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Ferris Students Earn Awards as part of Women's History Month Celebration

Suffrage MarchFour Ferris State University students and a student organization were honored for making a difference on campus and in the community during “A Tribute to Women,” an event celebrating Women’s History Month.

The March 20 event was presented by Ferris’ Office of Multicultural Student Services in the Rankin Student Center.

Student award winners were nominated by faculty and staff members for making notable contributions toward furthering the image and issues of women on the Ferris campus and in the Big Rapids community.

They award winners are:

Progressive Woman Award – Brittany Lofton, a senior from Grand Rapids majoring in Psychology

This award is presented to a student who has displayed a commitment to and assisted with the creation and implementation of a particular program or issue of special relevance to women to improve the quality of life for women.

Professional Woman Award – Joy Haley, a senior majoring in Health Care Systems Administration from Detroit

This award is presented to a woman who continues to personify and distinguish herself by displaying and promoting outstanding professionalism.

Academic Achievement Award – Gabrielle Jackson, a junior from Inkster majoring in Forensic Biology/Biology Technology

This honor is awarded to a woman who has shown notable growth and achievement relative to academics (current cumulative and past semester grade point averages are used to measure such accomplishment).

Philanthrophy and Community Service Award – Breanna Alexander, a junior majoring in Applied Speech Communications from Detroit.

This honor is awarded to a woman who has displayed commitment, passion and support of causes for the community and community-based organizations.

Women Organization of Excellence Award – You Beautiful Black Woman, a registered student organization

This award is presented to a woman-based organization that epitomizes leadership, scholarship, service and a commitment to diversity on campus.
 

“I think Women’s History Month is important at Ferris State University because it provides members of our campus community opportunities to recognize women whom in every realm have made vast contributions to society that deserve to be promoted, taught and celebrated,” said Michael Wade, assistant director of OMSS.

The event included presentations from student organizations and other student leaders that highlighted the contributions women have made to society.

The OMSS “Tribute to Women” presentation was preceded by a reenactment of the Women’s Suffrage March, coordinated by the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Zeta Rho Chapter.

The Ferris chapter staged the reenactment to pay tribute to Women’s History Month and to honor the sorority’s founders. The march in Washington D.C. took place on March 3, 1913, less than two months after Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. was founded, said Shaprese Smith, the Ferris chapter’s Social Action chair.