SMC freshman Colleen Dulle is the 2014 Loyola Outstanding First Year Student.  The award honors students for exceptional performance in demonstrating leadership on campus.

Dulle is a member of the Public Relations Student Society of America, the academic coordinator of the University Honors Association, a public relations  intern at the Mercy Endeavors Senior Center and sings in the Ignatius Chapel Mass band.  The St. Charles, Mo., native will be even busier next fall when she adds Maroon News Assistant to her resumé.

Faculty member Sylvester Tan, S.J., nominated Dulle for the award, saying she has been a major force on campus in just the short time she has been a Loyola student. 

Tan cited Dulle’s recent work to implement a new evaluation system for Loyola’s Honors courses as just one example of her positive influence on the institutional structures of student and academic life.

“Colleen leads an exemplary personal and academic life as a responsible and mature leader among her peers, a reliable study partner, and someone who prays daily in the chapel and is always ready to serve,” said Tan.

“I feel so honored to receive this award,” said Dulle.  “It's great to know that I've been able to impact people in a positive way in my first year here.  Loyola has given me so much already, and I just want to give back all that I can.”

Sonya F. Duhé, Ph.D., Loyola professor and director of the School of Mass Communication, says Dulle is a great example of the dynamic students that make up the SMC.

“School of Mass Communication students are some of the best and brightest on Loyola’s campus,” said Duhé.  “We are so proud of Colleen and her accomplishments.”