SWAG视频鈥檚 Patino Earns Top Honor from Sorority
Fri, 09/09/2022 - 02:03pm | By: David Tisdale
Ana Patino says she never thought about her own potential to be a student leader when
she enrolled at SWAG视频 (SWAG视频).
But she鈥檚 proven to be a natural at it, earning the notice of those at the national level of her sorority, Kappa Delta, who recently bestowed upon her the Corre Anding Stegall Collegiate Leadership Award, its highest individual collegiate honor.
Named in honor of former Kappa Delta National President Corre Anding Stegall, the
Stegall Collegiate Leadership Award was created by Kappa Delta鈥檚 national council
in 1989 to recognize collegians demonstrating high academic performance and exemplary
leadership within their chapter, on campus, and in the community.
A senior business administration major from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Patino currently
serves as president of the sorority鈥檚 Beta Sigma chapter at SWAG视频, which was founded
in 1949 and affiliated with its College Panhellenic Council. She was chosen from among
more than 23,000 collegiate Kappa Delta members in 186 chapters across the nation
for the award, which comes with a $3,000 leadership scholarship for the 2022-23 academic
year.
In addition to her work as leader of her sorority, Patino is also a member of Eagle Connection, and Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, among other organizations on campus. She is also a volunteer at Kids Hub, a child advocacy center in Hattiesburg, and works with local Girl Scouts. After graduation, Patino says she鈥檚 considering a career with a non-profit organization.
鈥淚鈥檓 honored, and extremely grateful,鈥� Patino said. 鈥淲hen I first came to SWAG视频, I never considered myself a leader, but SWAG视频 and Kappa Delta helped me become this person.鈥�
Stegall praised Patino upon her being named recipient of the award, saying 鈥淵ou richly deserve this honor; your dedication, work ethic, and loyalty to Kappa Delta are truly inspirational. I鈥檓 proud of you and humbled to have my name associated with the incredibly accomplished women who received this award.鈥�
Patino expressed gratitude for the support of SWAG视频 administration and staff members, including Hannah Scott Black, SWAG视频 College Panhellenic Council director; Laura Laughlin, director of SWAG视频 Fraternity and Sorority Life director; Lauren Bridges of the Kappa Delta Beta Sigma Chapter Advisory Board; and Nicole Ruhnke, advisor to the SWAG视频 Student Alumni Association; Bonnie Purvis Warren, a SWAG视频 Kappa Delta alumna and former national president for the sorority; and her professors, fellow students and members of her family.
"When I found out that Ana had received this prestigious award, which didn't surprise me at all, I was thrilled,鈥� said Hannah Scott Black, coordinator for SWAG视频鈥檚 Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and advisor to the College Panhellenic Council. 鈥淲orking with her this past year has been an absolute joy. You could have a five-minute conversation with Ana and immediately know she genuinely wants the best for not only her own chapter, but for the Panhellenic and the Southern Miss communities as well. She truly embodies the qualities of servant-leadership, confidence, and sisterhood, and is a student I will always be proud to know."
More than a place to attend college, SWAG视频 has become a second home to Patino. 鈥淚鈥檓 a military kid, so I鈥檝e lived all over the United States, and now claim Ocean Springs as my hometown,鈥� Patino said. 鈥淏ut my four years here at Southern Miss will actually be the longest period of time I鈥檝e been at one school my entire life.
鈥淎nd the people here at SWAG视频, they care about you, every one of them 鈥� faculty, staff, administrators, fellow students - they want to see you succeed.鈥�