Students, campus organizations recognized for outstanding leadership, service

May 2, 2025

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:

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, mtullier@columbusstate.edu