College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Students Named Among Best of the Best

May 17, 2012
Categories: College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences, College of Science, Honors & Awards, Student Stories
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Five College of Liberal Arts & Sciences students were among the nine students named “Best of the Best,” in April for extraordinary contributions to UNC Charlotte through academic and co-curricular pursuits. The Center for Leadership Development coordinated the awards.

Kareem Abdelnabi, a psychology major, is one of the seniors who received the Chancellor’s Citations for Leadership and Service. Abdelnabi is a graduate of the Leadership Fellows program and has served as president of the Muslim Student Association. He studied abroad with the Semester at Sea program in 2009, returning to the University to serve as both president and vice president of the Education Abroad Association.

Macey Ruble, physics major, received the Provost’s Student Athlete Academic Achievement Award. Macey is a four-year varsity letterman in pole vault and is ranked third all-time for UNC Charlotte in the pole vault. Macey has been on the Athletic Director’s List for 10 semesters due to his outstanding academic achievements.

Meteorology major Garrett Bedenbaugh received the Noble Niner Award. Garrett has served as president and vice president of Kappa Alpha Order. He has also been a meteorology intern for WCCB-TV-Fox and WCNC-TV-NBC while a student at UNC Charlotte.

Political science major Jessica Simpson received the Chuck Lynch Award. Simpson is a graduate of both the Leadership Journey Learning Community and the Leadership Fellows program. She has been a member of the LEAD Team and active in student government as a senator and chair of internal affairs and was the past chair of student affairs. She is the current president of the Student Alumni Ambassadors, and has served the University as both an orientation and SAFE counselor. Jessica is a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., and was selected as the 2012 Homecoming Queen.

James Hanson, majoring in criminal justice and psychology, was awarded the Bonnie E. Cone Award for Leadership and Service. Hanson is a member of the judicial branch of the Student Government Association, where he has served as a panel member, a chair, lieutenant chief justice, and chief justice. He has served as a PAL in the Emerging Leaders Program, and this year served as the PAL coordinator. He has been a resident advisor and an orientation counselor.