SOCIAL CHANGE
2014 CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
AWARD WINNERS
The Ohio State University prides itself in its students, staff, and faculty and
the tradition of excellence they uphold. In our mission to provide Buckeyes
with not only a diploma, but an “Education for Citizenship,” we recognize the
importance of integrating our students into our community and combining
academics with leadership and service
Nominations
Though the banquet is mostly focused on student engagement,
anyone can submit a nomination, regardless of any affiliation with the
university. If you know of a Buckeye that you would like to nominate
for an award, we encourage you to look out for announcements
regarding nominations going live in Summer 2015 for the 2015
Awards Ceremony, on October 8th, 2015.
Sponsorships
This banquet is funded through the generous support of central Ohio
businesses and their sponsorships. Not only do we recognize the
significant role community partners and businesses in the central
Ohio area play in fostering a tremendous culture of civic engagement
in Columbus, but we would like to cordially invite any interested
company to be a part of this extraordinary event. Tables of 10 may
be purchased with a $1,000 sponsorship and half tables of 5 with a
$500 sponsorship. Event sponsorship may be purchased with a
$25,000 contribution. Any and all additional proceeds will go towards
scholarships for the awardees and their programs.
We are very grateful for our sponsoring partners, who are integral to
the success of the banquet and the mission of Education for
Citizenship. Words cannot express our appreciation for the groups
that believed in our mission in our initial year, particularly:
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Big Lots
Cardinal Health
Columbia Gas of Ohio
Crimson Cup
Enterprise Holdings
Student Athlete Support Services Office
The Ohio State University College of Nursing
The Ohio State University College of Public Health
The Ohio State University College of Social Work
The Ohio State University Office of Student Life
United Way of Central Ohio
CONTEXT
2014 AWARDS ..................................................................................
ALICE PAUL AWARDEES.................................................................
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE AWARDEES ........................................
FRED HAMPTON AWARDEES.........................................................
JANE ADDAMS AWARDEES ............................................................
JOHN LEWIS AWARDEE ..................................................................
MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN AWARDEES .....................................
MAYA ANGELOU AWARDEES.........................................................
RACHEL CARSON AWARDEES ......................................................
YELLOW POWER AWARDEES ........................................................
2014 AWARDS
•
Alice Paul Award
Focus of Award: Social Justice / “Consciousness Raising”
Raised in the late 1800s by parents with a belief in gender equality, Alice Paul dedicated her life to securing equal rights
for women. Energized by the English suffrage movement, in which she participated briefly while being subject to
imprisonment and brutal forced feedings, Alice came back to America to get her PhD in Economics at the University of
Pennsylvania the same year she organized a women's parade on Washington during the 1912 inauguration of President
Wilson that turned violent and gained national attention. With a more aggressive conviction, Alice split from the National
American Women's Suffrage Association to form her own National Women's Party, picketing in front of the White House
during the First World War and suffering further cruel imprisonment. It was after the public reaction to this horrible
treatment of Alice and other suffragists that the 19th Amendment was pushed through Congress giving women the right to
vote. However, Alice did not stop there. She continued her pursuit of women's equality by proposing the Equal Rights
Amendment, introduced in every session of Congress from 1923 until its passing in 1972, and founding the World
Women's Party in Geneva, Switzerland.
Nominees for the Alice Paul award have dedicated themselves to raising consciousness in the community and educating
others about social injustices and is personally committed to moving the needle in this area.
•
Florence Nightingale Award
Focus of Award: Health
In spite of opposition from her family and the restrictive social code for young and affluent English women, Florence
Nightingale pursued a life dedicated to the foundation of modern nursing. Her experience as a nurse in the Crimean War
lead her to preach the importance of sanitary medical conditions, after which she founded the Nightingale Training School,
the first secular nursing school in the world, in 1860. Her social reforms focused on improving healthcare across all British
Society, healthcare and hunger relief in India, spreading medical knowledge through the geographical presentation of
statistical data and medical books in simple English, and expanding acceptable forms of female participation in the
workforce. Her contributions earned her the Royal Red Cross and the first Order of Merit to be awarded to a woman.
Nominees for the Florence Nightingale Award have made a difference in the health of a community through education and
civic engagement.
•
Fred Hampton Award
Focus of the Award: Poverty (Hunger)
Deputy Chairman of the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party, African-American Activist Fred Hampton strove to
bring the Civil Rights Movement success by uniting the minorities in a peaceful "rainbow coalition". Integral in the
brokering of a nonaggression pact between Chicago's powerful gangs and the formation of the Black Panther Party's Free
Breakfast Program, Hampton would have been appointed the Party's Central Committee's Chief of Staff had it not been
for his assassination at age 21 by the Chicago Police Department.
Nominees for the Fred Hampton Award have been a part of a concentrated effortworking towards a solution to ending
hunger around a group of people.
•
Jane Addams Award
Focus of the Awards: Civics
Together with her friend Ellen Starr, Jane Addams leased a large home in 1889 to "provide a center for a higher civic and
social life; institute and maintain educational and philanthropic enterprises and to investigate and improve the conditions
in the industrial districts of Chicago." In its second year, the Hull House, as it was called, hosted two thousand people
every week. The house went on to hold kindergarten classes, clubs for older children and adults, a night school, art
gallery, public kitchen, coffee house, gymnasium, art studio, library, employment bureau, and a labor museum. Going on
to serve on the Chicago Board of Education, preside over the National Conference of Charities and Corrections, chair the
Women's Peace Party, publish a book of her lectures, and accept the humble post of garbage inspector of the 19th Ward,
Addams' aspirations for peace and equality as a humanitarian and feminist earned her the first honorary degree ever
awarded to a woman by Yale University and the 1931 Nobel Peace Prize.
Nominees for the Jane Addams Award have complimented their educational experience by dedicating themselves to
promoting a higher civic and social life in the greater community.
•
John Lewis Award
Focus of the Award: Groups
A student of the early Civil Rights Movement, John Lewis became an active member as an undergrad at Fisk University in
1961 organizing sit-ins and freedom rides. Despite getting beaten for these demonstrations, John persevered to become
Chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in 1963 and recognized as one of the Big Six leaders of the
Civil Rights Movement. His words and leadership shaped the historic March on Washington in April 1963, voter
registration drives and community action programs during the Mississippi Freedom Summer, and the protest across the
Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Despite more than 40 arrests and many physical attacks, John went on to lead
several organizations such as the Voters Education Project and the federal volunteer agency called ACTION, and now
serves as the U.S. Representative of Georgia's Fifth Congressional District since 1986.
This group has demonstrated the power of unity in empowering a community by exhibiting principles of perseverance,
teamwork, and civic engagement.
•
Marian Wright Edelman Award
Focus of the Award: Education
Marian Wright Edelman's appreciation for education began at a young age when her father told her not to "let anything get
in the way of [her] education" before he passed away when she was only 14. After studying around the world on the
Merrill Scholarship and Lisle Fellowship, she attended Yale and became the first African American woman admitted to the
Mississippi Bar. After founding the Children's Defense Fund her continued leadership and activism earned her the Albert
Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism and 2000 Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Nominees for the Marian Wright Edelman Award have placed value on education and promoted the advancement of and
equal access to education.
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Maya Angelou Award
Focus of the Award: Creative Arts
A Global Renaissance Woman and lover of arts, the late Dr. Maya Angelou danced, acted, sang, and wrote. Her artistic
passions lead her overseas on many occasions, including Ghana where she met Malcolm X before returning to America
to help his Organization of African American Unity. The internationally acclaimed I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
published in 1970 was just one of her more than 30 bestselling titles. Her script for the 1970 film Georgia, Georgia was the
first by an African American woman to ever be filmed, and was later nominated for a Pulitzer Prize. She continued to
direct, compose, and act before being awarded the Presidential Medal of Arts in 2000, Lincoln Medal in 2008, and
receiving a total of 3 Grammy Awards.
Nominees for the Maya Angelou Award combine words, art, and actions to stir souls, energize bodies, liberate minds, and
heal hearts.
•
Rachel Carson Award
Focus of the Award: Environment
A writer, scientist, and ecologist, Rachel Carson rose to become Editor-in-Chief of all publications for the U.S. Fish &
Wildlife Service and wrote several articles and studies on the natural world around us. Believing that human beings were
but one part of nature distinguished primarily by their power to alter it, and in some cases irreversibly, Carson's most
acclaimed book Silent Spring challenged the use of chemical pesticides and other practices of agricultural scientists and
the government.
Nominees for the Rachel Carson Award have demonstrated personal efforts to improve the environment and educated
and empowered others in the community to do the same.
•
Yellow Power Award
Focus of the Award: International
The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s inspired many ethnic minorities to reexamine their roles in society and feel
empowered to make statements of their own. Fighting an entirely different form of racial suppression, the Asian-American
community (historically oppressed and now relegated to white-likeness), under the Yellow Power movement, embraced
their ethnicity and engaged socially and politically to secure their cultural identity and gain social equality across the
United States.
Nominees for the Yellow Power Award have embraced international identities and issues and pursued the ideals of
equality and diversity.
AWARDEES
At this year’s edition of the Civic Engagement Banquet, 25 incredible Buckeyes were awarded one of
16 awards, in addition to one group award.
2014 AWARD WINNERS
ALICE PAUL AWARD
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KRISTA BRYSON
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CAMERON CONRAD
•
ZUN HUANG LIN
Krista Bryson has made it her mission since the Elk River Chemical Spill this past January, which rendered the tap water
for over 300,000 West Virginians unusable for weeks and had adverse health effects on over 100,000 people, to collect
the stories of the spill’s victims. She conducts ethnographic research in the area and spreads awareness about the West
Virginia Water Crisis on her blog, social media, and in national news media like Newsweek and Al Jazeera America. With
an environmental engineering team, she created a public health and safety video that provided crucial and previously
untold information about the spill to thousands of West Virginians. After creating this video, the National Science
Foundation awarded her a $50,000 grant to continue using her knowledge and expertise in the field of rhetoric,
Appalachian studies, and digital media to create a documentary and publish academic research about the Water Crisis.
Krista screened a preview of the film this past May at the West Virginia International Film Festival and will be screening
the feature-length documentary there next spring. Her blog, www.wvwatercrisis.com, where she publishes written and
video posts about the crisis, now has over 28,000 views from over 80 countries. She continues to film and study the crisis,
and she speaks frequently at national conferences and invited lectures about her the event and her work. Krista’s hope is
that her work contributes to awareness about the everyday injustices in Appalachia; fosters better communication
between the public, health officials, and science and humanities researchers; and demonstrates the need to preserve our
most precious resource--water.
Cameron spends all of his free time devoted to the educational equality of students in the K-12 school system. Through
legislative and policy research, he has gained an understanding of issues in schools that pose injustices. He not only
educates others on the issues through informative presentations and casual conversation, but also organizes for action. In
his position as the Ohio State Captain for Students for Education Reform (SFER), he organizes and mobilizes college
students to fight for better educational outcomes for all students. Cameron also pays his education forward through his
service at Columbus North International School, where he engages with students, parents, and teachers both inside and
outside of the classroom. He lives and breathes education reform and plans to dedicate his time to improving the lives of
others through education for many years to come.
Zun Lin’s journey to Ohio State has been anything but easy. His sights long set on a college degree, he is hard working,
smart, and focused on education. But as an undocumented youth, Zun found the door to opportunity was closed to
him. His hopes were renewed when he achieved DACA status—Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals grants a deferral,
enabling youth to study or work. He applied to Ohio State, but his application was denied. Since he did not qualify as
either a domestic or an international applicant, Ohio State did not have a clear application process for DACA
grantees. He was denied admission twice despite his strong academic record, years of work experience and engagement
in volunteer service. Meanwhile, Zun mustered the courage to come out as an undocumented immigrant, lending his voice
to the advocacy efforts of DREAM Activist Ohio. In June 2013, the group presented a petition with hundreds of signatures
to the Ohio Board of Regents seeking in-state tuition rates. The following day, the Board of Regents issued a statement
approving in-state tuition for DACA grantees. In response, Ohio State administrators assembled a team to develop a
process for DACA grantees applying for admission. On his third attempt, Zun gained admission to study. Zun continues
to support efforts to create a transparent admissions process for DACA students. He has been instrumental in sharing
information with DACA student networks and sharing scholarship information with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion to
distribute to prospective applicants. The cost of in-state tuition presents a financial hardship for many because they
cannot receive financial aid. Zun worked 70 hours a week this summer to pay for his tuition. But, he remains an active
advocate for support and services for DACA students, and has committed his leadership to help the university become an
inclusive and welcoming destination for DACA students.
•
EMILY UNDERATION
Through her role as Membership Coordinator for Students for Education Reform OSU, Emily Underation took the lead on
organizing "Little Lobby Day", a service event that allowed SFER members to work with over 20 elementary students to
design a plan to better their community. Emily planned numerous meetings on campus to raise awareness about issues of
educational inequity and the school-to-prison pipeline, always finding ways to incorporate her personal stories into the
narrative she tells. Now, she serves as the Capacity Captain of SFER, building membership in the state of Ohio. Emily is
personally committed to moving the needle on issues of social injustice through her role as Vice President of Kappa Phi
Kappa (KPK), the education fraternity on campus. Emily has planned a number of different service opportunities for KPK
members while completing her own service hours working with elementary students in Columbus City Schools through the
After School All-Stars program as a Program Leader. Going forward, Emily is looking for ways to have an even greater
impact on the community by bridging the gap between the education and criminal justice systems through service at
intervention programs in prisons and through raising the awareness of her peers to make change and pay their education
forward.
FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE AWARD
•
ALEXANDRA GRIFFIN
•
USHA MENON
Alexandra epitomizes the ideals of this award by her engagement in both the Hispanic community and through her work in
educating her peers on serving the needs of this often underserved community. Alexandra was the President of the
Hispanic Student Dental Association for the past two academic years but has been involved in the organization
throughout her time here in the dental school. As President, she increased the membership of the HSDA by increasing the
opportunities for our students to serve the needs of the Hispanic community through greater involvement in the monthly
volunteer activity with Clinica Latina. She also increased the service that is provided during that volunteering time by not
only educating the children about oral hygiene but also by educating the parents on how to encourage their children and
how to role model good oral hygiene. This additional education increases the likelihood that these individuals will actively
care for their mouth and teeth but will also seek out proactive care instead of just pain management. In addition to this she
led the effort to increase our student population's awareness of the needs of the Hispanic community by instituting
Spanish language tables during the lunch hour. She changed the model to allow for individuals who wanted to learn
Spanish and dental terms to learn as well by creating two types of tables, one for fluent Spanish speakers and one for
those new to Spanish. This change has increased the involvement from the students, many of whom are not members of
HSDA, who would like to be better health care providers for this population. Alexandra has also mentored the leadership
following her so that her initiatives will continue and be enhanced to provide even more education and service for the
Hispanic community.
Despite having only arrived in Columbus two and a half years ago, Dr. Usha Menon has already made great strides in
working to improve the health of the Columbus community. She has helped implement a partnership program between the
College of Nursing and the Making A Difference Inc. organization to improve health equity and access to residents of
Columbus’s East Side. As part of her work as the Director of Community Engagement for the Center for Translational and
Clinical Sciences she has outreached to numerous health departments and organizations to build greater partnerships
between researchers at Ohio State and those working directly in the community in order to bring healthcare advances to
where they can help the most. Prior to having arrived at Ohio State, Dr. Menon worked at Arizona State and implemented
an NIH funded study to increase cancer screenings to underserved populations. Throughout her career, Dr. Menon has
worked with communities, particularly with vulnerable or underserved populations in order to help identify and overcome
healthcare barriers those populations might face. Her intervention research program is on increasing early detection of
cancer among aging and vulnerable minority populations and the reduction of health disparities in cancer prevention using
rigorous theory-based models of inquiry. Dr. Menon has taught across nursing curricula, trained pre and postdoctoral
fellows across biological and behavioral cancer control research, and mentored numerous faculty from nursing, medicine
and other disciplines. She was inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau Nurse Researcher International Hall of Fame, selected
as a Top 100 Alumni Legacy Leader by Indiana University School of Nursing, and is an Ambassador for the Friends of the
National Institute of Nursing Research. On a more personal note, I have worked with Dr. Menon for close to a year now
and I am constantly astounded at her dedication to the work that she does. Not only is she a tireless champion of health
equity, she is always willing to mentor students and faculty. She is always on the lookout for opportunities for her mentees
and it is truly an honor to work with her. I can think of no one more deserving of the Florence Nightingale Award than her.
•
SARAH MONTELL
•
ANNIE ZHANG
I've been privileged to work beside Sarah Montell in the Collegiate Council on World Affairs for the past two years. In the
most recent academic year, I watched Sarah work tirelessly to expand our Model African Union program at Columbus
International High School on a minuscule budget. The topic of water sanitation was discussed in depth by students using
Model United Nations procedure, and Sarah officiated the committee, teaching the students about a complex international
and political issue with the utmost professionalism and boundless energy. Sarah brings that same passion about health
education and accessibility to everything she does. Her internship with Help Me Grow, a tax-payer funded program
through the Ohio Department of Health, showed her how a state can provide necessary medical services like free early
intervention and home visiting services to high-risk mothers and children 0-3 throughout the state who face some of the
most severe health disparities and health outcomes. She has also volunteered her time and ideas to the Wexner Medical
Center's Health Care Reform workgroup, which addressed the medical center's anticipated influx in Medicaid enrollees
following expansion and how the hospital could adequately serve a larger patient population. Incredibly, Sarah is also a
member of ENCompass, which stands for Empowering Neighborhoods of Columbus. It's a service learning group that
addresses the social determinants of health of residents in Weinland Park and the Near South Side neighborhoods, and
helps to connect them with community-based health centers and other services that cater to the uninsured or other high
risk populations. Sarah's specialization within her health policy track at the John Glenn School is Health Disparities, and
she looks forward to building upon what she's already accomplished after she graduates, and continuing to paying it
forward in Ohio and beyond.
Annie has shown her commitment to the health of the Columbus community through her exemplary work with
ENCompass, an undergraduate student organization at Ohio State dedicated to bridging the gap between medical and
social care. ENCompass volunteers hold free social and medical resource consultations at free clinics and food pantries
to connect our clients with services they need in the Columbus community. Annie was the very first volunteer at
ENCompass’ pilot site at Broad Street Food Pantry. At the pantry, she regularly connects clients with resources within the
Columbus community that are vital to their health, such as housing, food, and medical care. Annie has demonstrated a
keen perception and compassion for her clients in her personal consultations. One recent example of Annie’s incredible
work was when she connected a client, who had an inherited degenerative eye disease, with much needed free eye care
through a referral to Prevent Blindness Ohio. The client was very grateful for Annie’s help in getting her connected with
care she sorely needed. However, Annie’s dedication does not stop at the end of the consultation. Annie was concerned
that our service was not making enough of an impact in the community. She thought that some of our clients were not
visiting the recommended resources or that these resources were not as helpful as they should be. Recognizing these
issues, Annie took the initiative to establish a follow-up protocol for ENCompass. Because of Annie’s vision, all
ENCompass volunteers follow-up with their clients over the phone two and four weeks after the initial meeting. During
follow-ups calls, clients are asked if they used the resources and if so, how effective the service was. These follow-ups
allow volunteers to better connect with their clients and recommend more resources for people seeking additional help.
Follow-ups have made ENCompass much better at serving the community, and ensure each client gets connected to the
resources they need. I am nominating Annie for the Florence Nightingale award for Health because she continually
demonstrates a sincere devotion to improving the health of the Columbus community by addressing the social
determinants of health. By improving ENCompass’ services, educating other volunteers, and providing exemplary
individualized attention, she has had a positive impact in the lives and overall health of the Columbus community.
FRED HAMPTON AWARD
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MEERA NAGARAJAN
•
HENRY PELLER
Meera Nagarajan is one of the most dedicated, hardworking student leaders I have met who is committed to improving
food access and health for impoverished populations. She is extremely motivated and uses this energy to bring important
issues related to food insecurity and hunger to the forefront of the OSU community. Meera led a group of faculty and staff
from Eminence Fellows, the College of Social Work, the Office of Outreach and Engagement, and the
Hunger.FOOD.Health Initiative to host a documentary film screening of “A Place at the Table,” for over 50 people. This
was followed by a panel discussion with the CEO of the Mid-Ohio Foodbank, Executive Directors of the ClintonvilleBeechwold Community Center and Neighborhood Services, Inc., and leaders from the Children’s Hunger Alliance, Local
Matters, the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, Franklinton Gardens, and a few student groups. She has provided
leadership for an interdisciplinary student group called Food Fellows that provides opportunities for students to
understand food justice issues, covering topics like food waste, food policy, hunger, and urban agriculture. We now have
a listserv of over 75 people and provide short-term projects with six community partners. Meera coordinated an effort to
bring awareness to campus concerning the ability of people to eat healthy foods on a SNAP/Food Stamp budget by
hosting a SNAP Challenge where students live on $4.50/day for food for five days to experience potential challenges of
having enough to eat and potential impacts on mental, physical, and emotional well-bring. Meera also volunteered to be
one of our 25 trained student volunteers as part of Food Mapping Team project and assisted the Children’s Hunger
Alliance with a project on the National School Breakfast Program. Meera had a transformative service experience at
Neighborhood Services Food Pantry and is now conducting research about food security and health with pantry
participants. Meera is a remarkable person who is motivated, mature, intelligent, organized, compassionate, and hard
working. She is a rare find and I know will continue to make a difference in this world.
Henry's research and activism center on the politics of food and agriculture. On campus he has been a leader in the
student farm and also the campaigns for just and sustainable food. Off campus he has been involved in numerous
political/food projects both in the US and in the Caribbean. Henry is frequently in Haiti where he is conducting his
undergraduate research on the political ecology of agrarian change and farmers' movements. He also travelled in Cuba
last year learning about agroecology and farmers' movements. In sum he has been studying and working diligently to
build knowledge and social movements toward food sovereignty and a sustainable end to hunger. Henry will pursue
soil and agroforestry research in order to support small farmers' movements with agricultural practices and
technologies suitable for the vagaries of global warming, while continuing his political activism to realize food sovereignty
and good food for all peoples. He thanks his parents, mentors, collaborators and many dozens of Caribbean peoples for
shaping his values, challenging his intellect and inspiring his will.
JANE ADDAMS AWARD
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LEAH LACURE
Since she began her time on campus, Leah has been an avid participant in and lover of the Ohio State community. She
first got involved in Undergraduate Student Government, and later expanded to membership in Alpha Gamma Delta
fraternity, serving on several committees and councils throughout her undergraduate career. Leah joined the
Undergraduate Student Government as a freshman intern, before eventually moving into a Senior Staff position as Deputy
Chief of Staff. Upon realizing the opportunity at hand to realize their goals of enhancing sexual violence services and
improving cost of attendance at OSU, Leah and her running-mate Celia Wright launched a campaign to become the first
dual-female team elected to the Student Body President and Vice President positions in Ohio State history. As Vice
President, Leah now coordinates over fifty seats on the University Senate committees, runs the USG General Assembly,
oversees the allocation of a $250,000 budget, and jointly coordinates a senior staff of twelve members to direct initiatives.
Through these duties, Leah represents the voice of 40,000+ undergraduate students in interactions with university
administrators and community leaders. Celia and Leah's administration is working to implement an Ohio Education
Coalition to coordinate and strengthen advocacy efforts at both the state and federal levels for Ohio colleges and
universities. Leah's primary focus in her executive role relates to the persistence of sexual violence as an issue on
campuses across the country. She and her administration advocate for the inclusion of consent education and bystander
training programs for all Ohio State students, and Leah hopes to help successfully implement these initiatives through her
position in USG and her membership on the Sexual Violence Committee through Ohio State's Student Wellness
Center. Leah has also maintained roles in several organizations including the Major Campus Events Committee, cochairing Ohio State’s Welcome Week. She has served as the Issues Committee Chair of the Council on Student Affairs as
well as on the Student Conduct Board. Leah immensely enjoyed her job as a University Ambassador, promoting the
benefits of OSU to potential freshmen, as well as working as an Office Assistant in the Keith B. Key Center for Student
Leadership and Service. Leah interned at a lobbying and consulting firm in Washington, D.C. this past summer and plans
to pursue a career in public service upon graduation.
•
MIA TAZI
Mia is an exceptionally well organized, enthusiastic and extremely bright graduate student. Within 3 years, Mia obtained
13 awards for her research presentations. Mia obtained a prestigious grant from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and a
nationally competitive American Association of Immunologists fellowship. Mia ranks among the top 5% of all students that
I have mentored for her extraordinary academic abilities, creative critical thinking and analytical accomplishments. Her
contribution to ongoing experiments in the laboratory and her genuine desire to help colleagues has granted her
authorship in nine seminal publications in high impact journals. There are countless examples in which Mia has
demonstrated citizenship within The Ohio State University and her community. Mia was elected to serve as the Social
Chair of the Integrated Biomedical Sciences Student Organization. She passionately thrived to enhance the growth and
development of her colleagues. Mia also served as secretary of the Bennett Society and played a key role in the
involvement of all Ohio State University science graduate programs partnership with Columbus City School science fairs.
Mia is keen to be an active member of several professional societies including the American Association for the
Advancement of Science and American Society of Microbiology. For the past three years, Mia proactively served in the
SUCCESS, (Summer Undergraduate Course Creating Excellence in Scientific Study) program. As Orientation Week
Committee Chair, she effectively guided and supported a diverse group of incoming undergraduate students eager to gain
experience in biomedical research. As a mentor, Mia trained our recent SUCCESS student whose research will be
submitted for publication. When the curriculum committee of our department expressed the need for a society for
graduate students, Mia eagerly took the initiative to create the Microbial Infection and Immunity Graduate Student Society.
She has served as secretary and currently is vice president. Her responsibilities include organizing monthly educational
meetings for graduate students and orchestrating community fundraisers, which she achieved superbly. Her enthusiasm
to volunteer at every available opportunity is unsurpassed. She volunteered at The Ohio State University Denman
Undergraduate Research Forum, numerous Cystic Fibrosis fundraisers, Ohio Central District Science Day, and the
Thomas Worthington High School Science Fair. This award will recognize Mia’s contribution to other student’s career
goals and will set a model for other students to follow her steps in citizenship.
JOHN LEWIS AWARD
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ENCOMPASS
ENCompass is a student organization at Ohio State dedicated to bridging the gap between social and medical care.
Started in 2013, ENCompass was founded by 24 interdisciplinary undergraduate students who envisioned a program of
student volunteers that connect underserved individuals with resources that can improve their overall health and wellbeing. Today, volunteering in food banks and free clinics, ENCompass volunteers have connected over 100 members of
the Franklin county community with resources ranging from nutrition guidance to housing assistance. ENCompass
volunteers have already had a significant effect on the lives of some in our community. One of their volunteers recently
met with a client with a family history of a degenerative eye disease she helped a few months ago. The woman's father
had already gone blind and her siblings were starting to lose their vision. The volunteer connected her with Prevent
Blindness Ohio, an organization that connects patients with free eye care and treatment. The woman was so grateful to
have found help for her condition, as ENCompass might have saved her sight. This past year, ENCompass was visited by
the Dean of The University of Central Florida's College of Public Health and Public Affairs to learn about how an
ENCompass-style program can be implemented on UCF’s campus and surrounding community. In April of 2013,
ENCompass placed 2nd out of 24 Columbus community empowerment organizations at Columbus SOUP, a city-wide
crowd-funding charity event. ENCompass is currently working towards 501(c)(3) non-profit status, and is planning to
expand to sites with University Hospital East and Columbus Public Health this year. In expanding its reach, the
organization will connect even more people in the community with resources critical to their health and well-being.
MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN AWARD
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ISABEL BOZADA
•
LAUREN CHEN
Isabel Bozada is a radical change maker in her field. As an Early Childhood Education major, this student has taken her
own learning and invested it in a wealth of students. I know Isabel through several avenues, but I first knew her through
our executive board membership in Perspectives in Education Initiative (PEI), a student organization focused on
coordinating the educational outreach efforts of student organizations at Ohio State. Primarily in charge of strengthening
our relationship with the College of Education and Human Ecology, Isabel uses her position as a student to create change
at Ohio State, in the Columbus community, and in the country in general. However, I came to realize soon after meeting
Isabel that PEI was not nearly the whole of her contributions to her world. Now my boss at a Children’s Defense Fund
Freedom School (a literacy enrichment program for students in urban schools) site in the Franklinton area of Columbus, I
can see that Isabel has really devoted the vast majority of her college experience to understanding the needs of primaryaged students in poverty. Despite many other options in her field, Isabel has remained a staff member on the west side of
Columbus since 2012, or for three years. Each day, Isabel instills a sense of calm in our staff. She believes in students in their capacities, their abilities, and truly their natures as human beings. I have been studying children, teaching, and
learning for as long as I could study. Never have I met someone who is so able to fairly discipline a child, give him or her
another chance at success, and point them in the right direction for next time. Outside of summer Freedom Schools,
Isabel stays busy. Isabel is a devoted member of Students for Education Reform, a former staff member at Schoenbaum
Family Center (preschool in Weinland Park), and her multicultural sorority. A staff member and recruiter for Teach for
America, Isabel is extremely passionate about encouraging others to be committed to education, especially people of
color. As a Mexican-American, Isabel celebrates her heritage, and encourages her students, classmates, and peers to do
the same. She is passionate about creating a workforce in urban schools that reflects the students there. Children are not
only nurtured at the hands of Isabel Bozada, but too nudged in a direction that leads them to discovery. At age 21, she is
one of the youngest people in the country to have her job at a Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School. If this is what
the world of education is privy to in Isabel’s early twenties, I look forward to the future of our urban schooling.
As both the co-founder and President of The Supply at the Ohio State University, junior Lauren Chen has demonstrated
exceptional leadership and strong commitment to transforming urban slums through service learning and human rights
education. She organized the first annual 5k Run for Global Awareness and a "Lunch for Lenana" campaign which, in
total, raised over $1000 towards building the Kev Jumba Preparatory School in the slums of Lenana,
Kenya. Lauren also coordinated a Penpal Program between children in low-income districts of Columbus and the Lenana
school children. Last spring, The Supply at Ohio State took part in World Slum Day, which became the largest, grassroots movement to bring global attention to the urban slum crisis.
•
DAVONTI’ HAYNES
•
THERESA NIERMEYER
•
CHRISTOPHER THOMAS
During DaVonti's first year at Ohio State, he started the 'A Day in the Life of a Buckeye' program. A Day in the Life of a
Buckeye offers a one-on-one experience for inner-city high school sophomores and juniors to experience life at The Ohio
State University, and college in general, for a day. The program’s main goal is to provide motivation for education- by
fostering the sentiment that success is attainable. Now in preparation for its third year, the program has expanded to
nearly 140 students in Cleveland and Columbus public schools. DaVonti' has plans to keep the program going for many
years to come, along with establishing a mentor program in 2015 that pairs Ohio State students and community leaders
with freshman high school students to encourage them to attend college and help them with the preparation to do so.
Theresa Niermeyer is a 2014 Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate of the Department of Dance. Theresa’s senior project is a
stellar example of the significant impact the study of dance has in public education settings and the vital force dance plays
in educational reform. She used the medium of dance to help students recognize the importance of the role they play
within the global community as they grow to understand and shape their social perspectives and political attitudes. Her
work is truly an embodiment of the values of Marian Wright Edelman Award regarding the promotion, advancement and
equitable access to education. Entitled “Dance In Global Contexts: Integrating Ethnographic Dance Research in Public
Education,” Theresa’s objective was to use culturally diverse dance education to aid students in becoming conscious and
informed citizens. Her focus for this work developed throughout her undergraduate studies in the
department. Particularly influential were two study abroad dance programs to Burkina Faso in western Africa. She spent
her senior year teaching sophomore level students at Fort Hayes Metropolitan Education Center in Columbus, Ohio.
Using music and dance as the vehicle to teach her students about diverse forms of human expression, beliefs, and values
among the world’s nations, Theresa introduced sixteen distinct movement practices from around the globe. Her students’
feedback on their experience was reaffirming. They wrote that dance offered a new way to understand themselves and
their own habits. They expressed appreciation for learning about places they might never have known about on their
own. They enjoyed learning about different cultural values and social cues. Most importantly, they felt more open-minded
and able to adapt to change. As a result of her diligent efforts, Theresa has created a curricular template for a course of
study that is culturally relevant, academically significant and ripe for duplication and dissemination to other dance
educators in the field. Theresa Niermeyer is passionate, steadfast and humble by nature. With quiet strength and
unbridled enthusiasm, she has the unique ability to shine light in the minds and hearts of others, opening them to new
experiences and ideas. Her continued pursuit for knowledge is insatiable. Theresa’s quest to travel and explore through
cross-cultural collaborations, as a lifelong student, educator and artist within the global community has already begun. To
learn more about Theresa’s project and on-going life mission, visit her web site: http://theresaniermeyer.com
Chris Thomas is a second year graduate student at The Ohio State University jointly pursuing a Juris Doctorate and a
Ph.D. in Educational Policy. During his time in law school, Chris has participated in the Moritz Dispute Resolution and
Youth Program by going to Columbus Public Elementary Schools and teaching second graders constructive ways to
resolve conflicts using listening, understanding, and collective problem solving skills. Additionally, in his first year of law
school, Chris designed and executed a series of events for the Moritz College of Law exploring the 60th anniversary
of Brown v. Board of Education. Chris designed the Brown at 60 events to explore the historical significance of the Brown
decision and to analyze critically the extent to which the promise of Brown (that all students receive equal educational
opportunities) has been fulfilled. To explore these topics, Chris organized three panel discussions that examined the
historical significance of Brown, the present reality of educational equity, and the future implications for realizing the
promise ofBrown. Chris procured the very best speakers and panelists from across OSU, the community, and the
judiciary. In planning these events, Chris collaborated with and coordinated the efforts of four OSU organizations,
including the Kirwan Institute, the Black Law Students Association, the Moritz Education Law Society, and the American
Constitution Society. Chris was motivated to put on this incredible series of events that was attended by more than 600
students, faculty, and community members by his understanding that 60 years after Brown 80% of Latino and 74% of
African-American students attend majority minority schools. Chris is a former high school teacher who transitioned out of
the classroom because of his desire to have a greater impact on ensuring equality of educational opportunities in
America. To further this goal, Chris spent the past summer as a law clerk in the U.S. Department of Education working
within the General Counsel's Office to help support the Department's mission of ensuring that every child has an equal
opportunity to a world-class education. In closing, Chris would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Professor
Charlie Wilson for nominating him for this award and for being such a role model in his passion for public education.
MAYA ANGELOU AWARD
•
TYISHA NEDD
•
NAYEON YANG
Tyisha Nedd is a 2014 Bachelor of Fine Arts graduate of the Department of Dance. For her senior project she worked with
the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction at the Franklin County Community Based Correctional Facility. Her
project was designed to bring creative expression to women in the facility. It exemplifies the ideals of the Maya Angelou
Award to combine words, art, and actions to stir souls, energize bodies, liberate minds, and heal hearts. She was
awarded third place in the Arts and Architecture division of the prestigious Denman Awards for her creative research
project. Tyisha was inspired to use movement and art to make a difference in these women lives after watching a
documentary on prison recidivism in a sociology class. Modeled after Seattle based choreographer Pat Graney’s program
entitled “Keeping the Faith,” Tyisha designed and led an interdisciplinary arts program for incarcerated women that
provided them the opportunity to see their value as human beings instead of another stigmatized number in the system.
By taking ownership of the movement vocabularies they were introduced to, Tyisha's students developed a new sense of
self, aptly described in one participant's journal as "this is my body and it's valuable." In an environment where, by
definition, ones liberties are severely limited, this sentiment speaks loudly to the power of transcendence found in creative
experiences and expression. Tyisha began her yearlong residency program in September of 2013 after seeking and
receiving funding that allowed her to invite other artists to join the docket of instructors. Studies culminated in May of 2014
with a dance performance of the students’ creative endeavors, all under Tyisha's encouraging direction. Even women who
were not in the class, wanted to help with the show and be backstage. For Tyisha this was a visible sign that a shift in
values had occurred. As of yet, she has not been able to monitor the after effect of her efforts with regard to prison
recidivism since her students remain incarcerated. Though currently she is unable to physically go to the facility she is
adamant about keeping her former students encouraged and engaged in the arts via a Mail Art program centered on
sending small-scale works through the postal system. Tyisha Nedd is talented, articulate, passionate, charismatic and
driven; a true reflection of the woman for whom this award is named.
Nayeon Yang is a visual and performance-based artist, as well as a second year MFA candidate in the Department of Art.
Her creative practice regularly incorporates written words and active participation with audience members to stir souls,
energize bodies, liberate minds, and heal hearts. In one of her recent projects, Nayeon collected the breath of participants
in white balloons, and asked participants to write their name on a card attached to the balloon holding their breath. She
calls this work, “Stay with me: Membranes of a Space in Time.” Yang asks people she meets on the street, on a bus, at a
bar, or in a gallery to donate their breath to her project. Sometimes, their breath is exchanged with that of another human
participant. By holding the breath of another human participant, Yang notices that people care for the balloons gingerly
because they represent human life. Yang has performed variations of “Stay with me” in various locations around the
globe. Another of Nayeon's projects entitled, “Weighting” involves a scale where she removed the numerical values.
Instead, the scale’s default reading is “absent.” When participants step onto the scale, the word "present" becomes visible
in the number field. Ideas of presence and absence are often referenced in Nayeon's art. In another project, Nayeon
carried a jar of strongly smelling liquid on her head. A helper interviewed the individuals watching her performance, and
recorded the perceptions of what the audience members experienced as they watched Nayeon. On a continual basis,
Nayeon’s work encourages participants to feel connected to each other, and healed.
RACHEL CARSON AWARD
•
ABIGAIL MACKEY
•
JESSE SIMS
•
RITVIK VASUDEVAN
Abigail, an Environmental Policy Major, has served as the Director of Sustainability in the Undergraduate Student
Government, and created various programs and policies to increase environmental stewardship amongst students at Ohio
State. These programs have focused on recycling, eating local, resource control, greener energy, waste management,
and sustainability. She is also the International Projects Director of Nourish International, where she coordinates with a
partnering NGO in a developing country to implement Nourish’s summer international project. Her chapter was able to
raise over $10,000 this past year which went to their partnering NGO, Triple Salto. This past summer, students from the
chapter were in Ecuador where they were working to construct micro-greenhouses and compost wormeries. With a
doubling number of members, Abigail's NI chapter is bigger than ever. Abigail trains and recruits students to travel abroad
to implement these international projects, which aim to reduce poverty in developing countries through promoting long
term sustainable development. In the summer of 2013, she traveled to Cameroon for a female empowerment and
agriculture project with Nourish. Also, this past summer Abigail interned at the US Agency for International Development
on the Power Africa presidential initiative, working to integrate renewable energy into the infrastructure of Sub-Saharan
African countries and strengthen the energy policies of their governments. Abby also focuses on gender policy and
worked with the Power Africa team to integrate gender considerations and empowerment mechanisms into energy
policies to promote gender equality for resource access and control, a critical element of inclusive sustainable
development. In October, Abigail will be attending the 6th Annual Millennium Campus Conference in Boca Raton. There,
she and other students from around the world will be exchanging ideas and discussing with international development
leaders with how to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals. Abigail has also been chosen to present with Nourish
International’s CEO, Kelly Phoenix, on the role of social enterprise in reducing levels of poverty in developing nations at
the conference.
One year ago, members of Friends for the Lower Olentangy Watershed (FLOW) contacted Engineers for Community
Service (ECOS) to help install a Rain Garden in front of a restaurant, The Crest. A rain garden is a natural water
purification system, similar to a wetland. The Crest restaurant believes in sustainable design, and they have embedded
this idea into their business. They wanted to educate their customers on sustainable design through having a rain garden
on site. Jesse took the lead of the project in early January and embraced this idea of educating the customers through
developing a rain garden. He wanted to make sure his team developed a rain garden that would clean the water flowing
from the roof of the restaurant and also allow customers to learn sustainable practices, which they may install in their
houses. Jesse would constantly research rain gardens, and he kept contacting environmental professionals to see how
his team could develop a great garden. He was very organized and methodical in his approaches. The design and
planning for the rain garden was completed through extensive collaboration between Jesse and his team of students,
FLOW, The Crest, and local professionals. On June 14th, Jesse's team, along with additional volunteers, installed the
garden, and the response was tremendous. Leaders from FLOW and The Crest were amazed by the work and excited for
the continuing steps. Jesse embraces the qualities of Rachel Carson because he understands how toxins from rooftops
alter our watershed, and he understands that prevention and protection methods must be instilled, in order to educate
others and protect our world.
I'm not sure there is a more environmentally aware student at Ohio State than Ritvik. In his two short years at Ohio State,
he's gotten involved with the Pure Water Access Project, a nonprofit founded at Ohio State dedicated to "fighting the clean
water crisis." He's passionate about helping others, reducing his personal carbon footprint in the hopes that it will have a
ripple effect, and to educating others. In addition to being a stellar student, involved in extracurricular activities, and
running a nonprofit, Ritvik is also constantly looking for ways to improve the world around him. Recently, he undertook a
huge project around creating an entirely "green" workout facility at Ohio State. He did months of research, cost analysis,
and outlined the benefits for Ohio State. He's a terrific example of the power just one person can have and is thoroughly
deserving of recognition for his efforts.
YELLOW POWER AWARD
•
JACLYN HAWN
•
ABIGAIL MACKEY
•
SIDDHARTH SESHAN
Jaclyn has a passion and commitment to serving the international community. She has worked extensively with two OSU
student organizations that support the international community, Buckeyes Without Boarders and P.A.C.E. Pharmacists
and Academics for Communication in English. As president of Buckeyes Without Boarders Jaclyn started the Nicaragua
Medical Brigade. She was inspired to start this initiative after studying abroad in Nicaragua and developing a relationship
with her host parent, who happened to be disabled. Jaclyn was impressed and moved by how her host mom overcame a
traumatic car accident and the struggles of healing in an imperfect health care system. It was not uncommon for patients
to need to buy their own supplies before receiving a medical procedure. These and other obstacles helped to call Jaclyn
to action. The inaugural trip took place over spring break 2014 with an interdisciplinary team consisting of students from
Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Public Health. The initial goal was to treat about 400 patients. This goal was far
exceeded when 10 health professional students were able to treat and positively impact the lives of over 600 patients.
Jaclyn also saw a need with international students at OSU and formed P.A.C.E. Her goal in forming this organization was
to provide opportunities for international students in the health professions to improve their English skills, and in turn to
help English speaking students improve their ability to communicate with non-native speakers. Ultimately hoping to
positively improve health care for all. This organization provides both formal educational sessions focusing on different
communication areas, i.e. using sign language with patients or presenting common phrases in multiple languages, as well
as conversation partners. The conversation partners focus their time together discussing medical articles related to
professional communication in health care that both have read and reflected upon. The first year the organization actively
consisted of 15 members and has a goal of increasing to 25 members in its second year. Jaclyn has made amazing
efforts both inside the US, and overseas to improve healthcare for the international community and is well deserving of
this award.
Abigail, an Environmental Policy Major, has served as the Director of Sustainability in the Undergraduate Student
Government, and created various programs and policies to increase environmental stewardship amongst students at Ohio
State. These programs have focused on recycling, eating local, resource control, greener energy, waste management,
and sustainability. She is also the International Projects Director of Nourish International, where she coordinates with a
partnering NGO in a developing country to implement Nourish’s summer international project. Her chapter was able to
raise over $10,000 this past year which went to their partnering NGO, Triple Salto. This past summer, students from the
chapter were in Ecuador where they were working to construct micro-greenhouses and compost wormeries. With a
doubling number of members, Abigail's NI chapter is bigger than ever. Abigail trains and recruits students to travel abroad
to implement these international projects, which aim to reduce poverty in developing countries through promoting long
term sustainable development. In the summer of 2013, she traveled to Cameroon for a female empowerment and
agriculture project with Nourish. Also, this past summer Abigail interned at the US Agency for International Development
on the Power Africa presidential initiative, working to integrate renewable energy into the infrastructure of Sub-Saharan
African countries and strengthen the energy policies of their governments. Abby also focuses on gender policy and
worked with the Power Africa team to integrate gender considerations and empowerment mechanisms into energy
policies to promote gender equality for resource access and control, a critical element of inclusive sustainable
development. In October, Abigail will be attending the 6th Annual Millennium Campus Conference in Boca Raton. There,
she and other students from around the world will be exchanging ideas and discussing with international development
leaders with how to achieve the UN Millennium Development Goals. Abigail has also been chosen to present with Nourish
International’s CEO, Kelly Phoenix, on the role of social enterprise in reducing levels of poverty in developing nations at
the conference.
Siddharth is involved with the Global Education and Leadership Foundation (tGELF) in India. Through this organization,
he has actively participated in conferences across India to ameliorate the poverty situation and work on serious
Environmental issues. He not only choses to help his nation of birth through these means, but has taken a step beyond to
communicate with tGELF's members in the United States. Siddharth sits for weekly meetings where he does his fair share
of work in contacting personnel to create more awareness. He has also cofounded an organization called The Missing
Link where they work on creating sustainable solutions for environmental problems. Siddharth is also involved with the
Indian Students Association. Having served as events chair for two years, Siddharth is now the organization's chapter
advisor. His participation has seen ISA organize events all across Ohio State and Columbus. Two years ago, thanks to his
efforts, ISA won the Outstanding Student Organization award and many more at the Ohio Union. A few of the events put
up by Siddharth and ISA include: Garba, Buckeyemela, Navratri, Diwali, Raghu Dixit Concert, Srujan, and etcetera.
Siddharth has embraced many cultural differences and fought to break barriers. He is the first to step up to invite nonAsians to all of his events. In fact, Acacia's involvement with the South Asian community went up thanks to his efforts.
Many of our brothers, irrespective of their race, attend Siddharth's events, promoting diversity and equality. We also host
"Meet and Greek" at the Acacia Fraternity - an event inspired by Siddharth's idea of developing a discussion with people
of different backgrounds.
•
HANNAH TRATE
Hannah, out of the people I know, is one of the most keen to embrace challenges. She has set her sights - academically
and personally - on the resolution of the Israel/Palestine conflict. Her interest in the conflict began last summer during the
Living Jerusalem program, which gave her exposure to what life was like in both East and West Jerusalem. For her, it was
a painful lesson on the way the constant give and take between cooperation and conflict had come to assume normalcy
for the residents in the region and her studies that summer gave her some initial ideas of how institutions could bring
people together. Hannah returned to OSU to invigorate the work of the Committee for Justice in Palestine, where she
spearheaded the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions campaign at OSU in an attempt to direct American attention to the
injustices experienced and faced in Jerusalem. Those who knew Hannah knew of the conviction she felt for the
movement; but her experiences this summer working as an English teacher in Hebron, caused her to rethink what it
meant to pursue equality in this conflict and she looks back at her work with BDS as a “failed project”. Over the course of
two months this summer, she learned more about the Palestinian narrative, met with both Israeli and Palestinian NGOs,
worked with refugees at the al-Fawwar camp, and crossed into Israel to revisit Jerusalem. The second trip back to
Jerusalem enabled her to appreciate the diversity of the land and its monuments, but also the diversity in the stories being
told by residents. There, she met with Israeli conflict resolution groups and came away with a new impression of the
coexistence. Hannah attended the J Street U Grand Strategy Roundtable, which looked at the possibility of groups such
as J Street to strategically apply personal experiences to impact communities in the United States. With JStreet, Hannah
took a trip focused on Gaza to observe directly how the war was impacting Israelis, Palestinians, Israeli Arabs, domestic
politics, and the work of Human Rights NGOs. Hannah's willingness to assume different roles and empathize with people
across the lines of conflict allows her to approach a serious dilemma in international affairs with cultural appreciation and
sensitivity; I have no doubt that this will be indispensable in her journey to see safety, equality, and respect bestowed to
everyone in Israel and Palestine.
To view photos from the First Annual Civic Engagement Banquet visit:
www.ohiounionphotos.org/Student-Affairs-and-Student/20142015/2014-Inaugural-Civic
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