FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 21, 2003      File #343
Contact: Kris Montgomery, Women's Resource Center, (707) 664-2845

Student Body President Named Women Student Leader of the Year

Graduating senior Jennifer Minnich, a business major, won this year’s top award, given in honor of National Women’s History Month. The award honors outstanding campus service and leadership by women students.

Honorable mentions for outstanding campus service were won by senior Mariana García, a Chicano/Latino Studies and Spanish major; Lisa Johnson, an International Economics major; and senior Stacey Nugent, a history major.

"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."

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.

Minnich jumped into campus involvement in a big way her second year at SSU, so it’s no surprise that this is her second nomination for Woman Student Leader of the Year. She became a CSA, a peer mentor for Freshmen Seminar and joined Student Ambassadors. The next year, she continued as a CSA, became Vice President, Recruitment Chair and Retreat Chair for Student Ambassadors and TAed a Leadership class. She also supported a campuswide campaign to educate students on avoiding alcohol poisoning. That summer, she became an Orientation Leader.

Her leap to Associated Student began in 2001, when she was elected Business and Economics Representative. She also attended the California Higher Education Student Summit. She also continued as a student ambassador and Leadership teaching assistant, and returned as a peer mentor in Freshmen Seminar.

Called by her nominator, "A strong quieter female leader who is not afraid to use her voice to benefit her fellow students," Jenn was then elected to the top spot in student government, the president of Associated Students. She represented SSU at the California State Student Association, and attended other educational events to enhance her representation of students.

The other Distinguished Nominees honored this year are: Deanne August, Rebecca Bartell, Cinnamon Bear, Elizabeth Bidwell, Dannelle D’Acquisto, Jamie Holian, Karen Hansen, Lisalyn Kok, Natalie Lake, Brooke Dummit McAllister, Lauren Perez, Jessica Rasmussen, Jennifer Scanlan, Lizz Selby, Chelsea Sheridan, Jamie Simon, Loreen Theveny, Gerry Tribble, Kimberlee Walsh, Tara Whiteside and Amy Wingfield