2020 JASPA Awards of Excellence
Greetings Colleagues:
We are thrilled to announce the nominees and winners of 2020 JASPA Awards of Excellence! We know that there are so many incredible practitioners who were nominated on our Jesuit campuses for living out our shared mission in their work with students. Even during these unprecedented times, we wanted to recognize their accomplishments. Additionally, there were many nominations of innovative programs and initiatives at our institutions and we wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate their incredible impact on the student experience.
Although we all wish we could have gathered at the JASPA Five Year Institute in Chicago to celebrate the nominees and 2020 award recipients, please join us in congratulating the individuals and institutions described below.
The Ignatian Medal for an Outstanding
Campus Program or Initiative
The Ignatian Medal for an Outstanding Campus Program or Initiative is the only Ignatian Medal awarded to an institution rather than to an individual person. Student affairs work uses programs and services as the tools to meet students' needs and to resolve conditions on campus which impede the educational process. The development of such programs and initiatives is a creative process, one which requires a multiplicity of skills and talents. Good programs or initiatives are often shared among campuses, and certain programs or initiatives stand out from all others for their creativity, focus, adaptability to different campus environments, and for their proven effectiveness.
2020 Nominees
- 1818 Community Engagement Grant Program (Saint Louis University)
- Athletic Counseling and Performance Clinic (Creighton University)
- How to Adult Program (Creighton University)
- Love Your Hair Expo (Fordham University)
- Manresa Program (LeMoyne College)
- Stonecatchers Diversity and Inclusion Training (Creighton University)
- #WatchWednesdays (College of the Holy Cross)
- Wellness Initiative (Loyola Marymount University)
- Women's Herstory Month Luncheon (Fordham University)
2020 Recipient
Stonecatchers Diversity and Inclusion Training
Creighton University
The Outstanding Commitment to
Diversity and Social Justice Award
Our Ignatian heritage is the living legacy of Ignatius Loyola. It is a rich heritage of faith, seeking God in everyday life; a profound commitment to the marginalized and to issues of social responsibility and justice. Ignatius believed that it is imperative to act upon what is learned - to use our values in service to humanity. We are called to make a difference as "persons for others." The Outstanding Commitment to Diversity and Social Justice Award is given annually to a program or initiative that is aimed at or an individual or a group of persons who demonstrates a strong commitment to issues of diversity and social justice in Jesuit higher education.
2020 Nominees
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Committee (Fordham University)
- BRIDGE: Building Relationship in Diverse Gonzaga Environments - Social Justice Leadership Institute (Gonzaga University)
- McKinley Estime (Xavier University)
- Reflection and Prayer for Racial Justice (College of the Holy Cross)
2020 Recipient
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Committee
Fordham University
The Ignatian Medal for
Outstanding Academic Partnership
According to the Association of Jesuit Colleges & Universities, "The distinctiveness of a Jesuit education stems from its deep-rooted history and a mission grounded in faith and intellectual rigor...Jesuit higher education remains committed to academic excellence, service, leadership, and caring for the whole person." The Ignatian Medal for Outstanding Academic Partnership award is conferred annually in recognition of a program or initiative that demonstrates collaboration or integration of academic and student affairs in support of student success and student learning.
2020 Nominees
- Commuter Leadership Seminar (Fordham University)
- Cortina Living-Learning Community (Creighton University)
- First Year Seminar: Intergroup Dialogue - What’s Race Got to Do With It? (Gonzaga University)
- Resilient Royals (University of Scranton)
2020 Recipient
First Year Seminar: Intergroup Dialogue
"What’s Race Got to Do With It?"
Gonzaga University
The Ignatian Medal for the Outstanding Graduate Assistant in Jesuit Student Affairs
The Ignatian Medal for the Outstanding Graduate Assistant in Jesuit Student Affairs is conferred on individuals who have distinguished themselves in the early years of their careers. A graduate student is defined as a person with two years or less service in Jesuit student affairs work and is enrolled in a graduate program. Ignatian Medal recipients may have brought a strong sense of leadership to their job, have demonstrated a high level of skill or ability, or have shown an early record of success which stands above the norm. This award is given annually to a graduate student who demonstrates a strong commitment to Jesuit student affairs.
2020 Nominees
- Brian Freeland (Gonzaga University)
- Nestor Hernandez (Fordham University)
- Ursula Magsayo (Canisius College)
- Nicholas Mararac (Georgetown University)
- Quinn Peoples (Saint Louis University)
- Ryan Spolar (Xavier University
2020 Recipient
Nestor Hernandez
Graduate Assistant, Office of Multicultural Affairs
Fordham University
The Ignatian Medal for the Outstanding
New Professional in Jesuit Student Affairs
The Ignatian Medal for the Outstanding New Professional in Jesuit Student Affairs is conferred on individuals who have distinguished themselves within the first three years of their careers in higher education. Ignatian Medal recipients may have brought a strong sense of leadership to their job, or have demonstrated a high level of skill or ability, or have shown an early record of success which stands above the norm. This award is given annually to a new professional staff member who demonstrated a strong commitment to Jesuit student affairs.
2020 Nominees
- Russell Aivazian (Loyola University Chicago)
- Gabriela Arana (Loyola Marymount University)
- Katherine Brackmann (Gonzaga University)
- Alyssa Perez (Loyola Marymount University)
- Bizu Solomon (Fordham University)
- Yuan Zhou (University of San Francisco)
- Marianna Maddock (John Felice Rome Center, Loyola University Chicago)
- Nicole Mann (Loyola Marymount University)
- Anthony Terenzio (John Felice Rome Center, Loyola University Chicago)
  
2020 Recipients
Gabriela Arana
Assistant Director of Student Success
Loyola Marymount University
(left)
Katherine Brackmann
Assistant Director of Graduate & Professional School Engagement
Gonzaga University
(middle)
Yuan Zhou
Residence Director
University of San Francisco
(right)
The Ignatian Medal for Outstanding
Achievement in Jesuit Student Affairs Work
The Ignatian Medal for Outstanding Achievement in Jesuit Student Affairs Work is conferred on individuals who have made significant, specific accomplishments in the profession. This award thus differs from the Yanitelli Award, which recognizes a person's lifetime of service. Ignatian Medal recipients may have successfully resolved particularly difficult problems or issues, have achieved recognition as a national expert in a particular area of knowledge, or have provided outstanding leadership at the campus or regional level. This award is given annually to a professional staff member who embodies the above achievement in Jesuit student affairs work.
2020 Nominees
- Shelby Elkins (John Felice Rome Center, Loyola University Chicago)
- Dr. Mark Harrington (Canisius College)
- LeNaya Hezel (Veterans Office Director, Georgetown University)
- Dr. Debra Lohe (Saint Louis University)
 
2020 Recipients
Dr. Debra Lohe
Interim Vice President of Student Development
Saint Louis University
(left)
Dr. Mark Harrington
Assistant Vice President of Student Success
& HESAA Program Director
Canisius College
(right)
The Ignatian Medal for Outstanding Service to JASPA
The Ignatian Medal for Outstanding Service to JASPA is conferred on individuals who have truly distinguished themselves by the breadth and depth of service they have given to the Association or the significant influence they have had on JASPA's direction, programs, and services. Established in the Spring of 1997, this award is given annually to a professional staff member who embodies the above commitment to service to JASPA.
The JASPA Executive Board would like to thank Jack McLean, Assistant Vice President of Student Development at Loyola University Chicago, for his service to JASPA throughout the years.
Congratulations again to the 2020 JASPA Awards of Excellence nominees and recipients. We wish everyone a safe and healthy academic year!
-JASPA Executive Board and the JASPA Awards & Recognition Committee-
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