CAB dominates Leadership Awards, honored seven times

On Tuesday, organizations from around campus gathered in the Granite State Room of the Memorial Union Building hoping to be one of 15 award winners at the annual Student Leadership Awards Banquet hosted by the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership.

“It seemed like we had more nominations for this year than last year,” Sara Pope, the coordinator of Greek Life, said. “It’s a great problem. The committee had a hard time choosing.”

The banquet began around 7 p.m. with a moment of silence for Bob Pettigrew, the Student Activity Fee Committee financial consultant for the last 11 years who retired in the fall and passed away in April.

A cappella groups The New Hampshire Notables and Maiden Harmony performed two songs each before award winners were announced by members of the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership (OSIL). 

OSIL judges had to choose from over 130 nominations for these awards, trying to choose the best of UNH.

“Some orgs were nominated for more than one award, including, but not limited to, CAB, SCOPE, TNH, DXP and Aspiring Hands,” Nate Hastings, coordinator of Student Organization Services and Leadership, said. “This nomination total includes all of the individual award nominations as well.”

The Campus Activities Board (CAB) and its members won seven awards, including organization of the year.

CAB director Connor MacIver said that the organization puts together over 40 “alternate weekend programming” events each year, each of which takes hours of set up.

“It feels so great to be recognized for all of the work we have done all year,” MacIver said. “CAB has really had such a successful year this year and it wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work of all the CAB members who volunteered their time to put on such great events for the university.

MacIver also won this year’s award for Student Leader of the Year.

“Seeing how many people were nominated for this award, I am humbled,” he said. “As director of CAB and being an employee of the Office of Student Involvement and Leadership, I have worked with so many great student leaders at UNH, so to be chosen for this award was an honor. UNH has such a great student involvement environment with resources and advice available for all student leaders to work with.”

Another CAB member winner was Emily Reny, who won the Rookie of the Year Award, given to a member of an organization in their first year in that group.

“The reason I became so involved this year is because other Cabbies [CAB members] inspired me to do so,” Reny said. “From homecoming to the hypnotist show, Cabbies do a great job with every event they run. The enthusiasm Cabbies have for their work is infectious. I guess that enthusiasm rubbed off on me, too.”

Another group that won multiple awards was Aspiring Hands, which won New Student Organization of the Year and Community Service Organization of the Year.

Among other volunteer projects, Aspiring Hands organizes between five and 12 student-volunteer mentors daily who go to Somersworth and help kids with such things as homework. 

Founder and coordinator Brittany Thompson said it was “a complete honor” to be recognized, especially “since we’re a new organization.”

“I’m thrilled but not surprised [because of] the impact they’ve had on the children in Somersworth and on this campus,” Kate Hanson, the Aspiring Hands advisor, said.

The banquet concluded with a speech by Bryan Merrill, the new SAFC chairperson for student senate, who thanked those students exiting UNH, those students who are continuing in their organizations, and those who will join organizations in the future.

“To all of you, I wish you the best of luck and a good rest of the year,” he said.