AS 55 winners go the extra mile for community
Justin Perry
Issue date: 5/5/09 Section: News
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Sterling was one of the students honored for going the extra mile on campus at the 18th annual A.S. 55 Awards Banquet, hosted by A.S. last Thursday evening at Morris Dailey Auditorium.
"A.S. 55 is really about honoring up to 55 students annually for their unselfish time, energy and dedication to bettering our university, this community, their peers, future students and just putting others ahead of themselves," said A.S. Vice President Albert Hsieh.
Rodney Myatt, a biological sciences professor, and 40 student honorees were each awarded the one-time A.S. 55 awards at the event.
The event also recognized 40 other students who received an S.T. S. Saffold Scholarship for demonstrating "leadership and involvement in campus and community life." Scholarship recipients were also required to have completed 15 semester units and earn a minimum GPA of 2.5.
"I was really excited for them to ask me to come to the ceremony," said Heather Bennett, a junior sociology major and scholarship recipient. "I wasn't even expecting to win. I just put in my time and did the essay. I hoped that something good would happen and it did."
Bennett said the S.T. S. Saffold Scholarship was the first scholarship she has ever won.
"I'm really proud of all the honorees and everyone that put this event together," Hsieh said.
The ceremony featured opening speeches by members of A.S. and Jennifer Whitmore, wife of SJSU President Jon Whitmore, and a keynote address by San Jose City Councilman Sam Liccardo.
In addition to the presentation of the awards, guests were entertained with dance performances by SJSU Pride of the Pacific Islands club. Prior to the ceremony, honorees were also invited to a banquet at San Jose City Hall.
Hsieh said the honorees are chosen by an A.S. 55 selection committee, which consists of him, three other A.S. directors and three university representatives. He said the process is very similar to the homecoming selection process.
Sterling said it is important to have awards like the A.S. 55 Awards.
"You work really hard and you don't necessarily always expect to get recognized," she said. "It's important to recognize our students so that they feel like there's some kind of initiative for them to keep going.
Hsieh also agreed that A.S. 55 awards are a huge benefit to the campus.
"I think it's a reassurance that others are just as dedicated to helping out our society," he said. "Knowing that these people are taking small steps, after graduation, who knows what potential they can bring. For me, it was just an eye opener that other people care about this world just as much as I do."
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