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Reagan Erickson (left), senior Speech Pathology and Audiology student from Geneseo, IL, was awarded the William E. Brattain Award at the annual Office of Student Engagement awards in April.
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Office of Student Engagement Celebrates its Student Leaders

May 15, 2026

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MACOMB, IL - - The Western Illinois University Office of Student Engagement announced their individual, program and organization award winners 2025-26 academic year.

Reagan Erickson, senior Speech Pathology and Audiology student from Geneseo, IL, was awarded the William E. Brattain Award for her work this past year. This award is given to a graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding contributions to the WIU campus and Macomb community.

Five students earned the Jim Miner Award for Excellence in Student Governance for their dedication to improving the WIU campus community and impact on campus issues:


  • Jose Espinoza, senior Public Health major from Melrose Park, IL

  • Sydnee Osgood, senior Chemistry major from Oak Lawn, IL

  • Charlyne Banks, senior Social Work major from Hillside, IL

  • Mercedes Benz, senior LEJA major from Manteno, IL

  • Winter Hurst-Leadicker, senior Political Science major from Godfrey, IL

Five more students were awarded the Gordon A. Taylor Student Leadership Award for their outstanding leadership and accomplishments within a student organization or club:


  • Evelynn Fetzer, senior Psychology major from Huntley, IL

  • Kelsie Balagna, senior Psychology major from Pekin, IL

  • Natalia Shields, senior History major from Streamwood, IL

  • Samantha Hernandez, senior LEJA major from Zion, IL

  • Giselle Aguilera, senior Accounting major from Elgin, IL


Other individual awards given at the ceremony were:


  • Ralph H. Wagoner Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service: Ripley Zanger, senior Business Management major of Springfield, IL

  • Ronald D. Gierhan Award for Outstanding Quiet Influence: Mia Diaz, senior Art major of Calumet City, IL

  • Lucas Burmeister Emerging Student Leader Award: Ashley Marin, senior LEJA major of Cary, IL

  • Student Organization Advisor of the Year: Danielle Knowles, senior Nursing major from Plymouth, IL

  • Graduate Assistant of the Year: Kaylann Beekman, College Student Personnel graduate student of Cuba, IL

  • Graduate Assistant of the Year: Sophia Gugliotta, RPTH graduate student of Oquawka, IL

  • Social Justice Advocate of the Year: Leilani Correa, junior English major of Chicago, IL

  • Executive Board Member of the Year: Ariella Ducoing, junior LEJA major of Moline, IL

  • Executive Board Member of the Year: Macullum Steen, senior Emergency Management major of Naperville, IL

  • Executive Board Member of the Year: Mia Shaw, senior Nutrition and Food Service Management major of New Lenox, IL




In the group awards, there were many successful programs to choose from for awards but a few stood out from the pack.

Two programs were named Program of the Year. The Chingonx Afrocentric Queers and Women Who Lift earned the recognition for their event "Strength and Self Love: Open Lift," joining Sigma Gamma Rho, Inter-hall Council and the Grey Matters Collective event, "Tie-Dye Talk."

"Friendsgiving," hosted by the Black Student Association, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and National Association of Colored Women's Club was named one of three collaborative programs of the year, joining "Latinidad: Embracing Indigenous Cultures" hosted by Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority and the Casa Latina Cultural Center and "Taste of Caribbean and Africa" hosted by the Student Organization of Caribbean Ancestry and the African Student Association.

The Latin American Student Organization earned the Advancing Social Justice Program of the Year with "How Comfortable am I?"

This past academic year saw a lot of engagement on campus, highlighted by the following organization award winners:


  • Philanthropy of the Year: Pi Kappa Phi and RockyTHON

  • Inclusive Community of the Year: Latin American Student Organization and Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority

  • Marketing and Social Media of the Year: Gamma Phi Omega International Sorority, Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority and Student Nurses Association

  • Community Service of the Year: Wesley Foundation and Western's All Volunteer Effort

  • Most Improved Student Organization: Chingonx Afrocentric Queers, Psi Chi and Transfer Student Organization

  • Student Organization of the Year: Go West Security, Psychology Club, University Union Board


Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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