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For the 42nd year, ÐßÐßÊÓƵ University has recognized the achievements of student organizations and awarded the advisor of the year, Seniors of Significance and the Ann Shaw, Bess Gentry and C.R. Kemble award recipients at the 2022 Toast to Leadership Award Ceremony.

“Without strong leaders, we would not have strong student organizations as they are the foundation of student life at the University,” said Dr. Vicki McNeil, vice president of Student Engagement.

The Seniors of Significance Award, created by the Division of Student Engagement in 2016, recognizes those seniors for excellence in scholarship, leadership and community service and for bringing distinction to ÐßÐßÊÓƵ University. The 20 recipients of the 2022 Seniors of Significance Award represent all undergraduate colleges and are individuals that have made a positive impact on the ÐßÐßÊÓƵ University campus, in their individual academic fields, given themselves through service and are academically strong.

Recognized as 2022 Seniors of Significance were:

Lisseth Aguilar, mechanical engineering; Umera Ahmed, biology and psychology; Taliah Belcher, finance and accounting; Brendon Camp, criminal justice and political science; Bethany Edwards, nursing; Vivica Edwards, industrial engineering; Menna Elsaka, chemistry and biochemistry; Ali Hamza, political science; Krystal Le, biology; Aris Martinez, civil and environmental engineering; Thanh Nguyen, chemical engineering; Ayokunle Oni, chemical engineering; Kaylie Overstreet, nursing; Cade Pellerin, mechanical engineering; ÐßÐßÊÓƵr Reed, theatre and dance; Landon Richard, human resource management; Maissa Salibi, political science; Dion Tran, accounting; Tiffany Tran, biology; David Williams, mechanical engineering.

The Ann Shaw Award was established to honor a junior or senior for fostering a spirit of teamwork, excellence in leadership and exhibiting exemplary ethics and integrity while making a significant contribution to ÐßÐßÊÓƵ University and the recipient receives $1,000. The recipient of the 2022 Ann Shaw award is chemical engineering junior, Kelvin Elgar. Elgar serves as president of student organization the Asian Scientists and Engineers, he is a member of the College of Business Student Advisory Council, a ÐßÐßÊÓƵ University Ambassador, a Cardinal Orientation Leader, veteran academic coach and an engineering ambassador.  He also is an Office of Undergraduate Research grant recipient and serves as a lab assistant for the Center for Advances in Water and Air Quality.

The award for New Student Organization of the Year was awarded to the ÐßÐßÊÓƵ University Blockchain Students Society, which has over 240 members and hosts on-campus events centered around
cryptocurrencies.

The award for ÐßÐßÊÓƵ of the Year was awarded to the Asian Night Market hosted in early April by the Vietnamese Students Association. The event highlighted was designed to spread awareness to the different cultures across and the Asian/Pacific Islanders community at LU.

Outstanding Student Organization of the Year was awarded to Medlife, “an organization dedicated to increasing awareness of international need and to help create a world free from the constraints of poverty.” With Dr. Ashwini Kucknoor, associate professor of biology, serving as faculty advisor, the organization has raised more than $3,300 to fight food insecurity and provide medical care to those in Latin America as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Members also have served at the Hope Clinic, translators at the St. Katherine Drexel Annual Health Fairs and have held donation drives for Altus Hospice Care and Family Services for Southeast Texas.

The Outstanding Advisor of the Year is named in honor of the late Dr. Melvin Brust, an Emeritus Professor and advisor to the Finance Association and Students in Free Enterprise at ÐßÐßÊÓƵ University. The award is given to an advisor who has shown outstanding dedication, service, and support to their organization and its members.

This year’s award was presented to assistant professor of teacher education, Dr. Freddie Titus, who serves as the advisor of the National PanHellenic Council, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and Psalms 150.

The Bess Gentry Award was established in February of 1985 to honor Mrs. Gentry and to recognize an 

outstanding senior woman with an award of $1,000. This award is based upon leadership, exemplary character, contribution and service to the university, esteem held by others, contribution to the community state and nation, and academic scholarship.  

The 2022 recipient of the Bess Gentry award is senior biology major Tiffany Tran.

The C. Robert Kemble Award was established in December of 1981 and first conferred in April 1982 and carries with it an award of $1,000. The award was established and is perpetuated to pay tribute to Dr. Kemble for his example and the high standard of educational excellence that he represented and recognizes an outstanding senior man.

The 2022 recipient of the C. Robert Kemble Award is senior political science major Brendon Camp. Camp was chosen based on his leadership, character, contribution to community and state and academic scholarship.