SHREVEPORT – LSUS students play an important role in developing an engaging and inviting on-campus environment, and the University honored top student leaders Wednesday at the Student Leadership and Professor of the Year Awards on Wednesday.
New sorority Lambda Nu Chi, which welcomes women of all backgrounds and religions, made a splash in their first year with four different superlative awards.
The sorority won Greek Organization of the Year and Greek Week Champions, co-founder Makenzie Wilson took home Outstanding Student Leader of the Year, and advisor Jami Brossette won Outstanding Advisor of the Year.
“Makenzie is compassionate, dependable and ambitious,” her nomination read. “She helped create an organization where women from different backgrounds could have a place to call home.
“She’s also involved in other organizations like Student Activities Board and the American Marketing Association where she’s represented the College of Business at numerous career and college fairs.”
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. was also well represented as president Raegan Hall won Greek Leader of the Year as the organization captured the Outstanding Greek Unity award.
Phi Mu member Emily Thomson received the Greek Leader of the Year honor as well.
The Student Government Association was named the Outstanding Student Organization of the Year as its 29 members is essential to virtually every on-campus opportunity. The SGA is organizing a Senior Sendoff program to top off graduating seniors college experience.
SGA president Katelyn Schneider, vice president Joshua Bailey and secretary Annabella Larsen all received service awards while Isabella Miller won SGA Senator of the Year.
The Red River Garden Club continues to make inroads on campus as the Outstanding New Student Organization, honored for constructing an on-campus garden to benefit the LSUS Food Pantry.
The LSUS chapter of the AMA won Outstanding Growth of a Student Organization as they more than doubled their members to 15 while increasing activities on and off campus.
Catholic Campus Ministries logged more than 170 community service hours at nursing homes and collecting donations for Christmas shoeboxes and Easter baskets, taking home the Outstanding Community Service award.
Active Minds, an organization dedicated to spreading mental health awareness, won the Outstanding Campus Engagement honor with its dozens of hours dedicated to campus events.
Professor Lauren Valastro, who teaches business law and labor and employment law, was named Professor of the Year.
“Professor Valastro has greatly impacted me inside and outside the classroom, and her business law class ignited my passion for law,” a nomination from a student read. “I have been inspired to pursue a law degree.
“Her genuine care for us to succeed has pushed me to look into practicing law at the highest level I can.”
The SGA analyzed 244 nominations for the honor and interviewed seven finalists.
Four finalists represented the College of Education and Human Development with Lisa Cooper, Dr. Mary Margaret Lusk, Dr. Tracie Pasold and Dr. Cassandra Williams.
Dr. Michael Meeks joined Valastro from the College of Business.
Dr. Cheryl White represented the College of Arts and Sciences.
The student body also recognized Chancellor Larry Clark, who is retiring after a decade at the helm.
Students expressed their gratitude for Clark’s leadership, and the student body gave him a standing ovation.
Student Leadership and Professor of the Year Awards
Greek Week Champions – Lambda Nu Chi
Greek Leader of the Year – Raegan Hall, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. President
Greek Leader of the Year – Emily Thomson, Phi Mu
Greek Organization of the Year – Lambda Nu Chi
Outstanding Greek Unity – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Student Activities Board Member of the Year – Devesh Sarda
Outstanding New Student Organization – Red River Garden Club
Outstanding Growth of a Student Organization – LSUS Chapter of American Marketing Association
Outstanding Community Service – Catholic Campus Ministries
Outstanding Campus Engagement – Active Minds
Student Organization Advisor of the Year – Jami Brossette, Lambda Nu Chi
Student Leader of the Year – Makenzie Wilson, co-founder of Lambda Nu Chi
Student Organization of the Year – Student Government Association
Service Awards – Annabella Larsen (SGA Secretary), SGA Vice President (Joshua Bailey), SGA President (Katelyn Schneider)
SGA Senator of the Year – Isabella Miller
Professor of the Year – Lauren Valastro
