Twenty-three of Saint Louis University’s leaders were selected for the Student Leadership Honoraria Award. According to Dean of Students Scott Smith, Ph.D., the award is granted to individuals who make a positive impact for the SLU community and campus. The Honoraria program awards scholarships to students who hold senior positions in their organization. The program is there to recognize what these leaders do for the university and the impact they make on their peers.

SGA President Sam Howard said, “Because I am invested in this community, I want to take on this position.”

Howard and every subsequent SGA president will receive full tuition from the Honoraria program without having to apply.

Howard compares her experience at SLU to being like a sponge. She has taken in all her experiences, and now the time has come for her to start to give back what the University has offered her and pass it on to all SLU students.

The Student Leadership Honoraria Award is not a new scholarship program; it is an amendment to the existing stipend program. In previous years, only 13 student leaders received scholarships and the original budget was $67,500.

Last year former president of SGA Andrew Clifton and Smith worked on improving the program and gathering more funds. They wanted to define the reason students deserve such an honor.

Smith said the stipend program initially aroused confusion among the students, and the process was unclear. .

“I think it is a more open and judicious process,” said Vice President of Student Development Kent Porterfield, Ed. D. “The former selection was more complicated and confusing to students.”

The new changes include a budget of $94,000 Porterfield said, “In the new model, there are more awards being given, so [that] more student leaders benefit.”

There are five levels of honors:

Billiken Premier Honoraria: handed to one leader of a historical organization that has had a “profound impact on campus life,” according to the letter in the application. The student receives $10,500.

High Impact Honoraria: given to three student leaders who make noteworthy changes on campus life. The students each receive $7,500 in scholarships.

Complete Honoraria: awarded to five student leaders to which the selection committee chooses based on credentials. The students will each receive $5,000.

Partial Honoraria: also chosen by the selection committee based on credentials. Each student will receive $2,500.

Book Scholarship: 10 book scholarships will be given to student leaders, for $400 a semester ($800 a year).

Recipients of the 2008-2009 Student Leadership Honoraria Awards

Adam Tamburin
The University News
Billiken Premier Honorarium
$10,500

Steve Della Camera
Great Issues Committee
High Impact Honoraria
$7,500

Kristopher Premier
Student Activities Board
High Impact Honoraria
$7,500

Kyle Sennish
KSLU
High Impact Honoraria
$7,500

Rehan Refai
ISF
Complete Honoraria
$5,000

Tamara Harris
Black Student Alliance
Complete Honoraria
$5,000

Caitlin Dunn
Habitat for Humanity
Complete Honoraria
$5,000

Justin P. Gimotea
Rainbow Alliance
Complete Honoraria
$5,000

Andrew Putnam
SLU Global Medical Brigades
Complete Honoraria
$5,000

Meghna Nagabhushan
Residence Hall Association
Partial Honoraria
$2,500

Kevin M. Boehm
Commuter Student Association
Partial Honoraria
$2,500

Nicolas T. Aguina
Oriflamme
Partial Honoraria
$2,500

Kevin M. Grillot
Students for Life
Partial Honoraria
$2,500

Meghan E. Kane
Panhellenic Council
Book Scholarship
$800

Michelle Touche
Daughters of Isabella
Book Scholarship
$800

Joseph R. Starke, Jr.
Knights of Colombus
Book Scholarship
$800

Daniel J. McGinnis
Student Conduct Board
Book Scholarship
$800
Scott MacArthur
Interfraternity Council
Book Scholarship
$800

Andrew Lang
Association of Parks College Students
Book Scholarship
$800