Leshan Loonena is the Integrity, Leadership, & Service Award winner for Spring 2021 at The College of Idaho.
Loonena is a senior from Kenya who is majoring in International Political Economy.
“I am more than honored to receive this award. It’s hard to put into words what I feel right now,” said Loonena. “This award is something I admired and winning it is a dream come true. Being a part of the Yote community has been a life-changing experience. The bonds I have formed here and the experiences I have gained have made this four-year journey an amazing one.”
The Student Affairs Division recognizes one student each semester for their important contributions to the College’s culture. The award is given to students nominated by staff and faculty as someone who best embodies the values of the College community. Those values include community, integrity, leadership and service. He was co-nominated for the award by Ben Mosley, assistant director of the College’s Campus Safety department, and Natalie Davison, director of the Department of Accessibility and Learning Excellence.
“He has helped students, both work-studies and others, to get their driver’s licenses. He’s helped both with organizing passes for football games and on game days. He’s helped with office organization, scheduling and file management, functioning as an office manager,” said Mosley. “Leshan has always lent an ear to fellow work-study students and other students who’ve needed to vent or someone to talk to. He has taken the initiative to train newly-hired work studies in our office. Frankly, though he would not see himself in this light, I think that Leshan is an influential student leader.”
The College of Idaho has a 130-year-old legacy of excellence. The College is known for its outstanding academic programs, winning athletics tradition, and history of producing successful graduates, including seven Rhodes Scholars, three governors, and countless business leaders and innovators. Its distinctive PEAK Curriculum challenges students to attain competency in the four knowledge peaks of humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and a professional field—empowering them to earn a major and three minors in four years. The College’s close-knit, residential campus is located in Caldwell, where its proximity both to Boise and to the world-class outdoor activities of southwest Idaho’s mountains and rivers offers unique opportunities for learning beyond the classroom. For more information, visit www.collegeofidaho.edu.