Awarding the diversity

Center4ME to honor outstanding students and faculty members at banquet

Liberty University’s Center for Multicultural Enrichment (Center4ME), with the help of several other schools and departments, will honor outstanding students and staff at the 21st annual Achievement Awards Saturday, April 30.

The event is a formal banquet consisting of a four-course dinner, entertainment and award presentations by the Center4ME, school of education, Office of Student Conduct, Office of Student Leadership and the Liberty University Multicultural Advisory Board, according to the Center4ME’s website.

There will be one award for Faculty/Staff of the Year, and three separate students will be awarded Freshman of the Year, Lead Fellow of the Year and the Achievement Award.

The winners will be announced the night of the banquet.

celebrate— Liberty students attended the 20th annual Achievement Awards in 2015. Photo credit: Joel Coleman

Celebrate— Liberty students attended the 20th annual Achievement Awards in 2015. Photo credit: Joel Coleman

Allen Ancheril, associate director of campus relations for the Center4ME, described the lengthy selection process for the Achievement Awards.

He said after they check with the Registrar’s Office, they begin their selections based on GPA.

“If we have too many nominees, we drive the GPA up a little higher just to condense it,” Ancheril said.

He said, first, the department will send out emails to the nominees, informing them that they have been selected, and the nominees will either accept or decline.

The individuals will then be interviewed by a panel, which consists of faculty and staff from across the university.

The interview constitutes 80 percent of the final score the panel uses to select a winner.

The remaining 20 percent comes from the final vote, which is open to voting online until April 11.

Other qualifications for the finalists are ethnic minority, having eight disciplinary points or less within the previous semester, excelling in Christian character, and participating in the campus community, according to the Center4ME’s website.

“I think it’s important that we highlight individuals who come from different backgrounds, and (the Achievement Awards are) a venue that explains that even though we’re different, we have our similarities,” Ancheril said.

“We’re unique in our different functions, but we are united for the same purpose. That’s our department motto.”

Dr. Troy Matthews, associate professor and director for the Christian/Community Service Office, is one of this year’s finalists for the Faculty/Staff of the Year award and said he is honored to be included as a nominee.

“While some in society seek to extol one culture over another, the Center for Multicultural Enrichment offers a biblically-based view of culture and people — one that recognizes we are all created in the image of God,” Matthews said.

“To be recognized for such an award suggests that at some level, my life and work has appeared to others to be in alignment with the purpose and mission of Liberty University and the Center4ME. To me, that is the humbling and rewarding aspect of such an award. To God be the glory.”

Rachel Cartegna, a business: project management student from Medford Lakes, New Jersey, is one of the finalists for the Freshman of the Year award and said the nomination was a “complete
surprise” to her.

“If I were to win, I would feel immensely honored, especially having met the other nominees, because I truly believe that they are all deserving of this recognition more than myself,” Cartegna said.

“It has been a cool journey. I got to meet people such as the head of student housing and of student conduct during the panel interview process. I’m looking forward to the event because who doesn’t like to get all dolled up every now and then?”

Jaylin Jones, a digital media student from Fort Leanord Word, Missouri, is one of three finalists for Lead Fellow of the Year. He said this nomination is his first at Liberty and will encourage him to continue to be the best student he can be.

“The LEAD (Leadership Excellence and Academic Achievement) program has done so much for me by just being a family that reminded me of home,” Jones said.

“If I win, I plan to represent this program to the best of my ability because they have done so much for me.”

Axa Yohannan, one of the finalists for the Achievement Award, is an aeronautics student from Staten Island, New York.

She said the nomination was a confidence boost, a privilege and an act of God’s grace.

“It would definitely mean a lot if I am the winner,” Yohannan said.

“It would just make me feel appreciated for working hard and keeping a good record in school along with being able to see God’s faithfulness come through in another amazing way.”

The 21st annual Achievement Awards are open to all who would like to attend.

Tickets are $30 each and can be purchased online through the ticket portal.

“It really does highlight academic achievement, and lot of these finalists have tremendous stories,” Ancheril said.

“You hear some pretty amazing testimonies as well. To see where these people come from and then to see them giving their all at school, giving their all to the campus and their community, and to see them honored overall is just an amazing thing to see.”

For more information about the banquet and the finalists visit

Ritter is a news reporter.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *