2014 Recipients

2014 Student Employee Award Recipient

Paul Knott – is a senior Marketing major and Leadership Studies minor with a 3.99 GPA, from Saunderstown, RI. He has worked for URI Undergraduate Admissions Office as a Tour Guide since 2011, and currently holding the position of Tour Guide Program Coordinator. Paul also works as Orientation Family Program Coordinator for New Student Programs in University College, where he has worked since 2011. He also currently serves as Business Manager for the URI Student Entertainment Committee, Director of Marketing and Recruitment for the URI Student Senate, and worked as the Social Media Marketing Intern for Undergraduate Admissions. Paul participates in the URI Honor’s Program, has been on the Dean’s List every semester, and has received numerous accolades and awards for his academic achievements. As an additional acknowledgement of Paul’s accomplishments and his contributions to the URI community, he has been selected as Senior Speaker at URI’s Commencement ceremony this year. Paul works hard to integrate what he learns in the classroom into all his work experiences and co-curricular activities and realizes that he is accumulating knowledge and skills that he will carry with him to all his future endeavors. He demonstrates an exceptional understanding of the benefits and advantages that each of his work experiences offer him, as well as what each of his involvements offers to the university community. Paul states, “As a senior student, I feel as if I have gained a lifetime’s worth of knowledge from these experiences. I have been able to grow as an employee, a learner, a friend, a mentor, and a leader. I have been able to discover confidence, develop skill, and find passion in what I am doing.” Paul’s references mention his enthusiasm, energy, integrity, forward thinking, witty sense of humor, and ability as a motivator as traits that set him apart among his peers.

2014 Robert L. Carothers Servant Leadership Award Recipient

Lanh Dang – according to Lanh, “Active listening is the gateway to an open mind and even greater ideas.” This 5th year Pharmacy student from Lawrence, MA with an impressive course-load and 3.71 GPA, embodies a servant approach in so many parts of her personal and academic life. She has co-coordinated two RI Alternative Spring Break trips, and completed a 300 hour AmeriCorps term of service including time with the free clinic Clinica Esperanza/Hope Clinic in Providence. In addition, she is an member of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association (SNPhA), Phi Lambda Sigma (Pharmacy Leadership Society) and Rho Chi (Pharmacy Honors Society). Lanh is an admired leader in the Feinstein Civic Engagement Program & Clearinghouse for Volunteers having been active in the office for 4 years. Lanh is truly a servant leader,” states one of her references. “Through paid and unpaid experiences, Lanh has spent her time as a student at URI improving the lives of others and providing opportunities for hundreds of students to do the same.” She has diligently and tirelessly served her community with humility, humor and grace. As another reference states, “her impact and influence on URI, specifically the Clearinghouse for Volunteers (and its leaders and staff), will live on for many, many years to come.”

2014 Student Leadership Award Recipient

Katie Gallagher is a senior from Wakefield, RI, with a double major in Psychology and Women’s Studies with a 3.99 GPA. In the past four years, Katie has been a part of a diverse group of student involvement around campus. Katie is the founding president of SAGE (Students for the Advancement of Gender Equity), the current president of the Psychology Club, the current vice-president of Psi Chi, and a SafeZone 101 facilitator for the LGBTQ Center. In addition, Katie serves as a Peer Advocate, where she works to provide advocacy to victims of interpersonal violence at the Women’s CenterAlso, as a peer advocate and in her free time, Katie gives yearly “Rhody Relationships” presentations to URI 101 freshman, plans, coordinates, and executes events that raise awareness of and works to prevent sexual assault. Katie is a undergraduate representative for the President’s Commission on the Status of Women, as well as a Gender and Women’s Studies Department Representative on the Dean of Arts and Sciences Advisory Council. She is also a research assistant for the URI Psychology Department and will be serving as a URI Orientation Leader this summer. As one can see, Katie is an active leader on the URI campus and finds community service a passion. Katie hopes to become a social worker and states “helping others is a mission that resonates with me. Had I not had the chance to serve as a leader in organizations that cultivate social change, I don’t think I would have fostered such a vibrant sense of purpose within me.” Katie’s references speak very highly of her and one states “what impresses me most about Katie is her ability to remain focused on fostering change to the many systemic afflictions that traditionally underserved communities and individuals must encounter.”

2014 Team Excellence Award Recipients

(S.E.C) – The URI Student Entertainment Committee (S.E.C) is a student organization that plans a variety of entertainment events for the campus and local community. SEC has a hand in every stage of the event planning process while organizing shows together. URI S.E.C works on concerts, comedy shows, lectures/presentations by famous actors, and/or reality stars. Some as small as social events like movie nights on the quad and some bringing in names like Ke$ha and Matthew Perry. SEC consists of 4 sub-committees: Concerts, Special Events, VIP/Speakers, and Advertising. A few members of this team once described themselves as dedicated, connected, and most importantly as friends. Over the years that they have been an organization at this University, they have grown and developed methods to get everyone involved.