Wicked Society Awards 2023
The Wicked Society is proud to launch the first annual Wicked Society Awards - presented to a student, administrative staff, and faculty member - to recognize those have made significant contributions to Wicked Initiatives @ RU for the past year. They are:
- Paige Tan (Convener of the Wicked Festival and Director of Wicked Programs) for DISTINGUISHED LEADERSHIP and OUTSTANDING DEDICATION. Dr. Paige Tan has been primary driving force behind the remarkably successful Wicked Festivals, since she organized the first event in the fall of 2020. Over the past 3 years, the Wicked Festival has become popular showcase of student problem-solving involving complex public problems. Participants and presenters alike unanimously characterized it as a signature learning experience that empowers students to work on meaningful projects, and build confidence and career skills. Her grit and organizational skills resulted in the continuous growth of the semi-annual festivals to engage a network of 23 different courses taught by 15 faculty members. Through them, RU’s wicked initiatives have grown to include a new Wicked Problems minor, Wicked Student Society, Wicked ProblemsToolkit, Wicked Student Podcast, and the Pathfinders Journal of Wicked Problems and Solutions. This inaugural award celebrates her work as a champion who has consistently cultivated RU’s wicked initiatives with the skills of an entrepreneur and the zeal of a missionary.
- Madison Barnes (Administrator of Wicked Festival and Wicked Society Procurement and Expenditures) for EXCEPTIONAL DEDICATION and OUTSTANDING CREATIVITY. Ms. Madison Barnes is the administrator that provides the ‘backbone’ behind the funding, logistics, and implementation of the Wicked project and events. She navigated the bureaucratic morass of the infamous Chrome River through many crossings to make enable procurement and event planning to go forward. Though relatively new to the job, she applied fresh and pragmatic problem-solving approaches to circumvent the many administrative hurdles and road blocks. Over the past year, she consistently and diligently supported the organization of the Wicked Festivals, and the creation and launch of several associated Wicked Initiatives – the minor, student society, toolkit, journal and podcast. Madison has been deliberate and thoughtful in her dealings with the faculty and students alike. She asks the right questions, is open to new challenges, and is able to draw ideas, technologies and resources in her administrative work. With a design and marketing background, she is especially adaptable and creative with the publicity of events.
- Luke Quesenberry (Vice President of the Wicked Society and Contributor to the Wicked Problems Toolkit, Wicked Student Podcast, and Pathfinders Journal ) for REMARKABLE LEADERSHIP and OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION. Mr. Luke Quesenberry is a founder and Vice President of the Wicked Society of Radford University. He started out by volunteering his time in researching for the Wicked Problem Toolkit Team in December 2022, the day following the final exams of the fall semester. The Toolkit a RU student research project in partnership with a United Nations network of scholars to develop a repository of open educational resources on solving some intractable global problems. In 2023, the members of the Toolkit Team formed the Wicked Society to institutionalize the work of promoting the scholarship and research on wicked problems on our campus. Since then, Luke has worked tirelessly to develop a leadership team, set up a Wicked HQ in an office in CHBS, and initiated a diverse program of activities. Two key milestones of the student society are the creation of The Journal of Wicked Problems and a Wicked Student Podcast. Over the past year, Luke has spent countless hours during the school year and over the summer and winter breaks on these projects. Luke is well liked and trusted by his peers. His leadership and enterprise are a demonstration of the Highlander Spirit in the exploration and development of student programs. Luke truly embodies the tagline of the Wicked Society: Viam inveniam aut faciam, Latin for “I shall either find a way or make one.” The phrase has been attributed to Hannibal of Carthage during his final military campaign to take Rome in the Second Punic War of 218 AD. When his generals told Hannibal it was impossible to cross the Alps by elephant, this was his retort.
The Society also take this opportunity to announce two prestigious awards previously presented by the RU Office of Student Involvement (in a campus-wide nomination and selection in April 2023) to two founding members for their outstanding achievements and exemplary service for the year 2023:
- Rachel Sharrett (President of the Wicked Society)for the Outstanding Student Award,
- Brittiany Rorrer (Webmaster of the Wicked Society) for the Unsung Hero Award.
