2009 Recipients

2009 Student Employee Award Recipient

Jennifer Elias – is from North Kingstown, RI and is a junior majoring in Kinesiology, Exercise Sciences and minoring in Chemistry. Jennifer has been working as Stockroom Prep Person for the Department of Chemistry for 3 years plus full time for 2 summers. She is currently a member of Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honor Society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Golden Key International Honour Society, and the Physical Therapy Club. To Jennifer every challenge that she faces in the Chemistry Stockroom teaches her a lesson in life or helps her learn more about herself.

2009 Student Leadership Award Recipient

Melanie Shapiro – is senior Women’s Studies major with a 4.0 GPA. As a transfer student, Melanie created her leadership legacy in unusual and extraordinary ways. In two short years she has been involved in many campus organizations including the Honors Program, the Dana Shugar Women’s Studies Colloquium, Iota Iota Iota and the Golden Key Honor Society. In addition, Melanie has given countless hours and made a drastic impact as the co-chair of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Human Trafficking. Melanie hopes that she shows heart, sincerity, drive and passion in everything she does and she has clearly been successful. As an undergraduate student she has become the key resource on campus for students and faculty alike wanting to learn about sex trafficking in RI. Melanie also serves as a Women’s Studies Teaching Assistant and works as the office manager. Melanie will be headed off to Roger Williams University Law School in the fall to continue her fight for human rights.

2009 Team Excellence Award Recipients

The Student Senate – serves as the representative student government and the voice for all undergraduate students at URI. The Student Senate operates as a separate and distinct entity from the University of Rhode Island and all underlying affiliates. Student senators are elected by their peers and serve on at least one committee – External Affairs, Campus Affairs, Cultural Affairs, Finance, SOARC, and Academic Affairs – to represent the best interests of the students. Throughout the academic year, the Student Senate sets out to accomplish a number of goals, which impact the campus and community. Most notably, the Student Senate worked as a team to educate students on what Student Senate is and how it benefits students; the Student Senate fostered a more inclusive environment to make the Student Senate more accessible to all students; and the Student Senate promoted “go green” initiatives and community service efforts that benefited URI and its surrounding community.