Hawkins Wins Gamsky Award

Date: 12/12/06
Contact: Kathy Beal

Illinois State University staff psychologist Allyson Hawkins is this year's recipient of the Neal R. Gamsky Quality of Student Life Award. The award was presented at the annual Student Affairs holiday celebration on Dec. 12. Hawkins received a recognition plaque and will receive a monetary award and her name added to a display plaque in the Student Services Building.

Hawkins, a member of the Student Counseling Services staff since 2000, received the award for her "significant personal contributions to the students at Illinois State University." A student who wrote a support letter for Hawkins' nomination said Hawkins "confidence and positive attitude have been a great inspiration during the time they worked together," while her supervisor said Hawkins "is most likely to emphasize reaching students with messages tailored to their language, values and methods" and she "pushed the envelope in the use of technology to interact with students."

Student Counseling Services (SCS) Director Sandy Colbs said Hawkins was often the first person to say "shouldn't we be doing something about this?" Most notably, Hawkins was on the forefront of the SCS effort to support students during the disappearance and death of student Olamide Adeyooye. She helped create a poster of remembrance permanently displayed in the Health Sciences department. Colbs said "Allyson pays attention to the 'pulse' of the campus, and her leadership in collaborative programming efforts reaches as many students as possible with as positive a message as possible. As a supervisor, she empowers students to find their own voices and to experiment with new ideas. She encourages creativity."

Colbs said Hawkins, who holds her Ph.D. from the University of Missouri - Columbia, has specialized training and experience working with students who have survived traumas such as rape, incest or domestic violence. She said Hawkins leadership and creativity have taken SCS to a whole new level nationally in recognition of the innovative ways that she strives to help others.

The Gamsky Award was named for Neal Gamsky, the vice president and dean of Student Affairs from 1973 to 1991. He established the award to prompt others to make outstanding contributions to the quality of life for students and to promote excellence in individual effort and concern for the quality of the campus environment through service and support.