Leadership Awards presented during Regents meeting at USD
The Community Service Award was presented to USD's Veterans Club. This past year, the Veterans Club hosted its fourth annual Community Supper to honor veterans and their families with an evening of free music, food, and the opportunity to connect with other veterans in the area. In March, the Club honored soldiers killed in action in Iraq and Afghanistan by placing more than 5,000 flags on the grounds at USD, and with the assistance of two grants, the Veterans Club also provided a speech and hearing clinic for Veterans, military and family members in April.
The Organizational Leadership Award was presented to USD's Entrepreneurship Team (E-Team). The E-Team promotes the advancement of entrepreneurship through network building, business and organization consulting, and club-related operations. The E-Team completed several projects this past year, including the Extraordinary Idea Competition that culminated with an E-Evening event that featured keynote speakers who inspired the entrepreneurial spirit in the students and an awards ceremony. Additionally, the E-Team sponsored "Rives for Riches," a community service event that raised money for the Vermillion Food Pantry; and conducted "Connecting with the Students" a survey of Vermillion businesses to help meet the needs of USD students.
USD's Political Science League received the 2009 Academic Excellence Award. The Political Science League facilitates political discourse on campus by encouraging debate and discussion on a variety of topics. The Political Science League hosts roundtable discussions on current events and pressing political issues with USD students and faculty, and members of PSL excel in and out of the classroom with several student members having completed internships with Congressional delegates last summer. Additionally, the Political Science League has succeeded in fostering student involvement in academic pursuits beyond classroom boundaries, including a study tour of Russia.