Devan Conness earns freshman leadership award at Honors Convocation

Devan Conness, daughter of Wanda and Mark Conness, of Ottawa, Ill., was awarded the Mark A. Reid Freshman Leadership Award during Honors Day May 14 at North Central College.

A freshman, Devan is majoring in human resource management at North Central College. She is a graduate of Ottawa Township High School.

The Mark A. Reid Freshman Leadership Award is named in honor of a former student who was tragically killed in an automobile accident in 1984 during his term in office as president of the North Central College Student Association. This award is presented to one freshman who demonstrates outstanding leadership ability, serves prominently as a positive influence in student affairs, encourages the active involvement of others in the life of the College community, and exemplifies the qualities of good citizenship associated with Mark Reid.

Devan holds a near-perfect GPA after her first year of studies and is involved in a number of activities across campus, including a leadership program called iLead for first-year students, the small business and entrepreneurship organization Enactus and the Voice of Praise gospel choir. She is on the board for Focus, a weekly student-led worship service, and will be an orientation leader for new students.