Award recipient Casey Anne Dupelle, left, with interim President Elizabeth Preston, right.
WESTFIELD – Westfield State University President Dr. Elizabeth Preston has named seven students as winners of the University’s prestigious Presidential Award.
Prior to a meeting of the University’s Board of Trustees earlier this month, two of the winners, Josephine Lannon and Brittany Moniz, seniors from Amesbury and Leominster, respectively, were brought before the board by Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Carlton Pickron to be recognized for their achievements.
From left to right: Katherine Robinson ’15, Brittany Moniz ’14, Meaghen Chalmers ’14, Josephine Lannon ’14, interim President Elizabeth Preston, Melissa Stello ’13, Casey Anne Dupelle ’14, Jessica Lindsay ’15.
According to Pickron, the key criteria for earning Presidential award honors include “high academic standings plus leadership”.
“You must be in leadership roles throughout your academic career,” he said.
Pickron explained that the university had an association with the “Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities”, but that the school’s Student Government Association voted to pull out of that system because of it seeming ike a “popularity contest” and “trying to sell a product instead of truly valuing the great works of and honoring our students.”
BRITTANY MONIZ
This led to the establishment of the Presidential Award at the University in 2007.
This year’s crop of award winners included the two present at meeting, who both received special recognition from the Board.
Lannon is a nursing major with 3.63 grade point average, a mark which prompted Pickron to refer to her as “extremely special” for what she represents to the new nursing program and the institution.
“This is the first time any board of trustees has had a senior nursing major stand before them,” he said proudly.
Pickron added that Lannon is also active with the university’s nursing faculty, is a class rep for the nursing club, tutors students with major coursework, organizes health-related events such as blood drives, and works with the psychiatric unit at Noble Hospital.
The cheery senior also gave the board a sneak peek at what is in store next semester.
JOSEPHINE “JOJO” LANNON
“I recently found out I have my nursing capstone (project) coming up with the pediatric unit at Bay State Hospital, so I’m very excited about that — that was my number one choice,” she said, adding she would like to pursue pediatrics. “This opportunity is so invaluable and I’m looking forward to it.”
Lannon also said she will be heading to Guatemala in March with a group of around 20 students where she will be performing 100 of her clinical hours the week after spring break.
“We’ll be building a clinic with our own hands, and then we’re going to serve the community with all sorts of issues, from spina bifida to head lice,” she said. ” I’m only 22, and I have a lot to learn and a long road ahead of me, but thank you all for this opportunity.”
Moniz, a communication and political science double major, also holds a unique distinction with the board, as she is the first student in the history of the Presidential Award to win it two years in a row.
“She was the first junior to win it, and is now the first person to win it two years in a row,” Pickron said, which prompted thunderous applause from the packed board room.
Pickron added that Moniz has earned a 3.87 GPA, is in her second year in the office of President for the Class of 2014, and possesses an impressive resume of activities which seem almost tailor made to her challenging coursework, including a Washington Center internship in the summer of 2013, and an internship with the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fl. in the summer of 2012.
“She was an intern who worked with CNN and a number of media outlets covering the convention,” he said. “She also participated in a J-term program in San Francisco last year, working with the the homeless.”
“CP the VP” as he is known around the Western Avenue campus, praised Moniz as an “extremely dynamic leader” whose efforts as Senior Class President led to the Class of 2014 giving away $6,000 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation at this year’s senior convocation through their efforts with the “Mr. Westfield” contest.
“March 29 is our next “Mr. Westfield” event, and we’re looking to grant our second wish,” she said encouragingly to the board.
Moniz also added that she will be spending the next few months preparing for her speech at commencement, as well as interning with the Humane Society in the spring.
The other five students to be honored with the Presidential award are Meaghen Chalmers, a senior Elementary Education and Liberal Studies double major from Bridgewater, Casey Ann Dupelle, a senior Ethnic and Gender Studies major Casey Anne Dupelle from Westfield, Jessica Lindsay, a junior Psychology major from Brimfield, Katherine Robinson, a junior Physical Education major from East Hampton, Conn., and Melissa Stello, a senior Elementary Education and Liberal Studies major from Harwich.
Chalmers is a member of the Kappa Delta Pi Honors Society as well as a journalist for the on-campus student newspaper The Voice, as well as a student representative at the Student Education Association of Massachusetts, and president of the Student National Education Association (SNEA).
She also volunteers by rehabilitating schools through her work in SNEA, planning and running Kids Zone at Westfield State University Alumni weekend, and participating in various charity walks including the Jolly Jaunt benefit walk and the Rays of Hope benefit walk.
When asked of her work with the SNEA, Chalmers said it’s been inspirational for her future career as a teacher.
“Through SNEA I have been able to attend both state and national conferences where I have learned about my trade from experts in the field,” Chalmers said. “I have been able to meet phenomenal practicing and future educators who share the same love for teach that I do and are always willing to share their wisdom.”
Dupelle assists with the editing and content of the student run newsletter “Culture Shock,” participated in Multi-cultural Awareness Diversity Educators (MADE), and is an active TRiO Student Support Services Peer Mentor and a member of the Queer Straight Alliance Leadership Council.
A volunteer photographer for Ethnic and Gender Studies department, Dupelle also works as a workshop leader in Westfield State’s High School Gay Straight Alliance Conference, and as a conference assistant at Young People For South Regional Training in New Orleans.
Dupelle said her volunteer efforts on and off campus have helped her discover what field she should pursue.
“Through my involvement in these activities, I have realized more and more the passion I have for social justice work and for helping others how they ask to be helped,” Dupelle said. “The work I have done and the work I can and will do is about building communities, emphasizing ‘unity’ and disseminating accessible information that will build future leaders and change agents.”
Lindsay is on the WSU swimming and diving team, has served as a note taker for the Banacos Center for Principals of Accounting, is a member of Lamda Sigma Honor’s Society, and is the founder and president of WSU Convoy of Hope Club, all while doing volunteer work such as organizing a can drive for the Westfield Soup Kitchen, participating in a Breast Cancer walk, and assisting at the Tornado Relief Run in Monson.
“Once of the best decisions I made in college was to join the Lamda Sigma Honor’s Society,” she said. “It started me on a path that would allow me to make a difference and an opportunity to enjoy valuable experiences. Whatever my future holds, I will continue moving towards this goal of helping others and I will not stop until I have made a difference that counts.”
Robinson serves as President of the Movement Science Physical Education club, is a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB), is on the council of Future Professionals, Physical Education, and plays on the WSU softball team. Robinson volunteers as a coach for her hometown little league team, assists in Special Olympics events, and volunteers at the Marlborough Day hometown festival.
Robinson said her parents are who initially inspired her to get involved.
“My parents taught me to give what I wish to receive and I have lived that throughout my adolescence and have carried it with me into adulthood,” Robinson said. “From an early age, I knew that a lifelong goal of mine was to make a difference in someone’s life like I had seen my parents do. Leadership is an ambition that I want to keep and extend.”
Stello is a Resident Assistant and a member of WSU Student National Education Association, which she previously served as an executive board member for.
Stello volunteers at Kelly Elementary School, the Westfield Samaritan Inn, Westfield High School, and has helped efforts to clean up Stanley Park.
Stello said her work as a residence assistant has taught her skills that will assist her in her future career.
“I decided to become a Resident Assistant my third year and since have truly found my leadership potential,” Stello said. “I enjoy planning and implementing creative education and social programs that bring awareness to residents on certain topics. My communication skills have become stronger because of this role which is essential to have when it comes to being a teacher.”
