Honorable Mention Winner
Marianne Howe
University of Central Florida
Junior in Business Management
3.78 GPA

Recycling is a buzzword that we hear a lot, but not many actually recycle. However, for University of Central Florida's Marianne Howe, or "Annie" as her friends know her, recycling is a serious business. She created the Recycle UCF program in spring 2003, working hard to inform students about the new program.

Howe, 20, was accepted to the Leadership, Enrichment, and Academic Development (LEAD) Scholars Program her freshman year, a program that has helped her develop skills as a leader. In fact, LEAD is responsible for getting Howe's hands into recycling. "I had the opportunity to hold many leadership positions through LEAD Scholars, but more notably, I had the opportunity to make a difference," she says. Howe uses what she learns to help others become leaders by being a mentor to first-year students, using her position to create programs and activities that encourage student participation and by creating new leadership positions such as the public relations director of the LEAD program. "Annie is an exceptional person that has fully utilized and contributed mightily to the environment for students of the university. Her sphere of influence has been enormous," says Thomas Huddleston, Jr., vice president of student development and enrollment services at UCF.

Howe has a great passion for children. At Boggy Creek Camp, she worked  to make kids smile during Kids on Ventilator Assistance Week. Through Circle K International, Howe plays with kids while single mothers attend parenting classes. Also, she has dinner and ice cream with kids from Give Kids the World, an organization which deals with kids with life threatening diseases, while the parents have a night out. She's also coordinated activities such as the UCF Wish Drive, where students helped the community by collecting more than 150 items to donate to GKTW. In addition, as the Dance Marathon executive board member for the spring 2004 semester, she was able to promote the mainly Greek-sponsored 24-hour event, which benefits Children's Miracle Network, to non-Greek clubs and organizations throughout the UCF campus.

Because of her enthusiasm and ability to succeed, Howe has been honored as LEAD Scholar of the Month and received the LEAD Dedicated Member Award in 2003. She is also a National Scholars Society member, a UCF Golden Key member, a National Society of Collegiate Scholars member, and Merit Award winner for fall 2003. She was on the Dean's List for fall and spring 2003 and on the President's List in fall 2003. Howe received the Henri Landwirth Heart of UCF Award in 2003 and was recognized in the 2004 Who’s Who in American Colleges & Universities.

Besides being involved in school and service programs, Howe is an honors student and part of the Honors in the Major program in the college of business.

Through scholarships, loans, parental contribution, and a year-round job, Howe covers her out-of-state tuition. —MAC

Contact Howe at annieland10@hotmail.com.