The Moms Association at Illinois announced the winners of its annual awards and scholarship programs during Moms Weekend on April 7-9.
Humanitarian Award
Justin Lien and Ashley Armstrong received the Humanitarian Award.. Each recipient received a stipend, and a grant will be given to a charity or organization of their choice.
Armstrong, a graduate student in mechanical science and engineering, is the co-founder of ENVISION (Engineers Volunteering in STEM Education), which organizes and develops hands-on science, technology, engineering and mathematics activities for K-12 youth in the Champaign-Urbana area.
Lien, a senior studying molecular and cellular biology and psychology, has been involved in Illini Emergency Medical Services since his freshman year. Each year, IEMS members provide emergency medical care to over 100 people at Illinois events, certify over 500 campus members in CPR and certify over 60 campus members as EMTs.
Medallion of Honor
Tonya Pulley received the Medallion of Honor Award. Pulley has served as an academic adviser since 1997, advising undergraduates in kinesiology and the Division of General Studies. She currently advises undergraduates in the School of Integrative Biology.
Pulley began her career as a seventh-grade science teacher, and after receiving her master’s degree in exercise physiology and biomechanics, arrived on campus as a lecturer and academic adviser.
The Medallion of Honor award was created in 1966. Since 1977, this award has been given to a woman affiliated with the university.
Mom of the Year Award
Maureen Carr of Darien, Illinois, received the 10th annual Amelia Alpiner Stern Mom of the Year award. The award gives students an opportunity to honor the support, encouragement and inspiration that their moms provide.
Carr was nominated by her daughter, Maura, a senior and the final of the family’s five children to graduate from Illinois.
Illini Spirit Award
The Women's Resources Center’s I-Heart Healthy Relationships received the Illini Spirit Award.
I-Heart Healthy Relationships is an educational program on abuse within relationships, with a particular emphasis on undergraduate women, including international students. It emphasizes how to recognize and build healthy relationships. It uses a bystander intervention model to assist students in knowing when and how to intervene when they have concerns about a friend’s relationship.
Scholarship Winners
A one-time scholarship of $1,000 was awarded to four full-time students who have successfully completed at least 24 college credit hours. The winners are:
- Isabelle Ausdal, sophomore, agricultural economics with a concentration in agricultural law and public policy major
- Monika Zmudzki, sophomore, finance and accountancy major
- Karena Coicou, senior, political science major
- Alexander Bryk, freshman, Spanish major
Visit union.illinois.edu/PFPO for more information.
