Students and Faculty Honored for Promoting Diversity

Students and faculty were honored for their dedication to academics and furthering diversity on campus and in the surrounding community at the annual Intercultural Awards May 1 in the Wilson Room of Pfenning Alumni Center.

College Archivist Diane Shaw and Jeffrey D. Robinson ’80 Leadership Award recipient Robert Young ’14

Sponsored by the Office of Intercultural Development, the ceremony celebrates those who have committed themselves to addressing issues of multiculturalism, diversity, and social justice throughout the year.

Award recipients:

• 1974 Award – Awarded to the student who most exemplifies the groundbreaking spirit of the first class of women to graduate from Lafayette by working toward equality for women on campus
  Jessica Silverman ’14 (Holmdel, N.J.), English/film and media studies
• Cultural Program of the Year – This award is presented to coordinators of the cultural program or initiative that most impacted the campus community in terms of its emphasis on cross-cultural dialogue, intellectual exploration of an important sociocultural or global issue, or social integration across campus affiliations.
  Residency of the Monks of Drepung Gomang Monastery, organized by Janemarie Duh, identity management systems architect in ITS and Buddhist adviser
• Darlyne Bailey ’74 Excellence in the Humanities and Social Sciences Award – A student whose academic/artistic accomplishments reflect an outstanding level of scholarship and advance understanding on an important issue related to diversity
  Shehtaz Huq ’14 (Plano, Texas), English/film and media studies
• David A. Portlock Cross-Cultural Relationship Award – A student who has worked diligently to promote cross-cultural relationships on campus and/or in the community
  Danialie Fertile ’16 (Morris Plains, N.J.), government & law and foreign language
• Dr. Eugene Deloatch ’59 Excellence in Science and Engineering Award – A senior in the natural sciences or engineering whose academic accomplishments reflect an outstanding level of scholarship
  Rijan Maharjan ’14 (Kathmandu, Nepal), mechanical engineering
  Kyle Tucker ’14 (Los Angeles, Calif.), biology
  

  Professor Chris Phillips presents the Darlyne Bailey ’74 Excellence in the Humanities and Social Sciences Award to Shehtaz Huq ’14

• Frances Ocansey-Ahene Spirit of Multiculturalism Award – A graduating senior whose activities and commitment to academic excellence and inclusive cultural education within the community transcend all barriers and exemplify the ethos of multiculturalism at Lafayette
  Nam Nguyen ’14 (Washington, D.C.), history/international affairs
• Jeffrey D. Robinson ’80 Leadership Award – Awarded to an accomplished student who is also characterized by noteworthy leadership in college activities and student life
  Robert Young ’14 (Washington, D.C.), film and media studies/women’s and gender studies
• John T. McCartney Excellence in Diversity Education Award – A faculty member or administrator whose commitment and service to diversity on campus promote awareness and a positive learning environment for all students.
  Latin American and Caribbean Studies Faculty
• Leroy D. Nunery ’77 Intellectual Citizenship Award – A student whose research on important social, political, or economic issues advances knowledge and involves the student in activities within a community.
  Alex Rosenfelder ’14 (South Orange, N.J.), philosophy/English
• Mattachine Award – Awarded to the student who most exemplifies the courage of the Mattachine Society, the nation’s first LGBTQ rights organization, in working tirelessly to advance LGBTQ rights at Lafayette.
  Shanequa Lassiter ’14 (New York, N.Y.), women’s and gender studies
• Otis Ellis ’89 Scholar Athlete Award –This award is granted to a successful varsity athlete who has achieved an outstanding level of scholarship
  Rachel Pena ’14 (Ridgefield Park, N.J.), English
  Julian Plummer ’15 (Kendall Park, N.J.), economics
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  Professor Andy Smith and Riley Temple ’71 Creative and Artistic Citizenship Award recipient Joel Vargas ’14

  Pard Partnership Award – Awarded to the individual, student organization, academic, or administrative department that has contributed significantly to achieving social justice through a process of collaboration around shared values
  Michael O’Neil, associate professor of English and director of theater

• Riley Temple ’71 Creative and Artistic Citizenship Award – A student whose creative scholarship in the visual and/or performance arts contributes to knowledge on societal issues of multicultural concern
  Joel Vargas ’14  (Bronx, N.Y.), film and media studies
• Rising Star Award – A first-year student who has demonstrated commitment to intercultural campus engagement and potential for greatness in the years to come
  Iris Xu ’17 (Dalian, China), anthropology and sociology
  Valerie Melson ’17 (Upper Marlboro, Md.), neuroscience
• Robert I. Weiner Interfaith Award – Given to the Lafayette student who contributed most significantly to interfaith work by promoting constructive dialogue between religious and intercultural groups on campus.
  Rose Bayer ’14 (Glastonbury, Conn.), neuroscience
• Student Advocate Staff Award – This award is given to the administrative or support staff member whose expressed commitment to diversity is demonstrated through their expert advising, support, advocacy, and mentorship of students of color, women, LGBTQ students, and other underrepresented identity groups.
  Alex Hendrickson, College chaplain and director of religious and spiritual life
• Student Organization of the Year – This award is granted to the student organization that has most impacted the campus through consistently effective cultural programming (social and/or educational)
  QuEST
• World Citizen Award – An international student who has demonstrated commitment to local and/or global issues through academic work or co-curricular leadership
  Sicheng Wang ’14 (Mianyang, China), electrical and computer engineering