West Virginia University students Lisa Costello and Derek Fincham have been recognized with the 2006 Kenneth D. Gray Leadership Award, one of the University’s most prestigious student honors.
Named in honor of Vice President for Student Affairs Ken Gray, the award spotlights students who demonstrate exemplary problem-solving skills, creativity and positive leadership. Students nominated must also achieve high academic standards and strive towards better communication and unity among the student body.
A senior biology major from Weirton , Costello epitomizes leadership at WVU , working tirelessly on numerous fund-raising campaigns and causes as president of the Student Health Advisory Board.
She coordinated a campus-wide fund-raiser for victims of the Asian tsunami, gathering nearly $10,000 in disaster relief. Her group also organized a community forum on the tragedy, bringing experts and students together to increase knowledge and awareness on tsunamis.
Costello’s crusade continued in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. As the result of her efforts, campus organizations united and raised $60,000 for the American Red Cross.
In addition, she worked with students to create theYou’ve Got Mailoperation, persuading members of the University community to send letters and cards to support evacuees.
She was also instrumental in WVU ’s response to the recent Sago mine disaster, coordinating a letter campaign to miners’families and other messages of support.
Costello also serves as program director for The Institute of Human Dignity, a nonprofit organization that strives toward raising public awareness on a variety of global topics, ranging from HIV and the AIDS epidemic to the social and political sanctioning of violence.
Fincham, a graduate student from Petersburg , has been working to keep school spirit high as the Mountaineer mascot for the past two years. He donned the buckskins and led WVU sports in one of the most memorable years to date, with the men’s basketball team making it to the Elite Eight and football team winning the Nokia Sugar Bowl.
Besides fostering WVU unity, Fincham has served as a spokesman for the LeVar Burton Vision Enhancement Center . Despite a visual impairment, he has never been hindered by his condition. In fact, it motivates him to reach out to the community and prove that the human spirit can overcome.
One of his favorite activities has been volunteering at the WVU Children’s Hospital, cheering up patients and making a difference in countless children’s lives. He has also taken part in Collegiate 4-H, Mountain Honorary, Mountaineer Maniacs and many other campus groups.
Fincham received his bachelor’s degree in religious studies from WVU and is working on a master’s degree in rehabilitation counseling. He wants to become an ordained Methodist minister.