association – Jaqueline Suarez
The Simmons Voice – Sarah Kinney
Simmons Gospel Choir – Olivia Winfield
Amnesty International – Autumn Beadouin
Pre-Health Liaison – Deanna Grillone
Management Liaison – Abigail Teetor
Chemistry & Physics Liaison – Rebecca Koelln
History Liasion – Lauren Middleman
