Student Life Recognizes Achievements by Students, Greek Life, Clubs and Staff

ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA - Education major Ashley Causey and Mass Communication major Victor Volious captured top honors at the 2016 Winthrop University Student Life Awards ceremony on April 21.

Causey took the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award, while Volious won the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. Sponsored by the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Foundation, the two awards are presented annually to students who have given great service to the university and plan to continue service after graduation. Frank Ardaiolo, vice president for student life, presented the awards in the Richardson Ballroom of the DiGiorgio Campus Center.

Causey, who is from Canal Point, Florida, will graduate in May with a special education degree. She was selected as a Breakthrough Collaborative Teaching Fellow a few summers ago where she designed an original curriculum plan and lesson plans for 7th grade literature for high achieving but underserved 7th graders. Through her work with Multicultural Student Council, People for the American Way Foundation, McNair Advisory Board and DiGiorigo Student Union, Causey advocates for making changes to leave the world a better place and helping those that need a voice, to have that voice through her. She has raised awareness about the impact of socioeconomics by wearing the same dress for a year.

Volious of Columbia, South Carolina, has been an Orientation Leader three years and won Orientation Leader of the year during his second summer. Students elected him as Homecoming King in the fall and he also is an active member of the Council of Student Leaders, the DiGiorgio Student Union and the Leadership Institute for First-Timers planning team. He helped found Lowdown Radio, held leadership positions with the university's Association of Black Journalists and serves as a Resident Assistant. Volious will graduate in December.

The prestigious American Legion Awards were given to Akeria "Keri" Massey-Shands of Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Craig Hodge of York, South Carolina.

Massey-Shands is a member of the Air Force ROTC and plans to become a commissioned officer in that branch upon her graduation in December with a degree in exercise science. She is working to complete the requirements to obtain a Doctor of Physical Therapy through the military. She has been involved in Relay for Life, MLK Day of Service and Serving Others And Reflecting, and also served as a Peer Mentor.

Hodge will graduate with a history degree next month and will receive his commission in the U.S. Army. A member of the S.C. National Guard, he has served in Afghanistan and in Vermont after a hurricane. Hodge has joined his fraternity in helping with Special Olympics and donating food to a homeless shelter, helped with fund raisers for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a Bike-A-Thon and other fund raisers to help the Hidden Wounds Foundation, Wounded Warrior Project, and homeless veterans and families. He has played an important role as an Orientation Leader for transfer, non-traditional and military veteran students and has advocated for changes in the veterans programs that will benefit future cadets.

Additional awards included:

Diversity and Student Engagement Award: Kamry Bell, an English major from Winnsboro, South Carolina.
Exemplary Service by an Individual Award: Jake A. Roberts, a biology major from Ninety Six, South Carolina.
Exemplary Single Service Project By a Group: Vision of Prayze and Skin Deep
Student Organization With Exemplary Record of Service: S.H.I.E.L.D.
The Serving Others and Reflecting (SOAR) Award: Aniysa Raiford, a family and consumer sciences major from Columbia, South Carolina.
Active Bystander Award: Gabrielle Mullinax, an instrumental music major from Gaffney, South Carolina.
Intern of the Year: Andrew McIver, an English major from Blythewood, South Carolina.
Combining Service and Learning Award: Judy Longshaw of the Office of University Communications and Marketing.
Gloria Godfrey Jones Outstanding Tutor Award: Lynnique Johnson, a mathematics major from Clover, South Carolina.
Outstanding Student Organization: Her Campus
Outstanding Sorority Program: Delta Zeta
Outstanding Fraternity Program: Sigma Alpha Epsilon
Greek Fraternity Chapter of the Year: Phi Beta Sigma
Greek Woman of the Year: Myckayla Gailliard, a biology major from Sumter, South Carolina.
Greek Man of the Year: Khoi Tran, an economics major from Clover.
Club Sport of the Year: Skydiving Club
Club Sports Officer of the Year: Samantha Pantuosco, an elementary education major from Lake Wylie, South Carolina.
F. Grant Scurry Employee of the Year: Sarai Ramos, an early childhood education major from Elgin, South Carolina.
James C. and Kimberly Dickens Williamson Leadership Award: Kacy Lynn Tyner, a business administration major from Hartsville, South Carolina, and Elisabeth Anne West, a political science major, also from Hartsville.
Fred Angerman Quality Staff Award: Susan Sistar of Counseling Services.

For more information, contact Judy Longshaw, news and media services manager, at 803/323-2404 or e-mail her at longshawj@winthrop.edu.