Virginia Tech student receives University Student Leadership Award

Tamika Jones, of Chesapeake, Va., a senior psychology major in the College of Science at Virginia Tech, has received a University Student Leadership Award.

Jones was the recipient of the Outstanding Achievement by an Individual Award, one of 10 University Student Leadership Awards given annually by Virginia Tech's Department of Student Activities in the Division of Student Affairs to recognize outstanding members, extraordinary achievements by an organization, advisers, volunteerism, and service-learning experiences.

Jones, nominated by YMCA student programs, has been a program leader with the YMCA for three years with the after-school program at Lantern Ridge Apartments.

Three years ago when Jones began with student programs, she took on a site with 30 children instead of the expected 10 to 12. Since, Jones has expanded her site to its maximum volunteer and program leader capacity. She also has extended the site to running five days a week versus the two it was open in the past.

Jones also has worked to increase outside organizational support, said Shannon Marie Turner, director of YMCA Student Programs. A fraternity has adopted her site, and members come out on a weekly basis. Jones also has led the children from her site on numerous campus field trips so children will have interaction with college students.

Jones said she was honored to receive the nomination because she does not consider helping people and serving her community to be extraordinary. "I have a love for working with people and giving back to the community, which has led me to acquire many leadership roles and remain active on the Virginia Tech campus."

Jones puts in about 10 to 15 hours a week with the after school program alone. She also serves other campus organizations, including with Theta Nu Xi multicultural sorority, where she serves as president.

Jones also has served as the co-chair of the Black History Month Steering Committee, and has served on the Cultural Centers Advisory Committee and the Student Advisory Committee for Diversity and Multicultural Affairs. She has been a nominee for the Pamplin Scholar Innovation Award and was a recipient of the President's Student Service Award.

Founded in 1872 as a land-grant college, Virginia Tech has grown to become the largest university in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Today, Virginia Tech's eight colleges are dedicated to putting knowledge to work through teaching, research, and outreach activities and to fulfilling its vision to be among the top 30 research universities in the nation. At its 2,600-acre main campus located in Blacksburg and other campus centers in Northern Virginia, Southwest Virginia, Hampton Roads, Richmond, and Roanoke, Virginia Tech enrolls more than 28,000 full- and part-time undergraduate and graduate students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries in 170 academic degree programs.