Jessimine Strauss, at right, was honored as “Student of the Block” for the seventh block at Tusculum College during a ceremony on April 24. From left are, Dr. Tom Harlow, assistant professor of psychology; Pat Simons, coordinator of student and veteran information; Audrey Brackens, clerical assistant in the Registrar’s Office; Dr. Bill Garris, assistant professor psychology, and Strauss.
Jessimine Strauss, a senior majoring in psychology from Walterboro, S.C., was recognized for her academic achievement and campus leadership as the recipient of the “Student of the Block Award” for Block Seven at Tusculum College.
Strauss was presented the honor in a ceremony April 24. The “Student of the Block” award is presented by the Office of Student Affairs to recognize Tusculum students who excel in the classroom, provide leadership in the campus community and serve others. A plaque listing Strauss’ accomplishments will be displayed in the Niswonger Commons and in other prominent buildings on campus.
Strauss’ hard work and quiet determination makes a firm impact on all she encounters. During the award ceremony, Dr. Bill Garris, assistant professor of psychology, said that he took notice of Strauss during her freshmen year because she had declared psychology as her major and also expressed an enjoyment of mathematics, which is not common among psychology majors.
Garris continued that since that time, Strauss has excelled in her chosen major and has been instrumental through her hard work and diligence in establishing a chapter of Psi Chi, a psychology honor society, at Tusculum.
Three individuals in the Registrar’s Office nominated Strauss for the award, Audrey Brackens, clerical assistant in the office; Bobbie Clarkston, registrar, and Pat Simons, coordinator of student and veteran information. All three were more than impressed with Strauss’ work ethic, academic standards and maturity during her four years as a student worker in the office.
“Jessimine is a dynamic young lady, extraordinary person, and quick learner,” Clarkston said. “She has tackled and excelled in any task she is given and has also excelled in the classroom, evident by the numerous Dean’s List, Charles Oliver Gray’s list and President’s list honors she has received. It has been a pleasure to see her grow and mature over the past four years, and I have no doubt she will go on to do
extraordinary things.”
Simons noted, “Jessimine is a very versatile student. She is active in her clubs as well as working in the Registrar’s Office. We have come to rely on her heavily when we need to have our office covered. She takes care of students and can handle most any situation that comes up with students or parents. She comes in, checks to see what needs to be done, and does it without someone having to tell her to do so. She created our system to manage work-study students and track their assignments. She helps everyone in the office and is always dependable.”
Brackens added, “Jessimine is a very smart and motivated young lady and will succeed at anything she puts her mind to doing.”
The staff members in the Registrar’s Office have also had a positive impact on Strauss as well with their daily support and encouragement. “They push me to be the best that I can be and beyond,” she said. “Without them, I think my career at Tusculum would not have been successful. I do not see them as just my supervisors but consider them as my friends and my second family.”
As an incoming freshman, Strauss was impressed with the positivity of the community and the beauty of the campus. Since becoming a student, Strauss has made a significant difference on campus with both staff and students through her involvement with student and academic organizations and as working as a work study student in the Registrar’s Office.
She has served as a senator and secretary of the interior in the Student Government Association, as president of the Psychology Club, vice president of the Tusculum’s chapter of the Alpha Chi national honor society, and as a member of Psi Chi. She is also involved in the Pioneer Anime Club.
She counts her proudest accomplishment at Tusculum as the establishment of the Psi Chi chapter on campus because it will open doors not only for her but for future students. Another source of accomplishment for Strauss is making the President’s List by having a 4.0 grade point average during the fall 2011 semester. She is also proud of the opportunity she was given to have an impact on her department major as president of the Psychology Club and her induction into Alpha Chi and service as its vice president.
Strauss credits her success to family, friends and peers but also thanks a special person in her life, her mentor, Lena Locicero ’10, who was honored as a Student of the Block during the 2009-10 academic year. She met Locicero, the former Eidson-Kelly, during her freshman year when Locicero served as her living-learning community mentor. During her sophomore year, the two were always together as Locicero had become not only her role model and mentor, but her friend. “When she graduated, she left me her lantern (during the Lantern Festival ceremony) with the expectation to carry her legacy,” Strauss added. “I have lived this by continually striving to work hard in the office, Psychology Department and as a member of Alpha Chi.”
The daughter of Michael and Joy Strauss, she has aspirations to become a professor at a small liberal arts institution, similar to Tusculum. Her advice to her fellow Tusculum students is to “remain focused on school work but still enjoy your time here, it will be over before you know it.”