College of Arts & Sciences

Dean's Award for Outstanding Achievement in Academics, 2011

Shana Wynn, Department of Social Sciences

Shana Wynn is a political science major, who maintains an impressive grade point average (3.9) while serving as Treasurer of the Pre-Law Society; Fundraising Chair of WSSU Honors Organization; Student Senator, SGA Class Council; Writing Consultant, WSSU Language Arts Center; and Peer Health Educator, Office of Student Development. Shana is a student worker in the Office of the Provost and served on the WSSU SACS Committee and the Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Search Committee. She serves as a volunteer at Forest Park Elementary School and Samaritan Ministries. She is also involved with the NAACP. She attended the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill CLEO/Pre-Law Program during the summer of 2010. She was a presenter at National Association of African American Honors Programs in 2010.

Dean's Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research, 2011

Jasmine Richardson, Department of Chemistry

Jasmine is recognized for her dedication and contribution towards biomedical research as an undergraduate student. Jasmine has contributed to biomedical research both in the area of neuroscience and behavioral sciences. As a result of her significant contributions in the above research, she is an undergraduate co-author of a peer reviewed scientific publication entitled, ?A novel IV cocaine self-administration procedure in rats: differential effects of dopamine, serotonin, and GABA drug pre-treatments on cocaine consumption and maximal price paid-- in Psychopharmacology, Nov 2010. The breadth of Jasmine's undergraduate research participation is remarkable. As a MARC scholar in the MARC U*STAR program at WSSU, she studied the relationship between the behavioral economic concepts of cocaine consumption and price paid using self-administration in a rodent model of drug addiction (in Dr. D. Robert's group), the critical role of serotonin in brain development (Dr. F-C Zhou's group), and the effect of adeno-associated viruses on dopamine and cannabinoid receptors (Dr. A. Howlett's group). Jasmine is an outstanding undergraduate researcher who exhibits high intellectual capacity and work ethic. One of the highlight of her research is the recognition of her outstanding research presentation at the national Annual Biomedical Conference for Minority Students in Phoenix, Arizona, 2009. Although it was her first national research meeting, she won a top award for her presentation in the neuroscience discipline among 130 student presentations. Notably, Jasmine is also a presenter or co-author of more than 10 local and national research presentations.

Leslie Miles, Department of Mass Communications

Leslie's accomplishments in the past year to both her department and the university have been nothing short of spectacular. As the station manager of Ram-TV, Leslie has single-handedly coordinated the latest evolution of the channel, bringing it from a semi-regular schedule of student-produced programming to a channel that airs on a 24/7 rotation. Leslie coordinates the weekly student interest meetings that fuel the channel's programming and production, and works individually with those who need her guidance and experience.

Until this year, Ram-TV has functioned as a department-sponsored extracurricular activity, not as a student organization. Leslie drafted the group's constitution and initiated the process of registering Ram-TV as an official student organization. The group will become eligible for operational funding next year because of Leslie's efforts.

As part of Ram-TV's charter, the group must carry out a community service project. Leslie has volunteered Ram-TV's assistance with the Surry County African-American Historical Society. That group, which is attempting to document the history and contributions of Surry County African-Americans, will use Ram-TV's students to carry out videotaping interviews with community members and transcribing those tapes for editing purposes. The work is not only long and tedious, but something the historical society members are not equipped to do.

One of Leslie's most outstanding qualities is her desire to commit and complete. She volunteers for department activities on a regular basis, oftentimes representing the Department of Mass Communications, in the community. She is currently a WSSU ambassador to the River Run Film Festival, where she will assist that group over the course of its event.

Leslie is one example of the remarkable students we have at WSSU. She demonstrates not only tenacity and commitment, but a genuine willingness to go beyond what's expected of her on a daily basis.

Jasmine Fenner, Department of Social Sciences

Jasmine is a senior from Raleigh, North Carolina. Majoring in History with a minor in Education, she hopes to teach history in her hometown after she graduates. Her greatest accomplishments during her matriculation at WSSU would be overcoming struggles in her personal life, including an abusive relationship, and going from being on the verge of academic probation to pulling her GPA to a 3.6. She credits her faith in God and her supportive family for helping her to make these positive changes in her life. Her inspiration also comes from supportive faculty in the history program.