University Service Award Winner Announced at ESU Commencement

Posted by: Elizabeth Richardson on May 8, 2017, No Comments

On her first day at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, graduating senior Alyssa Simeone made it her mission to leave a legacy of positive change on campus.

“I came to ESU as an athlete with the goal of being inducted in the National Society of Leadership and Success,” Simone said. Being a soccer player with a full load of credits and an ambitious goal could be enough for some students, but for Simone it was just the beginning.

A passion for serving students and a dedication to the university earned Simone the University Service Award at the spring commencement exercises on Saturday, May 6.

The University Service Award is presented to an outstanding graduating senior who has demonstrated exceptional service to the university through on-campus extra-curricular activities.

Simone is a member of the student senate, National Society of Leadership and Success, pre-medicine club, chemistry club, concert band, African American Student Alliance, biology club, Euclid’s elements, PRIDE, Autism Speaks U, vocal variations, intercollegiate athletic committee, strategic planning committee, student athlete advisory committee, and Relay for life Life committee.

Simone was a member of the ESU women’s soccer team since 2013. She played on the 2014, 2015 and 2016 Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship teams.

Her volunteer efforts include being a referee at the ESU Special Olympics, coaching youth soccer leagues, and coordinating the Autism Speaks run/walk. Simone has worked on campus as a calculus, U.S. history, and biology tutor.

Simeone credits ESU administration, faculty and staff for giving countless opportunities for extracurricular involvement and service to the community. “It is one thing to be offered opportunities,” Simeone said. “It is another thing to take the opportunities. I took them with a passion.” Without these opportunities, she said she would not have found the personal or professional success that has defined her four years at ESU.

ESU awarded 1,176 degrees at three separate commencement exercises for undergraduate and graduate students on May 5 and 6.