Dedric Dennist Jr., a senior in the informatics program at the School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, has been honored with the Kate Hevner Mueller Award, which recognizes IU seniors who have proven leadership on campus both inside and outside of the classroom, and who are judged to have improved the IU community by their presence.
Dennist was one of just 30 IU seniors to earn the award, which was organized in 2013 in honor of Kate Hevner Mueller, the Dean of Women and Senior Counselor for Women from 1937-69. Dennist was honored during a brunch in April.
“We’re extremely proud of Dedric for the example he has set both as a representative of the School and as a focused, driven student,” said Raj Acharya, Dean of SICE. “His determination and willingness to help others has unquestionably made SICE more welcoming for everyone who knows him, and he’s richly deserving of this honor.”
Beside his pursuit of an informatics degree with a cognate in telecommunications, Dennist has been active in the Residential Program Services at IU, serving as a student coordinator and as a resident assistant at both Foster and Read Quads. He also is the president of the National Society of Black Engineers, and Dennist has served as an IU tour guide to recruit students to the IU Bloomington campus.
“One of my favorite quotes is from Maya Angelou: ‘People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel,’ ” Dennist said. “That’s how I went about my involvement here. I tried to make SICE and the IU campus a better place during my time in Bloomington by making anyone and everyone feel welcomed.”
Dennist was also awarded the Neal-Marshall Black Excellence Award for undergraduates at the Neal Marshall Black Culture Center 2018 Black Congratulatory Ceremony in early May. Dennist was honored for his investment in the black community at IU since his freshman year and for bettering those around him.
“I have been amazed by Dedric’s level of involvement in the IU community and SICE,” said Lamara Warren, assistant dean for diversity and inclusion at SICE. “Through his extensive involvement, Dedric has demonstrated that he is a natural leader who has made an indelible mark on the campus.”
Dennist graduated in May and is focused on a career as a technology consultant. For more information on the informatics program at SICE, visit the department’s website.