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. Nominations of deserving students are made by faculty, staff, and student peers. In selecting the recipients, we look for evidence of an enduring commitment to enhancing the quality of life in our community. The students we honor today have made a clear, noticeable and lasting impact on Denisonians’ lives through their leadership efforts.
B.A. Environmental Studies and B.A. Women’s and Gender Studies
- SHARE, Vice President
- Food Recovery Network, Lead Student Manager
- Homelessness and Hunger, President
- Denison Campus Governance Association, Senator Environmental Studies Committee, Student Representative
Rachel, your Denison leadership journey began as a participant in the Denison Service Orientation, where you were able to see peers in a leadership role and observe just how much influence students can have on each other. Through your peers’ encouragement and your dedication to truly helping others, you became the public relations chair and later president of the Homelessness and Hunger program. Your desire to help those in need continued, as you collaborated with Bon Appetit and the greater community to become a true leader with Denison’s food recovery efforts. You have also been an active and passionate member of SHARE (Sexual Harassment and Rape Education) for several years, promoting the importance of bystander intervention and training, developing presentations related to sexual assault awareness and prevention, and serving as a compassionate and vocal advocate, CSMART (Community Sexual Misconduct Awareness and Response Team) liaison, and Aug-O presenter. You have demonstrated exceptional dedication to extracurricular activities that benefit the community, specifically in the area of poverty and hunger, sexual assault advocacy, and environmentalism. We look forward to seeing the impact you will have in the world.
B.A. Studio Art
- Black Student Union, Chief Minister
- Denison Paving the Way Pre-orientation, Co-Coordinator
Ariel, you are deeply respected by faculty, staff, and students. Your peers recognize you as open minded, having a “big warm heart,” and as someone who stands up for others who perhaps can’t stand up for themselves. You have been involved in important work on campus, ranging from the arts, to chief minister of the Black Student Union, to Paving the Way co-coordinator. Staff members at the Denison Museum view you as someone they can entrust with any project, given your extraordinary dedication to the work, ability to learn new skills with quick agility, and your willingness to do more than anyone could ever ask. Faculty within the studio art department think very highly of you, and you are known to produce really remarkable, outstanding work. What is clear from all of your nominations is that your work to create a welcoming community, whether in the BSU or Bryant or Burke, has significantly impacted the lives of those around you. We thank you.
B.A. Economics
- Denison Campus Governance Association, Finance Chair, Class Co-Governor
- Delta Gamma Fraternity, Vice President Finance
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters
- Habitat for Humanity
Ashley, you arrived at Denison and jumped right in, finding your way to experiences inside and outside of the classroom that would stretch you. You are respected by faculty and peers in economics and political science as a talented student and eager learner, earning scholarships and academic recognition. You have offered the knowledge and skills gained while debating the topics of the day in Denison Campus Governance Association (DCGA), building houses with Habitat for Humanity, moderating Sustained Dialogue programs, and advising younger students as a ResEd staff member. As past finance chair for DCGA during a challenging budget cycle, you exhibited grace under pressure, articulated your points of view, demonstrated your passion for fiscal responsibility, and also stepped into the fray by accepting responsibility for listening to community concerns and proposing responses. Thank you Ashley, for all the ways you stepped up to accept the challenges of organizational leadership and equally for the times you have stepped back, while mentoring younger leaders who will accept the mantle of effective leadership they’ll inherit from you.
B.A. English (Writing)
- The Denisonian, Editor-in-Chief, News Editor
- Copy Editor Writers’ Club, President
- Exile literary magazine, Editor-in-Chief, Prose Editor
Carole, your contributions to the Denison culture have been exceptional; the impact of your leadership has been felt in the numerous roles you have held. As Editor-in-Chief of “The Denisonian,” you were described as “absolutely fantastic” and “talented,” clearly setting the standard of excellence. You increased web presence, multimedia coverage and the local print delivery range of the paper. Your tenure as president of the Writer’s Club and prose editor for EXILE, has been inspirational. It is evident from the comments of your peers that you accomplished your vision of a shared, encouraging space for writers, which celebrated their successes, large and small. Your ability to successfully collaborate with faculty, students, administrators, and local community leaders in developing a directory of publications is just another example of your supportive insight. Instructing homeschooled elementary students in creative writing exemplifies your dedication to develop others and demonstrates the value you place on encouraging others. Not only did you inspire, mentor and lead your peers, you selflessly supported and developed the next generation of writers and leaders while engaging your community. We recognize and thank you for inspiring a standard of excellence for others to follow.
B.A. Communication and B.A. International Studies
- Denison International Student Association, President
- Global China Connection, Vice President
- Beta Theta Pi Fraternity
- Denison International Pre-Orientation, Co-Coordinator Club Basketball
Zhihao, your impact on campus is best characterized by bridging the gaps and fostering connections among different communities on campus. You have been an exceptional mentor and leader within the international community at Denison, particularly within the Denison International Students Association. Through your coordinator role for the pre-orientation program, you worked to provide international students with a foundation for success, while also ensuring they felt part of the Denison family from the very first day. Through Global China Connection, you have worked to educate the community about Chinese culture, and through the Taste of Culture events, you have provided a space and opportunity for students of different backgrounds to establish relationships. One of your nominators writes that you have made incredible progress unifying different segments of the student population with the greater Denison community. Students and staff observed you bringing together different groups on campus to collaborate and learn from one another. Zhihao, we thank you for working to create a more inclusive and connected campus community.
B.S. Psychology
- Panhellenic Council, VP of Recruitment
- Denison Community Association, President, Vice President
- Omicron Delta Kappa, Recruitment Chair
Sara, as you shared in your reflection, your experiences at Denison led you to make informed decisions with confidence and assisted you in positively influencing the lives of others. This individual growth and your community impact earned you this distinction as a Distinguished Leader. As president of the Denison Community Association, you supported over 20 DCA groups in serving the campus and surrounding community, resulting in the college’s recognition on the President’s Honor Roll for service. As vice president of recruitment for the Panhellenic Council you led a successful values-based recruitment, centered on educating potential new members and furthering chapter development. In both roles, you led with poise to further the strength and health of the larger community. Your selflessness and persistence led you to success in your many endeavors both in and beyond the classroom, and for this we are grateful. Congratulations.
B.A. Sociology/Anthropology and B.A. Black Studies
- Black Student Union, Minister of Affairs
- Residential Education and Housing, Resident Assistant
Cheyenne, you embody the characteristics that we hope are present in all Denisonians: critical thinking, problem-solving, and a limitless appetite for learning. Those nominating you consistently remarked on your understanding of and care for others, kindness, positive spirit, engaging energy, and inclusive approach to leadership. Your accomplishments range from work in the First-Year Office, leadership within the Black Student Union and Center for Cross-Cultural Engagement, a semester abroad in South Africa, and the application of that experience to your senior research project regarding the educational attainment of multiethnic and multiracial students at predominately white institutions. In every dimension of your Denison experience, you have been a radiant example for other students. While you often work in the background, it is clear that Denison is a better place because of your willingness to take on challenges, identify and solve problems, and care for others along the way. Through these achievements and more, you continue to fuse your passion for learning with making the world a better place. We are so glad you chose Denison.
B.A. Psychology
- Newman Catholic Club, President
- Kappa Kappa Gamma, Vice President Academic Excellence,
- 91.1 WDUB, DJ
- Psychology Department, Fellow
Hannah, your involvement at Denison spans the entire campus, ranging from fellow in the psychology department, head tutor in Academic Support & Enrichment, vice president academic excellence in Kappa Kappa Gamma, WDUB DJ, and Hope for Autism volunteer. However, the most visible impact of your leadership is as president of the Newman Catholic Club. You were asked to take on a leadership role within Newman Catholic Club very early on during your Denison career and were forced to rebuild the organization from the ground up — planning retreats and weekly meetings to support religious identity and faith on campus. This work transformed Newman Catholic Club into the vibrant community it is today. Hannah, a staff member describes you as the “face and force behind Catholic life on Denison’s campus since the end of her first year…the consistent and reliable go to leader for Catholic students.” You have shown us how a dedicated, committed leader can revitalize an entire organization. Thank you.
B.A. Political Science
- Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, President
- Denison Campus Governance Association, Policy Committee Chairman, Class Co-Governor
- Denison Hilltoppers, Treasurer
- University Council, Student Representative
- Residential Education and Housing, Resident Assistant
Steven, you have been an engaged student within the departments of political science and economics. Through internships with “No Labels,” the Ohio Democratic Party, Senator Brown and Strickland for Senate, you have delved deeper into campus, local and national politics to hone your own skills. On campus, your presence is appreciated in your fraternity Beta Theta Pi, Admissions, Denison Campus Governance Association (DCGA), The Hilltoppers, Speech and Debate, and University Council. We are grateful for the degree to which you value and promote deep conversations with your peers. Students have expressed their appreciation for your mentoring and supportive approach toward them, as you often involve newer students in dialogue. As chair of the policy committee for DCGA, you helped a core group of student leaders author resolutions that bring ideas into action. We thank your for your sustained commitment to our campus and for the leadership you have provided within university governance structures and student organizations.
B.A. Environmental Studies
- The Bullsheet, Managing Editor
- Denison Hilltoppers, Rehearsal Director
- Environmental Studies, Fellow Admissions, Senior Interviewer
In your reflection, you wrote that leadership is often associated with title and position, but that some of the most important leadership is provided by people whose passion or commitment inspires others, or by those who care not about causes but about people, leading from the heart. You have been all of these: you’ve held prestigious titles, like senior interviewer, managing editor for the Bullsheet, director of the Hilltoppers. You’ve done work that aligns with your passions, like the Bike Orientation Program. And those are important, but are not what we’ll remember you for. We’ll remember how you connected with people across so many dimensions of campus life, and how your genuine care and curiosity drew others into community everywhere you went. The titles you’ve held reflect the respect you’ve earned through sheer competence. But it’s the exceptional ways you have been your own self-making connections to others that is somewhat intangible and what has mattered most. Teddy, we will all really miss you.
B.A. Psychology
- Denison Feminists, President SHARE, Treasurer
- The G-Team, Producer
- 91.1 WDUB, DJ
- Denison Independent Theatre Association
Erin, your nominators spoke eloquently about why you deserve this recognition. As one wrote, you are “completely and wholly dedicated to furthering gender and sexual identity equality and support on campus.” From the time you arrived at Denison you have immersed yourself in powerful and meaningful work as an advocate. The progress you have made, whether as the Queer Community Senator for the Denison Campus Governance Association, Outlook Executive member or Sexual Harassment and Rape Education advocate and executive member, is admirable. But the work you have been the most passionate about has been with the Denison Feminists. First as the vice president and then as the president, you take every opportunity to grow and learn what a great leader truly can be and do. You have organized events, held multiple drives to collect supplies needed for homeless shelters, led weekly meetings which are inclusive of all members. You have undeniably helped reform and shape this group. Erin, whether the path you take brings you to running SARNCO or working tirelessly in the trenches of social work and advocating for those who are underrepresented, we know that you will lead with a fierce passion and dedication to ensuring equality.
B.S. Biochemistry
- Men’s Basketball, Captain
- Denison Chemical Society, Outreach Coordinator
- AED Pre-Health Society, Secretary
Patrick: faculty, staff, and students alike describe you as a genuine, committed, respected, and trustworthy leader in the classroom, on the men’s basketball team, and in the local community. Your teammates and coach describe you as a leader both in season and out of season. Every week for the last three years, you’ve been a companion for Hospice patients. Last summer, you traveled to Bogota to teach English to children. Within the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, you serve as a tutor, as outreach chair of the Denison Chemical Society, and you are described as “a calming presence” in the department. Leadership to you is not simply a buzzword but something you hope to model in the way you live your life every day. Your actions and commitment to your academics and your team greatly influence the lives around you, and other students, particularly your teammates, admire you. Thank you, Patrick, for your service, not only to Denison, but to the local and global communities as well.
B.A. Economics (Mathematics)
- SHARE, Advocate Liaison
- Homelessness and Hunger, Vice President
- Denison Campus Governance Association, Senator, Finance Committee, Policy Committee
- Student Security Committee
Max, you have done exceptional service for the university and larger community in a variety of contexts. You consistently work to increase the voices of students on campus through the security committee, the Denison Campus Governance Association, Homelessness and Hunger, and Sexual Harassment and Rape Education (SHARE). You are a quiet but effective and diligent leader and you continually bring new perspectives and a creative approach to your work with each group: you planned and coordinated a Homelessness and Hunger fundraiser with the Gaming Guild, successfully raising money in addition to establishing a new connection between the two organizations; you instituted a Q&A system so people could anonymously ask questions or give comments about campus safety; and you came up with the idea of getting SHARE advocates wristbands to identify them as advocates. In each instance, your work yielded a tangible outcome that improves our campus. Max, you have truly been a positive voice on campus and we thank you for making such a sustained and constructive impact on our community.
B.A. Studio Art
- D.U. Art Collective, Co-President
- Denison International Students Association, Executive Member
- Denison International Pre-Orientation
Jenny, you wrote that, “with passion and people, you can go to wherever you want to be.” Connecting people to place is a theme that runs throughout your Denison career. Through the International Pre-Orientation program and the International Student Association, you welcomed and guided Denison’s international students as they transitioned to college life. Your presence was felt by first-year international women, as you mentored them to succeed at Denison. As a studio art major, your creativity was highlighted in three exhibitions on campus. As the co-president of DU Art Collective you drew attention to art activities that could serve as a bridge between Denison’s campus and neighboring communities. You founded Humans of Denison to share the stories of our community’s members. Your exhibitions and your role as student photographer on “The Denisonian” gave us all a glimpse into what you see in this place. We thank you for opening eyes and opening doors, for reaching into our community and helping us reach out, and for showing us that creativity is itself an important cornerstone in building community.
B.A. History and B.A. Economics
- Interfraternity Council, President, Vice President of Recruitment
- Denison Campus Governance Association, Senator
- Admissions, Senior Interviewer
- SHARE, Advocate
- Delta Chi Fraternity, Vice President, Secretary
Jared, your leadership at Denison is characterized by a willingness to ask questions, to expose vulnerabilities, and to reflect on matters of power and privilege, and the responsibilities they carry. You made sexual assault prevention and awareness a priority for yourself and as a result you influenced the Interfraternity Council to make this a priority as well. Successfully collaborating with campus and community organizations and the Village of Granville, you coordinated the first-ever Walk a Mile in Her Shoes event at Denison, raising awareness in the community and supporting the Newark Rape Crisis Center. Your continued work and collaboration with Sexual Harassment and Rape Education (SHARE) led to a large increase in the number of men trained and serving as SHARE Advocates, and your voice and influence led the campus to support the “It’s On Us” campaign. In IFC, in your fraternity and as August Orientation leader, you have presented a thoughtful model of what it means to be a Denison student, a fraternity member, and a good man. We hope that you’ll carry those values into the world after Denison, and that your model will be emulated and remembered with pride by those you have represented so well on our campus. Thank you.
B.A. Black Studies and B.A. Dance
- Dance Department, Fellow
- Black Studies Department, Fellow
- Multicultural Greek Council, Vice President
- Denison Arts Orientation, Leader
- Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc.
Graciella, in your reflection you wrote about how much participating in the Denison Arts Orientation as an entering first-year student shaped your identity at Denison; it led you to the dance major in which you have excelled and to your involvement in Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority. As a student coordinator of the Denison Arts Orientation for the past three years, you have successfully provided this same transformative experience for other entering students. Not surprisingly, your nominators describe you as “creative,” and “talented,” but they also comment on how “welcoming” and “compassionate” you are. One nominator noted how you have an “amazing ability to make nervous students feel at ease,” noting how critically important this is during an orientation “that asks these nervous first-year students to take risks artistically.” You wrote that you are “excited to go off into the world with the hopes of bringing change to your future communities.” You have given us every reason to bet on your success.
B.A. Political Science
- Exile, Editor-in-Chief, Poetry Editor
- Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, Public Relations Chairman
- The Denisonian, Managing Editor
- Arts and Life Editor
- Denison Campus Governance Association, Senator
Golzar, there aren’t many elements of campus communication that you haven’t touched at some point. You served in editorial roles, including managing editor of “The Denisonian” and editor in chief of “Exile;” you worked in University Communication on “Denison” magazine and web publications, and you managed newsletters and social media for Kappa Kappa Gamma. That record would be impressive enough, but equally important is the way that you brought your own voice to that work. Certainly within the pages of “The Denisonian,” you contributed a positive and thoughtful perspective and you made sure that the quality of writing and the range of views represented was reflective of the campus. You describe leadership as “contributing to the environments of growth and learning” and you have done this consistently throughout your four years at Denison. You have used your talents to make Denison an environment more conducive to growth and learning, and you have earned the respect and admiration of fellow Denisonians every step of the way. Congratulations.
B.A. Communication and Educational Studies
- B.A. Economics and B. A International Studies
- Asian American Association, Vice President
- University Programming Council, Programming Director (D-Day)
- Denison Paving the Way Pre-Orientation, Co-Coordinator
Lauren, you began your journey in the Paving the Way pre-orientation. Over the last four years, you not only have blazed new trails in your journey, but also have consistently looked to mentor and support others that follow behind you. In particular, you have demonstrated exceptional leadership through your four years on University Programming Council, culminating with your role as D-Day chair this year. You served as co-coordinator for Paving the Way and contributed leadership and innovation in the Asian American Association. Your service to your fellow students through your work in the Campus Leadership & Involvement Center provided not just guidance and help, but a model of an engaged student leader. In each of these areas you have shown tremendous dedication in sustaining your commitment to these groups since your freshman year, and your leadership in these groups has been marked by consistent dependability, consistency, and hard work. Your leadership can be described in two words: rock solid. You have been a role model of excellence that will remain well after you leave Denison.
B.A. Psychology
- Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc., President, Fundraising Chair, Social Chair
- SHARE, President
- Advocate Liaison Psychology Department
- Fellow D.U. Lead
- Club Advisor CSMART, Board Member
Karen, you wrote that you have learned that “leadership [isn’t] simply about having a certain personality or disposition toward leading; it [is] just finding something you care about and being involved in furthering it.” As a Sexual Harassment and Rape Education (SHARE) advocate, Community Sexual Misconduct Awareness and Response Team (CSMART) member, D.U. Lead Advisor and psychology major, you have left no doubt about the things you care about. You have devoted yourself to educating the campus community about sexual misconduct and supporting survivors. As president of SHARE, you implemented a program during August Orientation educating first-year students about consent. Your nominators emphasize that it was your passion and commitment that made this program such a success. In psychology, you have focused on those marginalized by mental health or disability, conducting and presenting research that could make changes in the experiences of those populations. So we can conclude that you have cared mightily, but also that you brought the full force of your talent, your energy, and your intellect, and your heart to positive change. Denison is a better place because you put your caring into action and we thank you for the impact you have had on our community.
B. A History and B.A. Political Science
- Denison Campus Governance Association, President, Speaker
- Campus Affairs Council, Chair
- Leadership Fellows, Fellow
- Co-Coordinator of The LeaderShape Institute
- Denison Service Orientation
- Student Leader Delta Gamma Fraternity
Meghan, you say leadership is a “values-based, communal and selfless process.” Your carefully curated involvements at Denison exhibit that spirit clearly and distinctly. Your transformational experience at LeaderShape grounded you in your most deeply held values and launched your commitment to servant leadership. You were called to serve your community as a peer leadership educator in the Leadership Fellows, as a true example of “doing good” as a sister of Delta Gamma, as a resident assistant for first-year students, and as a three-time club advisor for D.U. Lead. Your passion for your fellow students, your strong commitment to positive change, and your true affinity for Denison permeates all of your interactions and involvements. It earned you the trust of peers who named you class senator, speaker of the senate, and president of Denison Campus Governance Association. Your composure in the face of adversity, your fierce passion for positive change, your ability to link people and ideas, and your refusal to ever give up on something you believe in will be your legacy. Meghan, thank you for pushing for a better Denison for your fellow students and the future of our college. Congratulations.
B.A. Political Science
- The Denisonian, Editor-in-Chief, News Editor, Layout Editor
- Denison Campus Governance Association
- BSU Community Senator
- Budgeting Ad Hoc Member SHARE, Advocate
- Big Brothers/Big Sisters
- SHARE Advocate
- Denison Democrats
- Black Student Union
- DCGA Senator
- The Denisonian
Jewell, you’ve contributed to so many facets of our campus community. As editor-in-chief for “The Denisonian,” you pushed with such integrity for your staff to take on the tough issues that happen on and off campus. Through your work on Denison Campus Governance Association, and particularly the Ad Hoc Committee on Budgeting, you made thoughtful recommendations on how to move the process forward. Through your own writing in the newspaper or even your senior research, you tackled topics that matter and sparked conversations that invited those around you to think deeply about issues of significance. One nominator captured it well, writing: “Jewell’s biggest contribution to campus leadership is … her unabashed constructive criticism towards parts of campus life that need a fixer-upper. While many students on campus strive to make change on campus, Jewell is perhaps one of the most determined to see that change come to fruition.” Rather than accepting the status quo, you have picked up the tools of change, and when you’ve set them down, you’ve moved on to see what a different set of tools might make possible. To the very end, you have looked for ways to make Denison a better place, and we hope you can see that you’ve been successful, and that your capacity for positive change has just begun to be tapped. Thank you.
B.A. Music Composition and B.A. Theater
- Denison Gaming Guild
- President Big Red Anime Club
- President Karaoke Club, President
- Sketch’rs, Technical Director
- Theta Alpha Phi
Aaron, you’ve said that your mantra is “Do what you love and love what you do,” so it isn’t surprising that the words “passionate” and “enthusiastic” kept recurring in your nominations. Believing in yourself and your ability to achieve the impossible, combined with your gift of recognizing the best in others, are qualities worthy of recognition. These attributes propelled you in your vision to develop a new student group, Staged (r)eatings, where your passion created a space where artists owned their creativity and developed themselves by engaging others with staged readings. As the Gaming Guild president, your enthusiastic approach to planning events inspired a tremendous sense of community, building an atmosphere of trust and mutual support within the guild. Your creativity and work ethic were highlighted as the technical director of Sketch’rs Comedy Group, which you guided forward, ensuring well-organized operations and community engagement. It is evident that you have accomplished your goals of improving communication, encouraging initiative in others, and building camaraderie within all of the organizations you have been involved in. Clearly, whether you were acting in an administrative role or performing on stage, your passion, enthusiasm, and work ethic strengthened the organizations you’ve touched and created new opportunities for others to find a home at Denison. Thank you.
B.S. Biology
- Women’s Rugby Club
- Captain Outdoor Orientation, Leader
Hannah, you have distinguished yourself in the classroom and as a researcher and tutor in the Biology department, where you’ve studied rattlesnake ferns and the diversity of micro-organisms on historical objects. You served as a Denison Outdoor Orientation leader, but it was your leadership of the Women’s Rugby Football Team that may have most affected the lives of other Denisonians. The team finished sixth in the nation this year, an incredible achievement, and your teammates attributed this to your leadership: your ability to offer helpful insights, to build community in the team, to inspire and motivate, and to be simultaneously a friend and a captain to a diverse group of strong women. In your reflection, you wrote about learning to instantaneously make decisions on the basis of their impact on the team and its members. You said that observing this shift in your thinking was perhaps as rewarding as the team’s competitive success — as eloquent a description of the lessons of leadership as I’ve ever read, and confirmation of the conviction held by many that you have truly earned this award. Congratulations.
B.A. Psychology
- University Programming Council, Executive Director and President
- SHARE, Advocate
- Community Sexual Misconduct Awareness and Response Team
Sasha, your vivacious and positive leadership has touched every part of campus in your four years at Denison, not only through your infectious personality, but also through the seemingly bottomless well of energy that has enabled you to leave your mark on several different organizations. In your four years on University Programming Council (UPC), it seems like you have held every position on the Board! During this past year as president of UPC, you have implemented a new vision for building community on campus through major programs. You have also held leadership roles working in the Campus Leadership & Involvement Center, as a Sexual Harassment and Rape Education advocate, and as a founding member of your sorority, Multicultural Unity for Justice, Equality & Reciprocity. And you have found time to volunteer through Big Brothers, Big Sisters. In each of these groups, your inclusive style of leadership has inspired others to follow and helped to create a stronger Denison community. Thank you.
B.A. in International Studies and B.A. in Women’s and Gender Studies
- African Student Association, President
- Residential Education and Housing
- Resident Assistant Women’s and Gender Studies Department
- Fellow International Studies Departments
- Fellow Tehillah
Anna from Ghana, your reputation precedes you everywhere you go on our campus, and your name invokes respect and admiration for your tremendous talents. One of these is natural: the amazing voice that you bring to Tehillah, that takes the breath away from your listeners. Others have to do with the display of character, of heart, and of compassion. As a resident assistant for two years, you have been beloved by your residents and admired by all who work with you. You have also demonstrated sound academic and intellectual skills, as a Young Scholar, as a research intern with the Consortium on Gender, Security and Human Rights, and as a research assistant to Dr. Nussair, investigating women’s rights during the Arab Spring. Dr. Nusair and your other faculty describe you as a classroom leader. Beyond the classroom, you have been a campus leader, using your position as the president of the African Students Association to draw attention to issues of race and human rights in the U.S. and abroad. In each of these arenas, Anna, you have been a model of grace, courage, diplomacy, and a will to see positive change. The college thanks you.
B.A. Communication
- Denison Enterprises, Founder, President
- 91.1 WDUB, DJ
- Admissions, Senior Interviewer
- DUwop
Sara, if Denison named a student “most likely to succeed in business,” your work over the last four years would surely make you a top contender. The doggedness with which you have built Denison Enterprises, from conducting research to forming a team and building support and infrastructure has been nothing short of stunning. And the results speak for themselves: Snagels can predictably be had in under two hours, getting one’s belongings into summer storage is a matter of a phone call, and the Nest exists. You challenged and inspired your peers to take on real business questions, and you tapped their talents with insight and acuity to form a highly effective team. And, you’ve made it all look easy — fun, even, and you’ve done it while also working in admissions, singing with DUwop, and being an outstanding scholar. You’ve created an entirely new model of what being an engaged student looks like, and you’ve impressed and dazzled us with your determination and your good sense. Denison looks forward to seeing your next act.
B.A. Chemistry and B.A. Economics
- Residential Education and Housing, Head Resident, Resident Assistant
- Men’s Swimming and Diving, Captain
- Kappa Sigma Fraternity
Conrad, in your reflection, you said that during your early days here you felt like a fish out of water at college, unsure whether Denison was the place for you. We are glad you kept swimming. While you demonstrate tremendous talent on the Men’s Swimming and Diving Team, your contributions extend beyond sheer talent. A teammate says that you show leadership and integrity at practice every single day, having a positive influence on your team. Out of the pool, you take time to offer mentorship and counsel to other students, always willing to support them. You excelled in the classroom with a double major in economics and chemistry. Outside of the classroom, you have served as a resident assistant and as a head resident for two years. Within Residential Education, you have worked to strengthen the spirit of community. In your reflection, you write that you wanted to take on a leadership opportunity that would have direct and constructive impact on the lives of other students. Conrad, it is clear that took on not one, but many leadership opportunities, so it would probably be more right to say that you bring leadership everywhere you go — in the residence halls, the pool, your fraternity. Thank you.