Impact Awards recognize individuals for service, empowerment of women
The Women’s Resource Center Awarded eight Impact Awards this year — annual prizes given to members of the Rice community for dedication to service, involvement and empowerment of women. Four undergraduate students, one graduate student and three faculty members were selected this year.
The undergraduate winners were Lovett College senior Brandi Braud, Lovett sophomore Nikka Landau, Baker College senior Phil Redman and Hanszen College senior Becky Thilo. Faculty and staff winners were Dean of Natural Sciences Kathleen Matthews, Wellness Center Director Emily Page and Executive Director of Bioengineering Veronique Tran. Nastassja Lewinski, a bioengineering student, was the only graduate student to win an award.
Braud was recognized for her involvement both within and outside the Rice community. She is a co-head academic fellow at Lovett, volunteers for the RWRC and organized the first-ever Lovett Underground Research Symposium, which took place April 13.
Landau directed the Vagina Monologues, the proceeds of which went to local and global women’s organizations. She also volunteers regularly at the RWRC.
Redman received the award for involvement with women’s rights. He organized several campus events, and took classes focused on the issue. Redman was also the only male from Rice to attend the “One in Four” conference at the University of Houston, which focused on ending rape on college campuses. He co-organized Rice Take Back The Night as part of his Survey of Sexual Violence class to help end the silence that surrounds issues of sexual violence and abuse and is also involved in ADVANCE and Rice for Choice.
Thilo received an award for her role as the Student Director of the RWRC for the past two years. During that time, she initiated events targeted at raising awareness and creating a welcoming environment for Rice women. Thilo has also participated in the Vagina Monologues for the past two years.
Lewinski is an active member of the Society of Women’s Engineers, and her research focuses on developing optical imaging technologies and techniques for the early detection of cancer with a particular emphasis on cervical, ovarian and breast cancers.
Matthews has served on committees including the President’s Female Faculty Committee, the Advisory Committee for Study of Women at Rice and the National Science Foundation’s Advance Program for Institutional Transformation.
Page was rewarded for her contribution to the Rice University Wellness Center through events benefiting the wellness of all students on campus, including programs addressing drinking on campus and the Raising Resiliency at Rice program. She is the staff advisor to both Students Organized Against Rape and Colleges Against Cancer. Page has also taught HEAL 498: Survey of Sexual Violence, in conjunction with the Houston Area Women’s Center. Page helped produce the Love Your Body Monologues, which address male and female body issues with stories written anonymously by Rice students.
Tran was recognized for her mentorship work with Biomedical Engineering Society, the West Harris County American Association of University Women, and the Sally Ride Event hosted here at Rice.
18 individuals were nominated for Impact awards.
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