UNC Asheville presented its annual student, faculty and staff leadership awards in a special video tribute on Friday, April 30, 2021.
“We know how important it is to take this moment to say thank you to all our student, staff and faculty leaders, and to reflect on this year of COVID, and what we have accomplished in spite of the press of a pandemic in our midst,” said Chancellor Nancy J. Cable in the video.
The University’s two most prestigious student service awards went to Devon Gill and Elina Morrison. Faculty and staff members Patrick Bahls and Resharia Keller also were honored, as were many others.
Devon Gill received the William and Ida Friday Award honoring outstanding in service to the community. Gill was recognized for her many leadership roles on campus, from her involvement in student organizations to their work as a resident assistant and orientation leader, as well as for her involvement in the greater Asheville community. Gill served as an intern for Georgia Congresswoman Lucy McBath and received the Intern Opportunity Fund (IOF) from the College to Congress organization to continue this service. Gill also volunteers as a public relations manager for Color of Science, a local non-profit dedicated to illuminating and fostering inclusion and diversity within the STEM disciplines, and with the Guardian ad Litem Association of Buncombe County. In 2019 at the North Carolina State Honors Conference, Gill placed second overall in recognition of all of the efforts aforementioned, including her role to increase voter engagement as a Student Voting Ambassador on campus.
Elina Morrison received the A.C. Reynolds Award and Thomas D. Reynolds Prize for her service as a member of Student Government Association, Amnesty International, Voter Engagement Ambassador, Alternative Service Experience Peer Leader, a member of the Political Science Club, the Student Environmental Center, and She’s the First UNCA. She has been a driving force behind the continuation of the Human Rights Film Festival, and is co-editor in chief of the UNC System’s first online human rights journal, Dignity. Morrison has also worked as a human rights researcher with The Political Terror Scale (PTS), interned with Inclusive Development International (IDI), and participated in the Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship with Princeton University.
Patrick Bahls, professor of mathematics, was given the Community Connector Award for strengthening bonds between campus and community. Bahls was recognized for his work in various areas of campus and community life, ranging from after school programs for K-12 students, to urban renewal in Asheville. Bahls is a leader and champion for the UNC Asheville Prison Education Program, serving on the team that reinstated the program in 2019 through a multiyear grant from the Laughing Gull Foundation and now serving as its director. Bahls helped to bring several influential speakers to campus including Michelle Alexander, civil rights lawyer, legal scholar, and author of bestselling book The New Jim Crow, and Bryan Stevenson, widely acclaimed public interest lawyer and author of Just Mercy. He also helped to coordinate multiple book clubs and learning circles, working to provide equitable access opportunities to books and lectures for students and community members.
Resharia Keller, community director in residential education, received the Champion for Students Award. Keller was recognized for her efforts to facilitate the success and inclusion of students from every background and culture. Her commitment includes ensuring that UNC Asheville residential education programs reflect the diversity of the world and community; that UNC Asheville education embraces inclusive learning styles; that ongoing efforts are made to create a multicultural environment throughout her residence hall community.
The following students and staff also were honored:
Senior Camille Hanson received the Adelaide Daniels Key Community Award for her extensive work in civic engagement and voter turnout both at UNC Asheville and in the Asheville community during her four year tenure at UNC Asheville.
London Newton was awarded the Carolyn Briggs Diversity Award for her contribution on campus in the promotion of justice and equity, including advocating for students as student government president, organizing Student Rights Week, spearheading the creation of the Black Lives Matter mural on campus, serving as a student health ambassador, encouraging student voter turnout, and more.
The Student Health Ambassadors were awarded Student Organization of the Year for their work to address an array of health concerns and awareness in light of the pandemic and amidst great social unrest in our country.
Collaboration of the Year was awarded to the numerous campus community members and organizations who contributed to the creation of the Black Lives Matter Mural on campus, including STEAM Studio, Campus Operations, Public Safety, Emergency Management, Dining Services, University Administration, Key Center staff, six student affinity groups and more than 40 student volunteers from across campus.
The Student Alumni Association received the Program of the Year award for their Student Philanthropy Week, which included events with alumni and current students to talk about the importance of philanthropy and the cycle of giving.
The Student Employee of the Year was Simren Patel, a student worker in the Career Center, as well as an intern with the Eaton Corporation and NASA. She is also co-president of the Women in STEM organization and the Society of Physics Students, has worked consistently with Science Olympiad each year, is a docent with the Lookout Observatory, and an intern with the mathematics department. She also served as the executive of communication for the UNC Asheville Student Government Association.
Jordan Perry, Healthy Campus liaison, was awarded Student Employee Supervisor of the Year for her work with the Student Health Ambassador program.
Julia Quigley was awarded Intern of the Year for her work with the Asheville Art Museum, where she was able to mesh her passion, education, and practitioner skills into a seamless transition from student, to intern, to employee.
Avalon Silver received the Michael Addae-Kumi Emerging Student Leader of the Year award. Silver serves as a resident assistant, an ambassador for Greek Life community members in wellness initiatives, and the Panhellenic Association’s vice president of Gamma Phi Beta.
Jessica Adams-Corso was given the Non-Traditional Student Leader of the Year award. Adams-Corso is the director of craftworks for Asheville Campus Entertainment, where she has developied programs that speak to students, such as impulse pop-ups, crafting events, and informal hang out time.
Kathia Fuentes Beyhaut received the Student Leader of the Year award. Beyhaut has held many leadership positions during her time at UNC Asheville, including involvement in Alpha Xi Delta, Panhellenic Council, Key Center employee, HOLA, Student Government Association, and Prospanica, which she founded and currently serves as president.
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