Forty-four undergraduate and graduate students have been selected to receive the 2009 President’s Award at Washington State University. The students will be recognized at a dinner and program on Sunday, April 26, 2009, in the Compton Union Building on the WSU-Pullman campus.
Since 1996, the President’s Award has been bestowed annually to less than 1% of the university’s undergraduate and graduate students who exemplify exceptional leadership and service to the University and the community. Students are selected based on their leadership and engagement consistent with the university’s values of inquiry and innovation, character, teamwork and diversity.
The 44 students selected include undergraduate and graduate students from a wide variety of academic fields, from broadcast news to neuroscience, and includes students from around the state. This is the fourth consecutive year the number of honorees has been less than 50, a strong message from the selection committee and program officials that this award honors the top engaged leaders in the WSU community.
Marine Corp Cadet Honored with inaugural Virginia E. Thomas Endowed Scholarship
As a participant in the Marine Corps Officers Candidate School, an intensive 6-week program in the summer of 2008, Rick Swihart graduated first among 250 from around the country.
In his own words, “one who depends upon their title and position to elicit favorable responses limits their ability to lead, but a leader who gains the respect of others and returns that respect knows no limits.”
His nominators said, “He has the heart of a servant leader,” and “he has enabled fellow students to hone their skills to excel as leaders.” Rick “works hard, and understands the significance of the contribution he can make to the lives of others.”
He has earned the respect of both his commanding officers and cadets in his ROTC unit. “He selflessly donates his time, and demonstrates inspiring leadership and unlimited potential.” We can be proud to have Rick Swihart serve both our university and our armed forces.
The Virginia E. Thomas Endowed Scholarship Award is presented to an undergraduate student who has excelled in efforts to impact student life at Washington State University, but more importantly, has also excelled in leading others and coaching others to become better leaders.
Virginia was a true servant leader to students, and the entire campus community, bringing passion, courage, and perspective to her work of student development. It is this legacy that we honor with this award.
This award will be presented annually to a continuing undergraduate student, who will be with us for the following academic year. Allowing them to take advantage of the $1,000 scholarship established for the award as well as participate, depending on their availability, in some of the many leadership programs created by Virginia that continue to be offered today.
Established by Virginia’s colleagues, friends and former students, some of whom have joined us this evening to honor this occasion (point to the reserved table of guests at the front of the room), this scholarship will be awarded concurrently with the President’s Award, a program that she developed.
