UC Students to Receive Presidential Medal for Leadership, Service and Academic Excellence

Three University of Cincinnati graduates were honored by UC President Joseph A. Steger for their leadership on and off campus. The recipients of the UC Presidential Leadership Medal of Excellence were recognized during the university-wide Recognition Ceremony May 18 at the Event Pavilion near the Alumni Center.

UC graduates Jay Hummel, Jeanette McClellan and Manasseh Robinson, all from Cincinnati, received an engraved bronze medal to wear at the University-wide Commencement to be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, June 13, at the Shoemaker Center. The university crest is featured on the front of the medal. The name of the recipient is engraved on the back.

The students were selected after nominations were submitted by UC administrators, faculty and staff. To be considered for the award, students had to demonstrate a minimum 3.0 GPA and campus participation and leadership outside of class, such as involvement in a student government, honorary, service, social or athletic organization. Students also needed to demonstrate citizenship and service to UC and the community, as well as the potential for future success.

The following students are the recipients of the 2003 Presidential Leadership Medal of Excellence:

Jay Hummel

– Hummel, a Bridgetown resident, earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting (Magna Cum Laude) last December and in June will graduate with his master’s degree in business administration. He was recently named the student keynote speaker for the all-university Commencement ceremony June 13. The LaSalle High School graduate and UC Honors Scholar launched a UC tradition in 2000, when he helped to develop the Just Community banner, a patchwork of flags created at new student orientation, to be raised at Convocation. That was part of his service as coordinator of the University of Cincinnati Orientation Board. Hummel also helped develop UC’s Bearcat BOUND (Building Ourselves While Understanding New Directions) program for new students. “Jay stands out, even in the select Lindner Honors-PLUS group, as an outstanding scholar and student leader,” writes Jeri B. Ricketts, director of the Honors-PLUS Business Scholars. The program selects only 25 high school seniors per year and combines a challenging business honors curriculum, seven-quarter co-op work experience, and one month of study abroad. He was named the university’s 2002 Homecoming King and was the student recipient of the 2001 Just Community Award. Hummel is a founder of the UC Collegiate Entrepreneurs, has held offices in the Greek social fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and was president of UC’s most prestigious honorary organization, Sigma Sigma. Hummel’s dedication to service includes serving as mentor for the Cincinnati Youth Collaborative and directing the SAE Haunted House program that benefits underprivileged children. He was hired by Deloitte & Touche of Cincinnati, billed as one of the nation’s leading firms for professional services.

Jeanette McClellan

– McClellan, a Delhi resident, will graduate Phi Beta Kappa in June with a BA in Communication. She was editor-in-chief for

The News Record

, the student-run newspaper, and won a Mark of Excellence Award for general news reporting. Barbara Schooley, assistant dean for the College of Arts and Sciences, wrote in her nomination that during McClellan’s tenure at

The News Record

, she “supervised staff, put into place new and better processes, balanced a budget and continued to write for the paper all while excelling in academics. Her constant search for the truth appears to be a major driving force in her life and she tirelessly works to discover and write about any issues that catch her attention.” Lisa Newman, undergraduate director for the Department of Communication and Michael Porte, professor of communication, also nominated McClellan for the award. A regular on the Dean’s List and an Oak Hills High School graduate, McClellan was a member of the Mortar Board and Golden Key honor societies. She served leadership roles in The New York Arts Tour, the UC chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists, Students in Free Enterprise and the Communication Association Seeking Excellence. She is also secretary for the UC senior class. Currently interning at the Cincinnati Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, McClellan plans to attend law school in the fall.

Manasseh Robinson

– Robinson is graduating from the College of Applied Science with a bachelor’s degree in construction management and an associate degree in architectural technology. The College Hill resident and Hughes Center High School graduate was twice honored as Student of the Year by his college and is a previous recipient of the Student of the Year Award from the National Technical Association. He served the university as a campus tour guide and served as a math tutor within the National Society of Black Engineers. Robinson was active in setting up a UC student mentoring program for local sixth through eighth graders at Windsor Elementary and has been active in performing community service that assists elderly people. He was awarded numerous scholarships during his undergraduate experience at UC. “Manasseh unselfishly helped his fellow students, the college faculty and university with exceptional zeal, never hesitating when he feels he can make a difference,” writes George Suckarieh, professor of construction science. “I have never seen such a combination of maturity, leadership, creativity and dedication to helping people exhibited by a university student.” Robinson works as a project engineer for Messer Construction and has also developed his own business, specializing in business development and private franchising.