2018 Quest for the Best Winners Named
The Quest for the Best award recognizes 10 high-achieving SDSU students for their outstanding performance in academics and community service.
The Quest for the Best Awards, given each year in April, recognize student achievement in four key areas: academic excellence, student involvement, community service and leadership development.
The Division of Student Affairs hosted the 32nd annual event on Friday, April 20. The award recipients were:
Leona Koxha
Major: International security and conflict resolution with a minor in political science
Koxha’s work in the community and her academic success have been recognized by the Mortar Board Honor Society and Rotaract of SDSU. Having grown up as a war refugee from Kosovo, Koxha intends to inspire and educate others through her life experiences as Miss California Collegiate America and a Muslim woman. She eventually hopes to serve as a U.S. ambassador with the goal of working to raise the visibility of women’s issues in this country.
Holly Norman
Major: Microbiology with minors in chemistry and honors interdisciplinary studies
Norman’s campus involvement has allowed her to merge her love of community with her passion for the sciences, prominently serving with the Women in Science Society. For her work, Norman earned the Keck Scholars Award, which is funded by the W.M. Keck Foundation. In the future, she plans to pursue advanced degrees and further her dedication to the field of microbiology by conducting research in Africa on a rare disease called nodding syndrome.
Christian Onwuka
Major: Business administration with a minor in honors interdisciplinary studies
Onwuka has an exemplary record of involvement in Associated Students (A.S.), serving on the Financial Affairs Committee and the External Relations Board. In the spring of 2018, Onwuka was elected the vice president of Financial Affairs following his involvement on the committee responsible for the launch of SDSU’s Black Resource Center.
Cristal Ramirez
Major: Interdisciplinary studies with a minor in cultural proficiency
Establishing herself as a presence in Greek life while serving as a mentor to Educational Opportunity Program and Compact for Success students, Ramirez has long been committed to facilitating positive experiences for students in the Latino community. After graduation, Ramirez plans on pursuing a master’s degree through the Community Based Block program at SDSU.
Dominic Gialdini
Major: Recreation administration with a minor in honors interdisciplinary studies
Gialdini is active in his Catholic faith, facilitating mission trips domestically and abroad in the Dominican Republic and working locally with the SDSU Newman Center. Gialdini, who made the Dean’s List and earned accolades from various honor societies, plans to attend graduate school in Europe to study sustainable destination development, sustainable tourism management and cultural heritage site preservation.
Vanessa Girard
Major: Hospitality and tourism management with a minor in honors interdisciplinary studies
Serving prominently in the A.S. community as the executive vice president, as well as taking an active role on the Aztec Dance Marathon committee, Girard’s devotion to developing leadership skills has earned her distinction in her field. She hopes to work with the Voyage Leadership Development Program at the Marriott International in Irvine, California following graduation.
Alex Henriques da Silva B.
Major: Business administration with an emphasis in accounting
Throughout her collegiate career, da Silva has stayed active in her field, participating in organizations such as the International Business Society and Student Accounting Society. Serving as a J.P. Morgan “Proud to Be” Delegate, da Silva hopes to further her industry experience by taking the CPA license exam before starting her career as an auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York City.
Farris Nabulsi
Major: Computer science
Besides his active involvement in Associated Students and Greek Life on campus, Nabulsi is connected to his faith, sharing his love for his religion in his work through the Islamic Center of San Diego, and as a member of the Muslim Student Association on campus. This Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Dean’s List honoree will be starting a career at Amazon in the field of software engineering after graduation.
Nancy Nguyen
Major: Sociology with minors in public health and honors interdisciplinary studies
With a dedication to service, Nguyen has an exemplary record of engagement with organizations like the Student Diversity Commission, the International Rescue Committee and the Employee Rights Center. Her three honor society accolades pave the way for her future plans of beginning an international service program and pursuing a master’s degree in public policy.
Samantha Ledesma
Major: Criminal justice and Spanish with a minor in honors interdisciplinary studies
Heavily involved in on-campus organizations like the EOP Student Advisory Board, the Guardian Scholars Student Advisory Board and the Criminal Justice Student Association, Ledesma has shown great dedication to the service of others. Following graduation, she plans to begin a career in the field of criminal justice as an investigator to create positive impacts in the community.
