GSA Distinguished Award Winners Recognition Statements
June 14, 2012 - 9:30pm
Eric Agar, 2012 Jeffrey L. Hanson Distinguished Service Award
I am pleased to announce, on behalf of the Graduate Students Association (GSA), that Eric Agar has been awarded the 2012 Graduate Students Association Jeffrey L. Hanson Distinguished Service Award.
Eric served as the GSA Director of the Sustainable Resource Center for the 2011-2012 academic year. His commitment to sustainability has been unparalleled. He has helped provide bicycles that graduate and professional students can rent; helped expand the Community Supported Agriculture program; provided support for the Leaders in Sustainability Graduate Certificate Program; helped pilot a composting program at Weyburn Terrace; and encouraged graduate and professional students interested in sustainability to meet and collaborate through organizing mixers. This list could go on but, suffice it to say that Eric has been an outstanding leader in sustainability both for GSA and for the wider UCLA community.
As president of GSA, it has been my privilege to work with Eric this year. I know he will continue to be a leader and wish him all the best.
The purpose of the GSA Jeffrey L. Hanson Distinguished Service Award is to acknowledge those individuals who have served the Graduate Students Association and represented the interests and concerns of graduate and professional students at UCLA during each academic year. The Award is named after Jeffrey L. Hanson, GSA Vice President-Internal Affairs 1989-90, as a memorial for his service and dedication to the GSA.
Daniel Goodman, 2012 Jeffrey L. Hanson Distinguished Service Award
I am pleased to announce, on behalf of the Graduate Students Association (GSA), that Daniel Goodman has been awarded the 2012 Graduate Students Association Jeffrey L. Hanson Distinguished Service Award.
Daniel served as the GSA Director of Graduate Events for the 2011-2012 academic year. His commitment to enriching the lives of graduate and professional students has been unmatched. He has organized a wide variety of events that the diverse graduate and professional student population could participate in. Some of the many events he helped organize included bringing Grad Bars back to campus, snow trips, outings to professional sporting games and cultural events, wine tasting classes, and many more. These events were great successes with most filling to capacity within a few hours of registration opening. Daniel’s commitment to healthy living was exemplified through the first Grad Games, with more than 300 participants; and to the wider community with the first Grad Ball, which raised nearly $1700 for charity.
As president of GSA, it has been my privilege to work with Daniel this year. I know he will continue to be a leader and wish him all the best.
The purpose of the GSA Jeffrey L. Hanson Distinguished Service Award is to acknowledge those individuals who have served the Graduate Students Association and represented the interests and concerns of graduate and professional students at UCLA during each academic year. The Award is named after Jeffrey L. Hanson, GSA Vice President-Internal Affairs 1989-90, as a memorial for his service and dedication to the GSA.
Joseph Nagy, 2012 James Lu Valle Distinguished Service Award
I am pleased to announce, on behalf of the Graduate Students Association (GSA), that Joseph Nagy has been awarded the 2012 Graduate Students Association James Lu Valle Distinguished Service Award.
Professor Nagy serves as professor of English and chair of the Graduate Council. He has shown consistent commitment to working on behalf of graduate and professional students and upholding the values of UCLA. During this academic year, the Graduate and Professional Student Welfare Committee was established to address quality of life issues that affect graduate and professional students. As faculty members are so important to the lives of graduate and professional students, it is vital that faculty members be involved in this process and are active participants in broader life of graduate and professional students. Thus, Professor Nagy’s participation in the committee has been greatly appreciated. Additionally, when a delicate situation arose, Professor Nagy helped ensure that student voices and participation were included.
As president of GSA, it has been my privilege to have gotten to know Professor Nagy. I know he will continue to work on behalf of graduate and professional students.
The purpose of the GSA James Lu Valle Distinguished Service Award is to acknowledge those faculty, staff, and administrators who have served the needs of graduate and professional students above and beyond what is expected. The Award is named after James Lu Valle, the first GSA President, for his service and dedication in forming the UCLA GSA.
Shelli Shepherd, 2012 James Lu Valle Distinguished Service Award
I am pleased to announce, on behalf of the Graduate Students Association (GSA), that Shelli Shepherd has been awarded the 2012 Graduate Students Association James Lu Valle Distinguished Service Award.
Ms. Shepherd is the Pre-Licensure Student Services Coordinator for the School of Nursing. In that capacity, she oversees the pre-licensure students through all of the sometimes difficult processes that come with being in professional school. She is an advocate for her students throughout their nursing school journey. She provides answers to a variety of questions and enables students to make the most of their time at UCLA. Ms. Shepherd also helps ensure that her students know about the variety of resources and events available to them throughout the wider UCLA community. As the advisor to the Graduate Students in Nursing Association, she helps guide the students so they can plan and execute the programs that will enrich their lives.
As president of GSA, it is a privilege to meet dedicated staff members like Shelli Shepherd. I know she will continue to work on behalf of professional students.
The purpose of the GSA James Lu Valle Distinguished Service Award is to acknowledge those faculty, staff, and administrators who have served the needs of graduate and professional students above and beyond what is expected. The Award is named after James Lu Valle, the first GSA President, for his service and dedication in forming the UCLA GSA.
Jack Gibbons, 2012 James LuValle Distinguished Service Award
I am pleased to announce, on behalf of the Graduate Students Association (GSA), that Jack Gibbons has been awarded the 2012 Graduate Students Association James Lu Valle Distinguished Service Award.
Mr. Gibbons is the Director of Residential Education for the Office of Residential Life. Throughout his 35 years at UCLA, he has been a strong advocate for graduate and professional students. From his years working with graduate students in Hershey Hall to advising the residents’ associations at Weyburn Terrace and University Apartments South, Mr. Gibbons has shown an unswerving commitment to enriching the lives of graduate and professional students. He was instrumental in helping start the Weyburn Terrace (now Hilgard) Residents’ Association, and he was also part of the planning process for what became K-Rec. In Winter 2012, he organized a day-long conference on graduate housing and this helped initiate hiring of student staff to assist in the residential life of all graduate housing at UCLA.
As president of GSA, it has been my privilege to work with Mr. Gibbons throughout my time at UCLA. I know he will continue to be dedicated to improving the lives of graduate and professional students and wish him all the best.
The purpose of the GSA James Lu Valle Distinguished Service Award is to acknowledge those faculty, staff, and administrators who have served the needs of graduate and professional students above and beyond what is expected. The Award is named after James Lu Valle, the first GSA President, for his service and dedication in forming the UCLA GSA.
Michael Weismeyer
GSA President, 2011-2012
