Robins finalists selected Tuesday

Marie MacKay

Various selection committees throughout Utah State University chose the finalists for the 46th annual Robins Awards on Tuesday.

Students and faculty made nearly 800 nominations this year.

Each committee had to narrow at least 30 nominations down to five finalists for each of the 17 different awards that will be presented at the event.

Mike Brockbrader, Associated Students of USU Organizations and Traditions vice president, said every year, the nominations get better and better and he encourages more students to nominate someone every year.

“I hope people understand the importance of the awards. We really want to shine the light on those people,” he said.

Six of the winners are selected by students, including the highest award, which is the Bill Robins Memorial Award. A $1,500 watch from S.E. Needham Jewelers will be granted to the winner.

Other awards include Woman of the Year, Man of the Year, Achievement of the Year and Organization of the Year.

Each nominee was asked to write a biography listing community and university activities and services he has participated in while attending USU.

Every year, about half of the people nominated choose not to submit a biography for one reason or another, Brockbrader said.

The winners for the awards have already been chosen, but only eight people know who they are. They will be announced at the black-tie event April 12. President Kermit L. Hall will be present at the event.

“We try to compare it to the Oscars,” Brockbrader said.

The awards are given every year in memory of William E. Robins, who was USU student body president in 1949. Robins died, along with his wife, in a 1954 plane crash.

–mmackay@cc.usu.edu

2003 Robins Awards Finalists

Bill Robins Memorial AwardErica ThomasKathryn FifieldJustin HamiltonMark SeeleyCelestial Bybee

Woman of the YearCelestial BybeeEricka EnsignTheresa FoxleyLisa HancockJoni Dee Marx

Man of the YearAaron BrownJustin HamiltonMedlir MemaBrian SmedleyCraig Whyte

Organization of the YearSpecial Olympics InvitationalStudent Activity Board Student Alumni AssociationUtah Conservation CorpsVal R. Christensen Service Center

Achievement of the Year Spanish ClubASUSU Diversity CommitteeVal R. Christensen Service CenterPartners in BusinessWright Flyer Project

Val R. Christensen Service AwardAlpha Chi OmegaAaron BrownPalsSpanish AmbassadorsCameron Woolf