Annual leadership awards celebrate outstanding student leadership

The achievements and contributions of Ohio University students were honored this past week at the 39th Annual Leadership Awards. The event was hosted by the Division of Student Affairs, in partnership with the Division of Diversity and Inclusion, celebrating the outstanding leadership and community service of students and student organizations across OHIO.

Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Terrence Hogan kicked off the ceremony by recognizing all the individuals in the room and the support they provided to the award recipients. 

“The recipients of this year’s awards were selected from over 1,500 applications, and truly represent our highest aspiration that every Bobcat will discover their true potential and make a meaningful impact,” Hogan said.

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More than two dozen awards and scholarships are awarded to undergraduates, graduates and doctorates for their hard work and commitment to the OHIO community this past school year. 

Students are chosen by committees comprised of faculty, staff, alumni and graduate students who evaluate redacted submissions and select top applicants for recognition.

The awards are broken into four categories: diversity and allyship, outstanding leadership, service, and student organizations. 

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The theme of this year’s event recognized students who demonstrated purpose, perseverance and progress by contributing in a way that was meaningful to the self and consequential for the OHIO community.

Women’s Issues Leadership Award recipient McKenzie Taylor exhibited her purpose on campus by demonstrating a dedication to helping other Bobcats become leaders themselves. “The education and experiences from OHIO have helped me to sculpt leaders for their community and the world,” Taylor said.

Outstanding Senior Leader and John Newton Templeton Award recipient Micaylah Nash added that the University has challenged her to “use prior experiences to speak up and leave a positive impact on OHIO’s campus and beyond.”

University President Hugh Sherman closed out the evening with the final awardees as well as the announcement of incoming student trustee Mia Citino to sit as a student member of the Ohio University Board of Trustees. Sherman praised OHIO students for all that they were able to achieve this year.

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A complete list of winners can be found on the Leadership Awards website, as well as below. 

2021-22 Leadership Awards recipients

Arnold Allyship Award
Myles Jay Wortman
Andrew Connolly
Backdrop Magazine

Martha Jane Hunley Blackburn/Donald A. Spencer Achievement Award 
Maya Meade
Sedric Granger Jr.
Joshua Toffey
Dayna Shoulders
Reaija Grice
Roosevelt Boone

Charles J. Ping International Leadership Award
Ibrahim Akmese – Graduate
Aanya Datta – Undergraduate 

Edwin L. Kennedy Leadership Award for Outstanding Community Service 
Alyssa Embry
Asian American/Pacific Islander Student Union (AAPISU)

Rita LaValley Recreation Employee Award
Laurie Littlejohn

Eyes of Freedom Scholarship 
Mercadies George
Faith Laughlin

Francine Childs Diversity Leadership Award
Vincent Eguakun

George Floyd Memorial Scholarship
Makayla Moore
Reaija Grice
Roosevelt Boone

John Newton Templeton Outstanding Senior Leader Award
Micaylah Nash

Kerrigan Family Scholarship
Desmond Owusu

Latinx Heritage Achievement Award
Mia Walsh
Maribel Antunez-Uriostegui
Hannah Prante

LGBT Center Student Hart Award
Luvina Cooley

Outstanding Graduate Student Leader
Nicholas Whitticar – Doctoral level
Roberto Di Donato – Master level

Outstanding Programming
Bobcats Lead Change
Ohio University Program Council

Outstanding Senior Leader Award
Carissa Nickell
Becky Ivan
Brooke Klopfenstein
Micaela Beatham-Garcia
Alina Taylor
Micaylah Nash
Myles Jay Wortman
Andrew Connolly

Rudy Leadership Award
Rhyan Goodman

Stonewall Leadership Award
Owen Yates-McEwan
Lost Flamingo Theatre Company

Student Affairs Academic Excellence
Anthony Russo

Student Affairs Excellence in the Workplace
Ambrea Dellafave

Women's Issues Leadership Award
McKenzie Taylor

Dr. Patti McSteen Award
Ruby Williams

Missed the event? View the ceremony here.