The Metropolitan Online - May/June 2005 - 2005 Student Leadership Awards

The great hall was decked out again, this time for the seventh annual President’s Student Leadership Awards dinner. The April 15 dinner honored some of the best and brightest of the shining lights that make up our student leadership.

Yeeleng Hang, director of Student Senate Activities was the host of the evening’s festivities. Phillip Fuehrer, Student Life and Leadership office manager, made all the arrangements. A big screen television showed pictures and names of the nominees, just like the big-time award shows. A joke was made about Fuehrer’s dream of producing the Academy Awards, but the visual presentation was a nice touch.

Vice President Esther Peralez spoke about how she has the, “very best job on campus,” and described how just seven years ago, Metropolitan State University had no student organizations. She said, “We have come a long way.”

President Wilson Bradshaw tried to one-up Vice President Peralez, by noting he has the second-best job on campus. He mentioned how great it is to work with good people. Dr. Bradshaw handed out the award plaques and took pictures with the honorees. Nestor Amarilla emceed the awards portion of the evening.

Kristin King Stapleton was presented with the Perseverance award. The award winner endured a series of unfortunate events including a brain injury, betrayal by a good friend, and becoming homeless and destitute. King Stapleton got back on her feet and then was inspired to fulfill her dream of going to college. She proceeded by taking one class a semester, and this spring she will be one of Metropolitan State University’s new graduates. King Stapleton’s story truly is about perseverance.

The Soul Food dinner held for Black History month won in the award for Event of the Year. The Soul Food dinner was praised for the astounding turnout from the community and the university; people were turned away for lack of space. The event was perceived as an indication of the powerful results that can be achieved when the university and the community come together in a common goal.

There was heavy competition for the Group of the year award. The African American Student Association, Lavender Bridge, The Metropolitan newspaper, and the Psychology Club were all nominated. Lavender Bridge won because of the powerful way their programs serve the university community. Recipients of the award noted, “Lavender Bridge is, by nature, inclusive of everybody in the world.”

Nominees for Advisor of the Year were Heidi Malloy for the Psychology Club and Anne Phibbs for Lavender Bridge. Ms. Phibbs humbly accepted the award with a self-deprecating, lesbian joke. It was a feel-good moment carried by the grace of a woman who is a warm and natural leader. Students involved with Lavender Bridge obviously have great pride, respect, and appreciation for Phibbs, as they presented her with a bouquet of roses after she accepted her award.

Brad Bearson received the award for Male Leader of the Year for his work in the Student Senate. Bearson worked hard to help students get registered to vote and to propel the Tuition Freeze Campaign forward. Other nominees in this category were, John Souza, Jr., president of the Psychology Club and Clint Weathers of Haute Dish (the online literary/arts publication of Metropolitan State University) for his revival of a publication previously considered dead and buried.

Bearson told a story about how he’s never had a problem with a single Metropolitan teacher, except his Spanish teacher, Nestor Amarilla, who was on stage with him at the time. Bearson told about how he called Amarilla on New Year’s Eve when he was hosting a live radio program in Paraguay. Bearson saw the show as an opportunity to show off his new Spanish skills as his broadcast reached listeners throughout the entire country of Paraguay. As he finished the conversation, Bearson said what he thought to mean, “I hope you have a safe trip back [to Minnesota],” but instead he said, “I love older women.” The story got a good laugh and Bearson may need an agent for his comedic styling.

The last, but certainly not least category was the Female Leader award. Patty Gavnik, editor of The Metropolitan newspaper; Rochelle Hayes, TRIO program and African American Student Association; Julia Opoti, president of the Student Senate; and Lisa Quinn from the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Club were recognized for their strong female leadership skills. Julia Opoti took home the award with a slightly shy “thank you” and a mention that she’s learned a lot from working in the Student Senate. There was an easy consensus about Opoti’s leadership abilities. She has served the university and the student body in this past year with her natural organization and leadership style that a person is only born to

All nominees were recognized for the extra effort to do something good for our university community while raising children, maintaining relationships, working full-time jobs, and studying for classes. Achieving such life balance isn’t easy and these nominations and awards are a way of saying thank you.

Congratulations to all the nominees and awardees, and thank you for your efforts.

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