The annual Student Life Awards were hosted in the Malcolm Field Theatre on Thursday, April 19, at 6 p.m.
Pedro Marin, a Student Affairs student worker, emceed the event.
“It was a great experience. All the nominees were great,” he said. “I think that everything went really smoothly.”
The first award of the night was best New Student Organization. Phoenix Night, a Sigma Lambda Gamma interest group, won. The RSO is a national Latina-based organization that empowers women in higher education.
Nathan Naples won the Cardinal in Shining Armor Award.
“The support here is just incredible. Everywhere I turn at SVSU, I have support,” Naples said. “I’m just thankful for all the opportunities I’ve had here.”
Roberto Garcia, the director of Multicultural Student Affairs, said Naples deserved the award.
“He’s so humble, and he deserved this because he gives with his whole heart,” Garcia said. “Nate goes above and beyond to help others. Even when so many people’s hearts are self-serving, he serves with all his heart.”
Jessica Hurley, a theatre junior, won Student Employee of the Year. She will receive a $100 bonus on her next check through The Conference Center.
“I’m honored to be recognized,” she said.
“The Conference Center taught me a lot over the past three years and has presented me with experiences to build off of in the future.”
Anna Devota, a Residential Life student worker, won the Red Pride Award.
“I am very grateful to have received awards tonight,” she said. “SVSU has provided me with endless opportunities to grow and make memories. I will really miss SVSU after graduating. Individuals and organizations work very hard throughout the year, and it is great to be able to recognize them.”
The Organization for Black Unity (OBU) won two awards: RSO of the Year and Outstanding Program of the Year for the event Black at SVSU. Its upcoming president, Indigo Dudley, won the Impact Award.
Jerry Harris, the 2018-2019 OBU vice president, believed OBU’s e-board made winning the award possible.
“The whole e-board, especially our former public relations chair, Indigo Dudley, put tremendous work into Black at SVSU, the program that won,” he said. “Just as a whole eboard, getting Best RSO, we stayed up late and went that extra mile. It’s nice for us (graduates) to go out with a big bang.”
Dudley said OBU focused on black consciousness for their Black at SVSU event.
“We talked about the disconnect between not only people of different cultures, but also within ourselves,” he said. “Then we talked a little bit about the education process and how nine times out of 10, the African American is at a setback.”
Dudley was honored to have won The Impact Award and several awards for OBU.
OBU will receive a $2,000 allocation for winning Organization of the Year.
“(The allocation) will go in our savings,” Dudley said. “Most of it will probably go toward Black at SVSU events and maybe outreaching. I know one of our goals is to reach out to other black student unions in Michigan. Transportation costs money, so it’s really good to have that money and to accomplish our goals.”
Dudley said she was excited to take over as president of OBU next year.
“I am really passionate about this group,” she said. “I have been in it since I was a freshman. I honestly can’t picture my life without it at this point.”
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