Trinity University

The Office of University Communications
pr@trinity.edu
(210) 999-8406
May 18, 2012

Trinity University Honors Outstanding Students with Leadership Awards

SAN ANTONIO - Twelve students at Trinity University were honored during the 11^th annual Student Leadership Awards in recognition of their leadership skills, commitment, and enthusiasm.  The awards were presented by Trinity University President Dennis A. Ahlburg.

Four students received the Presidential Award for Excellence for significantly contributing to Trinity, San Antonio, or the world by acting as role models and creating opportunities for other students to lead. All recipients graduated on May 12. They were:

Benjamin Carroll of Evansville, Ind., a major in business administration with concentrations in finance and management and a minor in Spanish, also received the Trinity University Alumni Association Award for Outstanding Service and the Outstanding Student Leader award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education. He was a captain of the men's tennis team and was selected in April as the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Character & Community Male Student-Athlete-of-the-Week. He is a founder of the Pi Kappa Alpha social fraternity and participated in community service projects with Habitat for Humanity and the San Antonio and International Children's Shelters.

Lyndsey Anne Johnson of Lake Jackson, Texas, a double major in communication and art, is skilled in graphic design and produced a weekly TigerTV show called Studio 21. She also welcomed incoming students as part of the Orientation Team, was a Resident Mentor, and worked on the Residential Life staff, along with the Student Leadership Conference Crew.

Allison Kimura of Eureka, Calif., was a pre-med major along with majors in Spanish and international studies. She co-presented a project at the Clinton Global Health Initiative in March to reduce dengue fever in Rio de Janeiro. She also was a Rotary International exchange student to Argentina, a World Vision Child Sponsor in Nairobi, Kenya, a Trinity cheerleader, a campus Resident Mentor, and a member of two service organizations.

Will Parker of Lake Jackson, Texas, was a theater major who plans to prepare to teach theater in schools through Trinity's Master of Arts in Teaching program. He was active in Trinity's theater productions and was a Resident Assistant.

Four students received the Coleen Grissom Continued Commitment & Dedication Award in honor of a longtime English professor at Trinity who is known for her engaging wit as well as her leadership in the University's Division of Student Affairs. The award honors a student who has made a significant campus impact during the academic year. All recipients graduated May 12. They were:

Natalie Brown of Sugar Land, Texas, a double major in English and communication and a minor in film studies, was editor of Trinity's yearbook, The Mirage. Brown also is a graphic designer, photographer, and master of desktop publishing. She designed the cover of Trinity's student handbook twice.  She also edited the Trinity Review, a campus literary magazine, and was a member of the service fraternity Alpha Phi Omega.

Madeleine Johnson of Nassau Bay, Texas, graduated with a major in English. Active in the Trinity University Volunteer Action Community (TUVAC), she served as a director, connecting many students with the San Antonio community. She helped rewrite bylaws that focus on volunteer retention, increased TUVAC's visibility through a revamped website and social media technologies, and created new programs to get more people involved in TUVAC

Jonathon Loos of Cypress, Texas, a double major in biology and environmental studies, educated others about the environmental issue of recycling. As president of Students Organized for Sustainability (SOS), he modeled his philosophy and passion for recycling for other students. He also served on the Trinity University Sustainability Committee. At Trinity, Loos has received a FAST Grant Award, the Jacob Uhrich Scholarship, and a National Recycling Coalition Scholarship.

Carmel Tajonera of Sugar Land, Texas, a double major in business administration and communication, created advertisements for the Trinity Diversity Connection as the marketing and public relations chair. She also co-founded the Trinity Distinguished Representatives organization and served as an overnight host coordinator for prospective students. She also held leadership roles in the Catholic Student Group and Filipino Student Association.

Four other students also were honored:

Kaela Dickens of Overland Park, Kan., who graduated in May with a double major in sociology and Spanish and a minor in urban studies, received the Roman M. Lubetzky KINDness Award for her kindness and commitment to helping those both at Trinity and in San Antonio. At Trinity, she was diversity chair in Alpha Chi Lambda social sorority, Greek Council co-chair, student representative on the Trinity Tomorrow committee, and a Trinity tour guide. In San Antonio, Dickens worked for the San Antonio Food Bank Children's Programs, the Family Service Association, as a research assistant on the Federal Hope IV Grant for Choice Neighborhood, and with the United Way's Parent-School-Community Partnership.

John Dean Domingue of Kerrville, Texas, completed his junior year with a double major in sociology and studio art. He received the Diversion & Inclusion Award for his role in the Sexual Diversity Alliance, striving for equality for those in the San Antonio LGBT community. He also participated in equality events, including the National Day of Silence, Transgender Day of Remembrance Vigil, and the annual Drag Show benefitting the San Antonio AIDS Foundation.

Lauren Pum, of Mission Viejo, Calif., a candidate for graduation in December with a major in history, and was named Trinity University's "Unsung Hero" for going above and beyond the call of duty. She also was a TUVAC director working behind the scenes on activities such as Volunteer Awareness Week and the San Antonio Volunteer Effort that involved 200 members of the Trinity community volunteering at various locations.

Avantika Krishna of The Woodlands, Texas, completed her first year at Trinity with plans to double major in business and human communication. She received the Emerging Student Leader Award, in part because of her enthusiasm at the Student Involvement Fair, in which she involved many organizations and sought responsibilities.  She was elected treasurer of the Trinity Progressives.