FROSTBURG — Frostburg State University students, organizations, faculty and staff were honored at the 2025 Leadership and Engagement Awards reception for their dedication and contributions leadership, community building, service, co-curricular excellence and student life.
The process for nominating an individual or organization for an award is open to anyone who has witnessed exceptional leadership and service of a scholar, peer, mentor or friend. Selection committees ultimately choose the award recipients after review of submissions.
The evening’s award winners were: Dr. Mary Mumper Service Award, Patrick O’Brien; Outstanding Social Programming Award, Creative Minds That’s My Jam; Outstanding Educational Programming Award, Walk A Mile in My Shoes Accessibility Workshop; Outstanding Faculty or Staff Award, Kim Hinds-Brush; Outstanding Student Organization Adviser Award, Sarah Haddaway; John C. Armor, Jr. Memorial Student Organization Award, Student Athletic Advisory Committee; Emerging Leader Award, Nolan Brahosky; Unsung Hero Award, Damond Jones Jr.; Civil Citizen Communicator Award, Christopher Parris; SGA Outstanding Senior Service Award, Rachel Michalski; Derek Thomson Sheely Leadership Award, Gracie Nelson; Student Employee of the Year Award, Nicholas Mullen; Social Change Award, Daileah Ramirez; Father Ed Hendricks Award, Alique Collins; and William Mandicott Pillar of the Community Award, Ava Rankin.
Members of the outgoing President’s Leadership Circle were recognized for their service, and the 2025-2026 PLC members were introduced. This small, selected cohort of senior student leaders will be exposed to personal and professional development leadership opportunities facilitated by FSU’s president and the Division of Student Affairs. New PLC members include Ava Breighner, Emma Craddock, Gwenaveve Davis, Meghan Farrar, Kyle Ganson, Mackenzie Guynes, Saylor Miller, Daniel Schneider, Faith Stevenson and Sarah Sunday.
The program’s speakers were Ashley Daniels, associate director of Student Life and Engagement; Robert Cooper, assistant vice president for Student Engagement; current member of the President’s Leadership Circle, Lydia Nebiolo; Al Delia, chief of staff; Darlene Brannigan Smith, interim president; and keynote speaker and FSU alumni, Canyon Lohnas ’18.
Award presenters included Ben Norris, Jamie Winters, Latisha Cooper, Lazareth Sye, James Bowman, Nicole Higgins, Sarah Haddway, Ashley Daniels, Elesha Ruminski, Hailey Wildesen, Allen Flanagan, Patrick O’Brien, Father Ed Hendricks and Robert Cooper.