Slippery Rock University recognized its most accomplished students at its annual Celebration of Achievement awards ceremony, April 1, in the Smith Student Center Ballroom, including the highest honor: the University’s nominee for the Syed Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic Excellence.
Brooke Hamilton, a senior music education major from South Park (South Park HS), is SRU’s finalist for the Ali-Zaidi award, which is given to a graduating senior in Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education who exemplifies academic excellence and involvement. A selection committee appointed by the State System chancellor reviews all nominees’ accomplishments and selects a winner. The winner will receive $1,000 and will be announced later this month. The award was established by Syed Ali-Zaidi, a charter member of the PASSHE Board of Governors.
In addition to achieving a perfect 4.0 grade-point average, Hamilton is the commanding officer of the largest student organization on campus, SRU’s 200-member marching band, The Marching Pride. She’s been a member of the marching band for the last four years, including three as the mellophone sergeant. Hamilton is also a member of the SRU wind ensemble as principal French horn player, and she’s led international trips for both the marching band (London) and the wind ensemble (Italy).
Hamilton is active in Tau Beta Sigma, a co-educational recognition and service sorority for collegiate band members. She has been a Tau Beta Sigma officer for the SRU chapter, including one year as president, and she’s helped host district and honors band festivals at SRU, as well as service projects with local high school bands and advocacy initiatives, such as a women in music speaker event. She’s also active with the Pennsylvania Collegiate Music Educators Association and the National Association for Music Education, for which she’s presented at multiple teacher education research conferences.
“This honor means a lot to me because it shows that our University recognizes music education as a valuable field enough to present me as their nominee,” said Hamilton, who is currently completing her student teaching requirement in the North Allegheny School District. “I’ve gotten to be a part of some incredible opportunities, both in music performance and teaching. SRU has definitely prepared me for what comes next, and I feel prepared because of the supportive community that I’ve had here.”
Other student awards presented at the Celebration of Achievement included:
The Outstanding Students in Research, Scholarship or Creative Activity. These awards recognize students from each of SRU’s five colleges — College of Business*, College of Education, College of Engineering and Science, College of Health Professions and College of Liberal Arts — based on their involvement in a variety of research, scholarly and creative projects:
- Cameron Antoniotti, a junior dual history and philosophy major from Edinboro (General McLane HS). Antoniotti presented or published five papers and posters at national and regional conferences, including “Race, Hate, and Steel” at the Purdue University Graduate Student Association’s Biannual Conference in March.
- Chase Decker, a senior recreational therapy major from Spring Mills (Octorara HS). Decker is involved with research that uses equine-assisted services through a grant-funded project from the National Council on Therapeutic Recreation Certification and she’s presented at national conferences while also co-writing a manuscript for publication in the Therapeutic Recreation Journal.
- Kelli Galbraith, a graduate student majoring in secondary education mathematics and science from Gibsonia (Deer Lakes HS). Galbraith has been involved with research projects during her 10-week internship at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee that centered on identifying faults in power grids and she was part of a study that was accepted for presentation at the North American Power Symposium, as well as writing a peer-reviewed paper for the conference proceedings.
- Jebediah Jorden, a senior mathematics major from Wexford (North Allegheny HS). Jorden is one only five SRU students in the history of the mathematics program to score a 10 on the International Putnam Exam, and he’s passed two professional actuarial exams with international pass rates around 45%.
The Outstanding Student Academic Leaders. These awards recognize students from each of SRU’s five colleges based on their outstanding leadership within an academic department or college:
- Kylie Crescenzo, a senior dual physics and mathematics major from Greensburg (Hempfield HS). Crescenzo, the president of the Physics and Engineering Club at SRU, is active in various open houses, majors-minors fairs, admitted student days, and orientation sessions, while also leading programs such as Science & Math Days and visits by area schools to the planetarium.
- Matthew Deemer, a junior exercise science major from Zelienople (Seneca Valley HS). Deemer is active in the Pre-Physical Therapy Club at SRU, a student coordinator for the Exercise Science Research Laboratory, lab assistant, peer mentor and president of the Fitness & Wellness Club at SRU, as well as an organizer of a color run for charity and a bodybuilding show.
- Olivia Evans, a senior early childhood and special education major from Zelienople (Freedom HS). Evans is president of the Council for Exceptional Children, a student organization with 100 members that helps lead sensory-friendly activities in the community, and she’s also presented at the Council for Exceptional Children’s Convention in San Antonio, Texas.
- Noah Suto, a senior management major from Parker (Allegheny-Clarion Valley HS). Suto is president of the Society for Human Resource Management Chapter at SRU, a member of the College of Business Student Advisory Board, and a member of the SRU Green Fund Advisory Board, where he contributed to student-focused initiatives, curriculum development and sustainability efforts.
- Samantha Toki, a senior dual art and strategic communication and media major from Windber (Windber HS). Toki, a student graphic designer in the University Marketing and Communication office, oversees the Student Government Association Student Art Gallery and she’s helped start events such as the collaborative Make Your Mark and the Art Society travel trip to the Carnegie Museum of Art, while also inviting art professionals to speak on campus and developing special art exhibitions honoring art faculty.
*There was no submission this year from the College of Business for the Outstanding Students in Research, Scholarship or Creative Activity.
Several awards recognizing SRU employees were also presented at the Celebration of Achievement and they will be listed in a future article after the Employee Service Recognition ceremony last this month. More information about the Celebration of Achievement is available on the SRU website.
