The Student Union Executive Board named Emma Reidy ’10, Marnina Cowan ‘10, Jannifer Lee ‘11 and Amber Kornreich ‘12 recipients of the new Brandeis Student Leadership Award for their commitments as club leaders and contributions to student life, according to a statement on Tuesday from Union Director of Communications, Andrea Ortega ’13.
Reidy, Editor of the Archon Yearbook; Cowan, President of the Isreali folk dance group B’yachad; Lee, President of the Korean Student Association (KSA) and Kornreich, President of Brandeis Democrats, were honored “in recognition for their outstanding contributions to the student body,” the statement said.
The awards were open to all students who applied with unpaid positions of leadership they have had at least two semesters, according to the Union website. Each winner received a Visa Gift Card for $200, according to Ortega and Jenna Rubin ’11, former Executive Senator and Senator for the Class of 2011, who organized the leadership award application process.
After submitting applications, students had an interview with the Executive Board and those chosen were selected for their “genuine enthusiasm for what their club represents.” Ortega said.
Rubin praised Reidy for being able to produce the yearbook, despite having a smaller than normal staff. “The archon may be the single most important piece of memory of your time here at Brandeis besides your diploma,” Rubin wrote in an e-mail message to The Hoot.
Cowen was selected, in part, for organizing the show Musika Rocks, which Rubin wrote “promoted equality and co-harmony and co-existence,” and also because of the example she set for other club leaders.
Lee was credited for organizing a large performance called K-nite as well as taking a club facing $1,300 of debt and improving it to one with a $1,500 budget, Rubin said.
Kornreich helped to recruit new members to Brandeis Democrats as well as make the club “more philanthropic,” Rubin wrote.
“Although only a sophomore, we already believe that Brandeis won’t be the same without her.”
The Union also recognized the following students with an honorable metion: Jonah Seligman ’10, Co-founder of Gen Ed Now; Justin Backal-Balik ‘10, Vice-President of Brandeis Democrats; Matthew Kreigsman ’11, President of Chabad Brandeis;
Nicholas Hornstein ’11, President of the Paintball Club and Daniel Litwok, Clinical Supervisor and Director of Operations of BEMCO, according to the statement.
Ortega said that the Union would recognize and award more student leadership awards next year.
