Two students, a professor and a faculty member were honored at last night’s Student Government Association meeting.

SGA President Jay Perry was named the Joseph F. Hodes Student of the Year. The award, named after a former SGA president, left Perry nearly speechless.

“This is really important to me because it is named after my esteemed predecessor who taught me everything I know,” he said.

Perry was given the award in recognition of several accomplishments, including four years’ commitment to the Senate, his research on telemarketing throughout college campuses and even placing pencil sharpeners in SLU classrooms.

“Up until today, I thought being elected for a second term was the biggest honor I could receive,” Perry said. “But this tops them all.”

Lauren Gretz, SGA executive vice president, was given the SGA Leadership Scholarship for a strong commitment to school, community leadership and service. Gretz was recognized for her service in Big-Brothers-Big-Sisters and Habitat for Humanity, as well as her campus involvement in Gamma Phi Beta sorority and Oriflamme.

“You never expect to be recognized, or in this case, paid for your work,” Gretz said, exhibiting her excitement. “I want to thank this body [of SGA] for helping me become the leader I am today.”

However, students were not the only ones receiving praise last night. Kathleen Brady, vice president of Facilities Services and Civic Affairs, received the George D. Wendel Civic Leadership Award. The award recognizes “an individual whose actions have proven to further the advancement of the City of St. Louis and Saint Louis University, embodying the ideals of the Jesuit call to be `men and women for others.'”

Brady said she appreciated the award for two main reasons: it was named after Wendel, her former academic advisor when she attended the University, and that it came from the students.

The Mary A. Bruemmer Award honored a professor who had made the greatest impact on the improvement of student life.

This award went to the Communication professor Avis Meyer, Ph.D., who has served as advisor to The University News for more than 25 years.

In a 1990 student survey Meyer was named as one of the 10 most influential teachers at the University.