With a red carpet accentuating the entrance to the Student Center Ballroom, the Office of Involvement welcomed attendees to their annual Involvement Awards Tuesday evening in an Oscars-like fashion, greeting honorees with guest lists and table assignments.
Differing from last year, President of Involvement Ambassadors Bonnie Zhao said they chose a classic theme for this year’s event instead of from the themed
“We have been planning for this pretty much all year,” Zhao said. “It’s been a lot of work.”
Zhao credited Paxton Peacock, sophomore in animal sciences; Caroline Scott, sophomore in public relations, and Claire Smith, senior in microbiology, for working hard during the planning process. Planning accounted for food, flower arrangements, decorations, invitations, notecards, a guest list, scripts
The nomination system is organized by students submitting nomination applications to
This year’s judges included former SGA President Jacqueline Keck, Director of Student Involvement Corey Edwards and Poultry Science Academic Advisors Brooke Patton and Codi Plaster.
“The Involvement Awards is an annual event put on by the involvement ambassadors that recognizes the achievements and accomplishments of students and faculty within the Office of Student Involvement and around campus,” Peacock, executive vice president of programs for Involvement Ambassadors, said.
In addition to changes in décor, changes were made to the awards given during the event.
“We felt it was a little unfair in past years for registered organizations who do not get that student activity portfolio money that comes into tuition and fees to compete against SAP’s that did get that money,” Peacock said.
To address this, certain categories including Most Exceptional Campus Organization and Excellence in Marketing and Design were divided into RSO and SAP for organizations to be more competitive in their respective fields, Peacock said.
“Tonight is incredible because we get to award all the student leaders and the excellent hard work that they do,” said Lady Cox, assistant vice president of Student Affairs.
Cox said recognition is the main thing students will gain from the night’s event. She said there are a number of neat things happening in small pockets of Alabama that do not receive much attention outside of events like this.
“I think more than anything else students take recognition form this event,” Cox said. “So many of the groups you hear about tonight are not the large campus organizations that you hear about.”
Cox said Auburn has students unlike any others and she was excited for the opportunity to show the work they do outside of the classroom. She shared her favorite part of the event is getting to tell the stories of the work being done.
The awards and winners for the night are as follows;
The Fred & Charlene Kam “Human Touch” Service Award: IMPACT
Overcoming Adversity Award: Global Medical Brigades — Auburn University
Female Student Leader of the Year: Sydney Nicholas, senior in global studies and president of Emerge
Male Student Leader of the Year: Jordan Carr, senior in mechanical engineering and president of Financial Management Association
Excellence in Marketing and Design (NON-SAP): Financial Management Association
Excellence in Marketing and Design (SAP): Student Government Association
Outstanding New Organization: Emerge at Auburn
Most Exceptional Campus Organization (NON-SAP): Student Recruiters
Most Exceptional Campus Organization (SAP ONLY): Auburn Universtiy Dance Marathon
Excellence in Practical Application: Block and Bridle
Most Entertaining Campus Event: University Program Council’s War Damn Coffee Jam
Outstanding Cultural Impact: International Student Organization
Outstanding Incorporation of Diversity & Inclusion: Alternative Student Breaks
The Corey Edwards Organization Advisor of the Year Award: Tracy Richard, department of finance
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