Student Leader of the Month

MICHELE CRISS

Senior

Education

President Delta Gamma Sorority, Flashguide, Student Success Leader, Provost Leadership Academy Trainer, mem

Her nominator, Thomas Niepsuj, said this about Michele: “Michele is an awesome individual and if you ask anyone in Fraternity or Sorority Life or Student Success Programs it is apparent. Though her influence reaches far past those two sectors of her life. She is an all-star that puts so much of herself into anything she does. She is the ideal Kent State student and with just one interaction with her it is apparent why I give her that title.”

AARON KESSLER 
Graduate Student
Public Health

Aaron’s nominator, Katie Matisse said this about him:

“Aaron has worked to keep both Pride and TransFusion engaging and relevant to the general membership and campus community. Aaron has helped many students connect with and learn course material through his role as an SI leader. He has created many programs and initiatives (and works to bring in a public health perspective to a lot of what he does) through the LGBTQ+ Center to start meaningful conversations within the community. For the Great Place Initiative, Aaron is working on writing a grant that will hopefully help us secure a full-time position to help address basic needs across campus. Overall, Aaron engages and commits to each leadership position he takes on. He's passionate about creating a kinder, healthier, and more inclusive world and uses these positions as ways to do it.”

CAROLINE LUKEHART
Senior
Nursing major, Spanish minor

Her nominator, Christine Nelson, said this about her: “I believe Caroline is deserving of this award because she encompasses all three of the sections of this model. With community, she’s constantly building community within her student organization involvements, local community in Aurora and for the nation through International Justice Mission (a student organization that focuses on bringing awareness to sex/human trafficking and how to help end it). She has donated her time in her community by making care bags for those who need them. She is constantly checking in on the health and well being of her classmates and the members of student organizations she is a part of.

Inter-personally, I have witnessed Caroline firsthand lead the FAB team through trainings, mediation, meetings, problem-solving and more. She has made a conscious effort to bring in diversity and inclusion trainings to FAB, as well as make connections with FAB and COSO (the commuter student organization in CSI that’s office is next to FAB). She is always asking questions to help make sure our cultural events are appropriate, thoughtful, and respectful to the culture being represented. Intra-personally, Caroline shows dedication to her major, minor and dreams. She engages in discussions with people in CSI about her professional goals, she contacts the right people to get information about graduate programs or otherwise, and therefore inspires other students in the office to do the same. She takes constructive criticism very well, and is always wanting to do the best of her ability for all of her involvements.

Overall, I believe Caroline is an outstanding student leader at Kent State in many unique areas, and has made a positive impact on her local community and the Kent community.”