Innovation Award

At the annual Honors Convocation, winners of the Bergren Student Innovation Award are formally presented, as well as recognized at the Board of Trustees meeting in May. This year, there were a record high of twelve nominations, with half of them involving sustainability or green efforts. From twelve, winners Ian Cramer and Ana Devlin-Gauthier were selected.

“I am pleased that so many students are creating innovations that will move AU forward,” stated Vice President for Student Affairs Kathy Woughter.

Projects considered for the awards seek to improve the quality of life for the Alfred community, faculty or students. The nominees were required to complete questionnaires and essays about their projects. These were later reviewed by a committee consisting of the Vice President for Student Affairs, the Chairperson of the Student Affairs Board of Trustees committee, the Student Senate President or designee and the Director of Student Activities.

“I was surprised when I won the award but I always knew that it had a chance to win,” stated Senior Ian Cramer. His idea for the Saxon Bike Hub Bicycle Lending Program won him the award. He had the plan since his first year but only brought it to the table in January of his junior year.

“In April, I presented the idea to student senate and they approved my special allocation request for $10,000,” Cramer said.

The program began last fall and was an immediate success. Students can rent bikes during the spring and fall and store their own bikes during the winter. The Hub resides on the top floor of Davis Gym, where minor repairs can also be made.

Sophomore Devlin-Gauthier won the award for two projects she spearheaded, the clothesline project and the Alfred Uncovered Implied Nudity Calendar. The clothesline project was an opportunity for students to share personal stories throughout Powell during the fall semester by writing them on t-shirts and hanging them on the clothesline.

The calendar, inspired by similar endeavors by other universities, allowed twelve organizations on campus to be photographed almost nude in ways that related to their club. Devlin-Gauthier says it helped educate the students on having a healthy body image, as well as being a fundraiser for the participating clubs.

Devlin-Gauthier said, "I was surprised and honored to have won. All of the nominees were fantastic and I cannot thank the board of trustees enough for selecting my project as a co-recipient of the award."

The Bergren Student Innovation Awards are funded by the Board of Trustees in honor of Rev. Dr. Richard V. Bergren, Jr, assistant professor of religion and director of religious programs at Alfred from 1960 to 1968. Student winners honor Bergren’s regard for students in their regard of issues throughout the Alfred community.