SXU Holds 2024 Scarlet and Gray Awards
Saint Xavier University (SXU) recently held the annual Scarlet and Gray Awards, which honor outstanding student leaders, organizations, and achievements in service and extracurricular involvements. Held in McGuire Hall, the annual tradition is beloved by the community, who connect in celebration of our high-achieving students.
Awards are given from areas including Admission, Campus Ministry, Campus Life, Residence Life, Student Employment, Student Media, TRIO, and the Center for Learning and Student Support. This year, six students completed the requirements for their leadership development and earned the Cougars LEAD Leadership certificate in its final year of distribution.
"I am still overflowing with pride as I reflect on the incredible achievements celebrated at the Scarlet and Gray Awards ceremony. The students demonstrated remarkable dedication, hard work, and perseverance, and it was truly an honor to celebrate their accomplishments," said Blanca Correa, student development specialist.
Student employees are essential to the operations of Saint Xavier University, and their hard work helps the campus thrive. The Student Employee of the Year Award and Rising Star Award celebrate exemplars of service excellence that live the University's mission and core values.
Award Winner: Vanessa Serna
Rising Star: Fahmi Abdulhafeez
The Cougars Lead Leadership Certificate is rooted in student development and leadership identity theories for the purpose of helping students learn about leadership opportunities on campus and in the community.
Certificate Recipients: Grace Van Cleave, Zulema Sanchez, Azmi Daineh, Marqueisha Smith, Gabriela Budz and Nuala Hanlon
The RSO Officer of the Year Award is presented to an executive board member who displays outstanding academic achievement, values diversity and motivates and inspires others to exemplify integrity in all words and actions.
Award Winner: Johnnetta Washington
The RSO Program of the Year Award is based on the RSO's mission, how it incorporates the core values of SXU, and how the program makes outstanding contributions to the University community.
Award Winners: Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Muslim Students Association (MSA)
The RSO Advisor of the Year Award is presented to a faculty or staff member who serves as an RSO advisor with dedication to and interest in the success and activities of the RSO while encouraging the University's standards of excellence.
Award Winner: Karen Salgado
The RSO of the Year Award is presented to an RSO who has made an outstanding contribution to overall campus life, with evidence of successful programming, successful membership development, responsible and creative use of resources, and best campus presence.
Award Winner: Students for Justice in Palestine
The Outstanding Peer Academic Tutor of the Year Award recognizes the service excellence of a dedicated, knowledgeable, sought-after tutor who helps peers to be successful.
Award Winner: Shealyn Scott
The Outstanding Writing Consultant of the Year Award recognizes a student who serves as proxy to faculty, mentor to other writing consultants and all-around resource to peers, trained to view, organize and proofread writing across the curriculum.
Award Winner: Sarah Driscoll
The Student Ambassador of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding student from the Student Ambassador program who is a committed representative with a positive attitude, strong ability to engage with students and families, welcoming nature and overall positivity.
Award Winners: Elizabeth Zavala and Samantha Gutierrez
The TRIO Money Magnet Award is given to a student who has shown determination to make their own college experience affordable by pursuing and obtaining scholarships.
Award Winner: Janeth Landeros-Macias
The TRIO Culture Award is presented to someone who helps to keep the climate of the SSP office positive and upbeat, demonstrates exceptional hospitality, and has shown outstanding representation of the TRIO program.
Award Winner: Diarely Moreno
The TRIO Persistence in Graduation Award is given to a graduating senior who has worked to overcome challenges and has shown personal and academic growth and truly exemplifies the quality of persistence.
Award Winners: Brenda Gonzalez and Aya Dajani
The National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) Outstanding Service Award stands on four pillars: leadership, academic, recognition and service.
Award Winners: Isaac Torres and Karen Salgado
The Leader Among Leaders Award recognizes a resident assistant who has shown exemplary leadership and support to their fellow staff as a mentor.
Award Winner: Jenin Hasan
The Rookie of the Year Award recognizes a resident assistant who finds innovative ways to engage with the community and make a positive and significant contribution to the residence life team.
Award Winner: Michelle Coronado
The Residence Peer Academic Leaders (RPAL) – Action in Academics Award is presented to someone who finds innovative ways to connect their residents with the RPAL program while demonstrating leadership and ongoing support of their fellow staff.
Award Winner: Paris Brown
The UHS – Spirit of the Halls Award is given to a residence assistant with spirit, energy and enthusiasm, always willing to lend a helping hand.
Award Winner: Johnnyia Shannon
The Cougar Spirit Award is presented to an outstanding first-year sophomore or recent transfer who has made the most of their first semesters at SXU, demonstrating outstanding academic performance and exceptional co-curricular involvement.
Award Winner: Arlene Silva
The Emerging Scholars Program promotes the retention and academic success of African American students at Saint Xavier University. The Rising Star, Breakout Scholar and Outstanding Scholar awards are presented to students who demonstrate leadership, social and community involvement, and cultural awareness.
Rising Star: Makayla Hill
Breakout Scholar: Aniya Travis
Outstanding Scholar: Qaadir Muhammad
The SXU Scholars Sin Límites program is an organization that serves Latinx students. The Rising Star, Breakout Scholar and Outstanding Scholar awards are presented to students who demonstrate the seven pillars of excellence: service, mentorship, retention/completion, professionalism, scholarship, leadership, and cultural exposure.
Rising Star: Jesus Cruz
Breakout Scholar: Gabriel Ojeda
Outstanding Scholars: Vanessa Magallanes and Eric Aguilar
The Diversity Champion Award is presented to a student who truly champions Saint Xavier’s core value of diversity, fostering a climate that is open and welcoming to diverse people, ideas and perspectives; promoting a constructive discourse on the nature of diversity; and engaging faculty, staff and students in activities that promote the University's core values.
Award Winner: Michelle Coronado
The Gabriel Vaught Student Broadcaster of the Year Award is presented to integral members of the WXAV staff who have helped oversee the overall growth and development of the student-run radio station at Saint Xavier.
Award Winner: Jotham Israel
The Xavierite Student Journalist of the Year Award is presented to a student who has guided the development and distribution of the Xavierite.
Award Winners: Giuliana Islas and Nuala Hanlon
The Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award is a presented to a student who thereby becomes a student laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, an award bestowed upon by the governor.
Award Winner: Cydni Washington-Bolden
The Vice President's Award for Student Life and Leadership was established to honor student leaders who have served in a significant leadership capacity, made outstanding contributions to the quality of campus life and who have made a positive impact to the culture of SXU.
Award Winner: Jena Kanaan
The President's Award for Distinguished Service and Leadership recognizes a student who authentically lives the core values of SXU's Mercy mission through their daily work. The award recipient serves the SXU community with the spirit of humility by putting the needs of other students first.
Award Winner: Giuliana Islas
"The student emcees, Nuala Hanlon, Giuliana Islas and John Street, brought the energy and filled the room with laughter, and it was clear that everyone in attendance shared a deep appreciation for the successes of our students. I'm thankful for the memorable and joyous occasion, and I am excited to celebrate the future achievements of our SXU students," said Correa.
Join the SXU community in congratulating our outstanding student community of doers, representative of Saint Xavier's commitment to excellence!