SHARIFA CHARLERY NAMED KAUFMAN AWARD WINNER

Sharifa Charlery was honored as Old Dominion University's Kaufman Award winner and Shelley-Ann Tenia was named runner-up during the Student Honors and Awards Banquet May 4.

The $10,000 and $5,000 awards were established by Landmark Communications Inc. to acknowledge graduating seniors who have exerted exceptional and constructive influence on the university, its students or the community by demonstrating the highest qualities of leadership and service.

The award is named for the late Charles Kaufman, who was well known in Hampton Roads as a community leader, philanthropist and friend to Old Dominion. Following Kaufman's example, prize winners must have demonstrated sustained participation in leadership of campus or community groups, an outstanding record of volunteer activities, academic achievement or the achievement of a major task affecting the campus or the community.

Charlery, of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, is a biology major with a 3.51 cumulative grade point average. She also was the university's first African-American female student body president. She served as parliamentarian of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. and vice chair of the Caucus for Students of African Descent and a Student Ambassador.

Tenia, of Palmiste Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is a psychology major and human services counseling minor with a 3.66 cumulative grade point average. She served as president and board member of Canterbury Center for Episcopal Campus Ministry, vice president for service of Alpha Phi Omega and service hallmark chair of Phi Theta Kappa.