The Student Life Award is presented to a student who best exemplifies the core values of leadership, inclusivity, partnership, and collaboration as articulated in the Office of Student Life mission and whose involvements cross organizational and departmental lines.

Our first student to recognize has been a leader in almost every aspect of Student Life. From her involvement in OPO as the Equity and Inclusion Conference planner and Trips Mountain bike trainer, her involvement with Collis Dartmouth Votes, her leadership of the Dartmouth Political Union, serving as House Manager for Sigma Delta, leadership of JED, and our student body vice president—and now, incoming student body president, our recipient, Jess Chiriboga, has exemplified commitment to the Dartmouth community and the student experience.

I could speak in depth to any one of Jess’s involvements and impress you with her ability to affect change.  But, let me focus on one or two.  Jess has led the Dartmouth Political Union to be a generator for important dialogue on campus.  She has advocated for resources to introduce students to important social and civic topics, and through her leadership, the organization has been a force for speech and expression on campus. 

Jess has also been a champion for improvement in Dartmouth’s support for mental health.  As I mentioned, she is on the leadership team for JED.  That’s pretty cool sounding, but what that really means is she is leading a group to look at enhancing the undergraduate student experience; she was instrumental in launching UWill; she wrote and received a grant from American Eagle to create a Tranquility space in Wellness, and so so much more. 

Jess has done all of this and still excelled in the academic experience.  She is a history major with a government minor.  She is a Stamps Scholar, Cameron Impact Scholar, and is even the creator of Spotify next wave podcast “UnTextbooked” that highlights crucial voices in history and is downloaded in more than 95 countries—making history more inclusive and bringing voice to the underrepresented experiences and people.

We all owe her a debt of gratitude for this work. 

Jess, for all you have contributed to Student Life and Dartmouth it is my honor to present you with tonight’s Student Life award. 

Now, our second recipient is no stranger to any of you. 

David Millman, our outgoing student body president, is well-known on campus, by students, faculty, and townspeople – whether or not people know his name, they have been impacted by his work. He is unquestionably a leader and public servant: a believer in local and state government who has successfully lobbied for state and town legislation; a student who has revolutionized “town vs. gown” politics and sought out new opportunities to put his leadership efforts, problem solving abilities, and creativity into Dartmouth’s housing crisis by writing, introducing, and passing a zoning amendment, to begin development for a new living complex in Hanover, NH.

David's involvement on campus and in the community shows his great dedication and respect for others. In his role as DSG president, he has been instrumental in pushing Dartmouth to be better.  He has successfully advocated for late-night dining, he has championed student voice to the Board of Trustees, he’s expanded access to residence halls, extended hours of the campus shuttle, and increased support for our campus food pantry serving members in our community who are food insecure.  His ability to see a problem and take action to solve it makes him inspiring and influential among his peers.

And, I heard a rumor that David was even a finalist to play Mike on the show “Stranger Things.”  Is that true?

David, for all you’ve contributed here, it is my honor to present you with this Student Life Award.

I want to end with acknowledging the partnership of these two.  They have accomplished so much at Dartmouth individually and in partnership.  And, on a personal note, it has been an honor to serve as their advisor. 

As a token of our deep appreciation, you are receiving this very cool handcrafted bowl made from a local Dartmouth tree.