Two seniors who are members of Sonoma State University?s student government have been named Women Student Leaders of the Year 2002.
Natalie Joy Concepcion (left), majoring in English and AmericanMulticultural Studies and Amanda K. Hilty (right), from the Hutchins Program, share this year?s top award, which given annual during National Women?s History Month, honors outstanding campus service and leadership by women students.
"We always awed by the accomplishments of the high-achieving nominees who dedicate their time and talents to the SSU community," said Kris Montgomery, coordinator of the Women?s Resource Center, which sponsors the award. "These students are leaders who volunteer their time and talents, as employees who go above and beyond their job description and as peers who have supported and mentored other students. They are an inspiration to us all."
In her numerous leadership activities, Concepcion has focused on the celebration of cultural diversity both at SSU and in the community. Currently, she is the Arts and Humanities Representative for Associated Students. In that capacity, she represented SSU at the California Higher Education Summit and has been the student representative on the Campus Climate Committee.
Concepcion, who came to SSU from St. Patrick High School in Vallejo, has also held the top offices in the Filipino-American Association (FAASU) and the Asian Pacific Islander Organization. For these groups she helped organize cultural awareness events and club fundraisers. In both the American Multicultural Studies Program and the English Department, she has assisted professors as a researcher and teaching assistant. Her expertise on cultural issues led her to teach a course on Filipino-American history.
Last year, she was awarded the Erin Fisher Scholarship for overall academic excellence and extracurricular involvement. As a role model, she wants her peers to recognize that "If Natalie can do that, I can do that!" Natalie went to St. Patrick-St. Vincent High School in Vallejo.
Many areas of campus have benefited from Hilty?s leadership, none more strongly than Associated Students Productions.
As chair for two years, she oversees a volunteer student board and a budget of more than $100,000. In recognition of her work, she was appointed to the National Association of Campus Activities as the Far West Region Student Representative.
In years past, she acted as the Assistant Director and a Peer Mentor for the Summer Bridge Program and was a Peer Mentor for the Equal Opportunity Program Academy. She was a leader in both Summer Orientation and the JUMP program, and acts as a link between the campus and alumni as a Student Ambassador.
A member of SSU?s Model United Nations club, Hilty couldn?t attend the ceremony as she was in New York, leading a student delegation at the National Model United Nations conference. She has also received various scholarships and awards, including the Erin Fischer Scholarship, honoring her leadership at SSU. She graduated from San Jose's Santa Theresa High School in 1997.
The other Distinguished Nominees honored this year are: Trameka Abraham, Jude Eggenberger, Katie Erickson, Erin Goldin, Chris Gorey, Beth Gorley, Kasey Halcon, Jocelyn Hall, Lisa Johnson, Jen Minnich, Lisa Moran, Lindsay Rath, Molly Rattigan Laura Reasbeck, Elizabeth Selby, Sarah Silva, Marcia Simmons, Jamie Simon, Krista Smith, Stephanie Stoll, Loreen Theveny, Kimberlee van Ruiten and Roxanna Whitaker.
Candidates for Woman Student Leader of the Year are nominated by faculty, staff and students from departments, clubs and organizations throughout campus. These nominees are known as leaders who volunteer their time and talents, as employees who go above and beyond their job description and as peers who have supported and mentored other students. The Woman Student Leader of the Year selection committee, made up of SSU administrators, faculty and staff, review the nominees? applications to choose the award winners.
