Appalachian State University Ambassadors President Jacob Brooks won a leadership award at a conference in Charleston, S.C. over the weekend.
Brooks, a senior political science major, won an Outstanding Student Leader award at the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) ASAP District III conference.
CASE is a nonprofit association that aims to provide support, training and resources to alumni relations, communications, development, marketing and allied areas.
The award is given to students associated with university programs such as Ambassadors, Student Alumni Associations, Student Philanthropy Council and others.
Appalachian is included in District III along with other universities such as UNC Chapel Hill, North Carolina State University, Clemson University, The Citadel, Vanderbilt and Virginia Tech.
There were approximately 350 students at the conference, Brooks said.
The criteria students were judged on included commitment and dedication to the organization, initiative and dependability and school spirit and loyalty.
Other information included in the nomination was a summary of the nominee’s history with the organization, advice learned from the nominee that might be helpful to other student leaders and community leadership experience.
Brooks was nominated by his 45 Ambassador peers.
“To know that my peers in the Appalachian Ambassador organization think enough of me to even nominate me for this award is incredibly humbling,” Brooks said. “Being a part of the Appalachian Ambassador organization has changed my life for the better and has defined my Appalachian experience.”
Kaitlyn Lahm, a junior public relations major and fellow Ambassador, said she could not think of anyone more deserving of the award.
“He leads by example and truly embodies what it means to be an Ambassador for this university,” Lahm said.
Michael Pegg, a senior exercise science major and vice president of the Ambassadors, said they decided to nominate Brooks because he is very deserving and it has been a blessing serving alongside him.
“Jacob makes such a great leader, it is his ability to make everyone feel they are on the same team, love every member unconditionally and be such a great friend while being a leader at the same time,” Pegg said. “In the nomination we wrote ‘He is our superhero, as we all just want a touch of his powers.’”
Story: Nicole Caporaso, News Reporter