Kent State Undergraduate Student Government was awarded the Outstanding Student Government Achievement Award for the success and purpose of Week of Kindness at the Conference on Student Government Associations.

COSGA, which took place at Texas A&M University March 31 to April 2, is the largest student-run student government association conference in the world, according to their website. It focuses on the development of student government associations across the world through a variety of speakers, workshops, town halls and round table discussions led by other student government representatives.

USG took part in COSGA in many ways. Aiyana Ncube, the senator at large for diversity, hosted a workshop about USG’s strategic diversity, equity and inclusion plan.

When it was announced that USG had won the Outstanding Student Government Achievement Award for their Week of Kindness, the attending members were honored. The award was given to the student government with an event that aligned with their mission, had learning outcomes and demonstrated purpose, according to COSGA’s website.

“I could only feel pride when they had announced the award,” said Julie Buonaiuto, director of communication and marketing and president-elect. “I feel like Week of Kindness was the mark of USG reinvigorating our event-planning after two years of rebuilding from our hiatus from in-person events due to COVID-19.”

The Week of Kindness consisted of eight events, two activities, two donation drives and nine campus organizations, planned by Buonaiuto and the WOK committee. The hygiene drive resulted in almost 500 individual hygiene items donated to support Kent State students, and over 600 students were given tools to practice self-care by attending the events, Buonaiuto said.

On top of the recognition that COSGA offered, there were many learning opportunities and ideas inspired for the next academic year.

Abygail Deemer, a first-year USG intern and director of business and finance elect, said that one of the most valuable takeaways from the conference was the focus of humanity while leading.

“Our job as student leaders is to represent and advocate for the students, and sometimes I think we can get lost in university policy or trying to gain accomplishments,” Deemer said in an email. “Realistically, the focus should be on how our actions serve the student body and how the changes we make create overwhelmingly positive effects for the students we serve.”

Jessie Starkey, the director of governmental affairs, said USG learned a lot of student governments deal with the same issues they do.

“A lot of the time, it can feel like you’re alone in a lot of issues, whether it’s university-wide or a specific issue of being a college student,” Starkey said. “Fear can be alienating but, coming together and discussing really helped us learn that there are other people going through similar things. There are ways to work together to implement real change.”

Jillian Schrift is a reporter. Contact her at [email protected].