2018-19 Winners
Thrive Student of the Year
Allegra Brochin
Allegra is organized and a great communicator, always being sure to let everyone have the chance to speak. She has made the Campus Recreation marketing cohesive and serves as the bridge between staff members and the marketing team. This student has built an impressive marketing department comprised of 12 students who handle graphic design, social media, web page building, & cardio machine monitor displays, and photography and videography. In addition to her support for Campus Rec, she has also expanded to also provide marketing support to the Office of Wellbeing.
Thrive Organization of the Year
PREPARE
This organization has been providing sexual assault education, prevention, and support since 1987. Its members have been working to make the Wake Forest community aware of sexual assault. This group has facilitated orientation presentations, educational campaigns, trivia, the Speak Out, the Grateful Garment Project, and many other events on campus that affect WFU and other members of the community.
First Year Student Leader
Maya Dalton
This award recognizes a student who lives and exemplifies Pro Humanitate in all aspects of leadership. Maya has served as a senator on Student Government and as the co-chair of the Physical Planning Committee. A nominator states, “She has created a positive and proactive vision for the future of Student Government- she always has creative ideas and contributes enthusiastically to ideas in Senate.” Along with her involvement with Student Government, she is also highly involved with Campus Recreation and an active member in her sorority Alpha Delta Pi.
Outstanding Emerging Leader
Sarah Hambright
Sarah serves as Chief for Wake Forest Emergency Medical Services. During her stint as chief she has developed a new interview process to help identify strengths and weaknesses of members. She has worked with the other officers to build unity and community by hosting weekly events. She has mastered the art of delegation and knows how to also coach and support when needed. Due to an increase in mental health type calls she has partnered with the University Counseling Center to help members receive more advanced training.
Sophomore Student Leader
Logan Bolton
A nominator states, “She’s helped students feel heard and cared about by bringing them experiences that they will never forget. She will only continue to flourish from here and has already accomplished so much just as a Sophomore.” Logan serves in many facets here at Wake Forest, but is most recognized for her work with Student Union. She has been a part of organizing and executing many programs, most notably the trip to Scarowinds and her Silent Disco event. She has been labeled as visionary and creative by her peers.
Unsung Hero
Brianna “Breezy” Jenkins
Breezy serves in multiple roles on campus, such as Assistant Manager of Operations at Campus Grounds, Director of Festivals on Student Union, and Co-chair of Student Organizations Council. She is not only an exemplary leader, but a kind, hardworking woman who goes above and beyond. A nominator states, “She is a problem solver, and she always comes up with new ways and ideas to make the campus a brighter, happier place and make all students feel more included.”
Junior Student Leader
Isabella Ryan
A nominator states, “I admire this person not only because she is brilliant, but because she genuinely cares deeply about the experiences of those around her and she always leads with empathy and compassion.” She played a significant role in the implementation of Mental Health Week, which deconstructed the stigma that surrounded mental health, and her campaign against Sexual Assault. This student strives to make this community a better place, whether it was about the mental health of our students or the physical safety of our students, she will fight for them.
Living Our Values Award
Rav Mathone & Jack Walsh
This year, two recipients received this award, Rav Mathone and Jack Walsh (not pictured).
Rav is president of SAFAR, Student Association for the Advancement of Refugees, and has done an amazing job helping local families in need when they needed it the most. She has overseen the expansion of tutoring programs for refugees and community-building events, working tirelessly to build bridges and see the humanity in everyone in our community.
Jack is the President of the Interfraternity Council and Vice President of Sigma Pi fraternity. He has helped realign our Greek community to our core shared values by increasing communication amongst leaders from different organizations, and partnering with groups like Student Union and Student Government to progress large initiatives. A nominator states, “ is the genuine care he puts into every single conversation he has with any person. He is one of, if not the most caring person I know and consistently leads by example.”
Bridge Builder Award
Ashley Estrela
Ashley is compassionate and always cares about what’s going on with everyone. She serves as the Culture and Community Director for Student Union. She was responsible for Student Union collaborating with organizations such as ASIA, OLAS, and the LGBTQ Center/Spectrum to ensure that programming reached a diverse campus population where everyone has a voice. She also planned a Coco and cocoa event aimed at highlighting Latin culture. She programmed an international cook off and a dumpling making short course to introduce students to a variety of international cuisine.
Campus Partner of the Year
Brian Cohen
Brian goes above and beyond to assists organizations in understanding and improving campus sustainability efforts. He has been noted as an “exceptional resource in negating the negative impacts programming can sometimes cause, as well creating initiatives to create a positive impact in the process.” He exhibits patience as he reviews the event with students and organizations, its location, the type of food and utensils being used, types of activities and crafts that would be there, and how many people are expected.
Senior Student Leader
Rylie Frayman
Rylie has served in Student Union for the past three years as Director of Special Events (planning LOQ), then Director of Traditions (Fallfest/Springfest), and now as VP Membership. A nominator states, “She’s a dedicated, professional, and competent leader who has ably navigated difficult situations on behalf of Student Union.” Rylie is supportive of all our members, ensures that all members feel included, and has played a pivotal role in helping Student Union succeed this year.
Chinuntdet-Crowe Scholarship Recipient
Riani Carr
Riani is a Sophomore from Silver Spring, MD, majoring in Politics and International Affairs. She has exemplified leadership in multiple areas, such as serving as the Communications and Outreach Chair for Student Movement for Immigration Justice, small group leader for Dash Corps and Building University Inclusion through Leadership and Diversity (B.U.I.L.D.), member of Student Activity Fund Committee, and small group moderator for BRANCHES.
New Student Organization of the Year
Red Cross Club
This organization is devoted to saving lives and giving students an opportunity to help save other people within our community. This organization is newly charter and strives for wellbeing both within our campus and our community. Since being chartered this organization has increased the amount of blood collected from blood drives from 30 units to over 100 units. This club has also made over 200 homes safer and more prepared in the event of a home fire by going door to door in underserved communities offering educational material and free smoke detectors. They have also packed 50 care packages to send overseas to our service men and women.
Advisor of the Year
Dr. Alessandra Von Burg
Dr. Von Burg advises the Student Association for the Advancement of Refugees (SAFAR). In this capacity, she has instilled and developed a commitment to local community/families in all students involved. She organized SAFAR’s recent panel on Wake Forest’s chapter of Every Campus a Refuge, at which this individual and organization welcomed the founder of this program from Guilford College. This advisor also spoke on the panel. She is currently organizing a trip to DC to present at the Accelerate festival on the national mall. She is working with SAFAR on efforts to develop a gardening program at Campus Garden for local refugees and immigrants. And through all of this, she is centering student leadership and voices.
Student Leader of the Year
Sydney Packard
A nominator states, “She has a keen commitment to serving her fellow students and relates well to her peers, staff, and faculty. She has emerged as a leader within the Student Budget Advisory Committee and her peers often rely on her for her expertise to help them navigate our funding and payment processes.” Sydney has also served as the Student Government Treasurer for two years, Student Activity Fee Committee rep for two years, VP of Finance for Kappa Delta Sorority, and Co-Chair of the Finance Club’s Sophomore Analyst Program.
Event of the Year
A.S.I.A. – Lunar New Year Festival
The Asian Student Interest Association, or A.S.I.A. has provided meaningful events that help educate students, faculty, and community members about the Asian culture. Also, they provide Asian students a sense of belonging by offering unforgettable bonding experiences and culture events.This organization has hosted events such as Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, Hot Pot nights, and Taste of Asia week. This evening this organization is being recognized for their Lunar New Year Festival.
Collaboration of the Year
Anthony Aston Players, Spectrum, & Student Union – Drag Show
These three organizations worked in tandem from the ground up in order to put on a phenomenal event for Wake Forest students. Collaboration was essential to this event because there were aspects on the event side in which one group had more experience, such as SAF presentations and other logistics, but another group had the knowledge about drag culture, finding and bringing queens, and the aspects of a drag show to make the event respectful and culturally correct. A nominator states, “This event deserves to be recognized because it brought an event to campus that is representative of a culture that is not necessarily familiar to many students, particularly non-LGBTQ individuals and was able to teach them about a culture, yet also made LGBTQ individuals on campus feel recognized and seen.”
Advisor Achievement Award
Brad Shugoll
Brad is one of the most compassionate and dedicated people at Wake. He puts in countless hours to help ensure the success of these large scale events. He is the advisor for several of the major service and philanthropic related events on campus including Project Pumpkin, Hit the Bricks, and Wake n Shake. A nominator states, “He puts in countless hours to help ensure the success of these large scale events. He helped to advise us with enthusiasm, patience, and a sense of calm, a combination that leads everyone to admire and respect him.”
Student Organization of the Year
Emergency Medical Services
This organization shows immeasurable dedication to the community of Wake Forest daily through 24/7 volunteer medical service. This group is a volunteer student-run organization on campus that has pledged to serve the faculty, staff, students, and visitors to Wake Forest with high quality basic emergency medical care. They also work closely with Student Health, University Police, Forsyth county EMS, and Winston Salem Fire. A nominator states, “Individuals in this organization are willing to wake up at 4AM to assist a patient who could be in their most vulnerable state takes a certain dedication and willingness to help.” This organization hosts EMS Weeks biannually to spend time educating the community on ways in which the organization can help them, but also on ways in which they can be active in their own way. Hands-only CPR practice, CPR certification classes, AirCare helicopter demonstrations, and just general health tips such as what one should do for generalized/febrile illnesses are provided as well.
Contribution to Student Life Award
Tiffany Nunez, Andrew Cave, Julia Mroz, Erica Jordan, Danny Reeves, Justin Browning, Elina Doolabh, & Tyler Gleeson
This award recognizes Junior and Senior students who have significantly contributed to the improvement of the quality of student life during their time at Wake Forest. Criteria includes: Specific contributions to student life through involvement in campus activities, academic initiatives, student governance, community service, leadership and their pursuits to support and empower their peers.