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From: http://www.utsa.edu/today/2008/05/leader.cfm By John Kaulfus
Associate Dean of Students (May 29, 2008)--Akshay Thusu recently was named UTSA Student Leader of the Month. He was nominated by Charlin Jones, assistant director for the special events center and adviser for the Honors Alliance. The award is sponsored by the UTSA Office of Student Activities. Originally from India, Thusu is a junior biology major and chemistry minor with a 3.94 G.P.A. who has become an active member of the student leader community. He was co-president of Sigma Kappa Upsilon Sophomore Honor Society for the 2007-2008 academic year. He also became a member of Alpha Chi National Honor Society and the Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society. According to Jones, "Akshay's biggest role this semester has been serving as the honor code chair for the Honors Alliance. With his committee, Akshay created an online survey for the campus community to gather feedback regarding academic dishonesty at UTSA. More than 600 responses have been submitted to date, which will provide great feedback to the committee to push forward on the drafted honor code." During the survey process, the San Antonio Express-News published a controversial story alleging students had plagiarized the drafted honor code. Through the controversy, Thusu served as the student spokesperson and was interviewed by the Express-News and broadcast media. He provided information to assert that plagiarism had not occurred and that honor code text had been provided at a student conference for use in the public domain. "He showed great leadership and poise when dealing with this trying situation," added Jones. "I could not have asked for a better student to represent Honors Alliance or UTSA during the national media attention the article received. Akshay has been elected to serve as the Honor Code chair for the 2008-2009 academic year because of his outstanding demonstration of top-notch student leadership." When Thusu is not busy with Honors Alliance, he gives time to the community through the student organization VOICES (Volunteer Organization Involving Community, Education and Service) and the UTSA Ambassadors. He recently received the leadership award at the Ambassadors annual awards banquet. |