Pacificans recognized for leadership at Faith Davies All-University Leadership Awards
The annual Faith Davies All-University Leadership Awards Ceremony is a beloved Commencement-week tradition, which takes time to recognize members of the Pacific community and student organizations who have made significant contributions to the University and the quality of the student experience and exhibit extraordinary leadership, mentoring and philanthropy. At this year's ceremony and luncheon held on Friday, May 12, five students, two staff members, one faculty member and four student groups were recognized.
The Podesto Award for Excellence in Student Life, Mentoring and Counseling
This year's recipients of the Podesto Award were business professor Laurie Lichter-Heath and Sacramento financial aid director Joe Pinkas. The Podesto Award recognizes members of the Pacific community who have played a significant role in enriching the student experience. Recipients are educators, staff or faculty who significantly support whole-student learning through direct advising and mentoring of students.
Joe Pinkas is the director of financial aid at McGeorge School of Law on the Sacramento Campus. Nominees cited the cheerful, helpful and engaging way he helps students at McGeorge to maximize their financial aid resources and minimize post-graduation debt load. He is very knowledgeable and extremely helpful, always encouraging students to apply for scholarships and attend information sessions to learn more about minimizing student loans. He genuinely cares about the students and always takes the extra step to inform them about various opportunities to minimize financial burdens. He goes out of his way to check in on students, knows them by name and works diligently to make their financial concerns less daunting as he provides thorough answers and clear directions to their questions. Thanks to the work that he has done to support them, Pinkas has helped his students thrive as students and as they pursue their careers after graduation.
Laurie Lichter-Heath, lecturer in business law in the Eberhardt School of Business, came to Pacific in 2008. Nominees cited Licther-Heath's dedication to students and the Pacific community both in and out of the classroom. In addition to mentoring students in her classes, she is active as an adviser to the Council of Social Entrepreneurship and the Origami Club and is the former adviser for the Integrated Development Group. She also is a board member of the Pacific Athletic Advisory board, among other activities. As an adviser, she actively supports these student groups with enthusiasm and optimism and is often seen on the campus evenings and weekends working with students on programs, projects and events. Her courses are in high demand among students and she has been professionally recognized for her research and scholarly work.
Outstanding Student Organization Adviser Award
The Outstanding Student Organization Adviser Award recognizes an adviser who has provided significant assistance towards advancing the goals and mission of a registered student organization.
Laura Steed, assistant multifaith chaplain in Religious and Spiritual Life and spiritual life adviser to the Muslim Student Association, was the recipient of this year's award. Steed works with multiple student groups and oversees the Eastern and Western Religion inclusion initiatives at Pacific working diligently to create a welcoming environment for people of all faiths and backgrounds. She also led a group of students on the Alternative Spring Break outreach to Portland, Oregon, where they worked on a home-building project for Habitat for Humanity. Nominees cited her energy and vitality, her warmth, humor and thoughtfulness in her mentoring and support of student inclusion, leadership and success.
Elizabeth Griego Outstanding Student Leader Award
The Elizabeth Griego Outstanding Student Leader Award recognizes a graduating senior who has made significant and sustainable contributions to the student experiences at Pacific.
Kathryn Harlan-Gran '17 was the recipient of this year's Outstanding Student Leader Award. Harlan-Gran is a double-major in English and Spanish in College of the Pacific with minors in writing and gender studies. She is active in a number of student organizations, including as a member of the English honors society Sigma Tau Delta and and inductee of the national academic society, Phi Beta Kappa. She is president of the Omega Eta Epsilon professional language, literacy and culture fraternity, where she led fundraisers for children's books and financial support for the Stockton Homeless Shelter. Other extra-curricular activities include serving as editor-in-chief for the award-winning, student-produced literary magazine, Calliope, and Odyssey. She also served as administrative assistant for the Humanities Scholars Program where she created a mentor program between upper- and lower-division students, and served as a student writing mentor at the Writing Center.
Jesse Marks Co-curricular Award
The Jesse Marks Co-curricular Award recognizes a graduating senior who has made significant and outstanding contributions to the university through significant involvement in organizations and activities outside the classroom that has positively impacted the campus community in significant, meaningful ways.
Jeff Atad '17, an English and sociology double major in College of the Pacific with minors in ethnic studies and pre-law, was the recipient of this award. Atad is a veteran of the United States Army and Marine Corps and received a Bronze Star and Combat Medal as a member of the Green Berets. As president of Pacific's Student Veterans Organization, Atad collaborated with faculty and staff to revitalize the Veterans Resource Center and has played a significant role in improving engagement among and assimilation of student veterans at Pacific. He also connected Pacific veterans with several Stockton-based community groups to provide service and outreach, and helped facilitate monthly visits to all Pacific veterans by a nurse practitioner. His commitment to all veterans, in particular to the success and well-being of Pacific student veterans and the work of the Veteran's Resource Center, has been exemplary.
Dochterman Outstanding Junior Scholarship Award
The Dochterman Outstanding Junior Scholarships recognize two students with Junior standing who have made significant contributions to the university, exhibit high academic standing as well as serving as a positive role model for others outside the classroom and, who work to influence positive change in the university community. Recipients of this year's award were Jordan Telgenhoff '18 and Angie Wei '18.
Jordan Telgenhoff '18 is a music management major in the Conservatory of Music. He is a songwriter, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. As an integral member of the ASuop Arts and Entertainment team, he has cultivated a culture of teamwork and dedication. His positive example, strong work ethic and infectious enthusiasm have set him apart as a leader within the A&E team. He also has brought his skills, leadership and enthusiasm to benefit the music management club and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity.
Angie Wei '18 is a health, exercise and sport sciences major in College of the Pacific. She conducts research with Professor Anja Rivera and served as editor-in-chief of Caduceus, Pacific's undergraduate health research journal. In addition to her academic accomplishments, she is active in numerous organizations, including Pacific Christian Fellowship, WE-Fit health and fitness club, the Pre-Physical Therapy Club, the Black Student Union, and the professional fraternity PEK. She also was the pianist for two Pacific Theatre Arts productions.
Karen DeRosa Outstanding Graduate Student Leader Award
This award recognizes a graduate student who has completed a Master of Arts in Educational Administration with a specialization in Student Affairs who demonstrate leadership in the classroom and makes a significant contribution to the field of student affairs and to the co-curricular student experience at Pacific.
Leticia Snoots '17, an education major with a specialization in Student Affairs and Organizational Leadership in the Gladys L. Benerd School of Education and a graduate assistant in Residential Life and Housing, was the recipient of this award. As the coordinator for the Student-to-Student (S2S) Peer Education Program, Snoots re-wrote and designed training curriculum for the program and organized programming for Sexual Assault Awareness Month and Women's History Month. She also wrote the assessment and analyzed the data for the 15th Annual Women of Distinction Awards event.
Anderson Y Community Service Award
The Anderson Y Community Service Award recognizes an outstanding registered student organization engaged in Pacific and the surrounding local community.
The Circle K International Pacific Chapter was the recipient of this award. Circle K is a Kiwanis-affiliated organization that promotes community service, leadership development and fellowship. Pacific's chapter has 40 members that have accumulated more than 1,400 hours of community service in this academic year alone. They have organized and hosted a 24-Hour Service Marathon that benefited the Boggs Tract Community Farm, the homeless and the children's hospital, coordinating volunteers from University of Nevada, Reno; UC Davis; Sacramento State; San Jose State; UC Merced; Folsom Lake College; and Delta College. Their Kiwanis Family Craft Day recruited 150+ volunteers from all over California to create items for distribution to children in hospitals and among the homeless population of Stockton. The group also held workshops on preparing for college for Stockton-area high school students.
Pacific Tiger Award
This award is presented annually by the Pacific Alumni Association to recognize a registered student organization that exhibits extraordinary school spirit, encourages student participation in activities and events, promotes school spirit, and/or provides students with knowledge of Pacific's heritage, traditions and history.
The McGeorge Federal Bar Association was the recipient of this award. FBA hosted vital opportunities throughout the year for McGeorge law students to network with practicing attorneys and judges in the Sacramento legal community. They also volunteered at United States Magistrate Judge Deborah Barnes' Investiture and partnered with the national organization's community outreach program to participate in a nationwide Civics Day, teaching civics classes at local middle schools. The group partnered on several events with former Board of Regents members, Chief Judge Morrison C. England of the U.S. District Court and Judge Connie M. Callahan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Pacific Fund Philanthropy Award
The Pacific Fund Philanthropy Award recognizes a registered student organization, club or council that demonstrated outstanding commitment to charitable giving. Nominees must have achieved excellence in fundraising for a nonprofit or civic group during the current academic year.
Sigma Chi, a Greek fraternity that focuses on leadership involvement, community outreach, and philanthropic and social endeavors, was the recipient of this award. During their Derby Days annual philanthropy event, the group raised over $10,000 for the Huntsman Cancer Institute. The group worked to bring student and faculty groups together through events such as the Scholarship Banquet, their Philanthropic Spaghetti Dinner, and "S Party" and "Under the Mistletoe" socials. The group received the award for highest chapter GPA and more than 50% of chapter members are involved in leadership positions throughout their professional organization, Pacific employee positions and other extracurricular endeavors.
Student Organization of the Year Award
The Student Organization of the Year Award recognizes a registered student organization that has made a lasting impact on the Pacific community, is recognized for providing quality experiences to its members and the campus community, and collaborates with other clubs and organizations to involve the campus community in positive programs.
The McGeorge Latino Law Students Association, which strives to promote diversity and inclusion with a focus on collaboration with other organizations and community service projects, was the recipient of this award. The group hosts monthly events, including the Welcome to McGeorge BBQ, Día de los Muertos, Safe Space, Diversity Week and Celebración de la Cultura dinner, among others. Known for their collaboration and collegiality, they work closely with the Student Bar Association, the Oak Park Community, the Career Development Office, the Sacramento Food Bank and campus organizations on diversity initiatives. LLSA members participate in student and faculty activities, as well as admissions and diversity-related events.
Congratulations to all the faculty, staff and student award recipients upon receiving this well-deserved recognition.
