On May 4, the college recognized 21 students at the 29th annual Paul S. Coleman Volunteer Service and Leadership Awards for their good work at the college and in the surrounding community.
The ceremony included department service awards and two senior awards for students who embodied the same traits of leadership and selflessness as former professor Paul Coleman.
This year, the Paul S. Coleman Senior Service Award for Outstanding Service Leadership was given to senior Anastasia Morrison, a biochemistry and molecular biology major and double minor in forensic science and sociology. Senior English and Classics double major Meredith Budds received the Paul S. Coleman Senior Service Award for Outstanding Community Service.
Paul S. Coleman Senior Service Award for Outstanding Service Leadership: Anastasia Morrison
Morrison has been giving back to the community and involved with the Meelia Center for Community Engagement since her freshman year. Her most notable work was that she served as an Access Academy coordinator where she helped high school students in the Manchester community who faced challenges in school.
“She never judges or defines the students by their challenges. She sees the whole person and that is one of the amazing things about her,” said Nicole Lora, director of the Meelia Center.
Morrison also worked for the Anselmian Network for Racial Justice Leadership team’s dialogue group, where she worked as a committee member and a facilitator for the student Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Group. This was no small feat to work with other department heads throughout the college, but she displayed maturity, calmness, and initiative. She was praised for her thoughtfulness in her leadership and constant willingness to help others and inspire change in the community.
“Because I have so many privileges in my life, and there have been so many amazing people who have helped me to reflect upon what it means to be an active citizen, I think it is extremely necessary to learn about and support the communities that have shaped the world in which we live,” said Morrisson.
Paul S. Coleman Senior Service Award for Outstanding Community Service: Meredith Budds
Meredith Budds played an integral role in the Saint Anselm community through her involvement in organizations and activities on campus. Her most notable role was as the orientation leader student committee chair her junior year after becoming an orientation leader her sophomore year. In this role, Budds served as the student representative on the New Student Orientation Program Committee, led another student orientation committee, and oversaw and delegated to other orientation leaders during various orientation programs and events.
“I certainly know the orientation program could not have succeeded without her Herculean efforts,” said Jean Couture, the director of Student Engagement and Leadership for the College.
Outside of the orientation program, Budds was also an athlete on the women’s lacrosse team and served as one of the team representatives in recruiting prospective students as well as the student who facilitated community service for the team through the Hillsborough County Nursing Home. In addition to this, she participated in service activities and held multiple leadership positions on campus including being a peer-elected representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, the Student Athlete Liaison on the Student Government Association Executive Board, and the vice president of the Saint Elizabeth Seton Service Society.
“Beyond this remarkable, impressive (and exhausting) list of service to the Saint Anselm Community, what stands out most is the way in which Meredith does all that she does – with tremendous balance, poise, and humility. She has served as a student-leader committed to making this campus a better place for her fellow students to live and learn together,” said Couture.
In addition, college offices and departments recognized 19 other students for their outstanding dedication to the college community:
- Student Engagement and Leadership Coleman Award: Gina Gagliardi ’22
- Admission Service Award: Gina Gagliardi ’22
- Campus Ministry Sister Pauline Lucier Award: Kiara Phair ’23
- Campus Ministry Service Award: Joseph Fenerty ’22 and Jessica Diggins ’23
- VPSA Award: Jordan Trombly ’22, Christopher Demarkey ’23, and Christopher “CJ” Hart ’22
- Dean of Students Award: Natalie O’Konis ’22 and Kevin Chrisom ’22
- Health Services Award: Jordan Trombly ’22
- Dan Forbes College Access Programs Award: Julia Krutul ’22 and Elizabeth Manning ’22
- Dan Forbes Community Partnership Award: Annie Neves ’22 and McKenzie Schmidt ’22
- Fr. Jonathan Center for Intercultural Learning and Inclusion Award: Ashlee Locke-Hunter ’22
- Kevin B. Harrington Award: Ryan Heath ’22
- SEAL Outstanding Student Organization or Committee: The Green Team (Amber Topping ’22, Abigail Dever ’22, and Siena Zerillo ’22
- Intercultural Center Coleman Award Recipient: Ashlee Locke Hunter ’22
- Donna M. Guimont Service Leadership and Engagement Award: Chance Clency ’22