2022-2023 Golden Bishop Awards
Ohio Wesleyan Honors Students for Outstanding Leadership, Community Service, Campus Involvement
DELAWARE, Ohio – Ohio Wesleyan University is honoring students with Golden Bishop Awards in recognition of their outstanding achievements in leadership, community service, and campus involvement during the current academic year.
The awards were presented April 19 with President Rock Jones, Ph.D., concluding the program by recognizing the lasting impact made by each of the Golden Bishop recipients.
“What have we seen tonight?” Jones asked the crowd. “Yes, we’ve seen moral leaders for a global society, but what we have really seen is the heart and soul of Ohio Wesleyan – you students. ... We celebrate you, and we celebrate the impact that you have had.”
Members of the Ohio Wesleyan community recognized at the 2023 Golden Bishop Awards and their honors are as follows:
Community Service Awards
The Sara Paullin Casto Student Humanitarian Award
- Jada Respress of Reynoldsburg, Ohio
The Bridge Builder Award
- Grace Martin of Westerville, Ohio
- Adrian Moran of Santa Clarita, California
- Millie Rocco of Vancleave, Mississippi
- Myles Steed of Marion, Ohio
The Patricia G. Young Award for Leadership in Service to Children and Youth
- Siarra Hoover of Frazeysburg, Ohio
The Charles J. Ping Student Service Award, from the Ohio Campus Compact
- Graham Steed of Marion, Ohio
The David Hoch Memorial Award for Excellence in Service, from the Ohio Campus Compact
- Sally Leber, director of Community Service Learning
Student Involvement Awards
Student Organization Advisor Recognition
- Brad Pulcini, advisor for WCSA, OWU’s student government. Pulcini is dean of Student Services.
- Chelsea Vadnie, advisor for Neurds, OWU’s Neuroscience club. Vadnie is an assistant professor of Psychology and Neuroscience.
Student Organization Community Impact Recognition
- Circle K
- Pre-Health Club
- Ski & Snowboarding Club
- Student Led Arts Movement
New Student Organization Recognition
- Battling Elite Stars (majorette dance team)
- Bishops for Accessibility
- Genetics Club
- Hindu Student Council
- Incredible Film Club
- Morgan’s Message (providing mental health resources for athletes)
- Neurds
- OWU Pickleball Club
- Roller Skating Club
- Sisters United
WCSA Awards
WCSA Best Overall Member
- Kolby Brock of San Dimas, California
WCSA Best New Member
- Aadarsha Gopala Reddy of Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Social Justice Steward
- Brooke Lenigan of Massillon, Ohio
Donald G. Chenoweth Friend of WCSA Award
- Ryan Boland, resident director of AVI Fresh
- Dwayne Todd, vice president for Student Engagement and Success and dean of students
Residential Life Awards
Outstanding Resident Assistant/Moderator Award
- Brooke Hall of Julian, Pennsylvania
- Josie Stark of Castalia, Ohio
- Graham Steed of Marion, Ohio
- Karli Walsh of Massillon, Ohio
Heart of the Community Award
Recognizing work to bring students together inside and outside of their campus residences through creative and engaging programmatic opportunities
- Black Student Union
Fraternity & Sorority Life Awards
Fraternity & Sorority Community Impact Recognition
- Payton Andisman of Akron, Ohio (Chi Phi)
- Interfraternity Council
- Panhellenic Council
Fraternity & Sorority Emerging Leader of the Year
- Anya Shevchik of Jefferson, Ohio (Kappa Kappa Gamma)
Fraternity & Sorority Members of the Year
- Rachel Leslie of Escondido, California (Kappa Kappa Gamma)
- Clay Sturts of Mansfield, Ohio (Phi Gamma Delta)
Nancy Bihl Rutkowski Courage Award
- Payton Andisman of Akron, Ohio (Chi Phi)
Recognition of Academic Excellence
- Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority
- Phi Delta Theta Fraternity
Meek Leadership Awards
Recognizing seniors for exceptional leadership while at Ohio Wesleyan and for demonstrating the promise of exceptional leadership in the future.
- Lynette Camerlin of Lakewood, Ohio
- Grace Ison of Oakmont, Pennsylvania
- Jada Respress of Reynoldsburg, Ohio
- Graham Steed of Marion, Ohio
Watch the 2022-2023 Golden Bishop Awards online and learn more about the annual celebration of excellence at owu.edu/GoldenBishopAwards.
Photos from the Event
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives” and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “Best Colleges” lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.