Five Augustana University students received Covenant Awards on Thursday, April 11, during a ceremony held in Hamre Recital Hall. The Covenant Awards lift up those who exemplify Augustana’s core values: Christian, Liberal Arts, Excellence, Community and Service.
The Covenant Awards, presented every academic year, were created by students to more clearly define these shared values and deepen the understanding of the rights and responsibilities that accompany membership in the Augustana community. The recipients are selected by committees of faculty and staff that seek nominations from all members of the AU community. A cast bronze medallion is given to each awardee, which may be worn during commencement festivities.
The 2024 Covenant Award recipients are:
🥇 Shirley Wang, Covenant Award for Christian
Nominees for the Covenant Award for the Christian core value are those who, during their time at Augustana, have searched for a calling that honors the Christian faith; actively integrate faith and actions; see their life journey as part of a bigger tapestry; are growing in faith; and are comfortable discussing their faith with others.
Shirley Wang ‘24 is a biology and psychology double major from Shanxi, China.
“Her belief in God and living out the teachings of Jesus are integral to who she is as a person and how she navigates the world,” Wang’s nominator wrote. “Shirley has sought out opportunities for spiritual growth through different religious-grounded retreats, faith camps and ministries throughout her time at Augustana during the school year and during summers.
“Shirley’s faith helped rekindle her purpose and passions in life, and has guided her to pursue a career helping others through her combined biology and psychology background. Shirley wants to help people through faith and plans on pursuing a year-long mission program aimed at helping unhoused people. I have no doubt that wherever Shirley is guided by God, she will tap into her Christian faith to ground her, motivate her and lead her.”
🥇 Gabi Jancikova, Covenant Award for Liberal Arts
Nominees for the Covenant Award for Liberal Arts are those who have demonstrated a love of learning for its own sake; acknowledged or forged connections between academic disciplines; connected curricular and co-curricular interests; related their studies to important issues of human existence; and whose commitment to the liberal arts has shaped their plans for the future.
Gabi Jancikova ‘25 is double majoring in environmental studies and sociology with emphases in medicine & health and family & community service. Jancikova, who is from Sosuvka, Czech Republic, plays for the Augustana Women’s Tennis Team and is an Augustana Student Association (ASA) senator.
“Gabi is a naturally curious person who isn’t afraid to ask questions to learn about things new to her or learn about things that she doesn’t understand,” wrote Jancikova’s nominator. “She also enjoys artistic pursuits and delights in sharing her singing and instrumental talents with the Augie community at the World’s Got Talent show. These are further ways in which she exemplifies learning for learning’s sake and the liberal arts.
“Just by virtue of the subjects she is studying — sociology and environmental studies — Gabi has dedicated her academics to studying issues integral to and critical for human existence. Taking the whole gamut of her studies into consideration, her time is spent considering humanity and humanity’s condition in different locations and under different situations.”
🥇 Jessica Dull, Covenant Award for Excellence
Nominees for the Covenant Award for Excellence are those who commit themselves to high virtuous and ethical standards, personal integrity, human excellence, self-discipline and self-improvement. These nominees are known for bringing out excellence in others. Their commitment to excellence has shaped their plans for the future.
Jessica Dull ‘24 is philosophy, religion and government & international affairs triple major from Sioux Falls. She is the president of Serving & Learning Together (SALT) and has interned with South Dakota Faith in Public Life and South Dakota Voices for Peace.
“Jess is graduating from Augie this spring after just three years of college. During that time, she’s completed three majors and maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA. This isn’t just a commitment to high standards but actually fulfilling that commitment,” one of Dull’s nominators wrote. “Jess is incredibly self-disciplined. Her work ethic is legendary among her friends.
“Jess has served as the student worker for the religion, philosophy & classics department. In
this role, she has taken the initiative in seeking out tasks to help professors and support the
department. She was essential in helping to coordinate the Chair of Moral Values events around Michael Sandel and David Brooks’ visits — events that led to community discussions of justice, inclusion and democracy.”
🥇 Azam Shaik, Covenant Award for Community
Nominees for the Covenant Award for Community are described as those who have demonstrated and fostered respect for others; act as a leader, earning the respect of others; left a mark on the campus and broader communities; and whose commitment to community has shaped their plans for the future.
Azam Shaik ‘25, of Hyderabad, India, is a quantitative economics, finance and data science triple major. He serves as the treasurer for ASA, an Augustana Cultural Exchange (ACE) ambassador, Augustana Office of Enrollment student ambassador and is involved with the Augustana Run Club and intramurals.
“Azam is not only genuinely kind and respectful to anyone he interacts with, but he is always willing to offer a helping hand to anyone who may need one,” said Shaik’s nominator. “He not only respects his peers, but he works to lift them up and help everyone succeed, which helps foster the AU community that we know and care for.
“Azam is an excellent ACE ambassador. I have seen him lead the most jet-lagged, exhausted and grumbly groups of new international students through orientation activities, and these students are smiling, laughing and building life-long friendships by the time they finish working with Azam. Azam has volunteered to mentor new international students without any guidance from the IPO — he helps simply because he cares deeply about fostering the international community that our students have built.”
🥇 Benita Manzengo, Covenant Award for Service
Nominees for the Covenant Award for Service are described as those who have a commitment to service on campus and in the broader community; inspire others to serve; serve quietly without fanfare and with no desire for recognition; and whose future plans have been shaped by service.
Benita Manzengo ‘24 is a government & international affairs and art double major from Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. She is president of the African Student Union (ASU), a Beacom Research fellow, ACE ambassador, ambassador for the Panzi Foundation and has served as a Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) scholar and president of the Augustana International Club.
“Benita encourages others to be their best. This starts at home as a big sister, paving the way for her siblings who attend school in Watertown, South Dakota,” one of Manzengo’s nominators said. “She continues on campus as she serves as a leader and mentor to our international student community and broadly with CGI and Panzi Foundation initiatives.
“Benita will continue to lead her life with service as the main component of her career. She is deeply rooted in a passion to serve others and organize her life in a way that either creates a path for those who come after her or to find solutions for current issues. Her role in government, whether in the U.S. or abroad, will include service and helping others.”
To learn more and view the full list of 2024 Covenant Award nominees, visit augie.edu/covenant.