The 2019 Viking Award winners were bombarded with cheers from fellow students and ASB members in the Valhalla room as Interim Dean of Student Affairs Dr. Alisia Kirkwood presented them with awards of recognition on Thursday May 16.
The Viking Award is the highest honor a student at Long Beach City College can receive.
There were seven recipients of the Viking Award this year: Kristyna Blazkova, Allysia Covarrubias, Danielle Crowder, Taylor Karp, Jason Meintjes, Jason Walsh, and Jerry Wright.
Viking Award recipients are selected as role models for LBCC students by exemplifying the best in scholarship, leadership, and service to others.
Nominees for the award can be nominated by either peers, staff, or by themselves.
Emphasis for the award is placed on continued contributions to the campus and community for multiple semesters.
The nominee must also have earned an honor certificate, a leadership award and a service award to be considered for the Viking Award.
During the ceremony Dr. Kirkwood gave advice to students who want to receive the award in the future.
“Be yourself, get involved, and great things will come.”
“Get involved and see the impact you can have on others through regular student engagement activities,” Kirkwood said.
Former winners of the award were also present, including current ASB President Jan Paolo Canteras.
“For me personally, this is the best group because the majority of them are not traditional students,” Canteras said.
“Just the fact that I was referred is a wonderful honor and unexpected. My wife is really involved on campus and that kind of gave me an inkling,” one recipient of the award Jason Meintjes said.
Though the physical award was not given, winners received a recognition and will receive the awards during the Student Life Reception on May 23 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Nordic Lounge at LAC.