The Quest for the Best contest recognizes high-achieving SDSU students for their outstanding performance in academics and community service.
For more than three decades, the Quest for the Best Vice Presidential Student Service award has recognized outstanding student leaders who have typified and promoted the mission of the university.
This award, given each April to the "best of the best" at SDSU, is known as one of the most prestigious awards a student can earn.
The Quest for the Best Vice Presidential Student Service award recognizes student achievement in four key areas: academic excellence, student involvement and commitment, community service outside of the SDSU campus and leadership development.
The Division of Student Affairs is hosting the 32nd annual event on April 20. The award recipients are:
Leona Koxha
Senior, International Security and Conflict Resolution; minor in Political Science.
Koxha's work in the community and in academics has been recognized by the Mortar Board Honor Society and Rotaract of SDSU. Having grown up as a war refugee from Kosovo, Koxha intends to inspire and educate others through her life experiences as Miss California Collegiate America and as a Muslim woman. She eventually hopes to serve as a U.S. ambassador with the goal of working to raise the visibility of women's issues in this country.
Holly Norman
Senior, Microbiology; minors in Chemistry and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Norman's campus involvement has allowed her to merge her love of community with her passion for the sciences, prominently serving with the Women in Science Society. For her work and promise, Norman has earned the Keck Scholars Award, which is funded by the W.M. Keck Foundation. In the future, she plans to pursue advanced degrees and further her dedication to the field of microbiology by conducting research in Africa on a rare disease called nodding syndrome.
Christian Onwuka
Junior, Business; minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Onwuka has an exemplary record of involvement in Associated Students, serving on the Financial Affairs Committee and the External Relations Board. In the spring of 2018, Onwuka was elected Vice President of Financial Affairs following his heavy involvement on the committee responsible for the launch of SDSU's Black Resource Center.
Cristal Ramirez
Senior, Interdisciplinary Studies; minor in Cultural Proficiency
Establishing herself as a presence in Greek life and as a mentor to Educational Opportunity Program and Compact for Success students, Ramirez has long been committed to facilitating positive experiences for students in the Latino community. After graduation, Ramirez plans on pursuing a master's degree through the Community Based Block program at SDSU.
Dominic Gialdini
Senior, Recreation Administration; minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Gialdini is active in his Catholic faith, facilitating mission trips domestically and abroad in the Dominican Republic and working locally with the SDSU Newman Center. Gialdini, who made the Dean's List and earned accolades from various honor societies, plans to attend graduate school in Europe to study sustainable destination development, sustainable tourism management and cultural heritage site preservation.
Vanessa Girard
Senior, Hospitality and Tourism Management; minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Serving prominently in the Associated Students community as the executive vice president, as well as taking an active role on the Aztec Dance Marathon committee, Girard's devotion to developing leadership skills in those around her has earned her distinction in her field. She hopes to work with the Voyage Leadership Development Program at the Marriott International in Irvine, Calif. following graduation.
Alex Henriques da Silva B.
Senior, Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting
Throughout her collegiate career, da Silva has stayed active in her field, participating in organizations such as the International Business Society and Student Accounting Society. Eventually serving as a J.P. Morgan "Proud to Be" Delegate, da Silva hopes to further her career by taking the CPA license exam before starting her career as an auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York City.
Farris Nabulsi
Senior, Computer Science
Besides his active involvement in Associated Students and Greek Life on campus, Nabulsi is connected to his faith, sharing his love for his religion in his work through the Islamic Center of San Diego, and as a member of the Muslim Student Association on campus. This Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Dean's List honoree will be starting a career at Amazon in the field of software engineering after graduation.
Nancy Nguyen
Senior, Sociology; minors in Public Health and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
With a dedication to service, Nguyen has an exemplary record of engagement with organizations like the Student Diversity Commission, the International Rescue Committee and the Employee Rights Center. Her three honor society accolades pave the way for her future plans of beginning an international service program and pursuing a master's degree in public policy.
Samantha Ledesma
Senior, Criminal Justice and Spanish; minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Heavily involved in on-campus organizations like the EOP Student Advisory Board, the Guardian Scholars Student Advisory Board and the Criminal Justice Student Association, Ledesma has shown great dedication to the service of others. Following graduation, she plans to begin a career in the field of criminal justice as an investigator to create positive impacts in the community.
