KUDOS awards recognize outstanding undergraduates

Vanderbilt acknowledged a handful of its best and brightest students at the 2002 KUDOS Awards Ceremony April 1. More than 40 undergraduate students received 33 awards, fellowships and scholarships at the annual event.

Awards recognizing academic and extracurricular excellence were handed out in an hour-long program after a luncheon that paid tribute to award recipients.

This year's awards program featured a new honor, titled "Ripple in the Pond," which recognizes students' special strides in fostering a sense of community at Vanderbilt. Sophomore Meredith Strong, who contracted bacterial meningitis last spring, and her mother presented the award to sophomores Jessica Aceste and Elisabeth Beale, friends of Strong who sought medical help when she became ill in her Branscomb dorm.

Among this year's winners were students who nominators said have devoted immense amounts of time to academics, community service and cultural enrichment. All told, the KUDOS ceremony this year dispensed more than $19,000 in scholarships and cash awards to winning students.

--Alex Burkett

Accolade Award

Marissa Shrum

This award was established in 1987 to acknowledge the intent and effort of the Accolade -- formal dance to raise funds for minority scholarships. The no less than $5,000 award is presented to a rising minority senior in recognition of academic achievement and participation in extra-curricular activities that contribute to the diversification of the Vanderbilt student body.

William Aaron Pathfinder Award for Outstanding Community Service

Andrew Wilkins

This award acknowledges one upper-class student whose uncommon community service efforts and leadership demonstrate vision, creativity, and innovation. Named in recognition of William Aaron, whose own pathfinding shaped the Office of Volunteer Activities in 1989, this award also celebrates Vanderbilt University's extraordinary history of service to the community.

Charles Forrest Alexander Award

Tara Lynn

Given in memory of Charles F. Alexander, B.A. 1950, this award is presented to a student who has achieved distinction in student journalistic projects. The recipient should be active in collecting information, reporting, editing, photography, business activities, and/or administration of a newspaper, magazine, journal, yearbook, radio or television station. A $400 check is presented to the recipient.

Glenn and Elizabeth Bogitsh Award

Shannon Bader

Established in 1989 in memory of Glenn Carlisle (B.S. 1977) and Elizabeth Norris Bogitsh (B.S. 1982), this award is presented annually to the student at Vanderbilt University who best demonstrates a strong commitment to campus recreation sports and by example and leadership, inspires participation and sportsmanlike conduct in these activities. A trophy is presented to the recipient and his/her name is engraved on a plaque in the Student Recreation Center.

Margaret Branscomb prize

Austin Osborn

The Margaret Branscomb Prize is given annually by the Blair faculty to a Blair freshman judged to have the musical and personal qualities that best exemplify the spirit and standards of the Blair School of Music. The prize was established by family and friends in memory of Margaret Branscomb, wife of the late Vanderbilt Chancellor Emeritus, Harvie Branscomb.

Nora C. Chaffin Scholarship

Jennifer Warner

This award was established in 1956 by the Women's Student Government Association in appreciation of the former Dean of Women's twenty years of service to Vanderbilt women students. A $4,000 award is given to a rising senior who "has displayed service to the University in the areas of student government, religious, literary, and scholastic activities and in the arts."

Willis D. Hawley Award

Andrew Wilkins

Established in 1989 in honor of Willis D. Hawley, former professor of education and dean of Peabody College, 1980-1989, this award is presented by the students of Peabody College to a senior who has exemplified in his or her career Peabody's commitment toward "service to others". A Jefferson Cup is presented to the recipient.

James Lawson Award for Leadership

Ibrahim Nasmyth

This award is presented to a graduating senior who has continuously been an integral part of campus life and has demonstrated an outstanding capacity for leadership and devotion to Vanderbilt.

Sojourner Truth Award for Leadership

Tracy Curtis Holmes II

This award is presented to a member of the freshman class who has displayed a strong capacity for leadership and shows great promise for future leadership roles at Vanderbilt University.

Susan Jung Award

Amy Teleron

This $500 scholarship is awarded by the Asian American Student Association and Masala SACE (South Asian Cultural Exchange) to honor an undergraduate member of the Asian American Community who has shown outstanding commitment and passion to Vanderbilt through cultural and/or political education. The award honors those who exemplify the vision of Susan Jung 1988, who founded AASA upon the principle of unity through diversity in the fall of 1986.

Joel Carl Lichter Memorial Award

Jared Nelson and Natacha Warner

The Joel Carl Lichter Memorial Award was established by Vanderbilt Professor Barry D. Lichter and his wife, Elizabeth, to honor the life of their son who graduated magna cum laude in 1981. The award is presented annually to a graduating senior who contributes by example to the promotion of outdoor education at Vanderbilt. Each recipient receives a cash prize and a copy of Professor Lichter's book, His Father's Teacher.

John T. McGill Award

Paul Bielaczyc

Established in 1960 by Mrs. John T. McGill, this award honors the memory of her husband who spent his life in service to Vanderbilt as a student in the Class of 1879, a professor, and a historian of the University. A $400 check is presented each spring to the resident of McGill Hall "who has best established qualities of leadership, as well as being a good student of gentle bearing."

John T. and Lizzie Allen McGill Award

Juan Pablo Salazar and John Seymour

Established in 1994, the award is given to an upper-class student "who is academically accomplished, has demonstrated qualities of leadership, and whose efforts have led to an increased understanding of other students needs and a more civil campus atmosphere." Each student receives a $400 check.

Austen Heim and Lauren Wagman

Established in 1994, the award is to be given "for the academically accomplished freshman student of gentle bearing who has shown kindness and respect for all others and who has established qualities of leadership." Each student receives a check for $300.

Guy Coffee Means Poetry Award

James Neisen

The Vanderbilt Review awards the Guy Goffe Means Poetry Award annually for the best undergraduate poem received by the publication. The award includes a cash prize of $150 and publication in The Vanderbilt Review. Professor Kate Daniels of the English Department faculty has graciously served as this year's judge.

Muliebrity Prize

Maria Tsagaris

This award was established in 1996 in honor of the student newspaper, Muliebrity, which was published in 1992-93. The Muliebrity Prize, a $100 check and a certificate, goes to an undergraduate student who demonstrates leadership in activities that contribute to the achievements, interests and goals of women and girls or that promote gender equity.

Peabody Alumni Award

Eleni Binioris

Awarded by the Peabody Alumni Association to a member of the graduating class, this award honors a student who has demonstrated outstanding qualities of scholarship and leadership. A Jefferson Cup is presented to the recipient.

Jere Pinson Phillips Honor Scholarship

Jessica Mayer

Established in 1994 by Alton W. Phillips, Warren Phillips and Keith Phillips to honor Jere Phillips, wife and mother, this scholarship will be awarded annually to a rising senior at Peabody College who demonstrates extraordinary qualities of leadership and community service.

Robert Peter Pratt Memorial Award

Araceli Vidali

The Robert Peter Pratt Memorial Award was established at Vanderbilt University in 1991 to honor Robert Peter Pratt (1954-1991), associate director of undergraduate admissions and long time leader in promoting diversity within the student population. A $500 check is presented to the Chancellor's Scholar of junior or senior standing whose accomplishments best exemplify Robert Peter Pratt's commitment to diversity and unity, leadership and cooperation, warmth and openness and unselfish service to others.

Theodore Presser Award

Jonathan Chu

The Presser Award is presented to a junior for musical and academic excellence and is the most prestigious honor available to a junior at the Blair School of Music. The recipient must have a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 and have been named to the most recent Dean's List. At least one-third of the student's credits must be outside the field of music. The award honors the memory of Theodore Presser, American publisher and musical philanthropist and is presented annually by the Presser Foundation.

Rob Roy Purdy Award

Curtis Austin and Laura Floyd

Established in 1979 to honor the Senior Vice-Chancellor Emeritus, an engraved cup is presented annually to an upper-class student selected by the student affairs staff for demonstrating through leadership the qualities of humaneness, dedication, loyalty and unselfish service to Vanderbilt University exemplified by Rob Roy Purdy.

Jim Robins Award

Zuzi Klimesova

This award is given to perpetuate the memory of James A. Robins, Class of 1892, whose "life and teaching exemplified selfless devotion to learning, to honor, to participate in... sports and to service to youth and alma mater." It is awarded annually "to a Vanderbilt athlete of the senior class in whose life these virtues are most evident" and an engraved Julep Cup is presented to the recipient.

Ada Bell Stapleton-Blance Henry Weaver Scholarship

Sara Moore

The Ada Bell Stapleton-Blanche Henry Weaver Scholarship honors Miss Stapleton, the first dean of women and Mrs. Weaver, who served as dean of women, assistant professor of history, director of the Master of Arts in Teaching Program and assistant dean of the Graduate School. Funded by the Vanderbilt Woman's Club, this $5,000 award is given to a rising junior or senior who is "an outstanding citizen on campus."

Henry Lee Stint Award

Justin Holmes

A cash prize of $250 is presented to the undergraduate History major who writes the best research paper or essay completed during the year.

Vanderbilt Review Art Award

Matt Petty

The Vanderbilt Review awards the Vanderbilt Review Art Award annually to the best undergraduate submission in the visual arts. The award includes a cash prize of $150 and publication in The Vanderbilt Review. Professor Mark Hosford of the Department Art and Art History served as this year's judge.

Vanderbilt Review Fiction Award

Justin Quarry

The Vanderbilt Review awards the Vanderbilt Review Fiction Award annually to an undergraduate with promise in creative writing. The award includes a cash prize of $150 and publication in The Vanderbilt Review. The Review staff chooses finalists for the award from a pool of fiction submissions received by the publication. Professor Carolyn Dever of the English Department faculty determined the recipient.

Walter C. Wattles Fellowship

Meghan Elizabeth Donley, Brett S. Tesei and Nancy Kate Willeford

The Walter C. Wattles Fellowship provides three women graduates with a yearlong cultural experience living among the British and working at Lloyd's of London. Two recipients will be trained as aviation brokers and one as an underwriter. This program was established by Walter C. Wattles, Vanderbilt alumnus and is in its 32nd year. (See page 9 for story.)

Thomas M. Weser Award

Ibrahim Al-Mojel

This award was established in 1989 in memory of Thomas M. Weser, a German exchange student who was killed while attending Vanderbilt. Each year, the Weser Award recognizes an international student who has demonstrated an unusually strong commitment to intellectual life, cross-cultural appreciation and personal integrity. The recipient is presented with an engraved cup and $100.

Katharine B. Woodward Award

David F. Reid

The Katharine B. Woodward Award for Excellence in Spanish Studies was established in 1943 and endowed in 1962 by Ms. Katharine B. Woodward of the Vanderbilt University class of 1919. Each year this award, which consists of a certificate and check, is given by the Department of Spanish and Portuguese to a graduating senior nominated by the department's faculty in recognition of outstanding achievement in Spanish Studies.

"Ripple in the Pond"

Jessica J. Aceste and Elisabeth M. Beale

What makes humanity strong is our ability to summon the best out of our cultural diversity; what promotes hope is seeing fellow community members endure in the search for their own dreams and what nourishes our souls is the simple sense of caring. A great community enriches us all in the simple way in which it extends us beyond ourselves, sometimes saving lives, sometimes negotiating a successful path from divergent ideas or catapulting us over common obstacles to an overlooked solution This award celebrates the creation of links that advance the university's community, one-to-one, group-to-group, inside-to-outside.

IMANI AWARDS

El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz Award for Leadership

Rebecca Stewart

This award is presented to the African-American student who has shown a tireless commitment to the projects, organizations, and events of the University during the given academic year. Not necessarily at the forefront of activity, this student may well be an unsung hero.

Benjamin E. Mays Awards for Academic Excellence

Tracy Curtis Holmes II, Heather Maria Souder, Charles Edward Charlton, Robert Paul Boxie III

Presented to one member of each class, freshman through senior, this award recognizes achievement of the highest cumulative grade point average for an African-American student in that class.

Bishop's Award for Umoja

George Jones