Competition for UC s C-Ring Award Has Grown by Leaps and Bounds

The prestigious C-Ring Award, given annually to an outstanding graduating woman, was presented May 20 to Sarah J. Knight, a fashion design major from Tulsa, Oklahoma. The award recognizes Knight’s contributions to her three life’s passions: fashion, athletics and improving the quality of life of asthmatics.

At the C-Ring banquet, President Zimpher greeted the student nominees and their guests. “Collectively you demonstrate the wonderful diversity found in UC’s student body,” she said. “Your backgrounds, your degrees and your life goals are rich and varied.” President Zimpher noted that the C-Ring Award recognizes women who work to improve the community’s quality of life and who feel a responsibility to the greater world. “These are women who ‘lift as they climb,’ selflessly reaching out to other women and girls to help them succeed.”

Former recipient Julie Frammer told the assembled guests,"The C-Ring is the oldest continually given award at UC. It is also has the most challenging standards of all university awards." It began as an award to the outstanding senior female athlete. The field has now grown to include all graduating senior women.

Competition for the 2006 C-Ring Award was keen, with 30 worthy contenders.  In her remarks at the presentation, committee member Jeanne Smith acknowledged the increasing difficulty faced by the committee each year, saying that the talent exhibited in the young women this year was outstanding. Each year the C-Ring nominations include the cream of the crop of that year’s graduating women.

Recipient Sarah Knight is graduating with a BSD in fashion design. She is a member of the National Collegiate Honor Society, Golden Key Honorary, Presidential Student Service Award Scholar and DAAP Pella Alumni Scholar. She is also the Bearcat band feature twirler and a mentor of Fashion Design students. Knight initiated a Title IX program at her co-op company, Nike, enlisting 200 other women, developing a curriculum and speaking on the importance of Title IX for women in sports. Upon graduation, Knight will become a sports wear designer for Target.

Knight has paid more attention to the C-Ring Award as she got older. “I never thought to put myself in those women’s shoes because I never thought I would be standing with them today,” she says. “It truly is an amazing feeling to stand among great women as I leave this University.”

From one garment to another, she stands in the shoes of her predecessors in part because of her accomplishments with accessorizing. One of Knight’s specialties is in designing athletic gear that will accommodate inhalers for athletes with asthma — like her. Many of us have seen Knight in action the last few years by attending a UC football game.

In fact, Knight is one of four UC DAAP students chosen by Target Corporation and the Council of Fashion Designers of America to work in the assistant designer program. Ten students were finalists nationally in the prestigious business/design competition.

“This award is absolutely an amazing surprise,” says Knight. “It is truly a dream come true. And the best part about such an amazing award is that it is given to honor the work I have done for the university and for women. And it is truly the best reward to know that people appreciate what you are doing for them.”

Her work experience includes working for

Nike, Inc

., during the summer of 2005. She was chosen by Nike as a result of her athletic apparel designs. Knight’s designs for Target were slightly different from those she created for Nike, focusing on lifestyles of busy women who want to quickly make the transition from working to working out. Knight was also picked this winter as one of UC’s 100 “

Coolest Co-ops

.” 

“I love this university and have done my best to take it all in in the five years I have been here,” Knight says. “In my time at UC, I was able to have great career experience though co-op and wonderful friendships through student organizations, and I cannot be more grateful to this university and what it has given me.”

“As I head toward Target in July, I leave here with a heavy heart but a mind full of memories I will never leave behind. I know I will look back forever and know that I’m the person I am today because of the University of Cincinnati.”

C-Ring Committee Members:

• Jane S. Anderson — adjunct associate professor, McMicken College of Arts & Sciences — political science
• Julie Burdick — director of pre-admissions, College of Engineering
• Lanthan D. Camblin — professor, College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services 
• Catherine C. Castillo — director of business affairs, UC Health Services
• Stacy L. Downing — program director, African American Cultural and Research Center
• Cheryll Dunn — associate dean, College of Applied Science
• Sophia Dziegielewski — director, School of Social Work
• David J. Edelman — professor and director, DAAP School of Planning
• Lou Ann Emerson — associate dean, College of Nursing
• Julie A. Flammer — director of business affairs, finance — Office of Vice President, former C-Ring winner 
• Kylie Giesken — program manager, UC Wellness Center
• Lisa Hogeland — associate professor, McMicken College of Arts & Sciences —women’s studies and English
• Letitia Costilla Karuppan, program coordinator, student activities, leadership and development 
• Bleuzette Marshall  — director of development, student affairs and services, UC Foundation
• Kimberly McGinnis-Hemphill — senior academic advisor, College of Business
• Lisa H. Newman — field service professor and director of undergraduate studies, McMicken College of Arts & Sciences — communications 
• Barbara Rinto — director, UC Women’s Center
• Liliana Rojas Guyler — assistant professor, College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services
• Lillian S. Santa-Maria — university ombuds
• Ken Simonson — academic director of Emerging Ethnic Engineers, College of Engineering
• Jeanne Smith — campus minister, Wesley Foundation
• Carney Sotto — visiting instructor, College of Allied Health Sciences
• Deborah S. Weinstein — director of business affairs, student affairs and services
• Tina Whalen — chair of rehabilitation sciences, College of Allied Health Sciences

C-Ring Honorary Members:

• Karen K. Faaborg — vice provost, faculty affairs 
• Karen L. Gould — dean, McMicken College of Arts & Sciences
• Jane E. Henney — vice president and provost Academic Health Center 
• Elizabeth C. King — dean, College of Allied Health Sciences
• Judith S. Koroscik — dean, College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
• Andrea R. Lindell — dean, College of Nursing
• Victoria A. Montavon — dean, University Libraries
• Kristi A. Nelson — senior vice provost, Academic Planning
• Dolores Y. Straker — dean, Raymond Walters College