Saint Martin's names Outstanding Student Leader

Monday, March 14, 2003

Lacey, Wash. - T.J. Underwood, a Saint Martin’s College senior from Chehalis, is the recipient of college’s 2003 Outstanding Student Leadership Award.

The award recognizes the achievement of a visible and exemplary student leader at Saint Martin’s. Nominations are made from members of the campus community. Selection, by committee, is based on several factors, including vision; commitment to excellence; personification of Benedictine values such as hospitality, a desire to learn and commitment to service; ability to motivate, influence and lead others and serving as a positive role model and to promote positive change.

Underwood, this year’s student body president and a former student body senator, is known for the constructive impact he has made at Saint Martin’s. His vision for involving every student in campus life - through their major, organizations, residence halls or student government - has helped sustain and further the strong sense of community at the college. With Underwood’s leadership, the student government - the Associated Students of Saint Martin’s College - has been opened to more guest speakers, the student government’s functions evaluated and its constitution restructured. He also has taken steps to assure a student voice on the college’s General Education Proposal and Master Plan, as well as secured student representation on the college board of trustees’ subcommittees.

Academically, Underwood is a dean’s list student. A senior majoring in biology, his undergraduate research in the college’s science department has included a project to synthetically recreate a molecule called Sequoiatone, thought to be anti-cancererous.

Other students nominated for the honor were:
- Rob Kemper, a senior from McMinnville, Ore., majoring in business administration.
- Jodi Theresa Ray, a senior from Sumner majoring in education.
- Nathan Carlson, a junior from Pateros majoring in biology.

For more information:
Kurt Kageler
Director, Office of Alumni Relations
360-438-4366 or kkageler@stmartin.edu

Deanna Partlow, media relations coordinator
Saint Martin’s Office of Communication
360-438-4541 or dpartlow@stmartin.edu