By Scott B. Wong
Daily Bruin Staff
UCLA Women 4 Change presented nearly 100 leadership awards in
the Charles E. Young Grand Salon on Monday to students who have
demonstrated extraordinary service in enhancing the visibility and
status of women.
The second annual ceremony, sponsored by the Center for Women
and Men, Office of the Dean of Students, Office of Residential
Life, UCLA Orientation and the Women’s Studies Department,
provides non-competitive awards to students who have been nominated
by various offices, programs and centers on campus.
Kathleen McMahon, assistant dean of students, said the award was
designed to celebrate the presence, achievements and challenges of
UCLA women.
“You were all nominated by someone who believed in your
leadership and ability to effect positive change,” Mcmahon
said to the recipients.
Ninety-one students from various university organizations,
including the Academic Advancement Program, Chancellor’s
Office, UCLA Medical School, Center for Student Programming and the
Center for Women and Men, were nominated for the award.
“This diversity shows we are developing leaders in all
sectors,” McMahon said.
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Judy Smith spoke of the
importance of increasing the number of women in faculty
positions.
“Women serve as mentors to other women along the
ranks,” said Smith, who noted that in all its years, the
university has yet to hire a female chancellor.
Smith said the ingredients of leadership consisted of three
things: passion, persistence and independence.
“All of us have seen doors close and we choose to open
them ““ that’s leadership,” she said.
Queen Udofia, a third-year African American studies, philosophy
and aerospace science student, was nominated for her work in
various community-based programs, including Project MAC, for
children who have been sexually, physically or mentally abused, and
Project BRITE, which stands for Bruin Reforming Incarceration
Through Education.
Udofia said she hopes she’s helped to better the lives of
the 15- to 17-year-old youths she works with through Project
BRITE.
“It helps them while they are awaiting sentencing,”
Udofia said. “They can think about positives and what they
want to do with their lives.”
Collecting nearly every possible university award this year,
including the Distinguished Bruin nominated by the Alumni
Association, the Senior of the Year by Bruin Life, the Outstanding
Senior and the Chancellor’s Service Award, Udofia discussed
the qualities of a leader.
“As a leader, one should be able to work in all
circles,” Udofia said. “It transcends gender lines,
racial lines and color lines.”
Fourth-year neuroscience student Sherry Yafai was awarded for
serving as founder and president of the Undergraduate Mobile Clinic
Club, which works to change the view of women in the field of
homeless health care.
“It’s important to recognize women volunteering
because it’s a common role for women to help others, but it
hasn’t always been recognized,” Yafai said.
“We’re starting to recognize that (volunteering) is not
such an easy thing to do.”
Recipients also included Tracy Davis, student regent-designate
for the University of California, Karren Lane, president-elect of
the Undergraduate Students Association Council and Roseanne
Gutierrez, USAC academic affairs commissioner.
Six men were also honored for their work in raising awareness
and status of women issues.
According to Assistant Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs
Administration Soncia Lilly, who presented the awards with McMahon,
it’s important to recognize student leaders in order to
create and perpetuate a “culture of giving.”
“We are not here for UCLA to honor you. We are here
because you honor UCLA,” Lilly said, quoting Chancellor
Albert Carnesale in last week’s Humanitarian Awards
speech.