Students, campus organizations recognized for outstanding leadership, service

May 2, 2025

Grid of students and student groups receiving university awards.

At a reception on April 22, the Office of Student Life & Development honored registered
student organizations and their leaders for their dedication and service to the university
and the community.

“Student organizations and campus engagement programs allow Columbus State students
to create community and find their people,” said Dr. Melissa Dempsey, assistant dean
of students for student engagement. “Both allow students to connect with others who
share their same interests and passions, as well as gain valuable leadership skills,
experience through volunteerism and a broad network through social and community programs.”

As part of the Division of Student Affairs, the Office of Student Life & Development
serves the entire student body. It coordinates the work of more than 90 active registered
student organizations and student boards that collectively include 130-plus student
leaders, 500-plus annual organization-hosted campus events, and 100-plus campus events
planned directly by the office.

Visit the university’s Flickr account for photos from the event. More information about these and other Columbus State
student organizations is available through CSUinvolve.

Award honorees for the 2024-25 academic year included:

Table of Contents

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT

Emerging Leader of the Year: Bryan Lucas, a junior majoring in business management with a concentration in human
resources, is involved in multiple campus activities, including the Presidential Envoys,
CHISPA, Student Activities Council, Residence Life and the Orientation Team.
Student Leader of the Year: Jameer Bradley, who leads as a member of multiple organizations, including the Presidential
Envoys, Student Government Association, Residence Life, Orientation Team and Servant
Leadership. He is a junior majoring in social services.
Graduate Student of the Year: Alejandra Barclay, who as a graduate assistant for Campus Experience, supported
Admissions’ student recruitment and campus tour efforts. She is pursuing a master’s
in public administration.
Charles R. Eason Leadership Award: Undrell Walker, a junior majoring in health science. It’s named for Charles Eason,
the first recipient of the CSU Alumni Association’s Thomas Y. Whitley Distinguished
Alumnus Award and a past director of planned giving. He was widely known for his love
of Columbus State as a student, alumnus, sports fan and employee.
Outstanding Graduating Senior: Ta’Mya Talley, a senior majoring in mathematics and minoring in secondary education
and psychology, serves as Presidential Envoy, head Orientation leader, and other academic
and campus groups.

REGISTERED STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS

Individual Awards

President of the Year: Ahmad Djigal, the president of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc. and a junior majoring
in communication.
On-Campus Advisor of the Year: Dr. Monica Frazier, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. and professor and chair of the
Department of Biology

Organization-level Awards

Outstanding Online Presence: Alpha Phi Alpha Inc. Theta Beta Chapter
Outstanding Teamwork & Collaboration Award: Phi Mu and Cougarthon
Event of the Year: Epic featuring A Night Around the World
Most Improved Registered Student Organization: Psychology Club
Student Government Association RSO of the Year: American Medical Student Association

GREEK LIFE

Outstanding New Member: Jade Smith of Delta Zeta, a sophomore majoring in biology
Members of the Year: Fraternity, Travis Fredick of Kappa Sigma, a senior management major; Sorority, Kennedy Larkin of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., a senior elementary education
major.
Outstanding Fraternity President: Fraternity, Tyler Brown of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., a senior majoring in
cybersecurity
Outstanding Sorority President: Cassidy Fine of Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority, a senior majoring in biology
Living Your Values Award: Alexis Crawford of Alpha Omicron Pi, a junior psychology major, and Nav Singh of
Kappa Sigma, a junior business administration major. The Living Your Values Award
is presented to fraternity and sorority members who exemplify their chapter’s values
through their everyday actions.
Outstanding Chapter Advisor: Lindsay Murillo ’09 of Alpha Omicron Pi

OTHER RECOGNITIONS

Student Leadership

Student Life & Development recognized the leaders of its student boards, including
the Cougar Kickoff Committee, Cougarthon Committee, Student Connection Leaders, eSports,
Homecoming Committee, ROAR Orientation Team and Student Activities Council. Honors
also went to Campus Recreation students and staff for their contributions:

Campus Recreation

Leadership in Customer Service: Mary Liwanag, a member of the Campus Recreation staff.
Leadership in Facility Management: Adria Chapple, a senior studying criminal justice.

Tower Traditions

Co-administered by the Office of Student Life & Development and the Office of Alumni
Engagement, Tower Traditions was established in 2015. Its compilation of 58 Columbus State traditions honors the
university’s founding in 1958. The program challenges students to participate in or
complete at least 45 of these traditions and student experiences—from riding the campus
shuttle to studying abroad—before they graduate. Students successfully fulfilling
that challenge receive a medal to wear at graduation, engraved with their name and
the numbered order they were added to the Tower Traditions logbook.

With this academic year, that logbook now exceeds 130 students, who now include: Janiaya
Wright (#120), Deneisha Sparks (#121), Nadia Smith (#122), Ta’Mya Talley (#123),
Jacob Moore (#124), Marcos Falck (#125), Distenze Holmes (#126), Johnathan Haywood
(#127), Lina Heng (#128), Ma’Lon Lane (#129), Jordan Tuft (#130) and Cassidy Fine
(#131).

President’s Volunteer Service Award

The President’s Volunteer Service Award is a civil award bestowed by the president of the United States. First established
through executive order by 43rd U.S. President George W. Bush, the award honors volunteers
who give hundreds of hours of service each year through the President’s Council on
Service and Civic Participation. Each semester at Columbus State, Student Leadership
and Service presents eligible graduating seniors with their medals. This year’s gold-medal
recipient for young adults accumulating 250-plus hours of service was Kiana Aguilar.

Media contact: Michael Tullier, APR, Executive Director of Strategic Communication + Marketing,
706.507.8729, [email protected]

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