By Jack Armstrong and Madison McCammon
 News Editor and Freelancer

The Student Leadership Recognition Awards were held Tuesday, May 12. This awards ceremony is an annual event on campus.

“This was the 25th year of these awards here at Western,” said Gary Dukes, vice president for student affairs.

This year’s ceremony entitled “Lead Long and Prosper,” was presented in a classic Star Trek theme, and even provided party-goers with the opportunity to utilize a photo booth featuring Kirk and Spock.

The awards themselves are focused on recognizing students who display great effort and achievement in both their on campus, and off campus activities.

“Students can be nominated by anybody on campus, although it is usually faculty,” said Dukes. “Then, once a student has been nominated, there is a committee of faculty and staff who makes the final decisions.”

Some of the awards were campus-wide nominations but some were department or club specific.

“Each department has their own process for award determination. Some are peer-selected, others are staff-selected and some are selected directly by the university committee,” said Megan Habermann, assistant director for student leadership activities.

Kylie Roth, recipient of the Julia McCulloch Smith Outstanding Graduating Women Award, said she felt “very honored and grateful” to be given the award. Roth, a senior psychology major, also received the Karl Amspacher award and a Who’s Who certificate.

Roth has been chosen to be one of the speakers at commencement as a result of receiving the award. Roth said she still is not certain what she intends to speak about.

“In general, I plan to talk about the things that stood out to me during my four years at WOU and encourage all graduates as we move forward with our lives,” she said.

Two other graduating students were selected to speak at commencement ceremonies after receiving their awards.

Eli Zachary was announced as winner of the Delmer Dewey Outstanding Graduating Men Award, and Erica West Oyedele was announced as winner of the 2015 Outstanding Graduate Student Award.

Oyedele was recognized by her supervisory professors for her work on her thesis entitled “Persistence of African-American/Black Signed Language Interpreters in the United States: The Importance of Culture and Capital.” She was also recognized for her commitment to complete her program remotely from California.

“I don’t know exactly what they saw in me,” said Oyedele, “but they saw something, and for that I am grateful.”

Even though the award ceremony lasted much longer than expected, winners and attendees left happy.

“It was a special, fun night, and my congratulations go out to all of the deserving winners,” said Roth.