Four student leaders, four student organizations, and two student-led events were recognized Monday, April 27 at the annual Paul Magnuson Student Leadership and Service Awards Program at Gustavus Adolphus College.
Established in 1991 and annually supported by the Hon. Paul Magnuson ’59, chief judge of the U.S. Federal District Court in St. Paul and former trustee of the College, the awards recognize the significant contributions that individual students and student groups make to campus life.
Each year, outstanding students, organizations, and events are nominated by fellow students, faculty, administrators, or staff for recognition. A selection committee assembled by the Dean of Students reviews nominations and determines honorees in the three categories.
The following students, organizations, and student-led events were recognized this year:
Scott Broady
As Student Senate Parliamentarian, Broady was charged with revising the Senate constitution. He pulled together a collaborative, constructive, and critically transparent process, marshalling peers to join in the task. Then, last year, when the Senate violated its own rules, he led the organization through an accountability process that acknowledged and took responsibility for mistakes and created a pathway to recovery.
Christine Grotjohn
Grotjohn began coordinating the Gustie Buddies program as a sophomore when it consisted of 15 volunteers and seven developmentally delayed youth. Due to her relationship building and recruiting skills, the program now has more than 40 volunteers serving 15 youth. Grotjohn is also a leader for the religious group Proclaim and has helped to coordinate numerous campus events focused on healthy eating and exercise.
Katie Mason
Mason has been an important leader in the continued success and impact of GAC-TV on campus. She has been an active member of the Gustie Greeters and has contributed to the Communication Studies Board. She has been involved in the campus blood drive and served as director/coordinator of a powerful production of the Vagina Monologues.
Carla Shutrop
Shutrop has been a tireless leader of the Gustavus College Republicans for a good part of her four years at the College. She took an active role managing the finance aspect of the Student Senate and helped to organize a September 11 memorial event.
Building Bridges Committee
The Building Bridges Committee spent more than a year organizing a well-attended conference addressing “Liberation through Education.” The committee brought Erin Gruwell, the real-life heroine of the film Freedom Writers, to campus as the keynote speaker. The committee also organized a book drive that collected more than 26,000 books that were subsequently sold online with the proceeds going to the nonprofit group Invisible Children.
Crossroads Program
All 70 resident-members of the Crossroads Program are personally invested in the program, all serving on one of five committees: global issues research, the intercultural development of residents, campus-wide programming, educational outreach, or public relations. The program has planned and executed a varied and vibrant list of activities and events aimed at making the Gustavus community more internationally and interculturally aware.
“I Am…We Are” Social Justice Group
“I Am…We Are” annually performs during New Student Orientation and at the Building Bridges Conference. The troupe also educated the campus in November with a social justice workshop developed and performed in response to incidents of bias-related vandalism on campus. The work of “I Am…We Are” reflects the Gustavus community and frequently empowers it to principled action.
Men’s Leadership Team
This group was founded to better engage Gustie men in reflection, spirituality, leadership, and service. The group was active from the start, seeking out partnerships with the Womyn’s Awareness Center; mentoring at St. Peter High School; working at a women’s shelter in Mankato; coordinating a retreat for students, faculty, and staff; hosting guest speakers; and conducting research on men’s issues.
Gustavus Day of Fasting — A Ramadan Celebration
Two student organizations — the Pan Afrikan Student Organization and the Crossroads Program — joined forces this year to create a larger, more inclusive, and more educational event during Ramadan, the Islamic month during which practicing Muslims fast from dawn until sunset. The groups mounted an aggressive campaign of education; distributed pamphlets about Ramadan; hosted two guest speakers who addressed myths, misunderstandings, and stereotypes about Islam; and worked closely with the Dining Service staff to plan a “Breaking of the Fast” banquet that was attended by more than 160 students, faculty, and staff.
Saturday Night in Lund
Last January the members of Tau Mu Tau sorority volunteered to co-sponsor Saturday Night in Lund (SNL), a pilot program providing in one location a number of attractive, alcohol-free late-night activities on campus during a weekend evening. The event was so successful that they decided to stage a return engagement in February that attracted more than 500 students. The event is now held semi-regularly.
Leave a Reply