Ceremony awards leadership, academics among students

Outstanding students and student organizations were recognized for leadership, academics, mentoring and community service at the fourth annual student leadership awards program Wednesday in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center.\nThe event also recognized graduating seniors from the Faculty and Staff for Student Excellence Mentoring Program, a mentor program initially established at IU to improve freshman retention rates. Additional campus organizations involved included the Office of Diversity Education and the Office of Academic Support and Diversity.\nUndergraduate students, graduate students and student organizations were given monetary awards and certificates. Fifty-six graduating seniors from the FASE mentoring program were honored.\nEdwardo Rhodes, the associate vice president of academic support and diversity, gave a welcome that included remarks on the value of staying positive and presented awards to students and student organizations for leadership.\nCompeting against 12 other student organizations nominees, Theta Nu Xi Upsilon was honored for academic support and diversity. Danny Ambrose was honored as the top graduate student and Eboni Gatlin as top undergraduate student.\nGatlin said her experiences with campus leadership and mentoring organizations meant more than experiences like parties, and encouraged students to make the most of college by taking part in the community.\n"My one message ... is to make the most (of your time here) by getting involved," she said, adding wishes of luck to graduating seniors.\nAmbrose could not make it to the event, but was congratulated for the diversity in the work he did on campus through organizations such as La Casa and Men of Color.\nCharlie Nelms, vice president of institutional development and student affairs, gave the closing remarks.\n"I'm really, really delighted to see this rainbow group of people here," he said.\nNelms spoke of the importance of understanding and appreciating the amount of diversity in the world. He also encouraged award winners not to confuse the certificates and cash they received as awards for success, saying that after decades of education, he did not yet consider himself successful. \nNelms said it took "whole" people who fully participated in service and leadership to be successful and be in the best position to lead.\n"Success is a journey, not a destination," he said. \nAdditional nominees honored at the ceremony included undergraduate student Courtney Williams, who was awarded for leadership, Manuel Martinez and Monique Smith, who were awarded for community service and Muchu Zhou, awarded for academics. Graduate student Gerald Mitchell was awarded for leadership, Zelideh Martinez for community service and Viviane Saleh-Hanna for academics.