By Amelia Kibbe
Managing Editor
St. Bonaventure University administrators and the Student Government Association (SGA) hosted the 2015 Spring Awards Ceremony Tuesday in the Rigas Family Theater of The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, honoring students and employees who have made a difference in the university community.
Richard Trietley, vice provost for student affairs and emcee of the ceremony, introduced Julianne Wallace, associate director of faith formation, worship and ministry, who gave the invocation.
“Today we stop for a moment to recognize the best of St. Bonaventure this past year,” Wallace said. “We also take time to celebrate our anniversaries and retirements of some wonderful faculty and staff members.”
Sister Margaret Carney, O.S.F, university president, also added her thanks.
“There really aren’t words adequate to describe the level of thanks we owe to each and every category here today,” Carney said.
The presentation of awards began with the Father Joe Doino, O.F.M., Honors and Awards. Alexander Noguerola, SGA president, and Rose Brown, SGA vice president, served as emcees for this portion of the program.
In 1994, Father Joe Doino, O.F.M. became the first faculty member to receive the Faculty Appreciation Award after death, and in 1995, St. Bonaventure officials renamed the awards in his honor.
The Doino awards consisted of 11 total categories. Among others, David Bryant (Terry Bickel Student Life Award), Joshua Maxey (University Mission Volunteer of the Year), ENACTUS (Organization/Club of the Year) and Erin Dempsey (Donald L. Korben Community Service Award) received recognition.
A full list of award recipients can be found on The Bona Venture’s website.
“Erin [Dempsey] has given more than 100 percent, 200 hundred percent, in a lot of different areas,” Paula Scraba, an awards committee member, said. “Quietly, behind the scenes, Erin is greeting people, taking care of challenges.”
Along with clubs and individuals, the Doino Awards also had a category for the best program or event of the year. Nichole Gonzalez, director of residential living, presented this year’s award to the students and employees who organized the Martin Luther King Jr. (MLK) celebration in February.
“I have experienced many Martin Luther King celebrations and planned a couple of them myself, but this year’s Martin Luther King’s celebration was the most significant, meaningful and moving MLK event that truly captured the spirit of the man,” Gonzalez said. “Sean Conklin and the Urban Art Club worked tirelessly to take the thoughts and ideas of various Damietta clubs and create various icons representing different social injustices.”
Conklin is the assistant curator of The Regina A. Quick Center for the arts. The Damietta Center is the center for student diversity on campus.
After the Doino Awards, Trietley presented awards to employees who have served St. Bonaventure for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 years. A full list of employees who received milestone awards can be found on The Bona Venture’s website.
“Congratulations to all of our employees who are celebrating special milestones,” Trietley said. “On behalf of the president’s cabinet, please know that your commitment to our students and this university is appreciated and applauded.”
Patrick Panzarella, professor of English, received an award for 50 years of service. Audience members gave Panzarella a standing ovation.
In the final portion of the event, Trietley presented two awards to members of the school’s faculty.
Nancy Casey, professor of education, and Edward Bysiek, lecturer of accounting, received the 2015 Award for Professional Excellence in University Service and Adjunct Faculty Award for Professional Excellence in Teaching, respectively.
To conclude the program, Brother Kevin Kriso, O.F.M., gave a benediction and junior Jessica Stender lead the audience in the singing of St. Bonaventure’s alma mater. A reception in the atrium of The Quick Center followed the award presentation.
