NYU Silver Students Honored at the President's Service Awards

On Tuesday, April 23, students and faculty from New York University gathered at the Kimmel Center’s Eisner and Lubin Auditorium for the 2014 presentation of the President’s Service Awards. The ceremony honored students and student groups—including several from the NYU Silver School of Social Work—for their contributions throughout the University, in the greater New York City community, and beyond.

After opening remarks from Vice President for Global Student Affairs Marc Wais and NYU President John Sexton, the awards presentation began. Sherry Glied, dean of the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, presented awards to several of NYU’s student organizations. The Silver School’s Student Collective of Global Social Work was honored for their collaborative efforts to address issues affecting the “health, well-being, and human rights” of vulnerable populations within the global community.

The NYU Dream Team, comprised of students from several academic disciplines including the Silver School, was awarded for its “excellence in advocacy and programming initiatives highlighting the experiences of undocumented students in higher education.” The Dream Team champions the needs and rights of undocumented students at NYU and in the community-at-large through weekly meetings and discussion-fueling events.

The Silver School of Social Work Undergraduate Student Government Association was also honored for its “exemplary programming in hosting numerous social, civic, educational, and collaborative events throughout the 2013-2014 academic year.” The USGA received similar accolades earlier this month when it was recognized at the Silver Student Awards ceremony for its programmatic efforts.

Following the presentation of awards to student organizations, Dennis Di Lorenzo, dean of the NYU School of Continuing and Professional Studies, bequeathed awards to individual students. Beisi Huang, MSW ’14, was honored for her “demonstration of the ideals of global citizenship and global scholarship” through her work as president of the Chinese Student Support Group. Huang, who was recently awarded the Silver Spirit Award for her leadership work as an international representative of the Graduate Student Association and president of the Support Group, stated, “I am absolutely honored to be awarded. When I first got the email during spring break, I could not believe it, and I did email back them asking if this was true. And I got the reply from their office telling me that this is happening and then I started to believe this. It was such a pleasant surprise. The trust and support we have built within the Chinese Student Support Group is so valuable and vital. I am so glad and appreciate my group members' trust and cooperation. I am proud of what I have done for this community as the president of the group, and also as a minority in the larger community.”

Anthony Bracco, BS ’14, was honored for his “leadership, commitment, and passion to the betterment of student life within the Silver School of Social Work.” Bracco, who serves as co-president of the USGA, will be returning to NYU Silver in the fall for the one-year advanced standing MSW program.

Christina Ramirez, MSW ’14, received her award for “displaying vision, dedication to education, and leadership in creating the Latino Social Work Student Organization at the Silver School of Social Work.” Ramirez is a Zelda Foster Fellow and student representative on the Diversity and Social Justice Committee at Silver School.

Sexton saluted the award recipients: “Your achievements inspire all of us: you shape the character of our remarkable community of learners, and you inform our lives by your example.”