Student Leaders Honored

Rhose Demarest received the Community Service Leader of the Year Award. The Ohio State Newark student was nominated by Vorley Taylor, multicultural affairs manager, for her mentoring work with Big Brother’s Big Sisters of Licking and Perry Counties, volunteering as an activities assistant at Middleton Senior Living, and her work with the Newark Homeless Outreach. Demarest, along with fellow members of the Student Cultural Council, spearheaded a coat drive for the homeless community in Newark. Taylor called Demarest a confident student who “understands the critical importance of preparing young people for academic, professional and social success while navigating life’s challenges.”

This year’s Up and Coming Leader Award was presented to Ohio State Newark student Megan Cassell for her leadership and involvement on campus. Cassell is an Honors student and serves as treasurer for two student organizations, Students for Social Change and the Creative Writing Club. Student activities coordinator and nominator Annie Maxell said, “Ohio State Newark is a better place because of students like Megan who take their academics and extracurriculars seriously while creating a wholesome campus community.”

Kylie Doon received the RESPECT Award for demonstrating responsibility, equity, self-awareness, purpose, enthusiasm, compassion and teamwork. Doon serves as secretary for the Campus Activity Board, secretary for the Student Cultural Council, a Newark campus student ambassador and an academic peer coach for the Engineering Learning Community. She also was a member of the 2022 Homecoming court, whose members are chosen based on their academic success, leadership qualities, spirit, integrity and achievement through their contributions and involvement.

Additionally, Doon received the William A. Kilpatrick Leadership Award, which recognizes a second-year Ohio State Newark student involved in one or more organizations that demonstrates strong and consistent leadership. Omer Faruk Atahan, a fellow student, highlighted her desire to improve the campus community and consistent leadership in his nomination. Atahan further praised Doon, saying she “shows tremendous commitment to making The Ohio State University at Newark a place where students feel at home.”

COTC student Emi Lippincott earned the Kelly Saffle Leadership Award, awarded to a COTC student who exemplifies strong and consistent leadership in one or more student organizations. Lippincott holds leadership roles in two student organizations, serving as the elected president of Otaku and the treasurer for Active Minds, a student organization that promotes mental health awareness. The human services student was nominated by Mental Health Counselor Megan Hughett, MSW, LISW-S, who shared in the nomination that Lippincott is “extremely dedicated to showing kindness across campus as well as being passionate about helping others” and that “they will go onto accomplishing great things with their career.”