Courage to Inspire, Strength to Empower Award

The Courage to Inspire, Strength to Empower Award (based on Adelphi University’s award of the same name) was created in 2021 to recognize outstanding female student leaders whose service and commitment to excellence benefit and inspire the members of the Shepherd Ram family.

The award recognizes a student who, through meaningful philanthropic work on- and off- campus, embodies the commitment of WISH to impact and enhance the Shepherd community.

The winner is announced during the annual WISH Membership Program and is invited to vote as an honorary member for the next year’s grant awards. Nominations are now closed. 

Lillian was nominated by Shepherdstown Rotary Foundation President Jim King, who enumerated all of her many accomplishments and extracurriculars all the while maintaining a 3.86 GPA at Shepherd.

Originally from Capon Bridge, WV, Lillian is a junior biology major minoring in mathematics and chemistry. She is a member of the biology honors society and was invited to the Order of Omega, which is a leadership society for undergraduate members of fraternity and sorority organizations. Her career goal is to be a dentist, and she is pre-accepted at West Virginia University’s School of Dentistry under the DentSTEP program. She plans to start that program in fall 2025.

Currently in her second term as president of Tri Sigma sorority, she expertly manages operations, oversees seven directors, and thoughtfully resolves issues for 40 members. Honoring the sorority’s ethos of “learn, lead, give”, Lillian leads the chapter’s volunteer/mentor hours with the Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center, Boys & Girls Club, Jefferson County Relay for Life, and the Rotary Club of Shepherdstown. During her presidency, fundraising efforts exceeded goals to support the Tri Sigma Foundation, which sponsors programs for prematurity awareness, therapeutic play via the Robbie Page Memorial Fund, and funding merit/need based scholarships.

Lillian is also in her second term as president of Shepherd’s MEDLIFE chapter. Through her leadership, she grew membership for the club from four to 60. One major milestone achieved during her presidency was to restart the international service trip, described by prior students as “life changing and inspirational”. In 2023, 6 members traveled to Peru to support medical service delivery, community development, and educational programs for impoverished families. Twelve members are expected to make a return trip this year.

MEDLIFE also supports a range of campus activities from American Red Cross blood testing events and drives, dental hygiene lessons for kids as part of “Shep o’ Treat”, and educating the student body on community health issues and medical service availability.

As a Rotaract member, Lillian serves the Rotary Club of Shepherdstown via support of campus activities and community events. Most notably, she coordinated over 30 Tri Sigma and MEDLIFE volunteers to work the 2022 and 2023 RCS Wine, Beer & Food Fest, which raised over $30,000 to support community initiatives.

Lillian is an incredible example of someone committed to humble and selfless service, and she exudes positivity and a “can-do” attitude.

Past Recipients

• Hanna Carlson, 2023
• Alyssa Nazarok, 2022
• Danielle Stephenson, 2021