West Chester University: The 1871 Awards Celebrate 40 Exceptional Students The 1871 Awards Celebrate 40 Exceptional Students

Press release from West Chester University:

April 9, 2021

The 1871 Award was established in 2018 and represents the year in which West Chester
University was founded. This year’s awards are unique as the University celebrates
its sesquicentennial — 150th — anniversary in 2021.

WCU juniors and seniors who have excelled both in the classroom and beyond are eligible
for the 1871 Award, which rewards their accomplishments in academics, career readiness,
leadership, and community engagement. A selection committee comprising faculty, staff,
and one student reviews applications, selecting a maximum of 71 students annually.

Among the 2021 award winners are several who have achieved perfect 4.0 grade point averages (GPAs); student organization presidents and club officers; students who have started
new student organizations; recipients of multiple scholarships; inductees into many
honor societies; student athletes, tutors, peer mentors, orientation leaders, and
resident assistants.

Senior Yeseena Alli, who will speak at the April 15 ceremony, is one of the 40 inspirational students
celebrated by this award. One of the highest achieving students in the sciences in West Chester University’s history, this chemistry-biology
major with a minor in women’s and gender studies has maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout
her entire undergraduate career. Since complete electronic records began 36 years
ago, Alli is the ONLY chemistry degree recipient to have achieved perfect grades each
semester. She also earned the distinction of being WCU’s nominee for the Syed Ali-Zaidi Award for Academic
Excellence, presented by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.

A pre-med student, Alli co-founded the WCU chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association, a national organization dedicated to advancing women in medicine,
advocating for equity, and ensuring excellence in health care. She has also served
as a peer mentor for the Dowdy Multicultural Center, has been active in the Muslim
Student Association, and has volunteered extensively in the local community.

Alli and the other 39 students will be honored by the academic dean of their respective colleges, in alphabetical
order. Other speakers are WCU President Chris Fiorentino, Vice President for Student Affairs
Zebulun Davenport, and Assistant Vice President for Student Development in the Division of Student Affairs
Judy Kawamoto.

The 2021 1871 Award winners are:

Tanya Adkins, Yeseena Alli, Joseph Bevilacqua, Skylar Brightbill, Blair Broad, Kaitlyn
Cannon, Barbara Chen, Carley Cirafesi, William Claudio, Amondo Clayton, Mitzi Colin
Lopez, Katherine Cooney, Hannah Crespy, Emily Dwyer, Nebiyou Elias, Shannon Emery,
Sydney Fritz, Erica Fus, Lauryn Gaston, Jessica Hazell, Allison Herbst, Madison Justice,
Erin Kaliszak, Sophie Koval, Bianca Maggio, Dunya Markovic, Samantha Moser, Kathryn
Mosser, Mae Prasch, Courtney Rothman, Elizabeth Schultz, Hayley Sholansky, Allison
Short, Megan Streich, Julia Strohl, Shreya Sukur, Hannah Wagner, Samantha Yothers,
Amber Young, Mikayla Zeigler.

Visit the 1871 Award website for additional information.

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