Three Graduates to Receive UC s Presidential Leadership Medal of Excellence

Three University of Cincinnati graduates will be presented with an engraved medal of honor from UC President Nancy L. Zimpher for their exemplary record in academics, leadership, character and service. The recipients of the University of Cincinnati’s Presidential Leadership Medal of Excellence (PLME) will be honored at the annual UC Recognition Ceremony at 4 p.m., Sunday, May 18, in the Great Hall of Tangeman University Center (TUC). The honorees will also receive special recognition at the June Commencement Ceremony at 2 p.m., Saturday, June 14, in Fifth Third Arena at Shoemaker Center.

UC graduates Monique Jindal of Loveland, Ohio, Jerry Tsai of Marysville, Ohio, and Ryan Vose of Springboro, Ohio, were selected from 32 nominations from UC administrators, faculty and staff. The finalists for the award were reviewed by a UC committee represented by the UC Alumni Association, Student Government, Student Activities and Leadership Development (SALD), Faculty Senate and UC’s branch campuses.

The medal, a UC tradition since 2002, is awarded to graduating seniors with a minimum 3.0 GPA who have demonstrated leadership in and out of the classroom, as well as citizenship and service at UC and in the outlying community.

The bronze medal features the university’s crest on the front and the honored graduate’s name engraved on the back.

Monique Jindal

The Loveland, Ohio, resident and Walnut Hills High School graduate is graduating from the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences (A&S) with a bachelor’s degree in Spanish/pre-medicine. She has the added honor of representing her college as a student marshal. Through the UC Connections dual admissions program, Jindal is now guaranteed admission into the UC College of Medicine. Before attending medical school, she plans to take a year off of school to volunteer at a medical clinic in Peru. “As a future physician, I plan to implement programs that prevent and control health risks prevalent within the Latino community, such as diabetes,” she says. “I would like to provide educational programs which focus on holistic care and prevention. Through my experiences and accomplishments at UC, I am now positive that these dreams can be realized.” The UC Honors Student was co-founder and vice president of Serve Beyond Cincinnati, an organization created by UC students. Serve Beyond Cincinnati strives to build an emerging, civic-minded generation by providing national and international service experiences for UC students. Jindal led three alternative break trips to various parts of Mexico and Louisiana. She is also founder and president of the UC student organization, “What’s in a Doctor’s Bag?” Through dynamic and entertaining student presentations, the organization is dedicated to easing children’s fears about visiting the doctor. Her service activities also include serving as an English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) tutor to ninth-graders at Withrow International High School and serving dinner at St. Francis Soup Kitchen once a week. During summer 2006, Jindal volunteered as a translator for doctors and nurses during appointments with Spanish-speaking patients. She also volunteers with Heartland Hospice. Her academic achievements include making the dean’s list each quarter and selection for the honors section of her organic chemistry lab. She presented her research at the American Chemical Society. “Her almost perfect academic record speaks of her self discipline, dedication to learning and refusal to contribute anything but her personal best to her educational endeavors,” says Suzette Combs, director of the UC Pre-Professional Advising Center. Jindal’s leadership roles including serving as a treasurer and senator for Student Government and membership in the Omicron Delta Kappa national leadership honor society. As a member of the Alpha Epsilon Delta honorary pre-medical fraternity, she served as chapter delegate at the March national convention. She is also a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority.

Jerry Tsai

The Marysville, Ohio native and graduate of Marysville High School is earning his bachelor’s degree in political science from the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences (and will represent his college as student marshal at Commencement) and is earning a minor in business. As a 2007-2008 Presidential Fellow for the Center for the Study of the Presidency, Tsai was among 80 students to be selected nationally to travel to Washington, D.C. to study leadership, governance and future careers in public service. “Jerry is not only a scholar but also an excellent citizen,” says Ric Sweeney, director of the Master of Science in Marketing Program. “His work in Student Government has brought lasting changes to the UC landscape. His work and leadership of student organizations continues to make the university a better place and his involvement in regional and national government illustrates the fullness of his commitment to service. Jerry exhibits a contagious enthusiasm for making the world a better place.” Tsai served as UC’s Student Body President during the 2006-2007 academic year. The Honors Student has also served Student Government as senator-at-large, associate vice president, assistant to the president and as chairperson of the Student Governmental Affairs Committee. He is president of Sigma Sigma, a UC men’s honorary organization that recognizes students who have made significant contributions to the university. He also belongs to the Men of Metro Spirit and Leadership Honorary, the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary, the Student Alumni Council and is president and founder of the school-spirit organization, University of Cincinnati Dance & Cheer Fanatics. Previous campus involvement also includes earning awards from serving on UC’s student Programs and Activities Council. He was UC’s 2005 Homecoming King and was the 2005 recipient of UC’s Just Community Student Award. “Jerry is one of the finest, most sincerely dedicated and creative student leaders I have ever had the pleasure to see in action,” says Fred Siff, UC Vice President and Chief Information Officer. “His leadership style is marked by intelligence, commitment, collaboration and enthusiasm. His joy is infectious and draws others to his activities. He deeply cares about the University of Cincinnati.” After graduation, Tsai will be joining the Teach for America Program, in which recent outstanding college graduates work to eliminate educational inequity by committing two years to teaching in urban and rural public schools. Tsai’s teaching assignment is in Las Vegas.

Ryan Vose

The Springboro, Ohio UC Honors Student and graduate of Springboro High School is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the College of Engineering. His commitment to service and leadership helped lead to record fundraisers for UC’s 2007 and 2008 Relay For Life to benefit the American Cancer Society. His UC enthusiasm spreads through his involvement with the RallyCats student organization to promote school spirit (in which he served two terms as vice president of external affairs), as well as his activities on the Student Alumni Council, where he served as vice president of spirit during the 2006-2007 academic year. He was UC’s 2006 Homecoming King. Vose is founder of “The Red and Black” handbook first introduced at Convocation in 2007 – which he called a guide and point of pride for incoming students. He has served as president and vice president of the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society and currently serves as president of the HKN Electrical and Computer Engineering Honor Society. He is also a member of the Sigma Sigma men’s honorary organization as well as the Men of Metro Spirit and Leadership Honorary. “Mr. Vose is an extraordinary person,” says Harold W. Carter, UC professor and head of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. “His demeanor is one of always helping others. He is scholarly, talented and highly self-actualized. His ability to lead is as much earned from those whom he influences, as delegated by virtue of his positional authority.” After graduation, Vose will join the Technology Leadership Program at Citigroup. His first job assignment will be located in Blue Ash, Ohio. “My time here at UC has prepared me for an exciting future,” says Vose.

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