Wheaton announces 25th annual leadership recognition award recipients

NORTON, MA - Wheaton held the 25th Annual Leadership Recognition Ceremony on April 19, 2006, to acknowledge student leaders who have made considerable contributions to the Wheaton community and beyond. The ceremony recognized nominees and recipients of twelve awards named in honor of Wheaton alumnae/i and friends who have made a commitment to Wheaton through leadership, philanthropy and service.

Leykia Brill '06, of Creedmoor, N.C., received the Eleanor Augusta Norcross Leadership Award for work in the cultural and performing arts. Brill, a senior sociology major, was honored for her dedication to dance at Wheaton, in particular as leader of the dance troupe Trybe. Beyond dance, Brill has been an integral part of the Wheaton community as a resident advisor, research assistant, orientation coordinator, and manager of the computer science center. Through her artistic energy and strong leadership skills, Brill has been successful at bringing diverse individuals together and creating a thriving dance group on campus.

Laura Blanchard '08, of Wenham, Mass., received the Eunice Caldwell Leadership Award for freshman and sophomore leadership. Blanchard's exuberance and enthusiasm have already made a lasting impression at Wheaton, including her leadership role in BACCHUS, a student group dedicated to educating the community on alcohol-related issues. In addition, Blanchard is a psychology major, works in student financial services, and volunteers her time in the admission office and with the alumnae/i council.

Kate Weston '06, of Bedford, Mass., received the Caroline Cutler Metcalf Leadership Award for commitment to the Wheaton College Athletic Program. Weston, a four-year women's lacrosse star and English major, has made a great impact off the field as an athletic mentor, resident advisor, admission tour guide and senior admission intern. Through her strong organizational and leadership skills, she has been a successful fundraiser for various charities.

Tommy Watson '06, of Gloucester, Mass., received the Emily Susan Hartwell Leadership Award for contributing to social, political or global awareness. Watson, a sociology major, created and successfully led the student groups Progressive Activist Coalition and the Non-Violent Coordinating Committee. He also created events and opportunities for dialogue on progressive issues, and was a senior admission intern, a student-trustee liaison committee representative, a senior preceptor and was involved in student government.

Derron "J.R." Wallace '07, of Bronx, N.Y., received the Ruth Capers McKay '23 Leadership Award for campus leadership. A dean's list student and one of Wheaton's Davis International Fellows, Wallace has made significant contributions to the Wheaton community on such initiatives as diversity awareness for people with physical and learning disabilities and as co-chair of the honor code commission. Wallace, a sociology major, has been elected president of the Student Government Association for the 2006-2007 academic year.

Monique Wright '07, of New York, N.Y., received the Wheaton Ujima Leadership Award for dedication to issues of multicultural diversity through two or more years of service to the campus community. As president of the Black Student Association since the 2004-2005 school year, Wright has made a significant contribution to the college by organizing events, facilitating forums, mentoring new students, and advocating for the rights of the underrepresented. Wright, a women's studies major, has excelled in building coalitions and bringing people together for the greater good.

Ryan Letada '08, of Fair Lawn, N.J., received the Patricia King Leadership Award, which recognizes emerging leaders among freshmen and sophomores. Chairman of the Intercultural Board, Letada is actively involved in the President's Advisory Committee on Inclusive Excellence, a member of the Asian-American Coalition, organizer of the recent people of color retreat and president of the Wheaton Investment Association. He has shown commitment and dedication to a multicultural environment at Wheaton, and will undoubtedly continue to make an impact on campus.

Rachel Bishop '06, of Middletown, R.I., received the Landmark Leadership Award for contributions to promoting equality on the Wheaton campus. Bishop, an economics and computer science student, is co-president of the Women of Wheaton organization, a fundraiser for breast cancer research, and she is an active participant at the Women's Wednesday Program at the Marshall Multicultural Center. In addition, she organized a Take Back the Night march for sexual assault and domestic violence awareness at Wheaton. Bishop is dedicated to causes such as women in the workplace, mental health and physical safety of women, and homeless teenage mothers.

Rudy Blanco '06, of Bronx, N.Y., received the Landmark Leadership Award for contributions to promoting equality on the Wheaton campus. As a leader of Students Organized Against Racism, Blanco has been an active advocate for the LGBT community through programs, theatre and mentoring. Blanco was a resident advisor for two years, and he currently lives in the Sexuality House, where he is part of a group that educates students about issues of safe sex, sexuality and healthy relationships. Blanco, a sociology major, has been called a change-agent who challenges the Wheaton community to think beyond social norms.

Laura Tschop '07, of McKnightstown, P.A., received the Richard and Virginia Thornburgh Leadership Award for community service beyond the Wheaton campus. Tschop, a psychology major, has been described as someone who embodies the Wheaton tradition of social consciousness and civic engagement through her leadership in the Community Service Council. She has dedicated her time at Wheaton to creating opportunities for the campus community to provide service to others, including raising money for Katrina relief and organizing spring break trips with Habitat for Humanity. She volunteers her time locally, nationally, and internationally with a variety of causes, including working with children in a Dominican Republic orphanage.

Daniel Lora '06, of Brooklyn, N.Y., received the Eliza Baylies Chapin Wheaton Leadership Award, which recognizes students who found or revitalize a program or office at Wheaton. Lora, a history major, has been an active member and resident of the Learning Tree House on campus, which has had a long-standing tradition of academic excellence and fellowship among men of color. His leadership has unified the members of the house and created successful events around campus. Lora will join other Learning Tree alumni when he enters the Tufts University Graduate Program for Teaching and Education in the fall.

Alexander Dewar '06, of Portland, Ore., received the Helene Pruszynski Leadership Award, which recognizes outstanding contributions to student life and commitment to others. Dewar, a political science major, has had many accomplishments including receiving the Rhodes, Truman, Udall scholarships. At Wheaton, he earned one of the college's Davis International Fellowship awards, won admission to the Phi Beta Kappa honor society and led the Student Government Association for two years as its president. As a leader, he has successfully given the student body a voice on campus. Away from campus, he made a significant contribution in a small village in Uganda where he helped raise money to build a nursery school.