The Chacivity Award was created in 2004–2005. Its name is composed from “character, civility, and integrity.” This award is designed to recognize students who exhibit behavior(s) uplifting to the Indiana University of Pennsylvania community by displaying courage, civility, leadership, integrity, and initiative.
To date, 178 students have received the award, including the following:
Dana Alexander
Nominated by Dr. Amber Sherman, Center for Student Life
Dana applied to become an orientation leader (OL) for Welcome Weekend 2010. For this position, Dana attended several meetings throughout the Spring semester to help plan the social and academic activities for the Welcome Weekend program. Dana signed up to be a member of our Hawkfest Task Force. She immediately embraced her role on this Task Force and assisted with the creation of an outdoor festival that took place on the Saturday afternoon of move-in weekend. She assisted in recruiting WIUP-FM (our campus radio station) to broadcast from the event, she solicited area businesses to hand out information and discuss the services they can provide to students, and she set up various hands-on activities that the students could participate in during the event. Dana volunteered to help with additional activities than are required of the orientation leaders—without her volunteer efforts, our Welcome Weekend program would not have been a success.
After the 2010 Welcome Weekend program, Dr. Sherman created the head orientation leader position. Dana applied to be a head orientation leader for Welcome Weekend 2011. She was one of 10 candidates who applied and four who were selected. She was responsible for working with the Theme Task Force. This involved developing the theme used for the weekend, designing the t-shirts for the OL staff, and determining what decorations and advertising should be used for the weekend. Dana truly did an amazing job. In addition to leading this task force, Dana was responsible for creating and facilitating OL training and managing certain events throughout the weekend. She supervised a group of OLs who were responsible for moving new students in Stephenson Hall (on both Friday and Saturday of move-in weekend). She was also a "go-to" staff member who helped troubleshoot issues that came about throughout the weekend.
Her longstanding commitment to the Welcome Weekend program is truly outstanding. She never expects or asks for recognition, and she can also be trusted to complete any task to the best of her ability.
Amanda Avvento
Nominated by Dr. Amber Sherman, Center for Student Life
For the OL position, Amanda attended several meetings throughout the Spring semester to help plan activities for the 2011 Welcome Weekend program. Amanda signed up to be a member of our Social Media/Marketing Task Force (a newly created committee). She assisted with the creation of a Facebook page. Throughout the summer, she actively responded to questions and concerns that our incoming students posted on Facebook. She took it upon herself to work with another orientation leader (Alex Walters) to coordinate video responses (she posted videos to YouTube and then linked them to our Facebook page) to some of the more common questions that our incoming students asked. During the month leading up to Welcome Weekend, she actively promoted the events and activities that were planned and encouraged student participation. The initiative that she demonstrated during the summer was absolutely astonishing. I can honestly say that I have never seen this level of commitment from someone who has served in a volunteer role before. What makes her contributions so remarkable is that she needed little to no guidance in order to make this happen. Once the ideas were generated, she took it upon herself to implement them in such creative ways.
I specifically asked Amanda if she would serve as an assistant to one of our police officers during move-in. This position carried with it a lot of responsibility and long hours (7:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday). I am confident Amanda will be one of my “go-to” OLs for Welcome Weekend 2012 because she is so reliable and shows great initiative. Without her volunteer efforts, our Welcome Weekend program would not have been a success.
Torie Brodish
Nominated by Tara Brodish, English
I believe Torie deserves this award because she organized a collection for the Alice Paul House on her own the last semester before Christmas. I know she is planning to do this again before we leave for summer break. Although she was not offiliated with any project, Torie asked for collections from her friends, classmates, and the clubs with whom she was personally affilated. She was able to donate over 75 items to the Alice Paul House, incuding children’s toys, women’s bathroom needs, grocery gift cards, gas gift cards, and nonperishable food items.
Justin Brown
Nominated by Amanda Cowan, Office of Student Conduct
Justin Brown, an assistant residence director for OHRLD and SAHE student here at IUP, is very deserving of the Chacivity Award. During his time working for OHRLD, Justin has done many fantastic and encouraging things for the students who reside in his community, Suites on Pratt/University Towers/McCarthy Hall. Last semester, when Justin realized that one building in his community, McCarthy Hall, had the lowest GPAs and highest rate of judicial incidents, Justin took matters into his own hands. Without being asked or encouraged, Justin began the Academic Engagement Program (AEP). AEP consists of a group of student leaders who act as mentors and study leaders for those students who are struggling. Justin converted an unused and old space in McCarthy Hall into a dynamic study area. Justin got his students motivated to decorate the space, and Justin helped ensure that it was provided with six computers and a printer for student usage. Today, the AEP is still going strong helping students in the community. Justin did not have to create this program to help his students, but he did anyway when he realized they were struggling and needed some guidance, and now he gives up some of his evenings to help the student leaders. Justin is without a doubt an example to the IUP community with his willingness to always go the extra mile, no matter what the recognition would be.
Morgan Chase
Nominated by Alisa Drew, The Haven Project
Please accept my nomination of Morgan Chase for the Office of Student Conduct Chacivity Award. I have had the honor of working alongside Morgan as a peer educator for the Haven Project during my undergraduate career, and currently supervise him as the graduate assistant for the program. During this time, I have had the opportunity to witness Morgan partake in numerous endeavors that are truly uplifting to the IUP community. Morgan has worked as a peer educator for the Haven Project for nearly two years. As a peer educator, Morgan both educates the campus about domestic and sexual violence and creates outstanding educational materials that are utilized throughout the campus. I have always admired Morgan for the work that he does with the Haven Project because it is not a role that men actively seek to fulfill. Morgan is passionate about advocating for victims of sexual and domestic violence and is a true role model for men on our campus. I believe Morgan displays all of the behaviors that would qualify him for this award, including courage, civility, leadership, integrity, and initiative. I believe his commitment to IUP’s campus is commendable and worthy of this award.
Emily Gagliardi
Nominated by Ashley Testa, Office of Housing, Residential Living, and Dining
Emily Gagliadri has been a PACER (Peers Assisting Community Education of Residence) in Stephenson Hall since Spring 2011. This year, Emily was assigned to serve as the first-floor PACER, which requires her to collaborate with the first-floor community assistants, as well as program for a large floor of approximately 66 suite-style residential spaces. At the end of the Fall 2011 semester, one of Emily’s coworkers left the position and was not replaced, thus leaving the fourth floor without a PACER staff member. Knowing this, Emily immendiately asked to take on the additional responsibilities of supporting both the first-floor residents as well as the fourth-floor residents. This was a big responsibility! Not only was Emily carrying on the large task of reaching out to first-floor residents and collaborting with the community assistants on the first floor, she was now also working to program and collaborate with the fourh-floor community assistants and serving an additional floor of 66 residential spaces. Throughout the Spring semester, Emily has diligently carried out the responsibiities for both of these floor communities in Stephenson Hall. And, I must say as her supervisor, she has done a fantastic job and has created some of Stephenson’s most creative and well-attended community programs. And, she has not complained once—in fact, Emily has embraced the added responsibilities, and her work ethic has served as an inspiration and influence to her community assistant and PACER peers. Please consider awarding Emily this honor, as I believe she has demonstrated the definition of chacivity here at IUP through her ability to step up when necessary and to willingly take on added responsibilities to help support her peers and community.
Malia Lazor
Diane Stipcak, Career Development Center
Malia served as the chairperson of the inaugural Hawk Rock, a 24-hour dance-a-thon and student community service campaign to benefit agencies addressing homelessness and hunger in Indiana County. Malia was selfless in her devotion to the event, giving up her entire Spring break and choosing not to attend a conference in order to assure that the Hawk Rock would be a success. The outcome of her leadership was an amazing $10,000 fundraising effort plus more than 300 pounds of food donated to three Indiana County agencies that aid those in need.
Malia has also chaired clothing drives each semester at IUP since her freshman year. At the conclusion of the Spring drive, she has collected more than 10,000 articles of clothing, which were donated to Goodwill. She expanded those drives to include shoe donations for Soles 4 Souls, and cell phones which are refurbished for domestic abuse victims.
Malia has served IUP as a Scholars in Service to Pennsylvania AmeriCorp member for four years, dedicating a minimum of 450 hours of volunteer service each term. She has been a Presidents Community Service award recipient for completing more than 100 additional volunteer hours beyond her commitment.
Malia takes to any task that is assigned to her with sincerity and earnestness, extending a helping hand to agencies and organizations both on and off campus. Her attitude evolved into a new unspoken motto for the office—“Never Say No” to any student, organization, or agency who sought out the Office of Service Learning for support.
Malia leads by example, always taking the time to learn more, but, more importantly, taking the time to teach others to become leaders as well. When she graduates this May, her presence will be sorely missed in our office.
Eden Ratliff
Nominated by Nacho Alarcon, English
Eden Ratliff is entirely deserving of this award. As a community assistant, a future head community assistant, an active SGA senator, and an Eagle scout, Eden embodies the notions of character, community, and integrity. Eden has an engaging personality and is able to help others show their true colors by connecting with them on a deeper level through his interactions. He always goes the extra mile to make sure others feel comfortable around him and in general. Eden promotes a sense of community on a plethora of levels from the floor in which his residents abide to the campus as a whole. Eden has strongly encouraged and cultivated connections both on his floor and within the residential McPratters community. He also plays an integral role in facilitating the others with the curriculum on campus through his role on the SGA curriculum committee down to his formal and informal programs on scheduling as a CA. Lastly, Eden strives to promote integrity both within himself and with others he meets. A scrupulous man, Eden is a strong proponent for the respect and rights of others. One example of this is the painting pertaining to gender equality on his floor. When evaluated for his CA position after one semester, Eden received some complaints about gender discrimination. When he was apprised of this, he went to the Programmig Resource Center directly afterwards and painted a figure that was half-man and half-woman, split down the middle. He added a phrase showing his staunch support for all those who are oppressed. For these reasons, I believe Eden is a more than worthy candidate for the Chacivity Award.
Melissa Sattazahn
Nominated by Rick Kutz, Center for Student Life
Melissa served as the president for the IUP Day Planning Committee. In this capacity, she not only provided leadership for the overall execution of the event, but she also mentored the younger members of the committee and worked to build IUP Day as an event that spans over 100 organizations that includes recognized student organizations, community organizations, and university offices and departments. IUP Day is an entirely student-generated event produced by an all-volunteer group of students. Without Melissa’s leadership, this event serving over 1,500 IUP students would not have happened.
John Stoughton
Nominated by Dr. Amber Sherman, Center for Student Life
I have known John for the past three years. In Spring 2009, he applied to be an orientation leader for Welcome Weekend. This position is purely a volunteer role. He attended and actively participated in planning meetings through the Spring semester. He was a tremendous asset to the OL staff (signing up and completing more tasks than requested of the OLs). In Spring 2010, John reapplied for the OL position and was someone whom I could count on to tackle any task.
In Spring 2011, I created a head OL position so that returning OLs could take on a leadership role. John was one of 10 candidates who applied and four who were selected. He was responsible for leading the Social Media Taskforce (a newly created committee). John immediately embraced his role on this taskforce and assisted with the creation of a Facebook page. He provided great guidance to the members of his taskforce, and they actively responded to questions and concerns that our incoming students posted on Facebook throughout the summer. His taskforce also coordinated video responses (they posted videos to YouTube and then linked them to our Facebook page) to some of the more common questions that our incoming students asked. In addition to leading this taskforce, John was responsible for creating and facilitating OL training and managing certain events throughout the weekend. He embraced this leadership position and was able to use effective problem-solving skills when confronted with any challenges. He communicated to the other OLs and our leadership team effectively and exuded confidence when interacting with university administrators and our new students. His commitment to volunteerism is amazing!!
Alexandra Walters
Nominated by Dr. Amber Sherman, Center for Student Life
For the OL position, Alex attended several meetings throughout the Spring semester to help plan activities for the 2011 Welcome Weekend program. Alex signed up to be a member of our Social Media/Marketing Task Force (a newly created committee). She assisted with the creation of a Facebook page. Throughout the summer, she actively responded to questions and concerns that our incoming students posted on Facebook. She took it upon herself to work with another orientation leader (Amanda Avvento) to coordinate video responses (she posted videos to YouTube and then linked them to our Facebook page) to some of the more common questions that our incoming students asked. During the month leading up to Welcome Weekend, she actively promoted the events and activities that were planned and encouraged student participation. The initiative that she demonstrated during the summer was absolutely astonishing. Once the ideas were generated, she took it upon herself to implement them in such creative ways.
I specifically asked Alex if she would serve as an assistant to one of our police officers during move-in. This position carried with it a lot of responsibility and long hours (7:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday). I selected Alex because of the level of initiative she demonstrated over the summer, and I knew that I could count on her. She did not let me down! She actively tweeted and posted to Facebook throughout Welcome Weekend, and actively encouraged participation from our new students. Amazing!
