Alina Panek ‘20, a Communication major with a concentration in Narrative Journalism, was awarded Denison’s President’s Medal, the college’s highest student honor.
Denison annually recognizes graduating seniors who have demonstrated exemplary leadership and service to the University through their involvement in student organizations, in co-curricular activities, on Denison’s staff, and as athletes and scholars.
Panek’s President’s Medal Citation:
Alina, your faculty say you have the ability to be intellectually engaged and to engage the community at the same time, that you consistently connect what’s happening in the classroom with what’s happening in the world, and that you are a student exemplar in the burgeoning Narrative Journalism concentration. In your involvements on campus, you rarely limit yourself to only the organizations and causes to which you are inherently tied. Whether by contributing to Synapse or facilitating DU Lead and June-O sessions, your willingness to traverse the unfamiliar with empathy and intention provides not only a model but a framework to other students looking to do the same. Holding the position of Vice President of La Fuerza Latina with humility and respect as a biracial woman allowed you to foster cross-cultural connections. In your work as the news editor for the Denisonian, you led an effort to vitalize that publication into an important arena for campus dialogue and understanding. Your work as an aspiring journalist has highlighted underrepresented communities across campus in catalytic ways. One of your greatest contributions to Denison has been your leadership in creating a thriving Denison First-Generation student network. Your dedication to the betterment of Denison’s campus culture is diverse, far reaching, consistent and authentically driven in every case.
