The Office of Student Activities (OSA) recognized a range of awards recipients at its Student Organization Awards banquet last night for both University-wide student organizations as well as individual students.
The newly-formed national chapter of Broad2Be at Tufts was presented two awards: the Evergreen Award for the best new student organization, and the Roaring Wave Award for Student Organization of the Year.
Broad2Be is a group for undergraduate students and a division of 85 Broads - an international networking organization founded in 1999 by female professionals at the investment banking firm Goldman Sachs.
Broad2Be at Tufts gives students an opportunity to talk to current professionals about job searching, applying for jobs, handling interviews, and practical financial knowledge. The University's chapter was founded this year by senior Allysen Hepp, who was also one of four recipients of the Legacy Award, or Senior Achievement Award.
Hepp said that she was proud of everyone who participated in Broad2Be this year. "We worked extremely hard and I couldn't be more pleased with our success," Hepp said. Hepp also said that she thinks Broad2Be's recognition from the OSA will help the group's reputation for the future.
"With all the wonderful student organizations on campus, it is really quite commendable to be chosen for any of the awards ... [the awards] speak to our credibility and quality of services we offer to the Tufts community," she said.
The other three senior awardees were Nicole Masone and Alexis Smith of Programming Board, and Hillel Treasurer Miriam Sznycer-Taub.
"It's very exciting," Masone said. "It's nice to be recognized for all the hard work you have done." Masone served as the Co-Chair of the Programming Board this year, and as Co-Chair of the Entertainment Board for the two years before. Masone said one of the highlights of her job was being able to work with freshmen and sophomores.
"It was great working with [the underclassmen], especially for our Winter Bash, where we didn't have a lot of money to work with, but had a great time with it anyway," she said.
The Winter Bash dance, sponsored by the Programming Board, was held on Jan. 28 in the Gantcher Family Sports and Convocation Center to ring in the spring semester.
The Lighthouse Award for Student Leader of the Year was given to this year's Tufts Community Union (TCU) Treasurer, junior Jeff Katzin. On April 20, Katzin was elected to serve as the next TCU President in an online, campus-wide election.
"[This award] means a lot to me," Katzin said. "I think this award recognized the people here who make the campus tick every day through their energy and vitality."
The Herald Award for Publicity of the Year to PANGEA for its "Stop the Genocide in Sudan" advocacy campaign. PANGEA, a year-old organization at Tufts, is a global awareness on campus.
Other awards presented were: the Imagination Award for Innovation and Creativity to the Freshman Class Council, the Jumbo Award for Campus Community to the Tufts University Spirit Coalition, the Mt. Olympus Award for Greek Chapter of the Year to the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority, the Synergy Award for Co-Sponsored Program of the Year to the Jumbo Tsunami Relief Fund by the Thai Club, Leonard Carmichael Society and the International Club.
The Standing Room Only Award for Program of the Year to the African Student Organization for its "Break the Stage" performance.
