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West Chester University1871 Award

The 1871 Award was established in 2018 to recognize West Chester University juniors and seniors who are high-achieving in both the academic and co-curricular realms.  

Each year, up to 71 students will be honored for their outstanding accomplishments related to Academics, Leadership, Community Engagement, and Career Readiness.

List of Honorees

 
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2025 Honorees

  • Cecilia Asplen
  • Julia Barrett
  • Alivia M. Bentley
  • Casey M. Best
  • Nicole Powell Blackburn
  • Emma Brennan
  • Qasim Bukhari
  • Shannon Byrnes
  • Danielle Cabibbo
  • Lilyana Joy Campbell
  • Mackenzie Carothers
  • Danielle Jade Ciliberto
  • Amija Coleman
  • Maura Corkery
  • Mia Corsaro
  • Eleni Demetriades
  • Mya Feldman
  • Katrina Fleckenstein
  • Olivia Flickinger
  • Gracie Elizabeth Gehring
  • Jordan Groeber
  • Jayden Hartlaub
  • Lucas Henke
  • Emily Nicole Higgins
  • Kaitlyn Horn
  • Lee Irvine
  • Rachel Jason
  • Olivia Klein
  • Rebekah Lange
  • Faith Lebling
  • Nicholas Marino
  • Makenna Marr
  • Victoria Ochanda
  • Augustina Onubogu
  • Gianna M. Parrish
  • Rachel A. Raspanti
  • Amber Elizabeth Riley
  • Samantha Rudner
  • Gabriella Sasso
  • Kalysta Sauder
  • Matthew Schuler
  • Brianne Sell
  • Jack R. Sheasley
  • Gracen S. Shepps
  • Alexis Stakem
  • Reagan Steiner
  • Danielle Stewart
  • Caroline Straw
  • Marnie String
  • K.C. Thoman
  • Abigail Thomas
  • Ashley Nicole Tinervia
  • Isabel Torres
  • Kathy Tran
  • Rachel Gabrielle Treffeisen
  • Glorya M. Zigani
  • Cassandra Zimmerman
2019 Honorees
2020 Honorees
2021 Honorees
2022 Honorees
2023 Honorees
2024 Honorees

1871 Awards: 2021 virtual Ceremony

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About the 1871 Award

Who is eligible to apply?

  • Undergraduate students who have completed at least 60 credits (30 of those must have been earned at WCU) at the time their application is submitted
  • Must be in good standing with regard to personal and academic conduct
  • December graduates are welcome to apply and return for the spring award ceremony
  • Students who have already recieved the award are not eligible to reapply

On what criteria will students be evaluated?

  • Academics (GPA): 25%
  • Leadership: 25%
  • Community Engagement: 25%
  • Career Readiness: 25%

View the selection criteria rubric here . 

What materials will be requested for the application?

  • Personal information (e.g., name, contact information, major)
  • Responses to five short-answer questions
  • Resume
  • Ram Plan Co-curricular Transcript (recommended)
  • Two letters of recommendation: One must be from a WCU faculty or staff member, the second an individual of their choice (e.g., supervisor, mentor, advisor). WCU students should not write recommendation letters for their peers unless they directly supervise another student. These letters should be submitted to the student who will upload them to the application.
  • View the 1871 Award application
  • Click here to complete the application

Who will evaluate the applicants?

Applications will be evaluated by a committee of WCU faculty and staff, as well as one student, representing the following areas:

 

  • Student Affairs senior leader (chair)
  • College of Arts & Humanities
  • College of Health Sciences
  • College of Business & Public Management
  • College of the Sciences & Mathematics
  • College of Education & Social Work
  • Division of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
  • Division of Student Affairs
  • Division of University Advancement & External Affairs
  • School of Music
  • Student 
  • University College

How will award recipients be honored?

  • 1871 Award honorees will be recognized at a spring award ceremony that will be attended by WCU senior leadership.
  • They will receive a certificate and a special “1871 Award” pin.
  • They will receive a special designation next to their name within the commencement program.
  • Their names will also be published and archived on the WCU website.

What is the timeline for this process?

  • October 1, 2024: Application opens
  • November 3, 2024: Deadline to apply
  • December 2024: Selections made
  • January 2025: Applicants notified
  • March 20, 2025:  Recipients honored at an award ceremony