Award Winners

Martha Church Endowment Prize 2024

Dr. Nisha Manikoth., the director of the DoL and DBA program, is recognized for her work with the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce to promote leadership development in the county. 

Dr. Manikoth played a critical role in providing leadership development to the Frederick community through Hood’s partnership with the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce. She developed and implemented a leadership curriculum for Leadership Frederick County (LFC) that included leadership content offered throughout the 9-month duration of the program. 

In addition to workshops, Dr. Manikoth worked with Hood leaders to integrate their expertise into the leadership curriculum to provide diverse ideas and perspectives. This curriculum was accentuated with videos, podcasts, and articles curated for the various topics and organized on Blackboard. After the initial success of the leadership curriculum for the 2022-23 cohort, she further strengthened the program by adding a workbook for the 2023-24 cohort to enhance the learning experience for participants. 

Dr. Manikoth’s significant contributions to leadership development were acknowledged by the community. Our colleague was recognized as one of the “Top 50 Frederick County’s Empowered Leaders” by the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (FCOED) for her work with Leadership Frederick County.

Dr. Henry P. and Page Laughlin Faculty Award 2024

Dr. Sangeeta Gupta of the Psychology and Counseling department has been a member of the Hood Community for three years and presents energy and a positive spirit.

Two student nominations stated that she has touched the lives of many Hood students. One student stated that Dr. Gupta is literally a gift to Hood College. She has inspired many students with her passion for both the field of psychology and her students. She is caring and understanding. For example, one student said that at the end of the semester, Dr. Gupta left each of her individual students a note that expressed her gratitude and her hope for their success in the future. This student said that this note, while short and not necessary, made them extremely inspired and they still hold on to it today. They mentioned that they had never told Dr. Gupta this, but the note brought them to tears and they continued to read it every time they noticed it sitting in their desk drawer. 

Furthermore, her mentorship was cited in the nominations as well. For example, one student stated that if you happen to mention to her that you are interested in something, you best bet that in the following week, she will be coming to you with possible ideas and new opportunities for you to explore. In addition, Dr. Gupta has contributed outside of her academic department through her partnership with the Student Success Division in the collection and analysis of Learning and Study Skills Inventory survey data, which will benefit our first-year students’ transition to college.   

Dr. Gupta exemplifies dedication to the field through her active involvement in professional organizations, community engagement, and commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in academia including serving as a co-chair of the Diversity Coalition this past academic year.

Dr. Henry P. and Page Laughlin Staff Awards 2024

Emily Belknap is the kind of person you want on your team: a creative thinker who sees the work that needs to be done, who is invested in the success of any project they are a part of, and someone who thinks of the small details that might otherwise be neglected. As a key member of the SPIRES and SAFIRE planning committees, Emily’s contributions, particularly to the SPIRES event, resulted in a fantastic experience for all involved with increased participation and attendance over prior years. In addition to their important duties in the library, Emily has served as a summer adviser for incoming students, works in the resource garden, and is engaged with a variety of community activities and organizations – both on campus and off. The nominators of this individual describe Emily as a fierce advocate for students, compassionate and empathetic, committed to inclusivity and access for all, and someone who regularly goes above and beyond in their role.

Sonia Bowie is recognized for outstanding service in support of Hood’s doctoral program. In the spirit of the program’s four pillars of leadership excellence—Mindful Leadership, Stewardship, Systems Thinking, and Community—Sonia facilitates every detail to keep the program running smoothly.  Sonia is described as a doer, involved with organizing drives to support the Campus Cupboard, advising the Distinguished Young Women program at Hood, and participating in numerous other initiatives on campus and in the Frederick area with a selfless interest in benefiting the institution, our students, and the community at large.  The nominators describe Sonia as a champion and a leader, someone who is enthusiastic in all that they do and who has made an exceptional impact on the success and development of others. 

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Mason Cavalier is often seen at campus events and is critical to how the Hood story is told.  As a dedicated member of the marketing and communications team, Mason’s careful attention to detail and consideration for the Hood community are on display when crafting press releases and managing College social media accounts, but their greatest influence on how we all see Hood is what Mason does from behind a camera lens.  Recognized for striking campus photography by CUPRAP, Mason also shares their technical knowledge and skills with students by teaching a digital photography course.  From still photos to video, the nominators of this individual describe how College fundraising and recruitment efforts are enhanced by their creativity and hard work and that this “jack of all trades” has an interest in always making others feel at ease with and educated about all things media.

 

Sue Kolb oversees the largest department on campus. Sue is no stranger to taking on additional roles, whether it be as an assistant dean of students, serving on any one of a number of campus committees, or taking on leadership roles with various college athletic organizations to enable them to be an advocate for student-athletes beyond Hood’s campus. Under Sue’s supervision, the College has been able to expand athletic team offerings, enhance athletic facilities, and strengthen the coaching and support staff.  Sue leads by doing, encouraging everyone to be fully present and participating in the campus community.  Passionate, caring, innovative, and driven are all descriptors given to Sue who embraces their love of sports while striving to create the best athletic experiences for Hood’s student-athletes.

Mary Ann Kerins Humanitarian Award 2024

Sangeeta Gupta, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology, exemplifies many of Mary Ann Kerin’s characteristics, including compassion and concern for others. She teaches with incredible empathy and passion, invoking excitement and motivation in her students. She approaches every problem, assignment, or task with excellence and integrity. In her role as co-advisor to the Diversity Coalition, Dr. Gupta has modeled for students how to approach challenges and opportunities in a positive, forthright, and collaborative manner. She also takes time out of her busy schedule and raising three young children to attend campus events and broaden her knowledge and experience of campus life and our world.

Dr. Gupta’s dedication to the field of psychology is evident through her active involvement in professional organizations, community engagement and commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in academia. Her work and partnership with the Dean of Student Success to incorporate the Learning and Study Skills Inventory (LASSI) as a resource tool will have a tangible and lasting impact on our campus. Mary Ann would be so proud of the holistic way in which Dr. Gupta approaches her students and her work. She embodies the spirit of the Hood College motto – Corde et Mente et Manu – with Heart, Mind and Hand; the heart to conceive, the mind to direct and the hand to execute.