ESU to Recognize Award Winners at 20th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast

East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania selected the winners for the 2017 Boddie Scholarship, Martin Luther King Jr. awards, and the Julianna V. Bolt Art Contest. The winners will be recognized at the 20^th annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Breakfast, which will be held on January 16 in the Mattioli Recreation Center on ESU’s campus from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

Boddie Scholarship Recipients

The Gertrude Mary Smith Boddie Scholarship Fund provides financial assistance to undergraduate students of color at ESU. In 1904 Ms. Boddie was the first African-American student to graduate from what was then known as East Stroudsburg State Normal School and ultimately became East Stroudsburg University in 1983. The students who apply for this scholarship are asked to describe, in essay form, their commitment to social justice through community and university involvement.

The Gertrude Mary Smith Boddie Scholarship recipients are Janet Sue Jin Ro, a junior majoring in nursing from East Stroudsburg, Pa., Tamar Cato, a sophomore majoring in social work from Stroudsburg, Pa., and Francina E. Phillips, a sophomore majoring in political science from Easton, Pa.

The three students are all involved at the university and in the local community. Ro is a member of the Student Faculty Conduct Board, Orientation and New Student Programs, and Student Nurses’ Association. She is former member of Student Senate, Campus Activities Board, and Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity. Being involved in these organizations helps to build her integrity, empathy, genuineness and other characteristics that will help her excel as a nurse.

Cato, a first-generation American is a member of the Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society and ESU’s Honors Program. Inspired to get into social work by a previous foster sister, Cato plans to attend graduate school after graduating from ESU to achieve her goal of working in hospitals to directly help and impact the lives of patients.

Phillips is also a first generation American. She is a student senator, a member of the university wide senate, a member in the political science club and vice president of the French club. Being a first generation American has influenced her views in terms of education and financial stability. Growing up, she learned education is the one thing no one can ever take from you. She hopes to someday work for the U.S. Department of State.

The three students will each receive a $2,975 scholarship award for the spring 2017 semester.

Martin Luther King Jr. Award Recipients

The Martin Luther King Jr. Award recipients exemplify characteristics of Dr. King’s philosophy of non-violence, equality, justice, cultural diversity and respect for humanity. Awards will be presented to one student, one faculty member, one staff member and one member of the local community.

Ashlyn Jackson, a junior majoring in biology from Harrisburg, Pa., will receive the University Student Award. On campus, she is an active member of the New Student Mentor Program, Warrior Elite, Biology Club, Residence Housing Association, Voices of Triumph Gospel Choir, African American Student Alliance, Xplosion Step Team, Pre-Med Club, and Student Senate. She is also a desk clerk for the Residence Life and Housing Office. Recognized as an outstanding campus leader, Jackson was honored for her scholastic, leadership and community achievements by being named Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges of 2017. Jackson also stays active in her home town of Harrisburg. In 2014 she was given the Youth of the Year award for Leadership, Success, and Inspiration by the Boys and Girls Club. In 2015 the YWCA named her the Women of Excellence Emerging Leader. Aspiring to be an Obstetrician Gynecologist, Jackson devotes her summer breaks to programs that feed her interest in medicine and help develop her into a competitive medical school candidate. She has attended Penn State Hershey Medical Center’s observation program and the University of Louisville’s Summer Medical and Dental Program. This upcoming summer, Jackson hopes to be accepted into the University of Louisville’s MCAT-DAT program where she will prepare to take her medical school admissions test.

University Faculty Award recipient T. Storm Heter, Ph.D., came to ESU in 2003. When he began teaching at ESU, he worked to create programs that would reflect his two passions: diversity and dialogue.

In his first years at ESU, Dr. Heter worked to diversify the curriculum by introducing new courses in Human Rights, Contemporary Ethics, Philosophy of Law, Philosophy of Human Rights, Black Humanism, Africana Studies, Feminism, Social Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Philosophy of Race, Philosophy of Gender, Jewish Philosophy, and Health Ethics.

Heter is the head coach and co-founder of the state-wide Frederick Douglass Debate Society.  Heter has served as the ESU Frederick Douglass Institute director for the past five years, and he was recently elected to the position of executive committee member of the state-wide Douglass Institute Collaborative. Heter is also proud of his work with the Race Relations Project (RRP) at ESU. He is a co-founder of the RRP and has served as project co-director for the past six years. The program is a student-run, student-centered discussion forum, where undergraduates explore the topic of race in a safe environment.

The University Staff Award recipient is Cornelia Sewell-Allen, who came to ESU in 2006 as assistant director of admissions. She has also held roles as the associate director of admissions and director of multicultural affairs. In 2016 she was appointed dean of student life. She has served on the Martin Luther King Celebration Planning Committee, President’s Commission on Race and Ethnicity, Strategic Plan Steering Committee, and Banner Conversion Team. She has also served on a number of institutional committees that focus on issues of compliance, accountability, assessment and strategic enrollment. She understands the unique challenges faced by students of color, the challenges of all students, and the diligence needed to combat the issues facing higher education. Working collaboratively with ESU’s LGBTQA Center, Women’s Center, Admissions, Career Development, Health Education, Athletics, Academic Affairs, Student Activity Association, Greek Affairs and Volunteer Services, and a variety of religiously based organizations on campus has enhanced her sensitivity to working with specific populations and equipped her with the necessary skills to deliver immediate services, respond to crisis situations, and value differing perspectives.

Virginia Kirkwood is the recipient of the Community Member Award. Kirkwood is the director/owner of The Shawnee Group. In addition to being a Pocono Mountains resort destination, the Shawnee Inn serves the community by providing free meals to those in need during winter months and is the home of a year-round, free community concert series. Kirkwood has served as president of the Pocono Mountains Chamber of Commerce and is a former recipient of its Humanitarian of the Year award. She founded the Women in Business organization in Monroe County, served as honorary chair of Monroe County’s United Way Campaign, and is on the board of Pocono Cinema and Cultural Center. Kirkwood has also been involved in international non-profits since her time as a Peace Corp volunteer in the mid-1960s. She is the director of The Kenan Institute, Asia, a Bangkok-based board working in major development projects throughout Thailand and the region. She serves as a director on the National Peace Corps Advisory Board and as a director of World Education, a Boston-based group that addresses HIV/AIDS and women’s health issues.

Julianna V. Bolt Art Contest

There were 55 entries to the Julianna V. Bolt art contest this year. Christie Lee from Stroudsburg High School won first place, Emily Loughery from East Stroudsburg High School South earned second place, Sidney Lang from Stroudsburg High School was awarded third place. Hannah Defino and Maggie Gavin both from Stroudsburg High School were awarded honorable mention.

For more information about the Celebration Breakfast or for special accommodations, contact Cornelia Sewell-Allen, dean of student life, at 570-422-3789 or csewell@esu.edu.

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