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Outstanding Contribution to the University Award Innovation. Impact. Influence. The selection committee seeks outstanding individual students who embody these three attributes. Recipients must be currently enrolled at Chico State whose contributions reflect the important values of the University, have lasting impact, and have a wide scope of influence. Nominations are accepted from faculty, staff, and students. Each recipient of this award receives a letter from the University President and a medallion. '98 -'99 Recipients
Despite large courseloads and two jobs, Tiffany Hooker has consistently contributed to the University through unselfish use of her talents and skills. By both creating organizations and alliances, Tiffanyıs contributions will continue to influence future students. She revitalized the Pan African Student Union and successfully led a campaign to change the name to the Black Student Alliance. Tiffany is also the founder and President of the Chico State chapter of the NAACP. Deeply committed to social issues, she initiated and coordinated numerous rallies and cultural awareness events including Kwanzaa, Black History Month activities, and the Black Arts Festival. In addition, Tiffany has been a driving force in bringing both students and faculty together. Through the Black Student Alliance, she started a desperately needed internship program with the help of the Multicultural and Gender Studies Department. This program helps students become involved in the campus while meeting their internship requirements. Tiffany also initiated a campaign to recruit students of all ethnic backgrounds to become minors/majors of Multicultural and Gender Studies and frequently helps students with their academic pursuits. She organized a Black faculty/staff and student reception and built and maintained alliances with student organizations from UC Berkeley and the University of Texas at Austin. Tiffany Hooker has made many things possible for her peers and serves as a model of leadership and inspiration. back to the top...
As a student assistant in the Alumni Office, Alexandra "Alex" Llamas has been the driving force behind the creation of a number of innovative programs. Committed to strengthening the network between students and alumni, Alex successfully transformed good ideas into functioning programs. In creating the Home Away From Home program, Alex was responsible for finding participants, producing brochures, and coordinating events. Her efforts have helped eased the difficult process of leaving home by providing new students with "host" families of dedicated alumni, while also benefiting the participating alumni and the campus community at large. She created the Dinner with Eight Strangers program and is currently developing an Alumni Mentor program in which former students allow their email addresses to be published in order to offer advice and support to students. Due to an absent Assistant Director, Alex accepted the extra responsibilities of Homecoming, which included meeting with faculty and staff in a leadership capacity to coordinate this major event. Alex has repeatedly turned opportunity into contribution. She demonstrates how individual students with creativity, dedication, and commitment enhance the atmosphere of the Chico State campus. Despite the rigors of a major in mathematics, Alex Llamas has dedicated herself to programs which nurture individual connections to the campus community. These types of connections instill pride and participation amongst alumni and foster the positive reputation of the University. back to the top...
Best known on campus as the Director of the Associated
Students Businesses Committee (ASBC), Greg Martinez has played a pivotal
role in the relationship between the AS. and the University. He provided
long-term vision for AS. businesses and led an innovative reorganization
of management resulting in both cost savings and greater efficiency.
Because he saw the need to rise above the politics, Greg successfully
created a bridge of communication between the AS. and the University.
He accomplished this by convincing his peers to be reasonable and practical
with administrators while firmly advancing the goals of the Associated
Students. In doing so, he created a foundation of leadership that will
benefit students far into the future. A faculty member of the ASBC for
six years said, without hesitation, that "Greg was the finest AS. officer"
with whom he had ever had the opportunity to work. Greg also served
as a mentor for both university and high school students. After completing
a project-oriented class, he saw value in having former students available
to mentor current students. He volunteered his services and helped students
prepare for the more difficult aspects of the class. Greg has also served
as a mentor to troubled teens in the nearby community of Hamilton City.
His working and personal relationships are based on strong core values
that permeate his personality. These values have not only influenced
individuals but have also enriched the campus as a whole. Greg Martinez
is one of the students who will go on to represent the University as
one of our best.
David McKay has demonstrated innovation, impact, and influence both on and off campus as a Community Service Officer (CSO) for the University Police Department, as a Platoon Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, and as a volunteer in local schools. He played an integral role in implementing a newly-structured, student-supervised, CSO Program and directly influenced 26 student employees as both a leader and role model. As a leader he encouraged positive behavior changes, raised student morale, and developed leadership skills. His involvement directly impacted the safety of the Chico State campus. Off campus, Davidıs conduct and influence serves as a positive reflection of the University. According to his supervisors, David is routinely tasked with extremely difficult or unusual assignments with full confidence that they will be thoroughly and competently completed. Besides being a Platoon Sergeant, David also volunteers in local schools. At Four Winds of Indian Education charter school, his "self-improvement" unit creatively challenged seventh, eighth, and ninth graders to learn the value of respect and the importance of goal setting. He currently volunteers in English, Spanish, and E.S.L. at Chico High School, where he utilizes his bilingual skills to maximize his influence on the studentsgaining their trust, confidence, and admiration. With his range of influence, David McKay is an example of a student who not only contributes to the campus, but also to the reputation of the University. back to the top...
Stephanie Rahlfs, a Rawlins Award recipient and double major (philosophy/political science), is president of Phi Sigma Tau, an international student honor society in philosophy. Her leadership has guided this group to a number of successes. She steered two Revenue Allocation Committee proposals which resulted in a Speakerıs Series on Philosophy and Law and a Speakerıs Series on Ethics and the Millennium. Stephanie also organized an annual Fall Symposium (100+ audience of students and faculty) and a debate on the ethical issues of abortion. Fellow philosophy majors speak highly of her organizational skills and her ability to move an activity forward and get a job done. At the state level, Stephanie has been a vigilant spokesperson of student concerns. As chair of the Legislative Affairs Committee for California State Student Association, she has worked on behalf of 350,000 CSU students to ensure that their perspectives are lobbied at the state capitol in Sacramento. Recently, she secured an author for a sponsored bill to create a second student trustee and has worked with the CSU Chancellor and his executives toward changing student policies to make education more accessible and affordable. On the campus level she organized, through the Secretary of State Office, the first Campus Registration Day, distributed free voter information, and helped students find their precincts. The last general election boasted the largest student voter turnout of any election in Chico history. It is apparent that Stephanie Rahlfs has had a positive influence and impact on Chico State students. back to the top...
Seeing both the need and benefit, Rhiannon Sharp took it upon herself to organize a Chico State womenıs water polo team. As a student-run sports club that receives no financial assistance, her task was an enormous one. She was able to succeed, despite utilizing a pool not designed for her sport. Her achievement was all the more remarkable because the sport is just now beginning to develop at the collegiate level. It was necessary for Rhiannon to meet the rigorous standards set forth by the Recreational Sports Department with regards to obtaining national and local league affiliation, coordinating a collegiate competitive schedule, working with a campus advisor, demonstrating strong interest in participation, and much more. She has also been responsible for scheduling practices, equipment acquisition, fundraising, player eligibility, and league commitments. Despite the rigors associated with the creation of the team, both Rhiannon and the team have thrived, while Rhiannon continued to meet the demand of a schedule that included 18 units, a part-time job, and practice three times a week. The team now has a volunteer coach and a solid base of 15 participants. She has been an integral part of the teamıs success and one of the main reasons for the teamıs increased female participation. Rhiannonıs efforts have made a large contribution to the University and have been in line with many of the Universityıs values, including but not limited to, involvement, equality, and leadership. back to the top...
Nicknamed "Smiles a-lot," Jenny Sharpe is described as committed, enthusiastic, and passionate. Her zest and fervor is contagious. She has been an active participant in many organizations on campus. Especially interested in environmental education, Chico State is fortunate that Jenny has chosen to share and expand her passion and commitment. As an intern with the Environmental Affairs Council, she organized grassroots activities including over 50 class presentations, a campus camp-out, and an Informational Forum. Jenny helped lead the Recycling, Programming, and Adventure Outings Referendum which now contributes over $250,000 per year for AS. programs and Financial Aid. This kind of impact by one student is rarely seen. Jenny also recruits and interviews student volunteers and assists them in creating lesson plans and teaching recycling to elementary school children. Next semester her dedication will be further evidenced by serving as coordinator of CAVEıs Recycling Education Outreach Program. As a voting member on the Activity Fee Council, Jenny had the difficult responsibility of reflecting the desires and interests of the campus community through fair distribution of student funds. In this capacity, she led by example by coming to meetings fully prepared, clearly expressing her ideas, and guiding others through the communication process. Through education and action, Jenny Sharpe has demonstrated the kind of impact that a student can exercise for the betterment of the University. back to the top... |
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