Maggie Skoch received the 2016 Jerry Greenspan Student Voice of Mental Health Award from The Jed Foundation.

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The University of 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s recognized seven students at the 30th annual Student Leadership Awards Banquet on Thursday (April 7). These honor current students who have made exceptional contributions to the 91³Ō¹Ļ community.

, honoring a graduating senior who has made substantial personal efforts to advance the interests of students at 91³Ō¹Ļ, was given to , from Mentor, Ohio.

Motivated by her own experiences, Skoch has been a prominent advocate for mental health awareness and education in the University community. She served as president of , where she was an integral planner of 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s Mental Illness Awareness Week, which won an award for Outstanding Club Event/Program of the Year in the 2014-15 academic year. Skoch also created opportunities for her peers to have monthly conversations about mental health through the ā€œEspresso Your Mindā€ program, and has served as a member of the Universityā€™s Healthy Campus Coalition.

The theology and Arts and Letters pre-health major and Breen-Phillips Hall resident has also been involved as a music mentor and director for 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s program, demonstrating her deep spirituality, sharing her tremendous gift for music and inspiring people to explore their faith.

The , given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the ideals of the University through outstanding community service beyond the University community, was awarded to Colleen McLinden from Lakewood, Ohio.

Through work in service and legislative advocacy, McLinden, a theology major and Cavanaugh Hall resident, has embodied the principles of Catholic Social Teaching during her time at 91³Ō¹Ļ. As a sophomore, she led a group of students working to change policy at the state level for formerly incarcerated people to gain access to food assistance. A regular in the South Bend Catholic Worker community, she has engaged low-income residents regarding the accessibility of fresh produce at the Monroe Park Co-Op. Her volunteer service in Chile, as well as her work for Catholic Relief Services, have allowed her to serve at a global level by raising awareness on global pandemics, fundraising for additional resources and engaging her peers in prayer for global solidarity.

annually honors a graduating senior whose contributions have significantly advanced the climate of welcome and inclusion within or beyond the University community. This yearā€™s recipient is Preston Igwe from Houston.

Igwe, a sociology and Arts and Letters pre-professional major, has been deeply involved with various 91³Ō¹Ļ student organizations, employing an inclusive and collaborative approach to his leadership. He has served as president of , a club that works to promote brotherhood and leadership among black men on campus. He has also served as a member of Diversity Council and the .

An integral planning partner of the Black Manā€™s Think Tank program, Igwe has encouraged dialogue and conversation among his peers on campus. Through his work with , he has been an ambassador for that office, as well as for the University, often hosting visiting students and sharing his experience at 91³Ō¹Ļ. His work in the local community has brought his 91³Ō¹Ļ peers and South Bend high school students closer together by inspiring the students and opening the minds and hearts of his classmates.

The was awarded to William Harris from Dallas. This award is given to a graduating senior who embodies Blessed Father Moreauā€™s vision of educating heart and mind as well as someone who has demonstrated significant effort to advancing the Catholic character of the University.

The Siegfried Hall resident and mechanical engineering major is known as a faith-filled, compassionate leader. His myriad contributions to spiritual life on campus can be seen in his work for ND Vision, as a ministry coordinator in both the Basilica and Siegfried Hall, and as a retreat coordinator for . He spearheaded the planning of this yearā€™s March for Life event, which, originally to be attended in Washington, D.C., was thanks in large part to Harrisā€™ leadership able to be held successfully on campus for more than 800 faculty, staff and students.

Alison Oā€™Connor, from Wyckoff, New Jersey, was awarded the , presented to a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities for which former 91³Ō¹Ļ Trustee Ray Siegfried was known, including leadership, generosity, devotion to the Catholic faith and affinity for athletics.

An electrical engineering major and McGlinn Hall resident assistant, Oā€™Connorā€™s impact on her hall community has been substantial. As president of McGlinn Hall, she has worked to bring the women in her community together through programming and athletics by participating on and leading multiple interhall and all-campus athletic teams, motivating her hall to win the womenā€™s interhall sports award, the Kelly Cup. She has created events such as the Shamrock Hour, an event series that allows the women of the hall to discuss sensitive topics in an inclusive environment. Her impact outside of McGlinn Hall can be seen in her work for the Leprechaun Legion, a student club supporting , and in her various service projects in the local community and abroad.

from Weston, Florida, was awarded the , honoring an outstanding undergraduate student who exemplifies the qualities for which Mike Russo was known, including service, personal character and striving to bring the best out of themselves and others.

Fraser, a biological sciences and Italian major, has been committed to fostering inclusion and spirit in residential life at 91³Ō¹Ļ since her first year on campus. She is the current co-chair of and former president of Ryan Hall. As president of Ryan, she brought new traditions to the hall, such as Kind Kats and ROAR Week, aimed at empowering Ryan Hall residents, building community and engaging students who did not feel like they are part of the hall community. As co-chair of Hall Presidents Council, she initiated ā€œReel in a Resident,ā€ a program in which hall leaders are called each week to reach out to residents struggling in their communities and find ways to engage them.

The was presented to Maggie Bowers, from Wilmington, Delaware. This award is given to a graduating senior who exemplify the qualities of Moore, a former 91³Ō¹Ļ associate vice president, who was known for his integrity, character, commitment to 91³Ō¹Ļ and writing ability.

Bowers, a political science and film, television and theatre major, is the editor-in-chief of 2015-16 yearbook, and has strived to make the 352-page book both relevant and compelling for her peers. She has been an effective supervisor of a large staff, mobilizing them over a seven-month period to cover talked-about campus topics such as the decision to resume purchasing University licensed apparel from a limited number of factories in China, the GreenDot bystander intervention program and the impact of the new residence halls on the campus community.

The University of 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s recognized seven students at the annual Student Leadership Awards Banquet on Tuesday (March 31), and will honor one award winner at the Graduate School Awards Ceremony on May 15 (Friday). These annual awards honor current students who have made exceptional contributions to the 91³Ō¹Ļ community.

The , honoring a graduating senior who has made substantial personal efforts to advance the interests of students at 91³Ō¹Ļ, was given to .

The political science and Latino studies majorā€™s involvement in the , and has allowed him to develop relationships on campus that have had a positive impact on the University community. As chief of staff to the 2013-14 student body president, he helped author a recommendation on how to support students of high financial need and has continued dialogue across campus throughout this academic year.

Rangel, a Siegfried Hall resident, serves as founder and president of the Student Coalition for Immigration Advocacy, which fosters education, awareness, advocacy and outreach on the issue of immigration on campus and beyond. In this capacity, he has worked tirelessly to create support and resources to help undocumented students adjust to campus life and flourish at 91³Ō¹Ļ. He also served as a multicultural senior intern for Campus Ministry and was recently a co-leader of the ACC Student Leadership Symposium.

The Rev. Theodore Hesburgh, C.S.C., Award annually honors a graduating senior whose contributions have significantly advanced the climate of welcome and inclusion within or beyond the University community. This yearā€™s recipient is Matthew Wong.

A Duncan Hall resident majoring in biology and Chinese, Wong served as chair of the and has been involved with the , the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Committee, and the . A respected collaborator and servant leader, Wong is also known for inspiring leadership in others.

will be presented with the , given to a post-baccalaureate student who has displayed leadership in promoting a more diverse, inclusive campus community for students at the Graduate School Awards Ceremony on May 15 (Friday).

An electrical engineering doctoral student, Khan currently serves as president of the Muslim Student Association. In this capacity, he has helped provide Muslim students and the 91³Ō¹Ļ community a source to celebrate faith as well as an opportunity for interfaith appreciation. A former member of the Graduate Student Ministry Partnership team, Khan has been instrumental in Campus Ministryā€˜s approach for graduate student ministry.

The was awarded to Grace Carroll. This award is given to a graduating senior who embodies Blessed Father Moreauā€™s vision of educating heart and mind as well as someone who has demonstrated significant effort to advancing the Catholic character of the University.

The Ryan Hall resident recently served as student coordinator of the Campus Ministry Freshman Retreat, aiding in the design and development of an updated retreat model that infuses Christian faith, Holy Cross spirituality and 91³Ō¹Ļ community. She has used this experience to inform her work as a committee chair for the departmentā€™s , currently underway. In addition, she serves as the Campus Ministry representative in Student Government. Carroll is a theology and Spanish major with a minor in education, schooling and society.

The , given to a graduating senior who exemplifies the ideals of the University through outstanding community service beyond the University community, was awarded to .

Gutierrez serves as president of the 91³Ō¹Ļ chapter of the World Hunger Coalition, which has been active in raising awareness of the issue of hunger, and organizing the Wednesday Lunch Donation, in which students forgo a meal and contribute its monetary value to designated organizations addressing hunger. The club has raised more than $25,000 this academic year in student donations for hunger-relief organizations, including, locally, the Northern Indiana Food Bank. She has also successfully provided support and fundraising to the Monroe Park Grocery Cooperative in South Bend.

A , and Truman Scholarship finalist, Gutierrez is pursuing a double major in political science and Romance languages and literature.

Lauren Vidal was awarded the Mike Russo Spirit Award, honoring an outstanding undergraduate student who exemplifies the qualities for which Mike Russo was known, including service, personal character, and those who strive to bring the best out of themselves and others.

As outgoing student body president, Vidal has had an influential, tangible impact on student life at 91³Ō¹Ļ, notably in the areas of student safety, mental health awareness and engagement with the South Bend community. Known as an exceptional collaborator, Vidal has served on the steering committee for the campus and the executive vice presidentā€™s . Vidal is currently pursuing a major in management consulting and a minor in the .

was awarded the , presented to a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities for which former 91³Ō¹Ļ Trustee Ray Siegfried was known, including leadership, generosity, devotion to the Catholic faith and affinity for athletics.

A Program of Liberal Studies major and Howard Hall resident, Heeder competed as a three-sport varsity athlete for three years (track and field and cross-country). Merging athletics and service, she co-founded a group devoted to the well-being of women athletes.

Heeder has also shown exceptional leadership in the Robinson Community Learning Centerā€™s Youth Development AmeriCorps, in the Center for Social Concernā€™s Summer Service Learning Program and as manager of the 91³Ō¹Ļ softball team.

The was presented to Jonathan Warren. This award is given to a graduating senior who exemplify the qualities of Moore, a former 91³Ō¹Ļ associate vice president, who was known for his integrity, character, commitment to 91³Ō¹Ļ and writing ability.

Warren, an English major with minors in business economics and journalism, ethics and democracy, served as editor-in-chief of Scholastic, 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s student magazine. He also serves as public relations director of , producing content for the organizationā€™s blog, writing news releases and handling overall design and marketing for the project, which raises more than $750,000 annually for student charities.

The University of 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s recognized seven students with awards at the annual Student Leadership Awards Banquet on Tuesday (April 1), including a new award recognizing a graduating senior whose contributions have significantly advanced diversity and inclusion efforts within the University of 91³Ō¹Ļ community.

The inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Award was presented to Edithstein Cho, a sociology and peace studies major. Cho is the co-founder and producer of ā€œ,ā€ a campus production in its third year that gives voice to unspoken stories about identity, difference and discrimination on campus. ā€œShow Some Skinā€ strives to be a catalyst for the campus communityā€™s discovery and appreciation of 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s true diversity, and has provided a platform for students to speak on issues of diversity and become an educational tool that has moved beyond the stage and into classrooms and residence halls.

Cho has also served as a member of the Student Campus Orientation Committee, implementing training for hall orientation commissioners on diversity and encouraging activities sensitive to the complexities of communities.

Africana studies and peace studies major was given , honoring a graduating senior who has made substantial personal efforts to advance the interest of students at 91³Ō¹Ļ.

This past year, Coccia served as student body president, running on a platform focused on promoting the passions and interests of all students, including those who feel marginalized. A Truman Scholar and member of the , he has worked to serve peers and improve the campus climate on a variety of issues, most notably to increase awareness for students who identify as LGBTQ minority students, students who are undocumented citizens and students impacted by sexual violence.

Coccia served as a three-year FIRE starter peer educator in the , president of the , steering committee member for the Call to Action Committee, founder of the and collaborator in the creation of ā€œ: A Pastoral Plan for the Holistic Development and Support of LGBTQ Students and Heterosexual Students at 91³Ō¹Ļ.ā€

The , given to a graduating senior who has exemplified the ideas of the University through outstanding community service beyond the University community, was awarded to Keon (Peter) Woo.

A majoring in finance and philosophy, Woo serves as founder and president of the , a nonprofit community financial services provider founded by University of 91³Ō¹Ļ and Saint Maryā€™s College students that aims to replace predatory payday lending that perpetuates poverty. Through a variety of service learning and research projects, Woo became interested in the financial dimension of social justice, most particularly predatory lending institutions. He has worked with the South Bend community to explore the issue, impacting the predatory lending landscape and inspiring fellow students to discover ways to serve locally.

Karen Antonio was presented with the . This honor is given to a post-baccalaureate student who has displayed leadership in promoting a more diverse, inclusive campus community for students.

A doctoral student in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Antonio has contributed greatly to promoting and connecting women in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields. As the recipient of a Grad Life Grant aimed at increasing outreach and communication among women in STEM fields at 91³Ō¹Ļ, she organized monthly lunch sessions for women in STEM to present, hear and critique brief research presentations, coordinated a panel discussion on the Two Body Problem, offered science sessions for local children and has also been instrumental setting up a chapter for the at 91³Ō¹Ļ.

The was awarded to Jenna Ahn. The award, established in 2010, is given to a graduating senior who embodies Blessed Father Moreauā€™s vision of educating heart and mind as well as a one who demonstrates a significant effort to advancing the Catholic character of the University.

Ahn has been extensively involved in both the and , serving as a student leader on a task force working to unite the students involved with both entities. As a theology and pre-health major, she participated in both the and the through the Center for Social Concerns, traveling to Kolkata, India, to work with the Missionaries of Charity. Deeply impacted by her time in India, she procured a grant to return for another summer to conduct research on her honors thesis in theology. Ahn also served as resident assistant in Walsh Hall.

The was presented to Julia Steiner. This award is given to graduating seniors who exemplify the qualities of Moore, a former 91³Ō¹Ļ associate vice president, who was known for his integrity, character, commitment to 91³Ō¹Ļ and writing ability.

Steiner, a senior English major and peace studies minor, served as editor-in-chief of , 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s student magazine. Under her leadership, the publication has devoted significant attention to the topic of diversity, with stories on the 50th anniversary of the Birmingham Church bombings and the inaugural efforts of PrismND, 91³Ō¹Ļā€™s first recognized student organization serving LGBTQ students and their allies. Steiner has accepted an internship with RTE, the Irish radio television and radio network in Dublin.

Elizabeth Tucker was given the , presented to a graduating senior who exemplifies the qualities for which former 91³Ō¹Ļ Trustee Ray Siegfried, Class of 1965, was known, including leadership, generosity, devotion to the Catholic faith and affinity for athletics.

An accountancy major and theology minor, Tucker is a four-year member of the varsity womenā€™s soccer team, serving as captain for her junior and senior year. A Capital One first-team Academic All-American and Academic All-District choice in varsity soccer, her leadership and generosity are evident both on and off the field. As team captain, she spearheaded team community service efforts, partnering the team with local hospital to adopt a patient, coordinating efforts to tutor at a local elementary school and organizing team participation with groups including Special Olympics and the Ronald McDonald House. She served as executive board member for the and has participated twice in the . Her volunteer activities extend beyond those with the team, assisting with the and visiting local elementary schools for weekly tutoring and as part of the Dream Team Program.