Student affairs recently announced the Campus Leadership Awards for 2021, honoring outstanding students and organizations.
The event, which usually occurs in the Great Hall in Tom and Brenda McDaniel university center, took place April 14 over Zoom. Several campus leaders, including President Martha Burger, were present to distribute the awards and congratulate the recipients.
Levi Harrel, dean of students, assisted with the application process and the ceremony.
“This marks the fifth year of the Campus Leadership Awards,” Harrel said. “We want to keep this tradition alive to honor organizations and students that go above and beyond what is expected of them.”
The Campus Leadership Awards honored a multitude of people and organizations for commitment to community service, academic achievement, philanthropy, and diversity and inclusion. Harrel said despite the many different types of awards, all recipients display similar qualities.
“One thing that all organizations and students have in common is their investment in innovation, dedication to campus life and commitment to personal and holistic growth,” Harrel said. “They are all examples of leading in service of others.”
Students and organizations can apply for the Campus Leadership Awards in late January and early February. Applications including essay questions, letters of recommendation and other materials, which are reviewed by a committee appointed by OCU Student Affairs. Harrel said a committee is delegated with the task of choosing the winners of the Campus Leadership Awards.
“There are rubrics based on all of the various awards and application components,” Harrel said. “Students are scored quantitatively by the committee, who then determine the recipients.”
Bobby “Trae” Trousdale, mass communications/political science senior, was awarded Outstanding Senior alongside Taylor Downey, youth ministry senior. This was Trousdale’s fourth time winning outstanding student.
“It has always been an honor to participate in the Campus Leadership Awards,” Trousdale said. “The fellow nominees are typically my friends and colleagues, and knowing that your work is getting recognized along with theirs is extremely rewarding.”
Trousdale has participated in and held leadership positions in several organizations across campus, including the Student Activities Committee, Student Government Association, Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, the Student Philanthropy Committee and the Native American Society. Trousdale said he has always tried to make positive change everywhere he goes.
“My motto in life has always been to leave things better than you have found them,” he said.
Trousdale said being a college student can be difficult.
“Use your resources and create your own personal board of trustees consisting of mentors, friends and professors who can help you with your career path and your personal needs,” he said.
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