Sullivan Foundation partner school Shenandoah University has awarded this year’s Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards to seniors Olivia “Livy” Gouldin and Kyle Hooven and to Director of Physical Plant Barry Schnoor, M.S.

Each year, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards are presented at 70 colleges and universities across the American south. First awarded in 1890, the award goes to individuals who are committed to creating positive change.

Olivia Gouldin

Olivia “Livy” Gouldin
Gouldin majored in Spanish and exercise science and earned a certificate in Religious Diversity and Leadership in the Professions. She was a tutor for biology and Spanish and received the Tutor of the Year Award in 2019. Additionally, she was the recipient of the inaugural Exercise Science Community Spirit Award in 2019. She was also inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honor society.

During her time at Shenandoah, Gouldin volunteered at the Frederick Rescue Mission and the Care Net pregnancy center, both in Frederick, Maryland, and she also served on mission trips in the United States, Honduras and Guatemala. Additionally, she provided interpreting services for the Sinclair Health Clinic in Winchester and worked with Habitat for Humanity. This past summer, Gouldin served in an internship where she assisted healthcare providers by providing translation services and attending to the cultural practices and values of patients. She then took this experience and taught her fellow exercise science students how to attend to religious and cultural diversity in healthcare.

One of Gouldin’s five nominators said her “incomparable sense of compassion has been even more apparent to me during the coronavirus-induced isolation … as she has reached out to friends who are struggling and has repeatedly shown grace.” Another nominator said, “It is her humble nature and her ability to always have a positive attitude despite challenges that help Livy embody what it is to live nobly and beautifully. Her very spirit and enthusiasm for life are contagious.”

Kyle Hooven

Kyle Hooven
Hooven, a sociology and psychology major, exemplifies the Shenandoah University spirit by seeking to create communities of compassion, responsibility, advocacy and justice. One nominator said that Hooven thinks about “how to make the world a better place for others who are not like him.” Hooven’s nominators included faculty and staff who recognized him for his exceptional character and his strong connections with classroom and co-curricular activities. Hooven was active across campus with leadership roles in the Mosaic Center for Diversity and in the First-Year Seminar, where he served as a mentor, head mentor and orientation leader. He also partnered with the Four Diamonds organization to raise money to fight childhood cancer.

After traveling to Uganda and Rwanda on a Global Experiential Learning trip, Hooven discerned international service as a vocational journey. One nominator said, “He takes personal responsibility to make the world a better place, a more just place for marginalized communities.” Another nominator said, “I have seen how he encourages other students, welcomes new student employees and creatively merges his sense of social justice with strategic programming.” His final nominator said, “Everyone deserves to have a person like Kyle Hooven in their life. When I see him, my face lights up because he brings joy wherever he goes.”

Barry Schnoor

Barry Schnoor
Barry Schnoor is the staff recipient of the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, in honor of his compassion and dedication. He regularly engages with students, learns about their needs and ensures their comfort. A nominator said, “Barry has been one of my biggest supporters and continually goes out of his way to better the lives of Shenandoah students.”

One residential student described Schnoor as a caring and compassionate individual who makes sure that their residence hall room is accessible and feels “better than home.” Schnoor is a supporter of academic programs and events on campus through his presence and kind words. One nominator said, “He leads by example and leads with his heart, and Shenandoah would not be complete without him.”

Throughout his tenure at Shenandoah, Schnoor has stepped in during emergencies, both related to Physical Plant and due to family situations in other divisions. He’s been a team player taking on roles that include mentoring and supervising students on international trips. A student nominator said: “Barry truly embodies Shenandoah’s values of community and leadership. He handles situations with a grace and ease that is both inspiring and exemplary of true noble character.”

This story has been edited slightly from the original version appearing on the Shenandoah University website.