2019 Quest for the Best Winners Named

For more than three decades, San Diego State University’s Quest for the Best Vice Presidential Student Service Award has recognized outstanding student leaders. 
The annual Quest for the Best Award celebrates student achievement in four key areas: academic excellence, student service and activities, community service and leadership development. 
The student winners are asked to nominate a faculty or staff member who had a significant and positive impact on their personal growth and development during their time at SDSU.
The Division of Student Affairs will honor this year’s recipients at the 33rd annual awards dinner this month. The 2019 honorees:
Richard Amaechi   Amaechi is a junior majoring in international business with an emphasis in Japanese and finance, with minors in honors interdisciplinary studies and cultural proficiency. His involvements include the Afrikan Student Union, Aztec Mentorship Program Advisory Board, Black Business Society, Harambee Scholars Program and International Business Society. He has volunteered at the A.S. Food Pantry and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. He has been honored with the African-American Faculty/Staff Scholarship and is an SDSU Presidential Scholar. After graduation, Amaechi plans to work as a financial analyst before attending graduate school to earn his master’s degree in business administration.   Faculty/staff honoree:  Dr. Sandra Cook
Annika Daphne Bilog   Bilog is a senior majoring in nursing with a minor in leadership development. Her involvements include Alpha Phi Omega, Mortar Board Honor Society, the Student Nurses Association and the Sophomore Surge mentor program. She has volunteered with Love Your Heart, Nursing Revealed, Making Strides Against Breast Cancer and Relay for Life. She has been honored with the Student Nurse Scholarship, the 100 Service Hours Certificate and Lapel Pin and the Positive Image of Nursing Award. After graduation, Bilog will work in a hospital as a registered nurse and apply to Ph.D. in nursing programs to become a nurse researcher and educator.   Faculty/staff honoree:  Gerilyn Herold
Arturo Fernandez Rios   Rios is a senior majoring in business administration. He has been involved with Mortar Board Honor Society, Out 4 Business, SDSU Ambassadors and the Residential Education Office, where he served as a senior resident adviser and a Hall Council floor representative. He has volunteered with the AIDS Walk & Run, Community Clean Up, and Dining Out for Life, and has volunteered as an Out 4 undergraduate campus ambassador. He has been recognized as the Resident Adviser of the Month and received the Cotton Metzger Scholarship. After graduation, Rios will move to Spain to pursue a job in human resources and eventually earn his master’s degree in business administration.   Faculty/staff honoree:  Dr. Michelle Dean
Daniela Garcia   Garcia is a senior at the SDSU Imperial Valley campus majoring in liberal studies with an emphasis in mathematics. Among her activities are the Aspiring Teachers Club, Aztecs Around the World and the Associated Students Council, and she serves as an Imperial Valley University Partnership ambassador. She has volunteered with Taste of the Valley, Kennedy Gardens Elementary School and T.L. Waggoner Elementary School. She has been honored as the Aztec of the Month and received the IVUP Scholarship, the Superintendent’s Scholarship and has also maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her college career. After graduation, Garcia plans to enroll in the teaching credentials program at SDSU Imperial Valley to begin her career as a teacher.   Faculty/staff honoree:  Miguel Rahiotis
Aubrie Jones   Jones is a senior majoring in kinesiology with an emphasis in pre-physical therapy and a minor in honors interdisciplinary studies. She is active in Kappa Alpha Theta, the SDSU Health Professions Advising Office, Council of Pre-Health Organizations and Physician Assistant Student Association. She has volunteered with the SDSU Adaptive Fitness Clinic, Palomar Health and Pathway Kitchen. She has received the Don Raig Scholarship, the Associated Students Study Abroad Scholarship and the Leeds Beckett Silver Volunteering Award. After graduation, Jones will pursue a master’s degree in physician assistant studies and work as a travel physician assistant in rural and underserved communities.   Faculty/staff honoree:  Gwendolyn Hill
Liana Marin   Marin is a junior majoring in industrial/organizational psychology with minors in leadership development and honors interdisciplinary studies. Her involvements include Alpha Gamma Delta, Active Minds, Peer Health Educators and Peer Leadership Consultants. She has volunteered with Aztec Unity Project, Feeding San Diego and the A.S. Food Pantry. She has been honored with Alpha Gamma Delta’s Highest Community Service Contribution and Highest Sophomore GPA and Rho Lambda National Sorority Recognition. She is a Vice President for Student Affairs Leadership Scholar. After graduation, Marin will obtain her doctorate in leadership and education to develop future student leaders.   Faculty/staff honoree:  Chelsea Winer
Morgan Newport   Newport is a senior majoring in international security and conflict resolution with an emphasis in environment and security. She is involved with Delta Beta Tau, Environmental Justice Committee, Green Love, Best Buddies and the Brave Project. She has volunteered with Mental Health Awareness Week, Chicano Park Day, Food Redistribution and Bali Wise and serves as a refugee tutor. She has been honored with the Achievement Award for Alpha Chi Omega, and she is on the Dean’s List. After graduation, Newport will work in Yosemite National Park and begin a year of service in AmeriCorps, focusing on environmental stewardship.   Faculty/staff honoree:  Dr. Cheryl O’Brien
Oluwatomisin “Tomi” Osinfolarin   Osinfolarin is a senior majoring in kinesiology with an emphasis in pre-physical therapy and a minor in cultural proficiency. He is active with Black Campus Ministries, Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc., Peer Leadership Consultants, Rotaract of SDSU and the Aztec Shops Board of Directors. He has volunteered with PB&J for the Homeless, Aztec Unity Project and Hope for Haiti. He has been honored with the Rising Star Scholarship, the African American Faculty/Staff Scholarship, and was a member of the 2018 Homecoming Court. After graduation, Osinfolarin will attend Southern California University of Health Sciences to pursue a Doctor of Chiropractic degree.   Faculty/staff honoree:  Dr. Estralita Martin
Latrel Powell   Powell is a senior double majoring in political science and Africana studies, with a minor in honors interdisciplinary studies. His involvements include the College of Arts and Letters Student Council, California State Student Association, Associated Students Board of Directors, Mortar Board Honor Society and Pi Sigma Alpha. He has volunteered with Miracle League, City Heights Prep Charter School, YMCA basketball and the Southern California Immigration Project. He has been honored by all campus interdisciplinary honors societies with the Dr. Henry L. Janssen Honors Council Award.    Faculty/staff honoree:  Dr. Martha Enciso
Renata Valente   Valente is a senior majoring in economics with a specialization in quantitative analysis and minors in sociology and leadership development. She is active with the Economics Student Association, SDSU Rotaract, Brazilian Student Association and Leadership Minor Peer Advisers. She has volunteered with Life Rolls On, More Than Music Fest and Harriet Tubman Charter School. She has been honored with the Center for Public Economics Scholarship and the Daniel Weintraub Endowment. After graduation, Valente will work in the United States before returning to Brazil to help with the financial investigation of corruption in public agencies.   Faculty/staff honoree:  Dr. Lisa Gates