ESU Announces University Leadership and Service Award Winners

Graduating seniors Kristian Sprankle and Ashlyn Augustine have spent their years at East Stroudsburg University with a desire to lead and serve others.

Sprankle, a mathematics major from York, Pa., was awarded the University Leadership Award for the 2024-25 academic year. Augustine, a marine biology major from Fleetwood, Pa., was awarded the University Service Award.

The University Leadership and Service Awards are the highest non-academic honors a graduating senior can receive for their work as a leader in cocurricular activities on campus or participation in initiatives and service opportunities off campus. To be eligible, applicants must have held office or demonstrated participation in a minimum of three clubs, activities, and committees, have a grade point average of 2.6, and be in good standing.

Both award recipients were immersed in student life during their time on campus.

Sprankle was a member of the Student Government Association, serving as secretary, finance chair, and most recently, president. She was chair of the Student Activity Association board of directors and an executive board member of the University Senate. She was a head residence advisor, and a member of the Strategic Planning Committee, Family Weekend and Homecoming Planning Committee, Campus Activity Board, Leadership By Design, the National Residence Hall Honorary, and the Moses Society.

Beginning her time at ESU as the COVID-19 pandemic was coming to an end, she joined the Student Government Association (SGA) at a time when the group, like many student organizations, was struggling to rebuild. Systems for funding seemed antiquated and executive board seats were empty. Sprankle was elected secretary and sat on the finance committee in her first year. She helped modernize the funding request process. As a Resident Advisor (RA) she was younger than many of her residents but built connections on her floor and in her building. By her junior year, Sprankle was continuing to refine SGA policies and serving as head resident advisor. She managed mediations, organized programs, and developed operational systems. Sprankle revived a community board in the residence halls that was inactive since the pandemic. By her senior year, Sprankle was elected SGA president, where she had a cabinet of eight dedicated chairs and for the first time in years, filled all 57 available positions in SGA, a far cry from her freshman year. She worked endlessly to continue building connections and engagement among students and to represent the student body to prospective and incoming students, in front of faculty and staff, and with legislators.

“While my co-curricular transcript may not be as robust as others on campus, I think my impact speaks for itself,” Sprankle said. “I haven’t just been involved, I’ve been invested. I have taken on challenges, created change, and most importantly, found my voice and helped others find theirs.”

Augustine was president of the Outings Club, treasurer of the Marine Science Club, and a head resident advisor. She was a member of the Stony Acres Committee, Sign Language Club, Christian Fellowship, and Artist Guild. Augustine was also a volunteer in the Reptile Room and at the PA Tick Lab in the Dr. Jane Huffman Wildlife Genetics Institute.

Augustine began working in residential life and housing during her freshman year as an operations assistant and then became a resident advisor and eventually head resident advisor. These positions allowed her to make connections that ultimately guided her path at ESU, leading her to the involvement with other clubs and organizations. As president of the Outings Club, she planned skiing and horseback riding trips and grew the club by 70 members. In her volunteer efforts Augustine led projects in the Tick Lab, mentored peers and took the care of individual animals in the biology department seriously, stepping up on her own to help coordinate schedules for all the volunteer animal technicians and help with training newcomers. She informed professors when food and supplies were running low and when animals appeared to be in need of medical attention. She was instrumental in recruiting replacements after graduation each year. Thomas LaDuke, Ph.D., associate professor of biology, manages the animal care program. He said, “coordinating worker schedules, training new workers, and recruiting goes above and beyond the volunteer position requirements. Ashlyn has been a top performer in this position since I have been managing the animal care program.”

ESU awarded 818 undergraduate degrees during two commencement exercises on May 10.

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