Wilson, Human Relations awards presented to students

Three Oakland University students were awarded the university’s most prestigious awards at the April 15 meeting of the Board of Trustees. Nicole Piggott and Christopher Fecek received the 2008 Matilda R. and Alfred G. Wilson Awards and Mia Evans received the Human Relations Award. The students were selected for the awards based on their service and achievements as Oakland University students.

Established in 1965, the Wilson Awards are presented annually to an OU senior man and woman who have achieved academic excellence and made significant contributions to campus life, the community and society in general. The Human Relations Award, which was established in 1990, is presented annually to a graduating senior who has fostered interracial understanding and harmony and in recognition of the institutional priority attached to these goals. Recipients must demonstrate commitment to social justice and multicultural understanding.

Nicole Piggott (SHS ’07)
2008 Matilda R. Wilson Award Recipient

Piggott graduated with a degree in clinical laboratory science. While a student, she demonstrated academic excellence as a member of the dean’s list four consecutive years, and maintained a 3.96 grade point average. She earned the French Student and Health Science student awards, and conducted stem cell research in the Summer Institute of Bioengineering and Health Informatics. Piggott also received the 2007 Undergraduate Distinguished Achievement Award.

As the team captain for the women’s basketball, she led the team to a NCAA tournament in 2005-2006, and a Mid-Continent Conference championship in 2006-2007. She also served as president of the Student Athlete Advisory Council, and earned the Hollie Lepley Senior Scholar Athlete Award. She was also named the Mid-Continent Conference Female Scholar Athlete of the Year and the Division I-AAA Athletic Director’s Association Scholar Athlete Team Award. Piggott also is committed to community service and has volunteered at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and in local schools, participated in toy and food drives and cancer walks, and supported the local Special Olympics.

Christopher Fecek (CAS ’08)
2008 Alfred G. Wilson Award Recipient

Fecek, a biology major, maintained a 3.81 grade point average and remained on the dean’s list ten consecutive semesters. He wrote and received the Provost’s Undergraduate Research Grant and Undergraduate Travel Grant, researched and presented on the topic of embryonic stem cell biology, served as first author of a journal manuscript entitled “Chondrogenic Derivatives of Embryonic Stem Cells Seeded into 3-D Polycaprolactone Scaffolds Generated Cartilage Tissue in vivo,” and served as co-author of three journal abstracts. He participated as a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society and received the Golden Grizzlies Excellence in Academics Award in 2003, 2006 and 2007.

He has demonstrated leadership by serving as team captain for both the men’s cross country and track teams, where he led the cross country team to the 2005 Mid-Con title championship, and served as the secretary of the Student Athlete Advisory Council Committee. He also received the Rochester Hills Community Service Award, promoted literacy and good sportsmanship by reading to elementary school children, volunteered for Work Camp to rebuild homes destroyed or damaged by natural disasters, tutored biology students, and volunteered at Providence Hospital.

This fall, Fecek will begin the MD/Ph.D degree program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Mia Evans (CAS ’08)
2008 Human Relations Award Recipient

With a double major in journalism and political science, Evans has demonstrated outstanding leadership capabilities. She served as the student body vice president, president of the Association of Black Students and vice president of the The Oakland Post board, co-chaired the Student Life Lecture Board, chaired the lecture committee of the Student Program Board.

Evans was a peer transition consultant in the Office of Disability Support Services, assisting freshmen with cognitive disabilities, and worked as a resident assistant and residence halls council liaison in University Housing.

In addition to being honored at the board meeting, Piggott, Fecek and Evans will be honored during OU’s spring commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 3.