(Left to right) Eliel Acosta-Solalinde presented awards for involvement with the Restorative Justice, Equity, Anti-Racism League to Roshni Ohi, Angel Asomugha and McKenna Loney.
MEDIA, Pa. – Penn State Brandywine students who have impacted the campus through their service and leadership were honored at an awards banquet on April 17. The annual leadership banquet celebrates the achievements of students who are involved with clubs, student government and campus programs.
McKenna Loney, a second-year plant sciences major, received the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award. This award recognizes a student whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship have been directed into programs and services that have positively influenced fellow students and have contributed to the prestige and well-being of their campus and the University as a whole.
Loney has been involved with the Center for Social Impact since 2021 and works as a campus garden intern. She also is a part of the Restorative Justice, Equity, Anti-Racism League (REAL), which helps fight discrimination on campus. Loney is a peer mentor for Lion Guidez and a member of the Sustainability Club. She will be transitioning to University Park in the fall.
One of her nominators wrote: “McKenna consistently demonstrates a commitment to our campus, a commitment to her academics and a commitment to our community. She contributes her time, talents and energy to the Brandywine and Penn State communities in many ways. McKenna is well-rounded in her activities, and she brings a positive attitude to everything she does. She is well-liked by her fellow students, and she is helpful to others whenever she can be. McKenna always brings a high level of dedication to her activities and her service to our campus.”
Jessica Gore and Ny'Keh Saunders were re-inaugurated as Brandywine's president and vice president for the 2023-24 academic year.
The Bangladeshi Student Association won an award for Student Organization Program of the Year.
Kaitlyn Pio was awarded Resident Assistant of the Year.
Dana Hallahan won two awards for her leadership and hard work in the Brandywine Events and Activities Support Team.
The Center for Social Impact interns were honored for their hard work this academic year.
Members of the Student Government Association were honored for their hard work this academic year.
Brandywine Leagues & Tournaments was awarded Student Organization of the Year.
McKenna Loney won an award for her work in the Restorative Justice, Equity, Anti-Racism League. She also won the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker award for her contributions to Brandywine.
Jasmaine Price-Thornton, residence life coordinator at Brandywine, won Advisor of the Year for her work with the Residence Hall Association and National Society of Leadership and Success.
Victoria Zhang won the Student Worker of the Year Award for her hard work in the Advising and Career Services office.
Chris Zurita-Fonseca (left) won the Commitment to Student Affairs Award, and Longiy Tsin (right) won a Student Organization President of the Year Award.
The Student Commitment to Equity & Inclusion Award was presented to the following students for their work with the REAL group this year:
- Angel Asomugha
- McKenna Loney
- Roshni Ohi
Individual leadership awards were presented to the following students who demonstrated leadership qualities and contributed to the campus community and student organizations:
- Dana Hallahan – Brandywine Events & Activities Support Team (BEAST), Lion Ambassadors and THON
- Jessica Gore – Student Government Association (SGA), Resident Assistant and THON
- Khalid Jordan – Resident Hall Association, PokeWalk and Brandywine Leagues & Tournaments
- Ava Wise – Brandywine Music Association, Brandywine Leagues & Tournaments and the Office of Development
Group leadership awards were presented to the following student organizations that contributed to student life and experience on campus:
- Brandywine Leagues & Tournaments – Student Organization of the Year
- Bengali New Year, Bangladeshi Student Association – Student Organization Program of the Year
The Student Organization President of the Year Award was presented to students for their work with the planned prayer and meditation space on campus and for student advocacy:
- Longiy Tsin – Nittany Christian Fellowship
- Rebeha Wardak – Muslim Student Association
The Student Worker/Employee of the Year Award was presented to the following students for doing exceptional work in their on-campus jobs:
- Benjamin Keller – Center for Social Impact
- Victoria Zhang – Advising and Career Services
Student Affairs presented the Commitment to Student Affairs Award:
- Chris Zurita-Fonseca
Residence Life presented the Resident Assistant of the Year Award:
- Kaitlyn Pio
Brandywine’s Center for Social Impact honored its student interns:
- Angel Asomugha
- Bianka Bunbury
- Tarini Burman
- Cortez Catalano
- Jannat Chowdhury
- Naimah Dristi
- Demetria George
- Lyndon Greer
- Theresa Hamilton
- Benjamin Keller
- Francis Linus
- McKenna Loney
- Devin Morrone
- Ethan Nichols
- Roshni Ohi
- Khushi Patel
- Reina Ramos
- Sydney Walsh
- Mikesha Wells
Student Affairs recognized the following students for their involvement with the Student Government Association (SGA):
- Jessica Gore, 2022-23 president
- Ny’Keh Saunders, 2022-23 vice president
- Blake Martin, 2022-23 treasurer
- Francis Linus, 2022-23 secretary
- Angel Asomugha
- Ashlee Catona
- Alyson Gehrke
- Lyndon Greer
- Isabella Griffetts
- Marvellous Ibikunle
- Khalid Jordan
- Caitlin Kaiser
- Aashima Khanna
- Ethan Nichols
- Madison Ollis
- Pratima Oulkar
- Jordan Polillo
- Emily Tabares
- Longiy Tsin
- Ryan Vohra
- Chris Zurita-Fonseca
Student Affairs recognized a student who will be leaving BEAST and graduating from Brandywine:
- Dana Hallahan
Student Affairs awarded a staff member with the Advisor of the Year Award for her work with the National Society of Leadership and Success and the Residence Hall Association:
- Jasmaine Price-Thornton, residence life coordinator
Jessica Gore and Ny’Keh Saunders were re-inaugurated as the Student Government Association president and vice president for 2023-24.
