Arizona State University: 3 ASU Barrett Students Receive Young ATHENA Leaders Award

Press release from Arizona State University:

Nicole Greason

April 1, 2021

Three students in Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University have been recognized for their leadership and achievements by the ATHENA Valley of the Sun organization. 

In a recent HAIL Award ceremony held virtually, the students received the Young ATHENA Leaders Award for their commitment to ATHENA principles of fostering collaboration, building relationships and creating change in the community. 

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ATHENA Valley of the Sun is a nonprofit organization that supports, develops and honors women leaders through leadership programs and community development. Its principles are: 

The students learned about these principles as participants in an ATHENA leadership workshop series presented over the course of the academic year by the T.W. Lewis Center at Barrett Honors College and continued to develop their leadership skills in the ATHENA International Women’s Leadership Series.

Felix Raimondo, a Barrett, The Honors College junior majoring in human systems engineering at the ASU Polytechnic campus, is the first male recipient of an ATHENA Award.

He was awarded in the Fosters Collaboration category. According to the ATHENA organization, this award is given to leaders who welcome others to the work of leadership by valuing the gifts each individual brings, with a perspective that is global and a spirit that is inclusive. The recipient of this award works to deepen understanding, awareness and knowledge through diversity, and encourage participation from those who are often overlooked.

“I am extremely honored to get this award. It means a great deal to me,” Raimondo said.

“I have always wanted to be an ally and learn the importance of treating other people the way they want to be treated, how to talk to other people, and how to help others,” he said, adding that he considers himself a feminist who believes in, and is willing to work for, equality for women.

Raimondo’s leadership and campus involvement includes serving as an ASU Polytechnic campus representative on the Barrett Honors College Council and director of the Barrett Improvements Committee. He also is a Fulton Ambassador and T.W. Lewis Center Ambassador. He served as an Honors Devil and director of education for the ASU March for Our Lives chapter.

Capri Curtis, is a senior in Barrett, The Honors College, majoring in economics with a minor in sociology and a certificate in international business.

Curtis received the award in the Builds Relationships category, which recognizes leaders who engage, empower and trust, connect genuinely with those around them, bond with others profoundly and productively with trust and respect, and reach beyond status and self-interest in search of meaningful connections, according to the organization. 

“I feel absolutely honored to receive the Builds Relationships award. It is beyond significant to me because I actively try to connect with people in my life from a place of love, no judgment,” Curtis said.

“It is so important to me to build positive relationships in life and maintain them from there. It truly is not always what you know, but who you know. People are all we have, and I think a lot of people tend to forget how important positive and healthy relationships are, so I try to always provide a quality space for others to be vulnerable and open.”

Curtis has served as vice president of community service for Kappa Delta sorority and as a volunteer for Feed My Starving Children and Project Sunshine, both organizations that focus on assisting youth. She also is active in efforts to advance social and environmental justice.

Kayla Gunter is a sophomore in Barrett, The Honors College majoring in business communications with a minor in media analysis.

She was given the ATHENA Founders Award, which is focused on people who have and continue to make a unique and powerful change in their communities while embodying each of the ATHENA principles and spirit.

“This award is very meaningful to me because of how much ATHENA's mission to inspire the next generation of leaders resonates with me. I've been very lucky to experience firsthand the benefits of having strong female role models and mentors in my life, so being a part of ATHENA's initiatives and receiving this award has been an amazing experience,” Gunter said.  

Gunter has worked with local high schools to promote leadership, personal development and empowerment for young women. She served as external communications and member engagement officer for the Entertainment Business Association at ASU.  

Each of the Young ATHENA Leaders will receive one year of mentorship with recipients of the ATHENA HAIL Award and participate in a service project titled Developing Systems for Sustainability-Growing the ATHENA Pipeline.

“Felix, Capri and Kayla are some of Barrett’s most outstanding student leaders. The Athena awards showcase the success of emerging leaders from across the state of Arizona whose work is opening doors for women. I am so proud that three Barrett students have been recognized as having an impact at the state level,” said Nicola Foote, vice dean of Barrett, The Honors College.

“Felix’s recognition is especially noteworthy because he is the very first male recipient of the Athena HAIL Award. His recognition underlines that the advancement of women’s leadership is not just a 'women’s issue' – men also have a critical role to play in advancing gender equity, and I am proud that as a Barrett student-leader Felix is leading the way.”

Nathaniel Ross, an Arizona State University sophomore, aspires to work professionally on public policy affecting the disabled community. He recently was awarded the Newman Civic Fellowship, which he believes will help set him on a path to achieve that goal.

Ross is a Flinn Scholar and member of Barrett, The Honors College at ASU who is quadruple majoring in biological sciences, political science, applied quantitative science and history, with a minor in dance and two certificates — one in religion and conflict and another in civic education.

Sophomore Nathaniel Ross has won the Newman Civic Fellowship.
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“I am passionate about disability advocacy and I plan to work in public policy within the disability space. Particularly I want to work in the intersections of disability with issues like education, employment and especially the environment. I plan to go to law school to better understand the legal system's role in disability discrimination. My ultimate goal is to be where the policy is made. I am just not sure if that is as a lawyer, a legislative advocate, or an elected official,” he said.

“This fellowship will help equip me with skills and techniques to increase community engagement and organization. I will also have the opportunity to meet incredible students and professionals who will provide insights into what future paths I can follow to make the biggest positive impact.”

He is one of 290 students from the U.S. and Mexico chosen by Campus Compact, a Boston-based nonprofit organization working to advance the public purposes of higher education, to make up the organization’s 2021–22 cohort of Newman Civic Fellows. Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities committed to the public purposes of higher education, supports institutions in fulfilling their public purposes by deepening their ability to improve community life and to educate students for civic and social responsibility.

The Newman Civic Fellowship is a yearlong program for students from Campus Compact member institutions. The students selected for the fellowship are leaders on their campuses who demonstrate a commitment to finding solutions for challenges facing communities locally, nationally and internationally.

Much of Ross's work centers on community partnerships. Over the last six months, he has worked closely with other students, ASU staff and faculty through Luminosity Lab, a prominent research and development lab that partners with external organizations, to develop and prototype innovative solutions to local and societal challenges.

He serves as vice president for network engagement with ASU's Greenlight Solutions chapter, where he identifies and connects with targeted businesses to develop more environmentally friendly processes and solutions.

He is an intern for Creosote Partners lobbying firm, where he works with clients promoting criminal justice reform, health care access and environmental justice. Nathaniel volunteers as a mentor to children that are dealing with health issues and builds relationships within the community.

“It was such an honor to be chosen to represent ASU in this fellowship. I see my selection as additional motivation to continue the work I have done, as well as to find new ways of improving the lives of the people in my community. I was able to meet some of the people on the selection committee, and hearing how much they believed in me was so encouraging and helped me to believe that I am going in the right direction for my future,” Ross said.

Ross said the best things about being a Newman Fellow are the connections he will make with a network of current and former fellows, the opportunity to attend a conference for fellows next spring to learn about public policy and leadership, and having a mentor throughout the program. 

The fellowship is named for the late Frank Newman, one of Campus Compact’s founders, who was an advocate for civic engagement in higher education. In the spirit of Newman’s leadership, Campus Compact member presidents and chancellors nominate student leaders from their campuses to be named Newman Civic Fellows.

Through the fellowship, Campus Compact provides fellows with a variety of learning and networking opportunities that emphasize personal, professional and civic growth. Each year, fellows participate in numerous virtual training and networking opportunities to help provide them with the skills and connections they need to create large-scale positive change.

The cornerstone of the fellowship is the Annual Convening of Fellows, which offers intensive skill-building and networking over the course of two days. The fellowship also provides fellows with pathways to apply for exclusive scholarship and postgraduate opportunities.

“We are proud to recognize these extraordinary student leaders and thrilled to engage with them,” said Campus Compact President Andrew Seligsohn. “The experience of the last year has driven home to all of us that we need open-minded, innovative, public-spirited thinkers and doers. That is what Campus Compact is about, and the stories of our Newman Civic Fellows demonstrate it's who they are.”

This press release was produced by Arizona State University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.