Austin College’s top honors for campus leadership and student involvement were handed out April 26 at the annual Student Affairs Leadership Awards dinner, which highlights the contributions to the campus community of a wide variety of organizations and programs. The evening’s program was led by senior Andrew McMillan of Mont Belvieu, Texas.
Top honors went to Outstanding Senior Man Joshua Chanin of London, England, and Altrusa Outstanding Senior Woman Savanah Low of Austin, Texas. These awards are presented to a graduating senior man and woman based upon their scholastic achievements and co-curricular involvement, including membership and leadership in student organizations, committees, or athletic teams, and participation in performing arts, intramurals, and community service. The Sherman Altrusa Club chapter sponsors the Austin College Outstanding Senior Woman Award.
Outstanding Senior Woman Savanah Low has been involved in AC Cares, Biology Interest Group, and Service Station, among many other organizations. She has participated in multiple Alternative Spring Break programs, as well as being an active volunteer in the community and beyond. She also received the 2016 Henry Bucher Global Citizen Award, which recognizes the commitment to service and study in a global context of Dr. Henry Bucher, who served as Austin College chaplain for two decades and continues as an associate professor of humanities. Savanah has been highly involved in everything involving the Service Station over the last four years—multiple Great Days of Service; JanServes; GreenServes; two years on the Service Station Board, including one year as Chair; and various forms of service leadership on campus. She has held internships with the Texoma Health Foundation and the Texoma Council of Governments. In addition to local involvements, she has provided medical care in Honduras, educated at risk women in Mexico, built latrines and planted trees in Paraguay, and conducted research from Beirut, Lebanon, on gender-based violence programs. She is her completing a major in international relations with a minor in Spanish. Savanah is the daughter of Richard Low and Melanie Sherwood.
Outstanding Senior Man Joshua Chanin has been involved almost since the day he arrived on the Austin College campus. He has been involved with the Classics Club, the Observer newspaper staff, and Environmentally Concerned Organization of Students (ECOS). He has served as a resident assistant and head resident for the Residence Life staff and served as captain of the Austin College men’s swimming and diving team. He has managed to balance his busy co-curricular life with academics as he completes majors in history and political science and a minor in exercise and sports science. This fall, he will attend the University of Texas at Arlington where he will complete a master’s degree in history. He is the son of Vincent and Andrea Chanin.
Outstanding Freshman Award
Outstanding Freshman honors went to Erin Laine of Houston, Texas. The Outstanding Freshman is selected after nominations from faculty, staff, and student leaders. Nominees then are sent an invitation to apply, and a committee reviews the applications to make a final selection.
Erin jumped right into campus activities upon arrival at the College last fall. She is a member of Campus Activities Board and ECOS, served as an ACE leader for the Office of Admission. She was elected Freshman Representative and Food Advisory Committee Chair for Student Assembly and works as a campus events photographer for the College.
Laine, daughter of Rick and RaAnn Laine, plans to major in English and minor in education.
Oscar C. Page Servant of the Year
Nesh Maniam of The Woodlands, Texas, was named the Oscar C. Page Servant of the Year based upon self-motivated willingness to perform service to the community. The award honors Austin College President Emeritus Oscar Page (serving 1994–2009) for his emphasis on the values of servant-leadership and his example of volunteer efforts.
In announcing the award, Nancy Morgan, Austin College coordinator of volunteer services, said that Maniam never talks about service, except to say how important it is. He has run numerous group projects as part of Alpha Phi Omega, from banquets and runs to benefit nonprofits to activities on campus that showcase international student groups. He has worked on organizational and fundraising work for Global Medical Brigades, participated in Alternative Spring Break service trips, and completed volunteer EMT rotations during the summer as well as volunteer positions with the North Cypress Medical Center. He has also tutored children through the Austin College Tutoring program from the Service Station. His ultimate goal is to serve as a physician with Doctors Without Borders and to open a non-profit hospital.
Nesh also received the Robert Rogers Outstanding Volunteer Service award. He is the son of Drs. Bala and Santhi Maniam.
Goodloe Lewis Scholarship for Campus Leadership
Angela Huang of Allen, Texas, received the Goodloe Lewis Scholarship, established by Aramark to honor the long-time Austin College faculty and staff member. The award recognizes co-curricular leadership and involvement. Huang has been heavily involved in a variety of activities from the beginning of her Austin College career. She has served as the service chair for the Biology Interest Group, brought the Chemical Society back to Austin College, and served as public relations chair for the Business Society. She also has served as a peer tutor for the Academic Skills Center. In the outside community, she works to implement educational and recreational activities to children who were victims of domestic violence and to deliver social activities for hospice patients.
Angela is majoring in biology and economics. She is the daughter of Hannah Ding and Randy Delfs of Allen and Peishan Huang of Houston.
Robert Bradshaw Memorial Scholarship for Campus Leadership
The Robert Bradshaw Memorial Scholarship was endowed through contributions of family, friends, colleagues, and a special gift from the graduating Class of 1994 in memory of Bradshaw, who served as vice president of Student Affairs for 10 years before his untimely death. This award recognizes the rising junior or senior who has demonstrated exceptional leadership through involvement in co-curricular activities at Austin College. As of spring 2014, both a male and female Bradshaw scholarship winner are named.
The Bradshaw Scholarship female honoree, Sarah Monroe of San Antonio, Texas, is a junior with a double major in public health and music. She is an ACtivator, a member of the Austin College Consort Choir, director of the AC Descant Choir, a section leader for the Austin College A Cappella Choir, president of the Mentors in Violence Prevention program, and is the head resident of Clyce Hall.
The Bradshaw Scholarship male honoree is junior Jay Jeon of Dallas, Texas. Majoring in biochemistry, he is a member of the German Club, Asian Student Association, and Pre-Law Society. He serves as president of the Austin College Chemical Society and is a lab assistant in the Biology Department and a teaching/learning assistant in the Chemistry Department.
Nelda Lambert Excellence Award
Cody Stewart of Duncanville, Texas, received the Nelda Lambert Work Study Excellence Award, which honors the loyalty, efficiency, and special contributions that the late Nelda Lambert made to Austin College as a longtime member of the Student Affairs staff. The award is presented to a student employed in a work-study position who reflects the excellence Nelda embodied in her work.
Cody is a Work Study employee in the Department of Athletics. He is the son of Keith and Ruthanne Stewart of Duncanville, Texas.
Howard Starr Faculty/Staff Co-Curricular Support
Ryan Britt, director of development in Institutional Advancement, received the award that recognizes significant contributions to student life outside the classroom. A member of the staff for five years, Britt serves as a sponsor for the Drake Fraternity, has participated in Alternative Spring Break trips for 3 years, and supports students at numerous functions, including athletic events.
In 2013, the award was named for Howard Starr, emeritus professor of psychology, and is given to those faculty and staff who follow in Dr. Starr’s example of a continued commitment to students.
Organization Excellence
Student organizations also were recognized for achievements in scholarship and leadership on the campus and in the larger community.
The Organizational Excellence Award went to the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity. The organization is consistent in its commitments and contribution to each of these areas. Announcing the award, it was mentioned that each member of this organization is involved in at least two other organizations, making their involvement on campus even more powerful. This organization has completed more than 40 service projects and 3,000 service hours this year. They have been recognized locally and nationally with numerous awards.
The Greek Organizational Excellence Award was presented to Zeta Chi Beta social fraternity. The group has completed over seven hundred service hours, raised thousands of dollars for charity, and partnered with organizations both on campus and off, striving toward the idea of leading through serving. They hold one of the highest fraternity GPAs and members are involved in numerous activities on campus, including Student Assembly and Students Today, Alumni Tomorrow.
Organization Sponsors
Dr. Jack Pierce was named Outstanding Sponsor for making significant contributions to a student organization through participation, support, and assistance. He has served with Pre-Health Society for more than 25 years. He participates in weekly meetings with officers and membership and helps with programs before and after the event. He is interested in the success of the organization and all students he advises.
Dr. Ian MacFarlane, sponsor of Chi Tau Chi social fraternity, was named the E. Don Williams Outstanding Greek Sponsor. That award was named to honor the significant and long-term sponsorship of a campus Greek organization by Williams, emeritus professor of mathematics, who taught at Austin College from 1970 to 2013. MacFarlane is committed to maintaining a healthy relationship with fraternity members. He is constantly promoting the organization to other students and offers professional and personal guidance to the group.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, international study, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 36 percent of students representing ethnic minorities. A residential student body of 1,250 students and a faculty of more than 100 allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. The College is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA) and cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. Founded in 1849, the College is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.