Toast to Leadership Celebrates Exceptional Students
For the 43rd year, Lamar University has recognized outstanding student organizations and exceptional student achievements at the 2023 Toast to Leadership Award Ceremony.
The Seniors of Significance Award, created by the Division of Student Engagement in 2016, recognizes select seniors for excellence in scholarship, leadership, and community service. This year's recipients represent all undergraduate colleges and have made a positive impact on the Lamar University campus and in their individual academic fields.
Recognized as 2023 Seniors of Significance were: Luis Arevalo, chemical engineering, Beaumont; Kalan Bonnette, mathematics & computer science, Orange; Britney Brevell, biology, Groves; Sindi Castillo, biology, Beaumont; Kaylee Goodspeed, psychology, Beaumont; Caroline LeBlanc, chemical engineering, Beaumont; Umer Malik, political science, Bridge City; Avery McLain, nursing, Tolar; Zuhair Merchant, computer information sciences, Port Arthur; Jacob Murphy, management, Sour Lake; Dajha Myles, social work, Orange; Hannah Norwood, biology, Hillister; Christine Osborne, marketing & English, Houston; Marcellious Prentice, industrial engineering, Baytown; Madison Richards, social work, Kountze; Chloe Smith, speech & hearing science, Beaumont; Madison Taylor, nursing, Orange; Chloe Thompson, biology & studio art drawing, Vidor; Jennifer Tsan, computer science, Orange; Shelbie Williams, political science, Port Neches; and Lily Yoder, psychology, Beaumont.
The Ann Shaw Award was established to honor a junior or senior for fostering a spirit of teamwork, excellence in leadership, and exhibiting exemplary ethics and integrity while making a significant contribution to LU. The winner for 2023 is senior Jacob Murphy. Murphy serves as the drum major in the Showcase of Southeast Texas, an Orientation Coordinator, president of the Moot Court team, and as an LU Ambassador.
The Bess Gentry Award recognizes an outstanding senior woman for exceptional leadership, exemplary character, service to the university and community, and academic scholarship. The 2023 recipient is Chloe Smith. Smith is the president of the Student Advisory Council for the College of Fine Arts and Communication, serves as a Peer Health Educator, volunteers for the Beaumont ISD SOAR program, and has a perfect 4.0 grade point average. In 2021, she was awarded Best Summer Research Project by the Office of Undergraduate Research.
The C. Robert Kemble Award recognizes an outstanding senior man for educational excellence and distinction in leadership, character, and service. The 2023 recipient is Luis Arevalo. Arevalo is the founder and president of the LU Hispanic Society, has served as an Orientation Leader and LU Ambassador, and provides live translation services each week at First Baptist Church in Hamshire. He as a perfect 4.0 grade point average.
Outstanding Student Organization of the Year was awarded to Helping Hands, led by president Ogor Nwaobi and advisor Nicole Kyles-Burton. Helping Hands, a volunteer service group working to benefit southeast Texas, contributed to several projects this year including Sleep in Heavenly Peace and Fall Into Action.
New Student Organization of the Year was awarded to the Nigerian Student Association, led by president Boluwatife Fadahunsi and advised by Balinda Cooper. The organization has grown to over 100 members since starting in the fall semester and provides support, networking, and cultural unity to the Nigerian community at LU.
The award for Program of the Year was given to the LU Hispanic Society for Celebración de Graduación, held each semester to recognize the achievements of LU's Hispanic and Latino graduating students. LUHS is led by president Luis Arevalo and advised by Dr. Hector Flores and Dr. Lilian Felipe.
The award for Outstanding Advisor of the Year is named in honor of the late Dr. Melvin Brust, an Emeritus Professor and longtime advisor to the Finance Association and Students in Free Enterprise at LU. The award is given to an advisor who has shown outstanding dedication, service, and support to their organization and its members. This year’s award was presented to assistant professor of teacher education, Dr. Katherine Sprott, who serves as the advisor to the Lamar Student Educators Association, led by president Julia Barrett.
Also recognized at the ceremony were the newly-elected officers for the 2023-24 Student Government Association: president Jonah Smith, vice president Toni Lopez Maldonado, secretary-treaurer Ogor Nwaobi, senior senator Mason Washington, junior senator Daisy Calero Estrella, and sophomore senator Alexa Heng.