Featured Friars: Award Recipients

by The Cowl Editor on May 3, 2018


Features


The Center for Orientation, Transitions, & Leadership Recognizes Students

by Sarah Gianni ’18

News Staff Emerita

Maggie Brahnam ’18/The Cowl

As the spring semester comes to an end, the Providence College community has recognized students, clubs, and organizations in 18 different Student Recognition Award categories. These awards are sponsored annually by the Center for Orientation, Transitions & Leadership, the Office of Student Activities & Cultural Programming, Student Congress, and the Office of Institutional Advancement as a way to celebrate the dedication and passion of various students and groups around campus. 

Students and faculty members had the opportunity to nominate individuals and organizations by Thursday, March 29, with nominees and winners recognized at an evening reception on Wednesday, April 25 in ’64 Hall. 

“Winning the 2018 Emerging Leader Award reassured me that I was being a good leader and more importantly a good friend,” said Nathan Perez ’20. “Being put in the conversation the other nominees and winners is really an honor.” 

Perez also gave a shoutout to Campus Ministry for winning the 2018 Outstanding Organization award. “This organization has surrounded me with other leaders who make my job so much easier, Emily King especially,” he said. “I also want to thank the Orientation Staff for being the first people to show me what it meant to be a leader on campus.” 

Gabriella Dess ’18 said she was humbled and honored to have received the 2018 Unsung Hero Award. “After the awards ceremony, I made a comment to a friend and said I was totally shocked to have been chosen for this award,” she said with a laugh. “They exclaimed, ‘Gabi, that’s the point of this award!’” 

The Unsung Hero Award is designed to recognize a Providence College student who is highly involved in student life, and has had a strong impact on the community. “I think my desire to collaborate with others and make Providence College a better place for everyone—from both a micro and macro perspective—is why I received this award,” Dess said. 

Delina Auciello ’18 said she felt a mix of emotions when she learned she was nominated for the 2018 Service Leader of the Year Award. “I was shocked, excited, and felt so loved and honored that someone thought to nominate me for an award,” she said. Auciello is a member of the Dirigo Leadership Honor Society, and has taken on a number of service and leadership roles throughout her time at PC.

“Winning this award has made me incredibly grateful for the experiences I have had at PC, but I cannot solely take credit for this award because it is the relationships I have built and the community I have experienced that have aided me in the pursuit of my passions, and to really dive into work that I love,” Auciello said. 

The Cowl congratulates all nominees and recipients of the 2018 Student Recognition Awards.

The 2018 winners for each award are as follows: Emerging Leader Award: Nathan Perez ’20, Unsung Hero Award: Gabriella Dess ’18, Service Leader of the Year Award: Delina Auciello ’18 and Keith Lee ‘18, Student Leader of the Year  Award: Phionna-Cayola Claude ‘18, Dirigo Leadership Award: Sabrina Guilbeault ’18, Dirigo Honorary  Membership: Father Dominic M. Verner, O.P., Leaving a Legacy Award: Cassandra Caggiano ’18, Outstanding Fundraiser: Santa Shop Dirigo Leadership Honor Society, Outstanding Service Project: English as a Second Language and Campus Ministry, Outstanding Cultural Program: Love Your Melanin and Believers of Words, Outstanding New Event: The World Needs More Love Letters and Board of Programmers, Outstanding Event: You’re Never Alone in Friartown, Active Minds and Student-Athlete Advisory Council, Outstanding Cultural Organization: SHEPARD, Most Improved Organization: Active Minds Outstanding Performance Organization: Debate Society, Outstanding Athletic Organization: Women’s Club Lacrosse, Outstanding Organization: Campus Ministry, Special Recognition Award: Women of Meagher.

Maggie Brahnam ’18/The Cowl