The Capel/Morgan administration of the Student Government Association is officially underway. The recently-elected student leaders were inaugurated to their roles Saturday, April 11 during a ceremony in the Mountainlair ballrooms.

George Capel took the oath to lead WVU’s governing body as president. Capel is a senior political science major from Parkersburg. Ashley Morgan was inaugurated as vice president. Morgan is a senior sports and exercise psychology major from Columbus, Ohio. The ceremony also included the induction of 15 governors and two athletic council members, all of whom took the oath to lead WVU’s student body for a one-year term.

The ceremony included recognition for individuals of achievement for the past term of SGA who have made contributions to the organization through their work.

The recipients are as follows:

Richard T. Feller Outstanding Alumni Award – Daniel Brewster
SGA Advisor of the Year – Hillar Klandorf
Co-Governor of the Year – Stephen C. Scott
Co-Governor of the Year – Julie Merow
Student Memorial Scholarship – Folake Owolaja
SGA Catalyst of Change Scholarship winner – Gerardo Aguilar Valera
SGA Intern of the Year – Jennifer Skinner
SGA Executive of the Year – Jessica Harris

Danielle Shepherd, an exercise physiology graduate student from Keller, Texas, was awarded the Kenneth D. Gray Student Leadership Award for 2015.

Named in honor of retired WVU Student Life vice president, the award is designed to recognize exemplary leadership on behalf of the students at WVU. It is regarded as one of WVU’s most prestigious student honors and spotlights those who demonstrate exemplary critical-thinking skills, creativity and positive leadership.

In addition to being a graduate student in research, Shepherd shares her passion for science by volunteering her time to educate students in the community about careers in science. She also serves as a student ambassador and recruiter, teaches undergraduate students in physiology and she is the president of the Health Sciences’ Graduate Student Organization, among various other leadership roles and achievements.

“Danielle epitomizes the characteristics of the Kenneth D. Gray Leadership Award,” said Fred L. Minnear, assistant vice president for graduate education. “She has vast participation in scientific activities that foster research, teaching and the advancement of science to individuals at WVU, the local community, the state of West Virginia and the nation.”

-WVU-

ta/4/10/15

CONTACT: Kim Harrison, Student Activities
kim.harrison@mail.wvu.edu, 304.293.3814

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