Since 2004–2005, the Office of Student Conduct has honored ninety-one students with the Chacivity Award. The award’s name is composed from “character, civility, and integrity.” This award is designed to recognize students who exhibit behavior(s) that are uplifting to the Indiana University of Pennsylvania community by displaying courage, civility, leadership, integrity, and initiative. In April 2009, twenty-eight students selected during the 2008–2009 academic year, as well as the individuals who nominated them, were honored at a reception.
Fall 2008 Recipients
Hazem AlBalushi
Nominated by: Jessica Strawn Dories, Office of International Education
Hazem has been very involved in the Muslim Student Association, has sought to be a voice for students that we do not always hear from, and offers many creative ideas for globalizing the IUP campus.
Jennifer Barry
Nominated by: Dr. Joann Migyanka, Special Education and Clinical Services
Every year Jennifer works tirelessly to raise funds for causes that extend beyond the IUP campus. This year, Jennifer’s efforts were to raise money to purchase handicap accessible playground equipment for a local Indiana community playground.
Andrew Cohen
Nominated by: Dr. Richard Nowell, Special Education and Clinical Services, and Mrs. Annah Hill, Special Education and Clinical Services
Andrew is profoundly deaf himself, and, on his own time, offers a sign language class for those in the IUP Sign Language Club who are interested. He has also organized a signing supper night and other activities that provide an opportunity for IUP students to interact with Deaf people and to practice their sign language skills.
Gretchen Colwell
Nominated by: Dr. David Lorenzi, Health and Physical Education
Gretchen has actively recruited new clients and enthusiastically helps to direct and manage the Special Needs Activity Program (SNAP) as it continues to grow and expand. Gretchen truly has a passion for working with individuals with disabilities and works outside of IUP in a group home for adults with disabilities and volunteers in the Armstrong/Indiana County Chapter of Special Olympics Pennsylvania.
David Donovan
Nominated by: Dr. Judith Villa, English
Dave volunteered to mentor two underprepared students in his College Writing course. He made it possible for one of them to overcome his writing fears and problems and end the class with a passing grade.
Jason Ericson
Nominated by: Theo Turner, Interim Assistant Dean of Students at Punxsutawney
Jason became part of the campus Student Activities committee on the Punxsutawney campus and served as a mentor for his peers.
Sarah Hasker
Nominated by: Dr. Eric Rosenberger, The Counseling Center
Sarah has been a tireless advocate for students with mental illness on campus for the past two years. She started a chapter of “Active Minds” whose mission it is to “de-stigmatize” mental illness on college campuses.
Ruben Henao
Nominated by: Donna Griffith, Assistant Dean for Administration, School of Graduate Studies and Research
Ruben serves as president of the Graduate Student Assembly. In this role, he actively works with his executive board to establish goals for the organization that enhance the visibility of the GSA to the campus community. He also has been a creative force in planning activities to bring graduate students together.
Meghan Huff
Nominated by: Dr. Frank Brooks, Spanish Department
Meghan has been a leader among students in the Spanish Education program by taking it upon herself, a selfless act, to plan, organize, and maintain several but systematic opportunities for our majors and minors to practice speaking in Spanish.
Meghan McQuaide
Nominated by: Sara Lawer, Assistant Director, Office of Alumni Relations
Meghan has been an active member of the IUP Ambassadors and was in charge of a variety of programs that benefited both the university community as well as the local community, including food drives for Indiana County Community Action Incorporated and the first annual Clothing Drive to support local veterans and their families.
Michael Ponza
Nominated by: Dr. Valeri Helterbran, Professional Studies in Education
Against many odds, Michael achieved the qualifications needed to become an Elementary Education major and now serves as a point of pride for our department. Without exaggeration, Michael is beloved by the elementary students he interacted with during his first field experience this semester.
Sarah Reid
Nominated by: Morgan Rizzardi, Graduate Assistant, Advising and Testing Center
Sarah volunteered multiple times to sit on a student panel during Parent Orientation, and attended evening socials with the parents of our new students. Sarah truly goes above and beyond expectations in all that she does and takes much pride in her institution.
Katy Ringbloom
Nominated by: Morgan Rizzardi, Graduate Assistant, Advising and Testing Center
Katy willingly volunteered to assist in narrating a trolley tour for incoming IUP parents during our summer orientation programs—which helped our office incredibly in lieu of staffing. She also volunteered to assist with the Parent Orientation Evening Socials held twice a week for six weeks, which was beyond expectations.
Melissa Rogers
Nominated by: Dr. Gian Pagnucci, English
Melissa is the president of Vote IUP, a student organization which worked to register voters for the fall presidential election. She spoke to many classes about voter registration and worked many hours in various booths around campus registering voters.
Spring 2009 Recipients
Amanda Avvento
Nominated by: Theo Turner, Interim Assistant Dean of Students at Punxsutawney
During the Fall semester, Amanda organized a fundraiser for Breast Cancer on the Punxsutawney campus during Family Weekend. In the Spring semester, Amanda organized a Walk-A-Thon for autism.
Darla Barie
Nominated by: Sam Mucken, Graduate Assistant, Center for Student Life
Darla has been a big reason this year’s Sutton chapter of Mortar Board Senior Honor Society has been so successful. She worked diligently to plan, promote, and execute a book drive fundraiser, resulting in over $3,000 for Indiana County Head Start to buy books for the children it serves.
Kierstin Bolton
Nominated by: Dr. Sarah Wheeler, Political Science
Kierstin Bolton has been a leader in our Model United Nations student organization, and she represents IUP very well in the intercollegiate Model United Nations and Model European Union events in which she has participated.
Jennifer Casanova
Nominated by: Ms. Portia Diaz, IUP Libraries
Jennifer is the Latino Student Organization (LaSO) president. She has been instrumental in organizing activities that promote, and strengthen educational and cultural concerns, as well as facilitating adjustments to the Latino Community at IUP. She has also given back to the IUP community in her role in the Admissions Office by providing ideas to increase the Latino population on campus by volunteering to guide tours, host prospective students, and give motivational speeches.
Erin Keller
Nominated by: Dr. Becky Knickelbein, Special Education and Clinical Services
Erin has gone above and beyond in leading the student service organization CEC (Council for Exceptional Children) as a member of the leadership board. The CEC is currently raising money to buy handicapped accessible playground equipment for the Getty Heights Park.
Brendan Markham
Nominated by: Tedd Cogar, Coordinator, Center for Student Life/Office of Student Conduct
Brendan has served on fifteen judicial boards during the 2008–2009 academic year (alone, that is twice the number of other members). He has been willing to serve regardless of any recognition and has been dutiful in carefully considering cases.
Jennifer Michalak
Nominated by: Michele Peterson, Graduate Assistant, Center for Student Life
Jennifer served on the Panhellenic Association Executive Board as president and recruitment counselor coordinator. Jennifer did an amazing job planning and organizing (with the rest of the executive board) several philanthropic and community service events.
Bronwyn Murray
Nominated by: Dr. Rita Drapkin, The Counseling Center
Bronwyn is very interested in working with International Students and has been eager to reach out to them beyond her work in our department. This year, Bronwyn offered five workshops on topics of interest to International students, including Relationships, Personality Types, Stress Management and Adjusting to Culture, Study Skills, and American Communication Styles.
Joseph Nelis
Nominated by: Nichole Fest, Office of Housing and Residence Life
Joe is a community assistant in Elkin Hall and a student advisor for Residence Hall Council (RHC). In addition to RHC, Joe is on the English Specialty Floor. For most of the year the floor was without a faculty liaison. In spite of this, Joe planned programs specifically for the English Floor and has completed double the number of programs that are required for his position.
Nwaeze Onyemaobim
Nominated by: an anonymous student
Nwaeze was vice president of the Elkin Residence Hall Council (RHC) and has shown and exemplified the values of leadership, respect, and hard work. He always shows up to all of the RHC programs and helps set up and facilitate the events.
Ronald Rethi
Nominated by: Dr. Judith Villa, English, Dr. Rosalee Stilwell, English, and Dr. Laurel Black, English
Ron volunteers for an in-the-classroom internship program called PACT. Ron does not yet have enough credits to officially participate in the program, but because he is a generous and concerned student, he has volunteered a big chunk of his time for the last school year and has helped us with programming a number of events.
Christopher Stanis
Nominated by: Dr. Janet Goebel, Director of the Honors College
Chris has become an international volunteer for “Unite for Sight.” He will spend his summer outfitting kids in Ghana with eyeglasses.
Janice Starry
Nominated by: Dr. Cora Lou Sherburne, Psychology
Janice is a wonderful, hardworking, interesting woman who has been a great addition to our department in her time as a Psychology student. She gives of her limited time selflessly to any of the younger students in her major who ask for her help. During the time that Jan has been pursuing her degree here, she has always worked two or three jobs as well as being a hospice volunteer.
Pamela Straub
Nominated by: Dr. Becky Knickelbein, Special Education and Clinical Services
Pamela is a member of the service organization CEC (Council for Exceptional Children) leadership board and has played an important role in this organization throughout her undergraduate years. The CEC is currently raising money to buy handicapped accessible playground equipment for the Getty Heights Park.
Follow this link to see winners from prior years.
