Students recognized for 'spirit'

The Spirit of Princeton Award, which honors undergraduates who have positively contributed "to various facets of the University, including the arts, community service, student organizations, residential living, religious life and athletic endeavors," has been awarded to 10 students this year.

A selection committee of students and administrators chose the winners from a pool of about 35 nominees. They are seniors Christopher Chaney, Cassandra Debenedetto, Freddy Flaxman, Drew Frederick, Dustin Kahler, Paul Pawlowski, Katrina Rogachevsky, Brigham Walker, Jessica Wey and Sandy Zaeh.

Associate Dean of Undergraduate Students Tom Dunne, a member of the selection committee, said the group chose winners with "a wide range of contributions to the community that generally have not been formally recognized."

Another committee member, Richardson Auditorium director Delia Vayansky, said the selection committee examined whether the contributions of the nominees were likely to make a lasting impression on campus.

"We have people who have started the Jadwin Jungle," she said. "We have students who have put on fundraisers for important causes. We have students who have started seminars or events that will last beyond their time at Princeton. They are people who have started something that will live on after them."

The 10 recipients will be honored at a dinner later this month, where they will receive a certificate and a book signed by a University faculty member.

The winners

Christopher Chaney, an international student from Germany, has promoted diversity and discussion on campus through his work with the Black Men's Awareness Group (BMAG) and the Black Student Union. He organized the BMAG conference for the last two years, drawing hundreds of Princeton alumni, professors and students from universities nationwide to discuss race and culture. He also has planned the annual Streetball Tournament and the Sports Symposium.

Cassandra Debenedetto has left her mark on Princeton by founding the Anscombe Society. This conservative group advocates traditional values on issues ranging from feminism to sex and marriage. The religion major from Stow, Mass., is also an active member of the Religious Life Council and the Aquinas student group.

Upon finding the football stands nearly empty at a game his freshman year, Freddy Flaxman co-founded the Jadwin Jungle, which allows students to watch games at a discount in an effort to increase school spirit. He has also coordinated the annual dodgeball tournament for three years, which grew to 112 teams this year.

Drew Frederick stands out for his dedication to community service through the Student Volunteer Council. A former president of the University Big Sibs program, Frederick has mentored a local boy named Isaiah for four years. He also worked with faculty to plan the syllabus and structure of the first-ever "The Just University" seminar. Frederick is part of the Pace Council for Civic Values and will be participating in Teach For America next year.

Dustin Kahler has been a member of the soccer and rugby squads, while also finding time to participate in the Global Issues Forum and Oxfam. He helped to coordinate "An Evening for Darfur" in 2004 and served as an Outdoor Action leader.

As an officer for the Pride Alliance for four years and its co-president last year, Paul Pawlowski has promoted lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender awareness on campus. He implemented the first All-Ivy Drag Competition in 2005, securing President Tilghman as a judge, and has served as an LGBT peer educator. Pawlowski, a "Reflections on Diversity" speaker, was also involved with Community House, international student pre-orientation and the Coalition of Peace Action.

Get the best of the ‘Prince’ delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe now »

Katrina Rogachevsky also served as the co-president of Pride Alliance and has been an LGBT peer educator. Last year, she directed The Vagina Monologues and helped organize the 2004 event, "An Evening for Darfur." Rogachevsky also has served on the Honor Committee.

Walker, a varsity football player, created a University-sponsored health program tailored to student-athletes. The program focuses on how dangerous drinking habits affect athletic performance. He also worked with SHARE and Public Safety to create informational and contact sheets for the eating clubs, which are intended to help facilitate the timely reporting of sexual crimes.

Jessica Wey developed and planned the first Asian Market Night event in 2005 as a way to "showcase Asian life on campus," she said. Wey, who is an RCA, was also active in lobbying for the creation of the Wilson College art studio, meant as a workspace and gallery in Wilcox Hall.

Sandy Zaeh, a member of the swimming and diving team, coordinates a program offering swimming lessons to developmentally disabled children. She has also been involved with service during the summer. Last year, Zaeh interned with the Botusa project in Africa, where she helped look for ways to fight widespread disease in Botswana. Zaeh is also a staff writer for The Daily Princetonian.

The selection committee was composed of students and administrators, including Dunne, Vayansky, Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Students Rachel Baldwin, Associate Dean of Religious Life Paul Raushenbush and Associate Director of Athletics Erin McDermott.

Students on the committee included former winners Aitalohi Amaize '07 and Jonah Perlin '07, former USG president Alex Lenahan '07, and Chanakya Sethi '07 and Kavita Saini '08, the former and current editors-in-chief of the 'Prince'.