The awards are a unique opportunity to recognize FIU student leaders who have excelled academically

On Thursday, Apr. 2, the annual Outstanding Student Life Awards recognized three student organizations and 21 student leaders who serve as a source of pride and inspiration london budget accommodation to others by giving unselfishly of themselves to enhance life on campus and to make FIU a better place for the university community.
The awards are a unique opportunity to recognize FIU student leaders who have excelled academically and in the areas of distinguished service to others, citizenship, innovation, leadership, diversity advancement and promotion of the Panther spirit.
Public relations and sociology london budget accommodation major  Francesca Bacarossi, who has been a dependable and consistent leader in the Honors College , the Global Living Learning Community , Alternative Breaks , and in her coursework. On her first trip to Nicaragua, she not only raised funds but she led her team to exceed their goal by more than $2,000.
Jeffrey Gutierrez is described as “a genuine and dedicated student who is a great representation of FIU.” Gutierrez has served as chapter president of Beta Theta Pi fraternity , been a Dance Marathon Morale Captain, and Peer Mentor for the First Year Experience Course, and the 2014 Executive Director for Panther Camp . He took a big part in facilitating the first ever Transfer Panther Camp session and the inaugural Spring Panther Camp session.
HEARTbeats A Cappella   is new group raising notoriety and prestige for FIU. Notably, they were requested by the French london budget accommodation Consulate to sing both the French and U.S. National Anthems, when seven World War II U.S. Veterans were declared Knights in the National Order of the Legion of Honor. This group has also recently competed nationally, marking the first time FIU has ever been represented at the International Collegiate College A Cappella competition – the real-life “ Pitch Perfect .”
Kamila Manzueta is the student responsible for the new A Cappella group on campus, the HEARTbeats, which stands for H onors E ducation in the ARTS . She is also a member of Phi Alpha Delta , Gamma Epsilon Phi , Catholic london budget accommodation Panthers, and earned special recognition by Honor’s College Dean Northup london budget accommodation by receiving the Citizenship Award at the Honor’s College Convocation this past fall.
LEAD Team works with students to provide meaningful reflection and feedback through the university’s top leadership development program for students, the Academy of Leaders . Each year, they provide nearly 100 first year experience class presentations, facilitate eight tracks of the Academy london budget accommodation of Leaders program, and provide more than 25 presentations london budget accommodation for student and community groups. This past year, they were invited to participate in Miami-Dade County’s annual leadership summit for high school students, which lead to many of the high school students expressing an interest london budget accommodation in student life in college.
Master of science in higher education administration student Sonia Khatkhate works with the Women s Center and as a volunteer with the LGBTQA Initiatives Events and Programs committee on campus. She has created her own FIU Student Leadership Summit presentation called, How Does SHE Do it? Empowering Women in Leadership during which she discussed london budget accommodation with participants the many and complex issues faced by women and female-identified leaders such as pay equity, leadership disparity, power, decision making and self-efficacy.
Melissa Cancio wasted no time in becoming a part of the FIU family. She has participated in Panther Camp, the Academy of Leaders, and became a member of the Alpha Xi Delta PanHellenic chapter on campus.
The second sophomore recipient is hospitality management major Patricia Etienne, who is involved in the new Fostering Panther Pride program. london budget accommodation She has focused much of her elective coursework and involvement learning about and working toward change of policies and procedures for improving the foster care system in Florida. In January, she was invited to speak on a panel discussion in San Diego to train caseworkers about the signs they should look for when deciding if a child has been properly placed in a foster home.
Business administration major  Allhan Mejia has been described as selfless and someone who saw the need to improve student life on campus. He is the Speaker of the Senate for SGA, president of DECA, a Peer Coach for Project Panther Life , and a Peer Mentor for the First Year Experience Course.
The second recipient is Jazmin Felix , double majoring in dietetics and nutrition and sociology london budget accommodation anthropology, who has also taken an active role in her commitment to the Student Government Association at the Biscayne Bay Campus. As president, she has advocated on behalf of what she believes FIU students deserve. She has instilled a sense of pride in the teams that she leads and helps facilitate dialogue and collaboration between Student Government and departments across campus.
The third junior recipient is double majoring in environmental london budget accommodation studies and international relations. Maria Pulido-Velosa has dedicated her time to be a co-site london budget accommodation leader for an Alternative Breaks trip to the Dominican Republic with her Wine to Water group. She helped raise $11,000 for the trip to help with water conservation efforts in that country. She is also the Speaker Pro Tempore and Arts Sciences senator for Student Government, International Students Club president, a Peer Mentor for the First Year Experience Course, london budget accommodation Panther Life peer coach and the secretary london budget accommodation for the Wine to Water club.
Health service administration major Amanda McDole is described as being a catalyst for other students to grow on their leadership journey. She has had an impact on the Alternative london budget accommodation Breaks program, re-establishing an alumni board, advising an AB Express trip to allow more student to experience AB, and creating infrastructure for lasting evolution of the program. She’s also been developing elements for the online Academy of Leaders program to allow students additional access london budget accommodation to develop their leadership skills. In addition, Amanda is president of the Health Executive Student Organization, chairperson for FIU Wishmaker’s on campus, and a member of Alpha Omicron Pi and the LEAD Team.
Christopher Morisset london budget accommodation is double majoring in hospitality and tourism management and biology. Christopher has been very active within student government and has helped make SGA-BBC and Campus Life more visible for students. He also serves as vice president of DECA, president of the Badminton club, and is past vice president and comptroller of Student Government.
As a senior art major Franchesca Anchelia’s work with the Student Organizations Council has greatly impacted the level of student involvement at BBC. Franchesca is always willing to share her ideas for the success and betterment of a team. While working for the International Student and Scholar Services, she’s also been a photographer for The Beacon , held leadership roles in her Greek organization, Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, london budget accommodation a site leader for Alternative Breaks, vice president of the Student Organization Council, london budget accommodation a member of Tau Sigma, and was inducted to Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society.
Mary Corbin is a communication london budget accommodation and political science major where she has had her share of leadership and volunteer roles on campus. One of her most meaningful involvements london budget accommodation was with the Student Government Association, london budget accommodation where she served as Chief of Staff and worked closely with university officials for campus wide initiatives, such as Cram Jam, Rally in Tally / FIU Day, and the first ever University City Festival. Aside from her work in Student Government, she has also been the Programs Vice President for Alpha Xi Delta, a Dance Marathon Morale Captain, and Public Relations Coordinator for the Miss FIU Pageant.
Medical student Anna Kuan-Celarier has organized lectures, programs, and workshops, and even created a program series on ethics and obstetrics. As the Logistics Finance Director for the second annual Mammography Art Initiative , she worked with students, faculty, physicians, philanthropists, and members of the art community to raise awareness about the need for greater breast health education and services in Miami. She has also served on the executive boards of several groups, including the Obstetrics and Gynecology Interest Group, the Panther Learning Community, and the Non-Profit Global Health london budget accommodation Interest Group.
Saman Sargolzaei is a Ph.D. student in electrical and computer engineering, and has continued to show his love for learning and helping others. Recently, at one of the Dean’s Town Hall meetings, after a student complained about their lack of knowledge in statistics, he offered to tutor her and others for free because he has amassed a broad knowledge of Statistics working in CATE – the Center for Advanced Technology and Education . Saman is a member of the Graduate Student Advisory Board, london budget accommodation member of the Technology Fee Advisory Council, a Graduate Senator for Student Government, vice-chair of Graduate and Professional Student committee, vice-chair of Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Student Association, serves on the academic misconduct london budget accommodation committee, and was also the president of the Iranian Student Association.
Electrical engineering major Karina Quintana earned a spot on the Dean’s List every fall and spring semester. She was selected among 20 students in the nation to receive a travel grant sponsored by National Science Foundation london budget accommodation and recently submitted two technical papers for publication london budget accommodation in the 2015 IEEE International Symposium on Antennas and Propagation. In October 2014, she was sponsored by NASA Marshall Space Flight Center to attend london budget accommodation the 2014 Great Minds in STEM Conference.
An electrical engineering london budget accommodation doctoral student, Tarek Youssef teaches the high-level undergraduate Power Electronics course full time. He has nine conference papers and two journal articles published. Tarek has served twice as judge for the IEEE Future City competition in which the Miami Herald cited him as having a positive impact on the community.
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