SXU Holds 2023 Scarlet and Gray Awards
Saint Xavier University (SXU) recently held the annual Scarlet and Gray Awards, which honor outstanding student leaders, organizations, and achievements in service and extracurricular involvements. Held in McGuire Hall, the annual tradition is beloved by the community, who connect in celebration of our high-achieving students.
Awards are given from areas including Admission, Campus Ministry, Campus Life, Residence Life, Student Employment, Student Media, the Student Success Program (SSP), and the Learning Center/Writing Studio. This year, 29 students, more than twice as many as last year and more than any year before, completed the requirements for their leadership development and earned the Cougars LEAD Leadership certificate.
"The Saint Xavier University Scarlet and Gray Awards ceremony gives us a platform to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our student leaders. We are immensely proud of our students and their remarkable accomplishments, particularly their selfless service, dedication, and hard work that has not gone unnoticed. During the ceremony, we recognized and celebrated our students' contributions, which have made a significant impact on Saint Xavier University and their communities. It's a testament to their commitment to excellence, and we are grateful for their unwavering dedication," said Josh Bogaski-Baugh, executive director of Student Success.
The Catherine McAuley Award is presented to a student leader who, in the tradition of the foundress of the Sisters of Mercy, is committed wholeheartedly to reaching out to those who are marginalized to show them compassion and hospitality.
Award Winner: Brenda Gonzalez
The Frances Xavier Warde Award is presented to a student leader who demonstrates a remarkable ability to overcome adversity in pursuit of faith and service.
Award Winner: Evelyn Martinez
The Great Commission Award is inspired by the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus gives the "Great Commission" to His followers, asking them to go far and wide to spread the Gospel and make new disciples of all peoples and all nations.
Award Winners: Mia Cox and Jenin Hasan
The Mercy Award for Ministry is presented to a student who has served with dedication, witnessed their own faith while fostering the faith of others, and lived with integrity and compassion in outstanding ways.
Award Winner: Chantelle McKinney
In 1997, a request was given by an SXU theology major alumna to establish a scholarship in her mother's name, the Valeria Krauspe Scholarship, to be awarded to a student actively engaged in ministry.
Award Winner: Alyssa Caracheo
The Richard and Wendy Yaniksoki Scholarship supports an undergraduate student in good academic standing who has contributed in exceptional ways to Catholic ministry, liturgy and spirituality on campus.
Award Winners: Alyssa Caracheo and Anahi Hernandez
Student employees are essential to the operations of Saint Xavier University, and their hard work helps the campus thrive. The Student Employee of the Year Award and Rising Star Award celebrates exemplars of service excellence that live the University's mission and core values.
Award Winners: Paige Deitz, Xavier Garcilazo and Dalia Delgadillo-Silva
Rising Star: Gina Gonzalez-Ramirez
The Cougars Lead Leadership Certificate is rooted in student development and leadership identity theories for the purpose of helping students learn about leadership opportunities on campus and in the community.
Certificate Recipients: Danya Hammad, Aya Dajani, Elizabeth Gomez, Mario Young, Ariana Rodriguez, Patrycja Zieba, Laikin Stella, Giuliana Islas, Kyla Turner, Jenan Said, Roan Jaber, Peyton Gibson and Kayla Thomas
The RSO Officer of the Year Award is presented to an executive board member who displays outstanding academic achievement, values diversity and motivates and inspires others to exemplify integrity in all words and actions.
Award Winner: Giuliana Islas, president of Drama Club
The RSO Program of the Year Award is based on the RSO's mission, how it incorporates the core values of SXU, and how the program makes outstanding contributions to the University community.
Award Winner: Arab Fest 2022
The RSO Advisor of the Year Award is presented to a faculty or staff member who serves as an RSO advisor with dedication to and interest in the success and activities of the RSO while encouraging the University's standards of excellence.
Award Winner: ChrisTina Edwards, Black Student Union
The RSO of the Year Award is presented to an RSO who has made an outstanding contribution to overall campus life, with evidence of successful programming, successful membership development, responsible and creative use of resources, and best campus presence.
Award Winner: Drama Club
The Outstanding Peer Academic Tutor of the Year Award recognizes the service excellence of a dedicated, knowledgeable, sought-after tutor who helps peers to be successful.
Award Winner: Gillian Clottey and Ayat Nakhleh
The Outstanding Writing Consultant of the Year Award recognizes a student who serves as proxy to faculty, mentor to other writing consultants and all-around resource to peers, trained to view, organize and proofread writing across the curriculum.
Award Winner: Kate Koszulinski
The Student Ambassador of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding student from the Student Ambassador program who is a committed representative with a positive attitude, strong ability to engage with students and families, welcoming nature and overall positivity.
Award Winners: Icela Bueno, Haley Robinson and Sarah Sanders
The Student Success Program (SSP) Money Magnet Award is given to a student who has shown determination to make their own college experience affordable by pursuing and obtaining scholarships.
Award Winner: Stephanie Duran Martinez
The Student Success Program Culture Award is presented to someone who helps to keep the climate of the SSP office positive and upbeat, demonstrates exceptional hospitality, and has shown outstanding representation of the TRIO program.
Award Winner: Elizabeth Gomez
The Student Success Program Persistence in Graduation Award is given to a graduating senior who has worked to overcome challenges and has shown personal and academic growth and truly exemplifies the quality of persistence.
Award Winner: Ngoc-Thuan Tran
The National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) Outstanding Service Award stands on four pillars: leadership, academic, recognition and service.
Award Winners: Lawrence Kelly and Shavonn Nowlin
The Leader Among Leaders Award recognizes a resident assistant who has shown exemplary leadership and support to their fellow staff as a mentor.
Award Winner: Chantelle McKinney
The Rookie of the Year Award recognizes a resident assistant who finds innovative ways to engage with the community and make a positive and significant contribution to the residence life team.
Award Winners: Gavin Dudley and Vincent Stella
The Residence Peer Academic Leaders (RPAL) – Action in Academics Award is presented to someone who finds innovative ways to connect their residents with the RPAL program while demonstrating leadership and ongoing support of their fellow staff.
Award Winner: Hillary Shipp
The UHS – Spirit of the Halls Award is given to a residence assistant with spirit, energy and enthusiasm, always willing to lend a helping hand.
Award Winner: Jenin Hasan
The Cougar Spirit Award is presented to an outstanding first-year sophomore or recent transfer who has made the most of their first semesters at SXU, demonstrating outstanding academic performance and exceptional co-curricular involvement.
Award Winner: Johnnetta Washington
The Gabriel Vaught Student Broadcaster of the Year Award is presented to integral members of the WXAV staff who have helped oversee the overall growth and development of the student-run radio station at Saint Xavier.
Award Winners: Thressa Nelson
The Xavierite Student Journalist of the Year Award is presented to a student who has guided the development and distribution of the Xavierite.
Award Winner: Grace Van Cleave
The Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award is a presented to a student who thereby becomes a student laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, an award bestowed upon by the governor.
Award Winner: Angela Sarlas
The Mentor of the Year Award is presented to an outstanding student role model who provides exemplary advisement and encourages student involvement.
Award Winners: Janeth Landeros Macias, Jennyfer Torres Figueroa, and Yarah Damra
The Campus Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a student who has been involved in campus events, traditions, organizations and student leadership for the majority of their time at SXU, going above and beyond to connect other students to programs and organizations.
Award Winner: Chantelle McKinney
The Dean of Students Award for Student Leadership was established to honor student leaders who have served in a significant leadership capacity, made outstanding contributions to the quality of campus life and who have made a positive impact to the culture of SXU.
Award Winner: Kyla Turner
The President's Award for Service Leadership recognizes a student who authentically lives the core values of SXU's Mercy mission through their daily work. The award recipient serves the SXU community with the spirit of humility by putting the needs of other students first.
Award Winner: Jena Said
"Our co-hosts, Giuliana Islas and Kyla Turner, did a phenomenal job! They not only developed the script for the show but delivered it in a way that was energizing and incredibly funny. Major kudos for their leadership on this event," said Bogaski-Baugh.
Join the SXU community in congratulating our outstanding student community of doers, representative of Saint Xavier's commitment to excellence!