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Office of Student Life Indiana University

The Annual Cancer Support Community Hoosiers Outrun Cancer 5K

Posted on by Sydney Randall

By Charlotte Murphy

This Saturday, October 5 at Assembly Hall, Cancer Support Community of South-Central Indiana (CSC) will host its annual Hoosiers Outrun Cancer 5K Run and Walk to celebrate the life and survivorship of those affected by cancer. Day in and day out, CSC works to support those who have faced hopelessness and social isolation due to a cancer diagnosis. CSC provides events and resources to cancer patients within the Bloomington community who are typically referred through IU Health. In an interview with Stephanie Shelton, CSC Development Manager, they have five different categories they use to support cancer patients.

  • Art backpack and comfort kit program for youth whose parents are struggling with a cancer diagnosis.
  • Mental health support groups and counseling with licensed clinical social workers.
  • Nutrition program with live cooking demonstrations and free food, exercise classes such as yoga and Tai Chi.
  • Education for kids and adults done by a healthcare professional on a specific topic such as Neuropathy and Pain Management.
  • Social Connections: fun interactive activities like art classes to create connections with cancer patients and their families.
  • Direct financial assistance and referrals through contact lists of other connected organizations.

Whether it be providing wigs, Reiki classes (a Japanese healing technique), counseling sessions for patients as they go through treatment, yoga classes, or children’s cancer education, CSC provides its services for those battling cancer free of charge.

The Hoosiers Outrun Cancer 5K (HOC 5K) is currently CSC’s biggest philanthropy event of the year. Registration for the 5K helps CSC raise over half of their annual operating funds. The 5K was founded 25 years ago by The Bloomington Health Foundation and in its first 20 years, the event has raised over $4 million for cancer support leading to the inception of a CSC office here in Bloomington, IN and the transfer of the Hoosiers Outrun Cancer 5K to CSC.

Since CSC took over running the 5K , the event has continued to grow, each year CSC raises money through ticket sales and donations. The Hoosiers Outrun Cancer 5K averages 3,500 participants who contribute $350,000 in donations.

While CSC is its own standalone nonprofit organization, it has access to the nationwide Cancer Support Community resources. The nationwide organization provides training and programming for individuals within each individual branch to properly support people whose lives have been affected by cancer.

CSC welcomes volunteers to support its vast array of programs. Fill out a volunteer application on their website or sign up to volunteer at the Hoosiers Outrun Cancer 5K on the HOC 5K website.

Careers in Student Affairs Month Staff Spotlights 2024: Part 1

Posted on by Sydney Randall

October is Careers in Student Affairs Month! To celebrate, the Office of Student Life is highlighting staff members from different teams and departments. Learn more about each staff member and their Student Life journey by reading the spotlights below.

Molly Weiler
Office for Sexual Violence Prevention and Victim Advocacy

Molly Weiler is the Assistant Director of Sexual Violence Prevention in the Office for Sexual Violence Prevention and Victim Advocacy. Molly has worked at IU in the Student Life field for 2 and a half years.

What’s one specific moment or story that sticks out to you and shows why you enjoy working in Student Life?

“I LOVE working tabling events. It’s really satisfying to see them learn in real time. I especially find it satisfying to work with students who may be skeptical about topics and to watch them come around to new ideas. It is also gratifying to have them come up to me while I’m walking on campus to talk about how much they enjoyed a program or to share the ways they have used the knowledge they gained as a result of our programs. I really feel like I know a good portion of the students on this campus, which makes this job that much better!”

What advice do you have for those looking to world in the field of Student Life?

“I think working in Student Life is about building relationships with people. I would encourage folks who are considering careers in Student Life to find ways to practice relationship building skills and bringing people together. Also, find ways to remain humble and be open to learning new approaches as this field continues to evolve.”

Kathleen Field
Student Legal Services

Kathleen Field is a Staff Attorney at Student Legal Services. Kathleen has worked at IU in the Student Life field for 8 years.

What’s one specific moment or story that sticks out to you and shows why you enjoy working in Student Life?

“I helped a transgender student change their legal name and gender marker. The process requires a court hearing. The student was nervous about going to court because it is formal and they had to go before a judge. We talked through their apprehension and prepared for the court hearing. The day of court, the student‘s mom and sister were present for support and the hearing went smoothly. It was a joyful celebration in the courtroom when the judge issued the order so that my client’s legal name and legal gender marker officially matched their identity. There were happy tears and lots of hugs and photos taken with the judge and the family. I enjoyed being able to help that student navigate the court process and celebrate with them and their family.”

What advice do you have for those looking to work in the field of Student Life?

“Be aware of generational communication differences! (Read email!)”

Valerie Houin
Accessible Educational Services

 

Valerie Houin is an Access Coordinator at Accessible Educational Services. Valerie has worked at IU in the Student Life field for 7 years.

What’s one specific moment or story that sticks out to you and shows why you enjoy working in Student Life?

“When I work with pregnant students to inform them of their Title IX rights, support their academic progress, and encourage proper parental leave, they are always amazed and so appreciative. As an added bonus, I get to see their little ones after delivery and know they have happy, healthy, successful moms to love and support them. It truly makes me so proud to be a Hoosier!”

What advice do you have for those looking to work in the field of Student Life?

“It is extremely beneficial to AES and our students that my colleagues and I have diverse backgrounds and education. I encourage anyone interested in supporting students to research opportunities to use their own experience and expertise to add to Student Life.”

Is there anything else about working in this field that you would like to share with others?

“Accessibility can be challenging at times, but it is extremely rewarding, I would encourage anyone with a passion for equity to consider working in accessibility services.”

Samantha Robinson
Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life

Samantha is the Senior Assistant Director of Standards and Accountability in the Office of Sorority and Fraternity Life. Samantha has worked at IU for 2 years and in the Student Life field for 6 years.

What’s one specific moment or story that sticks out to you and shows why you enjoy working in Student Life?

“I started in my role in July 2022. The first meeting I had was with an organization that required some TLC with standards and accountability. This process was not easy for the organization, as they had continual concerns that stemmed from rooted behaviors for years. Throughout the course of 1.5 years, I was able to build a strong relationship with organization leadership to challenge and support them to reimagine a safe, healthy, and inclusive membership. There were many times that hard conversations were facilitated to which I was not a fan favorite. However, with continued support by challenging the status quo of the organization, membership acknowledged that I was there to help hold them accountable by creating a space of belonging. This past August, I witnessed the hard work and dedication of the organization through their resilient behavior to make change that was lasting, not just for four years, but for life.”

What advice do you have for those looking to work in the field of Student Life?

“Always keep an open mind when working with students. As much as we can challenge and support them, they can do the same for us. Have patience with building a rapport through trust and transparency. This will take time, but at the end it makes all the challenges worthwhile.”

Is there anything else about working in this field that you would like to share with others?

“The day in and day out of higher education is hard work, but it is so rewarding helping students navigate through all the obstacles of their organizations.”

Reagan Lewis
IU Corps

Reagan is the Assistant Director of IU Corps. Reagan has worked at IU in the Student Life field for 1 year and 1 month.

What’s one specific moment or story that sticks out to you and shows why you enjoy working in Student Life?

“When I help students build connections to the community and they want to know what’s next. This semester, we helped CAV and a student had just finished volunteering and wanted to know what was next and how they could do more!”

What advice do you have for those looking to work in the field of Student Life?

“Make sure the students are your why.”

Stay tuned all throughout October for more staff spotlights!

IU Club Sports programs thrive during successful year of championship wins and awards

Posted on by Sydney Randall

During a summer spent with all eyes on sports at the Paris Olympic Games, the Team USA athletes weren’t the only ones winning gold—the IU Club Sports Federation has dominated the past few months with national championship wins and impressive accomplishments.  

As the Men’s Ice Hockey Club, Gymnastics Club, and Pickleball Club all won their respective national championships and many other clubs achieved accomplishments of their own, there’s no denying that the IU Club Sports programs at IU Recreational Sports had a very successful year. 

As the academic year begins and clubs prepare to meet new members, let’s look back at some of the highlights from last year’s season.

Pickleball Club

The Pickleball Club won the Mixed Doubles Championship and Women’s Singles Championship at the DUPR Pickleball Collegiate Nationals in Cincinnati, Ohio on June 2. 

During the Pickleball Club’s first semester, it only had 20 members. Now, it has 500 members and continues to grow.

Sam Hutner, the club’s previous president for three years, was the mastermind behind the club’s success. His impact on the club is still felt to this day.

Even off the court, the impact of the win was felt at nationals by Kaiden Lehman-Abate, the treasurer of the Pickleball Club who was livestreaming the matches from the DUPR YouTube channel.

“I was so proud of Michael and Mehv [Mehvish Safdar] for how hard they worked and the effort that they put into succeeding and representing our club,” Lehman-Abate said. “Our coaches played an important role as well, and their support this entire semester was very appreciated by everyone on the team.”

For those interested in joining the Pickleball Club, Lanie Ruf, the current secretary of the club, has one piece of advice: go for it.

“Don’t let the idea of tryouts or not knowing anyone scare you away from pursuing the opportunity,” said Ruf. “I have met some of my best friends while playing on the pickleball team, and I wouldn’t trade anything for the experience I have had.”

Gymnastics Club

The Gymnastics Club won first place at the National Association of Intercollegiate Gymnastics Clubs Gymnastics Championships in the Collegiate Women’s Division in Albuquerque, New Mexico on April 13.

In addition to the women’s team winning first place, three members of the club received individual medals: Lauren Campbell for third place in the All-Around, Eden Snower for first place in Beam, and Kyle Massel for second place in High Bar.

After a week of competition that was both mentally and physically exhausting, Trissa Ampil, president of the Gymnastics Club, said the win at Nationals made all the work the club put in that season worth it.

“I don’t think many of us, with the exception of a few of our best athletes, expected to actually receive any accolades, let alone win the whole thing,” said Ampil. “But when our name came up on that screen, we were so thoroughly shocked that we all started screaming before they could even announce that we’d won.”

Leading up to nationals, the club put in lots of time and effort. From fundraising all year to be able to afford the travel expenses to New Mexico and scheduling extra practices to ensure the utmost preparation to creating special practice plans during meet season to strive for perfection, everyone did their part.

“This competitive work ethic became a habit that rolled over into Nationals and got us a win we’d never before achieved,” said Ampil.

Before becoming a champion at nationals, Ampil found the Gymnastics Club as a first-year student while searching for involvement opportunities. Now, she encourages others to do the same.

“After looking through beINvolved and finding the Gymnastics Club, I knew immediately that I wanted to be a part of it,” she said. “I did gymnastics for 13 years and was so sad to quit for cheerleading in high school, so I was extremely excited that I had the opportunity to get back into it through Club Sports at IU.”

Men’s Ice Hockey Club

The Men’s Ice Hockey Club won the 2024 American Collegiate Hockey Association Men’s Division 2 National Championship in St. Louis, Missouri on March 15 and is currently ranked third in the nation.

The club had an amazing start this year. Not only did they score on the first shift of the season, they also ended the first semester with a 19-3 record.

However, their journey to nationals wasn’t easy or straightforward—when the second semester began, things weren’t going so smoothly. 

“We started the semester by getting swept by Miami and not playing our best through the remainder of the regular season,” said Ray Meiers, the president of the Men’s Ice Hockey Club. “We were winning games, but were not as dominant as we had been in the first semester.”

The loss of momentum continued as the team lost to Michigan, who they had previously swept in the regular season, and then as they dealt with poor play in regionals.

Then, halfway through their game at regionals against UPenn, something clicked.

“We ended up winning 14-5 and rode that momentum into nationals,” said Meiers.

At that point, it became a comeback moment for the club.

“We advanced to play Miami in the final, and we knew we owed them one after getting swept by them in the regular season,” said Meiers.

During overtime, the club faced a penalty—but then Miami took a penalty of their own.

“I was on the ice and saw DeLo [Ithan DeLorenzo] take the shot that won us the national championship from about 15 feet away,” said Meiers.

After celebrating on the ice and receiving the trophy, Meiers took a moment to reflect on his nationals experience. 

“It wasn’t just the fact that we won or just the game that was so fun—it was the whole week and experience of the national tournament,” he said. “Just being able to spend that much time together with my best friends was what made the tournament so enjoyable.” 

Additional accomplishments

In addition to winning multiple national championships, here’s what other Club Sports teams accomplished over the past year: 

  • Men’s Rugby Club made it to the Semifinals at Nationals 
  • Men’s Rugby Club were BIG Ten Champions 
  • Men’s Soccer Club made it to the final round of 16 at Nationals 
  • Men’s Soccer Club were Regional Conference Champions & Conference Champions 
  • Women’s Soccer Club received a bid to regionals 
  • Women’s Rugby Club reached National semifinals 
  • Men’s Lacrosse Club completed their first 10-0 season and win the UMLC East Division 
  • Golf Club qualified for the NCCGA National Tournament (8 players) 
  • Swim Club hosted the CCS Nationals at IUPUI Natatorium 
  • Tennis Club competed in the USTA Tennis on Campus National Championship 
  • Men’s Ultimate Frisbee Club had a 7th Place finish at Regionals 
  • Women’s Ultimate Frisbee Club placed 4th overall at Sectionals and secured a spot at Regionals 
  • Men’s Volleyball Club won back-to-back Silver Bracket Championships at NCVF

To learn more about Club Sports, including a list of all available sports and contact information for student leaders, visit the Recreational Sports website. The clubs cater to a wide variety of skill levels, from recreational and instructional to advanced and competitive.

“The atmosphere is inviting, the competitions are as high-stakes or low-stakes as you want them to be, and we’re all mostly just here to have fun,” said Ampil. “If there’s a sport you miss from when you were younger, want to continue from high school, or just want to try that you never had the chance to before, Club Sports is the perfect place.”

IU Bloomington joins FirstGen Forward, aims to provide additional support for first-generation students

Posted on by Sydney Randall

FirstGen Forward, a nonprofit organization formerly known as the Center for First-generation Student Success that works directly with institutions to serve first-generation college students, named Indiana University Bloomington as a member of their national network on August 1.

IU Bloomington was selected as one of eighty new member institutions due to the university’s demonstrated commitment to “improving experiences and advancing success for first-generation college students.” 

Bloomington’s campus joins all other IU campuses in being selected for the cohort, which means the university now has the most campus locations in the FirstGen Forward Network. 

“Being named to this cohort of FirstGen Forward signals our commitment to making positive contributions to the success of students who are first in their family to attend college,” said Lamar Hylton, the Vice Provost for Student Life at IU Bloomington. “The Office of Student Life is uniquely positioned to coordinate resources and support for first-gen students, and being part of FirstGen Forward allows us access to a network of best and promising practices in elevating the student experience.” 

According to fall 2023 data from the Office of Institutional Analytics, 12% (5,733) of IU Bloomington students identify as first-generation. 

“For the last several years, various offices across the IUB community have created and implemented initiatives designed to highlight and elevate the first-generation student experience,” said Vicka Bell-Robinson, Associate Vice Provost for Involvement and Belonging at IU Bloomington. “The 2030 strategic plan has a focus on student success and a significant part of that focus is making sure that all students are well-served by campus resources.” 

In an attempt to develop new initiatives, streamline support services, and supplement the work that is already being done, the Office of Student Life is creating a new office of First-Generation and Limited-Low Income Programs.  

“This new area in the Office of Student Life is a connection and coordinating resource for the first-generation work happening around the campus,” said Hylton. “It is not meant to usurp or diminish the fantastic ways we already serve first-gen students at IU Bloomington, rather, it is designed to enhance the work by giving students a central place to learn more about how to navigate their experience and to contribute to their development and overall success.” 

The program will exist to provide support, community, and connection for students who are the first to attend college in their family. It also supports students who display an exceptional financial need. 

A nationwide search is currently underway for the new Director of First-Generation and Limited and Low-Income Students Program. 

In addition to naming a director, an advisory group and coalition have also been created.  

The advisory group is designed to advise the director about how the office can best serve first-generation and limited-low income students at IU Bloomington.  

“The director will use this group to take a broad and strategic look at how students who identify as first-generation and limited-low income experience the university,” said Bell-Robinson. “The group will discuss potential changes that can be enacted to foster better belonging, engagement, retention, and persistence for our first-generation and limited-low income students.” 

Additionally, the coalition group will bring together various offices who are already working with first-generation and limited-low income initiatives. 

“I consider this group to be on the frontline of our efforts,” said Bell-Robinson. “The new First-Generation and Limited-Low Income office will design, coordinate, and implement new initiatives, but will also work to support and amplify the initiatives that are currently being enacted across campus.” 

As the creation of the program continues, the Office of Student Life is ready to proceed with amplifying and adding resources for first-generation and low-limited income students. Student Life looks forward to celebrating First-Generation Day on November 8. 

IU Volunteer Corps: 2024 Little Day of Service

Posted on by Sydney Randall

By Charlotte Murphy

On April 12 and April 13, the IU Volunteer Corps student organization hosted its second annual day of service, Little Day of Service (LDOS). LDOS takes place the weekend before Little 500 each year and is a collaborative endeavor between Volunteer Corps, individual IU students, IU student organizations, campus partners, and community partners.

At the start of each spring semester, Volunteer Corps board members begin communicating with community partners to gauge interest in participating in a day of service by asking each partner what volunteer project(s) they would like assistance with, and how many student volunteers each partner feels comfortable hosting on the day of service. Volunteer Corps then recruits and matches student volunteers based on the needs outlined by each partner.

2024 LDOS volunteer opportunity offerings included Campus River cleanup with Indiana University Office of Sustainability, mental-wellness art kit assembly with Creative Arts for Vets (CAV), food collection with Agency 10 on Aging, greenhouse deconstruction, relocation, and reconstruction with People’s Cooperative Market, and organization of feminine hygiene supplies for Girls Inc.’s Period Project.

IU Corps talked with a few student volunteers and community leaders who were connected to this year’s day of service projects.

Paola Vega Yudico, a junior at IU and the Volunteer Corps Director of Events and Training, offered insight on LDOS.

“LDOS takes a lot of organization to make sure that everything is done in the right way,” Vega Yudico said. “The rewards of this project are huge.”

Gabbie Black, a junior at IU and the Volunteer Corps Board Chair, organized the LDOS weekend with the help of her board members. Throughout her experience on the board and as the president, Black and the rest of the board are working on laying a strong foundation for the future.

“It’s a big deal for us to be able to accomplish goals coming off of being the first year as a club,” Black said. “I’ve had a lot of fun creating foundations and making sure we maintain connections with the community.”

During LDOS, Black visited all the sites and volunteered with Girls Inc. Period Project.

“Girls Inc. is one of my favorite places to go. This year they had a big period project where they had the community donate hygiene products and we helped organize them. It’s fun to go there and help them with the small things. Some of the IU women’s basketball players (who were there as volunteers) would like to keep working with Girls Inc. in the future and they’re setting up a way to sponsor a few girls to come to their summer camps.” – Gabbie Black

Another LDOS volunteer opportunity was assembling art kits with Creative Arts for Vets on campus in Maxwell Hall. More than 30 student volunteers organized and assembled 2,003 art supplies and therapeutic guidebooks (CAV books) to help support the mental wellbeing of U.S. veterans.

Todd Burkhardt, Army veteran and CAV co-creator who works at the IU Center for Rural Engagement, explained their mission and what the kits contain.

“Veterans have the highest suicide rate nationally from 17 to 22 a day that die by suicide, which is tragic,” Burkhardt said. “We are trying to do our small part to mitigate and reduce those numbers. The book itself comes with different exercises and an art kit. We provide watercolor pencils, charcoal pencils, paintbrushes, and oil pastels. The CAV book was originally published in March of 2023, and in just over one year, we have mailed out over 7,000 books and we are in every state.”

Another LDOS activity was the Campus River clean-up with the IU Office of Sustainability. Tanjimul Alan, the Office of Sustainability’s Sustainability Manager, played a big part in organizing the cleanup in conjunction with the IU Environmental Health and Safety Office. This is the second year Volunteer Corps has helped with the Campus River cleanup for Little Day of Service. This year, In addition to picking up trash and debris, river testing was reintroduced through the Hoosier Riverwatch program.

“The Hoosier Riverwatch program is a group with water and stream testing kits. We brought in the experts, and they tested macroinvertebrates with nets. We waded into the middle of the river and tried to capture little crawfish to see the health of the river. The other tests were for turbidity and pH. One of the coolest hidden stories about this event was we found out that a couple years ago a chemistry professor had done the Hoosier Riverwatch program on the campus creek, so we were able to mimic that and contribute more data.” – Tanjimul Alan

Ben Richardson, a senior at IU majoring in Environmental Sustainability and a Volunteer Corps board member, explained why he enjoys the LDOS weekend and volunteering in Bloomington.

“I have enjoyed giving back and meeting new people and doing things I normally wouldn’t have done otherwise. Having this outlet, I would 100% recommend it to any undergrad who wants to get great experiences giving back,” Richardson said.

Richardson also gave a shout out to Black for such a job well done and her commitment to volunteerism.

“Gabbie works so hard and brings a smile to everyone’s face. If anyone saw her during Little Day of Service, consider your day amazing because she is the best,” he said.

Are you ready to get involved? Join Volunteer Corps today by visiting their page on beINvolved.

IU Corps: Breaking Barriers in Bloomington: A Habitat for Humanity at Indiana University Speaker Series

Posted on by Sydney Randall

By Charlotte Murphy, IU Corps

On April 10, 2024, Habitat for Humanity at Indiana University hosted a speaker panel, Breaking Barriers in Bloomington: A Solution to Shelter. The panel featured four speakers from various nonprofit organizations in the local Bloomington community. During this event, students were able to learn more about the diverse spectrum of housing challenges and explore how nonprofits are uniquely positioned to address those challenges. Specifically, the topics discussed were refugee resettlement, homelessness, emergency shelter, and house ownership.

The four panel speakers were Development Director of Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, Lindsey Boswell, Development Director for Middle Way House, Maria Douglas, Executive Director of Beacon Inc., Rev. Forrest Gilmore, and Resettlement Director for Exodus Refugee Immigration Sub-Office, Erin Aquino. Each speaker shared their experiences, expertise, and examples of making meaningful impact in Bloomington.

 

In a conversation with junior Eden Kee, president of Habitat for Humanity at Indiana University, she provided insight about the planning and thought process behind this event,

“For the Breaking Barriers in Bloomington event, we and a lot of people on campus know that as college students, we make Bloomington the most expensive county in the state of Indiana to live in. I’ve always been passionate and curious about the housing spectrum, because I grew up in Bloomington and saw a lot of different sides of it. My executive board and I, we wanted to be able to find ways to give back to the community and we felt like a lot of organizations on campus do a lot of fundraising-based giving back so we wanted to think of something that was a bit more equitable for people who may not have the funds to be able to give back in that way. We thought advocating and educating for the spectrum of housing is a great way to do that and how we could give back to the community.”

Throughout the event planning process, there were many logistics involved from questions, attendance, and food.

“We’ve been planning this for pretty much the whole semester. It started with our director of outreach, Cheyenne, and I. We had a meeting and brainstormed what we were interested in. We also had some meetings with professors, with Monroe County Habitat for Humanity executives, and overall different people that could give us more of an idea of what they would be interested in hearing. Once we decided, we reached out to speakers and prepared questions. Luckily, this year we haven’t had any problems with speakers not wanting to speak and the four that we reached out to immediately reached back out and said that they’d be happy to speak. That made the process a lot easier.”

In the end, event feedback from all four panel speakers and community leaders was positive, uplifting, and rewarding.

“I spoke to the panel before they left, they were incredibly happy to have been in attendance. Community members expressed their pride in the students who were in attendance, have a desire to give back to the community, and want to learn about what they can do which is rewarding,” Kee said.

Ready to join? Check out Habitat for Humanity at Indiana University on beINvolved and follow their social media accounts @habitatatiub for information about upcoming events and meetings. Habitat for Humanity at Indiana University will be hosting another panel next semester. There will also be a new GroupMe on the beINvolved webpage in the fall for students to join.

Trinity Barnes: The 2024 Herman B Wells Award Winner

Posted on by Sydney Randall

Herman B Wells was a leader of uncommon vision and generosity. As the architect of IU’s rise to greatness, his legacy continues to permeate every corner of the university. Created in 1961 by the Indiana Memorial Union Board of Directors, the esteemed Herman B Wells Distinguished Senior Award honors outstanding seniors that have excelled academically and are established leaders within the IU community.

This year, we are proud to honor Trinity Barnes with the 2024 Herman B Wells Award for her academic excellence, established leadership, and ability to exemplify the spirit of Herman B Wells during her journey at IU.

Trinity Barnes

Trinity Barnes is graduating from the College of Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish with a minor in Black Cinema Studies and a certificate in Clinical Psychological Sciences.  

Trinity is a Hudson and Holland Scholar, Curtis Simic Onward Scholar, and a Hutton Honors College/Burnett Masters Junior Scholar. She has been recognized on the Dean’s List for all seven semesters of her undergraduate experience. She is also the recipient of the NAACP Beyond the Spotlight Award and was named AATSP Indiana Outstanding College Student of Spanish. Trinity is a member of Sigma Delta Pi, Psi Chi, and Phi Beta Kappa honor societies. She has served as the secretary for the Epsilon Chi Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Incorporated and for the National Pan-Hellenic Council. During her experience in Sigma Gamma Rho, she created events to teach minority students about effective study habits and provide access to resources for physical and mental health on campus. She also serves as a representative for the Diversity and Equity Committee for the Department of Spanish and Portuguese and as co-president for Sigma Delta Pi.  

During her sophomore year she interned in Santiago, Chile where she shadowed school psychologists at an elementary school aimed at protecting students from surrounding drug trafficking and violence. This experience helped to enrich her Spanish fluency and develop her ability to serve at-risk youth. Trinity is currently completing an honors thesis in Psychology and completed an honors thesis in Spanish last spring semester. 

Acknowledgments

“First, I want to thank God and every person who has poured into me over these years including professors, supervisors, advisors, sorors, family, friends, and loved ones. Any accomplishment that I have had here at Indiana University is a credit to their investment in my personal, professional, and academic success.”

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Madelyn Mustaine: The 2024 Susan Butler Award Winner

Posted on by Sydney Randall

The Susan Butler Award was created in memory of Susan Butler, the mother of Margaret Butler Snow, a supporter of Indiana University during the Great Depression. This $2,500 award is given to a female graduating senior for outstanding scholarship and character.

For 2024, we are proud to recognize Madelyn Mustaine as the Susan Butler Award recipient for her impactful leadership and involvement at IU.

Madelyn Mustaine

Madelyn Mustaine graduated from the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs with a Bachelor of Science in Public Affairs in December 2023. 

Madelyn is a Wells Scholar, Founders Scholar, and graduated with the highest distinction. She has shown academic determination and integrity throughout her academic experience at Indiana University. Within her studies, Madelyn conducted a thesis examining the impact of state Medicaid waivers on mental health facilities, evaluating whether the waivers eased barriers for enrollees seeking mental health treatment. She also served as the research assistant for Professor Kosali Simon, where she contributed to multiple health policy projects, and as an educator at the IU Student Health Center where she developed a health insurance literacy program.  

During Madelyn’s time studying abroad in England and the Netherlands, she analyzed healthcare systems on an international scale. She interned for the Australian Capital Territory Department of Health in Australia’s capital city, where she researched the potential of a grants program to enhance social capital and presented policy implications to government personnel in Australia. 

Acknowledgments

“I am deeply grateful to Professor Christoph Irmscher, Professor Matthew Baggetta, and Dean R.J. Woodring for their unwavering support, and to Professor Kosali Simon for her invaluable mentorship. A special thank you to my mom, dad, and brother for their endless encouragement.” 

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Prabhvir Singh Lakhan: The 2024 Clara Javan Goodbody Award Winner

Posted on by Sydney Randall

The Clara Javan Goodbody Award was created in memory of Clara Javan Goodbody, the mother of Louise Ann Goodbody, the Dean of Women from 1906 to 1911. This $2,500 award is given to a graduating senior for use in pursuing graduate study.

For 2024, we are proud to recognize Prabhvir Singh Lakhan as the Clara Javan Goodbody Award recipient for his impactful leadership and involvement at IU.

Prabhvir Singh Lakhan

Prabhvir Singh Lakhan is graduating from the College of Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with minors in Chemistry and Psychology. 

Prabhvir is a Provost Scholar, a Founders Scholar, and a recipient of the Dr. Norman Hertzer Scholarship for pre-medical students. Prabhvir has shown exceptional dedication to research pursuits throughout his time at Indiana University. His research examines affect dynamics and how they are related to depression, cognition, and somatic symptoms. Prabhvir has been a research assistant in Dr. Lauren Rutter’s lab since his freshman year. During his undergraduate studies, he published three papers and presented a poster at the Association for Psychological Sciences Annual Conference in Washington D.C.

Prabhvir is also deeply involved on campus. He formerly served as president of the IU chapter of the neuroscience honor society, Nu Rho Psi. During his term, Nu Rho Psi received the 2023 Chapter of the Year. Within his presidency, the honor society visited local elementary schools to do science experiments with kids and worked with the Indiana Recovery Alliance to make Narcan kits. 

Acknowledgments

“I’m grateful for my parents’ unwavering support, and I want to extend my appreciation to my recommenders Dr. Rutter, Dr. Porter, and Dr. Sengelaub, for their tremendous support in helping me achieve my goals. Lastly, thank you to my friends for the wonderful memories and for pushing me to grow academically and personally.”

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Your 2024 P.J. and Hilda W. Hill Award Winners

Posted on by Sydney Randall

The P.J. and Hilda W. Hill Award was established from a gift from P. J. Hill, a 1920 graduate of Indiana University. The $5,000 award is presented to the outstanding seniors on the IU Bloomington campus who have done the most to “better race relationships on the IU campus” during their undergraduate career.

For 2024, we would like to honor Ajith Amba and Deion Ziwawo with the P.J. and Hilda W. Hill Award for supporting and enhancing diversity and inclusion through their work at Indiana University.

Ajith Amba

Ajith Amba is a Dean’s Scholar graduating from the Kelley School of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Business in Finance, Accounting, and Business Analytics. 

In his four years at IU, Ajith always loved finding ways to meet new people and engage in different activities. During his senior year, Ajith was lucky to serve as the Student Body President of Kelley. Alongside Eknoor Sethi, his Vice President, he created various diversity initiatives across Kelley and worked with the Undergraduate Program Chair, Bridget Stomberg, to triple the budget allocation for Kelley Student Organizations. Ajith was also involved in the Kelley and Hutton Honors Programs, Delta Sigma Pi Business Fraternity, and the non-profit consulting organization 180 Degrees Consulting. 

During his sophomore year, Ajith’s love of finance led him to the Kelley Finance Department’s Investment Banking Workshop, where he eventually partnered with Professor David Haeberle, Professor Michael Goy, and fellow class of 2024 graduates Siva Sambasivam and Nick Bronico to help start the IU Private Equity Program (PEP). This program includes the new Kelley Private Equity Workshop and Private Equity Fund with great inspiration from the IU Center for Real Estate Studies’ for-profit Real Estate Fund, Sample Gates Management. The PEP aims to connect Kelley alumni with students of various backgrounds for mentorship and experiential learning opportunities. 

Acknowledgments

“I credit 100% of my graduation and IU journey to the many distinguished faculty, staff, and students I have been fortunate to collaborate alongside—all of whom are dedicated leaders striving for the betterment of Kelley. I am incredibly grateful for the support I have received throughout my time as a student from Deans Ash Soni and Josh Perry, Program Chair Bridget Stomberg, KCS Executive Director Rebecca Cook, Ben Taylor, Alison Miron, Trent McGee, Alison Kvetko, Ryan Kelly, Jennifer Crawford, Anna Buck, and Eknoor Sethi. I would also like to thank the Kelley Finance Department for warmly introducing me to my incredible mentors and closest friends: the late and beloved Tom Cole, Dan Aron, Dean Teresa Kase, IU General Counsel Jeffrey Goetz, Professors David C. Haeberle and Michael P. Goy, Tiffani Odgen, Siva Sambasivam, and Nick Bronico.”

Deion Ziwawo

Deion Ziwawo is graduating from the College of Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Law and Public Policy. 

Deion is a Provost’s Scholar, Founders Scholar, Hudson and Holland Scholar, a member of the Hutton Honors College, and has been on the Executive Dean’s List throughout every semester of his education. Throughout Deion’s experiences at IU, he has shown a strong commitment to creating an atmosphere of inclusion. Deion currently serves as Vice President of the Pre-Law Division of Black Law Students Association, and within this position has helped expand travel and volunteer opportunities.  He also serves as the inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity and as a member of the College’s Diversity and Inclusion Advisory + Action Committee. Deion is also a member of the 102nd Board of Aeons, a member of IU Dance Marathon, and a Hoosier Scholar Ambassador. 

Acknowledgments

“I want to thank all of my family, friends, and professors who have mentored me the last four years and have rooted for my success in every way possible. Every single one of you is why my time at IU has been so memorable, and I could not be here without you.”

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