First 'Legacy' Awardee Among Those Honored at SGA Banquet

The 2006-07 Student Activities Awards Banquet, recognizing and rewarding Pennsylvania College of Technology's most outstanding and involved students, organizations and faculty mentors, was held in Penn's Inn on Wednesday night.

The evening included awarding of the first Student Leader Legacy Scholarship, created and funded by students to continue the tradition of campus leadership.

The initial recipient is Carl F. Gravely, a building automation technology major from Arona, whose resume already reads like a "Who's Who" of campus and community involvement.

He isaffiliated with the Student Government Association, the Wildcat Events Board, the Residence Hall Association, the National Residence Hall Honorary; and, among many other activities,is a Habitat for Humanity volunteer and an assistant Sunday school music teacher at Third Street United Methodist Church.

Gravely also was instrumental in planning and constructing this year'sPenn College Mardi Gras float, which resulted in the college's second consecutive grand prize.

Among the awards presented during the annual event:

Student Leader of the YearJesse T. Markeveys, of Doylestown, a heating, ventilation and air conditioning: mechanical systems major, was named "Student Leader of the Year."

He is president of the student chapter of the Air Conditioning Contractors of America, is active in the Student Government Association and completed the Emerging CLASS student-leadership program.

"Jesse is the most honest humble person I have ever met," his nominator wrote. "He has turned ACCA into a major student organization and tries his best at everything he does. Jesse is always there to help or lend support; he is one of those rare individuals who is not out for glory, but to help make his club, major and college a better place for everyone."

Outstanding Student Organization"Penn College Alliance "¦ has participated in many events held by the Student Activities Office," its nominator wrote, "and that participation has always included more people than there were jobs available for them showing that "¦ being there and supporting an event with school spirit is just as important."

In its short history on campus, this year's "Outstanding Student Organization":

· was a leading contributor to December's SGA food drive anda fundraiser for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and other charities

· topped the recent Dance-a-Thon with 14 members present and was one of only five groups that stayed for the full 12 hours, raising $686 of the $1,698 collected for the American Cancer Society

· finished in the Top 10 in "SGA Cup" points, after starting at No. 47

· held two educational programs, enlightening the student body about National Coming Out Day and the history and heritage of the lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender culture

"Alliance has always shown its pride for the college and always has members smiling and fostering a positive environment, so much so that it has become contagious among other organizations," the nominator added.

New Student Leader of the YearSelected as "New Student Leader of the Year" was Collin A. Zimmerman, of Lancaster, majoring in information technology: Web and applications development.

Among his affiliations, he is an SGA senator for Student Activities, is active in the Residence Hall Association and Wildcat Events Board, co-chaired the Homecoming Committee and recently was elected as student government's 2007-08 vice president for public relations.

"Collin has been a presence in some of the major organizations on campus since the beginning of the fall semester, when he first arrived at Penn College, and he continues to contribute to them all," his nominator wrote. "He steps up to many tasks with great enthusiasm and pride, and completes these tasks with intense creativity and timeliness."

Most Improved Student Organization Chosen as the "Most Improved Student Organization of the Year" was the ACCA chapter.

"This organization went from having unorganized meetings and low "¦ attendance to attending all SGA events, getting new students and providing educational experiences," the nomination said.

Markeveys applauded his organization, which, he admitted, would have had no reason to be at the event a short year ago. Thanks to a growth in membership, programmingand communitywide involvement, however, he said ACCA now adds a "whole new breed of enthusiasm into the mix."

The ACCA chapter also won the coveted "SGA Cup," amassing 2,380 points out of a possible 2,600 to top the list of active student organizations. Other leading groups were the Society of Plastics Engineers, second; the Human Services Club, third; and WEB, fourth.

Outstanding Senator of the Year Christie D. Henning, a legal assistant-paralegal major from Bellefonte, was honored as SGA's "Outstanding Senator of the Year."

Among the nominator's comments: "Christie is the most dedicated senator we have. She attends the meetings and participates in several events around campus. She shows commitment to SGA and is willing to lend a helping hand whenever possible."

In addition to her SGA Senate service, Henning is a Resident Assistant at Rose Street Apartments and is a member of the Penn College Legal Society.

Adviser of the YearWilliam B. Urosevich, associate professor of biology (anatomy and physiology) who has won the award four times prior again was chosen as "Adviser of the Year" for his assistance to the Wildcat Power Team.

"He is more than an adviser; he is an instructor, mentor and friend to all he meets," one of his many nominators wrote. "He is fair and just in his decisions, and he teaches every member more lessons than weightlifting. I know he loves Penn College and demonstrates such in his actions. He is a role model for all to live by.

"He is currently working toward setting the state record in two lifting events for his age and weight class," the nominator continued. "There is no doubt in my mind that he will accomplish this goal."

In reviewing2006-07, Urosevich applauded his team of true scholar-athletes, who,he said, are"poised to move into NCAA competition" after several successful years vying amongsuch institutions as Penn State, Bucknell and Lock Haven universities and Lycoming College.

The evening also saw the swearing-in of SGA's 2007-08 Executive Board: Andrew S. Wisner, president; Scott M. Elicker, executive vice president; Aaron D. Moyer, vice president of finance; Zimmerman; and Andrea L. Hinds, vice president of internal relations.

Representatives of a number of the college's vibrant student organizations recapped their respective successes for the past year: the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, ACCA, the Association for Computing Machinery, Early Educators, the Multi-Cultural Society, Penn College Alliance, WEB and the Wildcat Power Team.