WESTFIELD – Westfield State University recognized nine students for their leadership and service to both the university and the community. Each student was recognized with the President’s Award for Excellence in Leadership in a ceremony held on Friday, December 5 in Scanlon Banquet Hall.
The President’s Award of Excellence in Leadership was created in 2007 and can be awarded to any eligible student. A committee comprised of 12 faculty and peers reviewed applications. To be eligible for the award, students can be nominated by a professor, but all must complete an application process including an essay about the community service they have done and how it has impacted their future goals.
The nine students selected this year are all seniors with an average GPA of 3.62. Each of this year’s winners participate in a wide range of on- and off-campus activities.
Criminal justice major Angelo Burgos Jr. ’15 of East Hartford, Conn. is a member of the Emergency Medical Service Club (EMS) and the Boxing Club. He serves as chief of the Student Security Unit and as a recruitment mentor for the Urban Education Program. Burgos volunteers monthly a Role Player for the Connecticut Police Cadet Program, and his other community service efforts including as a start ambassador at the Boston Marathon, assisting with Westfield State Accepted Students Day, and helping in the Westfield State University Snowstorm Shelter.
Burgos said his leadership skills blossomed through his role in the Student Security Unit.
“I have helped inspire other members of the unit to want to be a supervisor and give back to the unit,” Burgos said. “I have also impacted future members by advocating for the unit through different speaking opportunities and letting students know what we do and how important our unit is for the university.”
English and psychology double major Beth Teague ’15 of Tyngsboro is the vice president of Musical Theatre Guild, the oldest student-run club on campus, and is the founder of the Westfield State Relay for Life Club. Her community service efforts include volunteering at the John Carson Road Race, Bark for Life, and serving as a team captain for Relay for Life for the past seven years.
Through organizing the university’s first Relay for Life event, Teague realized that leadership is a collaboration.
“One of the most important things I learned was to ask for help,” Teague said. “No good leader does everything by themselves. A good leader works with other leaders to make something amazing happen.”
Elementary education and liberal studies double major Elizabeth Cauley ’15 of Southampton is co-president of the Dance Company, works on campus as a staff development assistant, and assists during New Student and Parent Orientation. Her community service efforts including participating in Relay for Life, the Rays of Hope charity walk, and volunteering at the American Red Cross Blood Drive.
Cauley said working as a staff development assistant helped her learn how to balance multiple responsibilities.
“I have discovered that it is important to take care of yourself first and although I might want to put every ounce of myself into everything and gain an experience, I believe it’s okay to say ‘no’ and to delegate to others before experiencing burnout,” Cauley said.
Communication and ethnic and gender studies double major Michael Brett ’15 of Hanson serves as secretary of the Class of 2015 and works as a resident assistant (RA) and peer advisor. His community service efforts include volunteering at the Westfield Samaritan Inn, the Boston Marathon, and The Arbors Assisted Living.
Brett said seeing the impact of his community service encourages him to continue serving.
“Seeing the faces of the people in the community when I volunteer is beautiful,” Brett said. “Going to the Arbors to visit the residents, there is a visceral effect as I see their faces light up as college students come in.”
Political science and economics double major Miguel Maria ’15 of Springfield served as an Urban Education student representative and is currently participating in the Washington Center Program internship in Washington DC. His community service efforts include volunteering for Carlos Gonzalez during the 2014 Massachusetts State Representative Race, Ed Markey during the 2013 US Senate Race, and at Reading Partners.
Maria said he enjoyed his work with Reading Partners, an organization that provides one on one tutoring to students who have fallen behind in reading, and seeing his results.
“I was able to see a young student who had a short attention span and was a year and a half below grade level catch up,” Maria said. “I actively participated in helping him gain confidence in himself and a deeper love for reading and learning.”
English and secondary education double major Nicole Godard ’15 of Northfield is president of Sigma Tau Delta honor society and a member of the Westfield State University Honors Program. She is part of the Academic Pursuits Club and is a former member of the Quidditch Team. Her community service efforts include volunteering at Rays of Hope, for the National Day on Writing at Westfield State, and through a literacy project at South Middle School.
Godard said that being a good leader includes serving as a role model for others.
“The most effective way to inspire other members to volunteer their time and energy is to lead by example,” Godard said. “As Sigma Tau Delta president, I have promised my members that every moment they volunteer of their own time will be matched by a similar commitment on my part.”
Psychology major Rebecca DiVico ’15 of Belchertown serves as president of Student Government Association (SGA) and is a member of the Student Advisory Council. Her community service efforts include volunteering at the American Red Cross Blood Drive, the Out of the Darkness Suicide Prevention Walk, and “From Tween to Teen: Girls’ Group,” an art therapy group for adolescent girls.
DiVico said her leadership skills blossomed through SGA and she does all that she can to give back to Westfield State.
“Everything that I do outside of my academics is for the students of this campus,” DiVico said. “I am aware that what I am doing is not to better myself, but to benefit my peers who are a part of the Westfield State community. This university has done more for me than it will ever know and if I can help its students even in the smallest way, I can graduate in May proud of myself.”
Communication major Victoria Landry ’15 of Milford is president of Lamba Pi Eta honor society and a member of Student Government Association, 2015 Class Council, and the Neighborhood Advisory Board. Her community service efforts include volunteering at Special Olympics Massachusetts, the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership organization, and HOOT Day.
Landry said that her involvement in the Neighborhood Advisory Board help solidify her leadership skills, especially after receiving positive feedback from a student after a meeting.
“Her words were the biggest acknowledgement I received about this program,” Landry said. “It reminded me that my efforts as a student leader have made a difference on this campus and in the community. Remaining dedicated to this institution for the last three years has developed my skills as a leader to remain a positive role model who is open-minded and speaks firmly.”
Elementary Education major Sarah Varghese ’15 of Westford is a resident assistant and president of Student Ambassadors, a group of Westfield State students who knowledgeably promote the positive images of the university through leadership and interpersonal relations. Her community service efforts include volunteering monthly at the Samaritan Inn and weekly through the Compass Mentor Program.
Varghese said the key to being a successful leader is balancing responsibilities, which she learned while serving as a Team Captain for Parent Orientation.
“No matter what role I have, it is my responsibility to prioritize and find a balance between my job and being a friend,” Varghese said. “I have grown as a leader and an individual from this experience and have continued to apply the lessons learned in other roles as a student leader.”
The students were awarded at a dinner banquet and were presented with plaques designating their honor. For more information about the President’s Award for Excellence in Leadership, contact Susan Lamontagne at 572-5425.
