Charles Malone, the Outreach Program Manager for the Wick Poetry Center, was expecting to present an award at the Annual Student Leadership Awards April 19, but instead, he was presented with one of his own.

Malone was one of 13 people to receive an award at the 44th Annual Student Leadership Awards. He took home the Advisor Excellence Award for his work as advisor for Brainchild Magazine.

“It was a surprise. They actually tricked me,” Malone said. “I’m not really good at receiving recognition. It makes me deeply uncomfortable. So, they had to be dishonest to get me here.”

This was the first time Malone was recognized for his work with Brainchild.

“When you put so much time and energy into the transformation that education can be, to hear from your students that it means something to them, that they feel it, that they are growing through these experiences, it’s just deeply validating” Malone said.

Each year, the Leadership Center awards students, advisors and organizations who dedicate their time to the betterment of Kent State.

“This year we are happy to say that we’ve received over 200 nominations, and I’m so excited to celebrate the big accomplishments of the last year,” said Assistant Director for Student Leadership Development Jessica Roshak.

Roshak acknowledged several projects run by the nominees including the Unity Walkway at Manchester Field, a student initiative from the Integrated Greek Counsel and Change in a Flash, which encourages students to get involved in their communities and pursue their passions.

Eleven awards were presented in three categories: the advisor awards, organizational awards and individual awards. The majority of the awards were given to single winners, excluding the Unsung Hero Award and the Nancy and John Scott Leadership Award which both resulted in a tie.

Complete List of Winners:

Advisor awards

Advisor Excellence Award- Charles Malone

Organizational awards

Service Excellence Award – Alpha Phi Omega
Organization Excellence Award – International Student Counsel

Individual awards

Peer Mentorship Award – Ahmed Barghout, senior chemistry major
Vanguard for Change Award – Emily Boardman, senior English major
Kent State Impact Award – Chazzlyn Jackson, senior pan-african studies major
Outstanding Senior Award – Kaelee Dingey, senior political science major

Unsung Hero Award – Margo Paolucci, senior environmental conservation biology major; Isabelle Stewart, senior public relations major (tie)

Nancy and John Scott Leadership Award – Sage Mason, sophomore public relations major; Niko Magda, sophomore exploratory major (tie)

Christian Danner is a reporter. Contact him at [email protected].