On Thursday, April 21, Boston held it’s annual STRONG AWARDS! The Strong Awards are an award ceremony honoring our College Mentors along with other members of the Strong Women, Strong Girls Community.
The event was sponsored by Natixis Global Asset Management and Simmons College, and hosted by Loomis Sayles.
The Awards:
Above & Beyond Strong Leader: A Strong Leader who has demonstrated exceptional commitment to the mentors and impact in furthering the SWSG vision, mission, and values (one Strong Leader will be selected).
Nominee and Winner: Jane Phelan
Jessica Iocca presents the award for Above and Beyond Strong Leader to Jane Phelan and accepts it on her behalf.
Above & Beyond Site Partner: A Site Facilitator who has furthered the SWSG mission by working collaboratively to create innovative strategies to meet the needs of girls, young women, and the community (one Site Partner will be selected).
Nominees: Katie Chung, Sarah Greenwood Elementary School; Victoria Eells, JFK Elementary School; Karla Settles, Mather Elementary School; Alma Wright, William M. Trotter Elementary School
Winner: Katie Chung, Sarah Greenwood Elementary School
Maria Gallagher and Alicia Payne present the award for Above and Beyond Site Partner to Katie Chung from Sarah Greenwood Elementary School, and accept it on her behalf.
Above & Beyond Campus Coach: A Campus Coach who has furthered the SWSG mission by working collaboratively with the chapter, staff, and community site partners to create innovative strategies to meet the needs of girls, young women, and the community (one Campus Coach will be selected).
Nominee and Winner: Amanda Moser, Simmons College
Abigail Gerard presents the award for Above and Beyond Campus Coach to Amanda Moser of Simmons College.
Above & Beyond Mentor Team: A team of college women who mentor at a site together demonstrating exceptional teamwork, preparedness for programming, and a unique ability to connect with their girls (one team will be selected).
Nominees: Boston ABCD Motel Support, Boston Teacher’s Union School, Dudley Street Neighborhood Charter School, Eliot School, JFK Elementary School Group A, Mather Elementary School, Pope John Paul II Catholic Academy, Somerville YMCA, Trotter Elementary School, UP Academy Holland
Winner: Boston ABCD Motel Support; Sara Klos, Grace Eisenbiegler, and Molly McFadden of Boston College SWSG Chapter
Ali Castro presents the Above and Beyond Mentor Team to Grace Eisenbeigler, accepting on behalf of the Boston ABCD Team.
Above & Beyond College Mentor: An individual college mentor who demonstrates exceptional commitment to her girls and chapter (one winner will be selected for each college/university).
Nominees:
Boston College: Taylor Davies, Grace Eisenbeigler, Mackenzie Feehan, Haley McCabe, Maria Porcello, Brittany Stefano Harvard University: Jahnavi Curlin, Liz Huber, Kendall Jackson, Andi Mirviss Northeastern University: Amie Matthews, Adriana Mesia, Jenie Michael, Audriana Ossenberg, Kaleigh Schnell, Jeyshri Sundaram, Jessica Uhlig, Olivia Van Benschoten Simmons College: Emily Anderson, Maria Cervantes Gonzalez, Abby Conlin, Samantha DeJong, Abigail Girard, Isadora Jacquez, Leah Kossak, Madison Lambert, Emily Leedom, McKenzie Lewis, Sophia Streimer, Julia Vogt Tufts University: Eni Akintade UMass Boston: Jeanyne Hendershott, Medinah Lafaille, Ashley Roti
Winners: Boston College: Maria Porcella Harvard University: Liz Huber, Northeastern University: Jenie Michael Simmons College: Abigail Girard Tufts University: Eni Akintade UMass Boston: Ashley Roti
Maria Porcello is presented with the Above and Beyond Mentor Award for the Boston College Chapter
Eni Akintade is presented with the Above and Beyond Mentor Award for the Tufts University Chapter
Jenie Michael is presented with the Above and Beyond Mentor Award for the Northeastern University Chapter
Abigail Gerard is presented with the Above and Beyond Mentor Award for the Simmons College Chapter
Liz Huber is presented with the Above and Beyond Mentor Award for the Harvard University Chapter
Ashley Roti is presented with the Above and Beyond Mentor Award for the UMass Boston Chapter
Kenyora presents the Chapter Directors of UMass Boston with the Above and Beyond Chapter Award
Above & Beyond SWSG Chapter: This award will go to one SWSG chapter that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to furthering the impact of SWSG’s vision, mission, and values by its participation and progress within the Chapter Supply Initiative. The Chapter will be selected by SWSG staff based on its performance within the Chapter Supply Initiative.
Nominees: Boston College, Harvard University, Northeastern University, Simmons College, Tufts University, UMass Boston
Winner: UMass Boston SWSG Chapter
Aside from the awards, the Strong Awards 2016 featured Guest Speaker Victoria Glover, as well as Musical Guests Emma Kromm and Liat Rubin. Following the award ceremony, Junior Mentors were presented with their graduation certificates, and Siiri, our Executive Director, made some closing remarks.
Victoria Glover delivers the Keynote Speech about her time as a Girl in the Program, a College Mentor, and now as a Strong Leader.
Junior Mentors receive their graduation certificates.
Siiri Morley, Executive Director, delivers the closing remarks to the Awards Ceremony.
Emma Kromm (left) and Liat Rubin (right) perform Bruno Mars’s “Count on Me”
Check out the rest of the photographs from the night here!