The Dean of Students Office has announced the recipients of the 2024 Student Leadership Awards. Each year, the Dean of Students office recognizes Illinois State students for excellence in student leadership and involvement. Nominations were accepted for the following awards:
- The Ritamae Carroll Memorial First-Year Involvement Award recognizes a first-year student (freshman or transfer) who has been an active member of Illinois State’s campus community while staying in good academic standing.
- The Mike Schermer Outstanding Student Leader Award recognizes a student who has made significant contributions to the Illinois State community and embodies leadership and excellence.
- The Billy Quigley Leader in Action Award recognizes student leaders who have a history of mentoring and guiding their fellow students and have a passion for creating social change at Illinois State.
This year, nearly 200 nominations were submitted for more than 160 student nominees. Of those nominees, the following four students were selected:
Billy Quigley Leader in Action Award: Lu Bonilla
Bonilla is a senior elementary education major and has been involved in Pride, Association of Latinx American Students, Student Government Association, and Future Educators of Color. They are also a Leaders of Social Change Institute Fellow. Through their involvement, they have worked to encourage and support their fellow students by creating intentional relationships and encouraging peers to become advocates, examine power and privilege, and learn more about social change. Bonilla has also been involved in advocating with the Student Government Association at the state capitol for a bill that would provide mental health days for all college students in the state. She has also been leading the charge to provide free menstrual products in all the restrooms across campus.
Billy Quigley Leader in Action Award: Alexandra Martil
Martil is a senior public health major and has been involved across campus through the Asian Pacific American Coalition, Student Government Association, United Greek Council, and Omega Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. Throughout their time at Illinois State, they have worked hard to create connections and encourage collaboration between their various organizations, as well as building strong relationships and mentoring their peers. She has also been civically engaged both on- and off-campus as an intern on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., serving on the Student Government Association’s Civic Engagement Committee, and participating in the Alternative Spring Break Trip to Selma, Alabama, this year.
Ritamae Carroll Memorial First-Year Involvement Award: Kendall Mosley
Mosley is a freshman agriculture business major who has been involved in various organizations throughout her first year at Illinois State. She is a student trainer and furlough coordinator for Indy-Pendence Service Dog Club, as well as the secretary and fundraising chair of the Pre-Veterinary Association. She is a general member of the Black Student Union and Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences. Mosley also works as an Agriculture Ambassador for the Department of Agriculture, helping lead recruitment events for interested students, as a notetaker for Student Access and Accommodations for multiple classes, and as a volunteer at Oak Crest Alpaca Farm.
Mike Schermer Outstanding Student Leader Award: Braxton Myers
Myers is a senior political science and philosophy double major who has been involved in university governance and local government throughout his time at Illinois State. He has been involved with the Hewett-Manchester Leadership Coalition, the Association of Residence Halls, and the Student Legislative Action Coalition. Myers is also involved in the Student Government Association, where he worked with the Town of Normal to implement a 12-hour notice ordinance, meaning landlords now have to provide renters with 12 hours’ notice in order to enter their apartments. To do this, Myers met with every member of the Normal Town Council, spoke at council meetings, rallied his peers in student government, and successfully improved the living conditions for students living off-campus. He is also working with his peers in the Student Government Association to advocate for a bill that would provide mental health days for college students across the state of Illinois.
Award recipients were formally recognized at the Redbirds Lead Celebration Reception hosted by the Dean of Students Office Leadership Education and Development unit on Thursday, April 18.
