Vanessa Milan wins the Inaugural Pi Kappa Delta Award

by Kimberlee Runnion

EASTON, PA – This year, we are introducing a new award among our own team: the Pi Kappa Delta award. This award recognizes a member of the Lafayette College Forensics Society who best embodies the spirit of Pi Kappa Delta through a balance of competitive success, academic excellence, team mentorship, dedication to service and community, and commitment to building and maintaining a positive team environment. We are thrilled to announce the first recipient of the Pi Kappa Delta Award: our Supreme Overlord, Vanessa Milan ’16.

Vanessa is a Government & Law and English double major, with an inexplicable passion for art history. She is reluctantly graduating this May but is excited to begin a new adventure at Temple University Beasley School of Law in the fall to pursue a career in immigration or constitutional law, or both. Although her favorite activity is debate, Vanessa also enjoys completing research as an EXCEL Scholar, representing the student body on the Board of Trustees Committee on Educational Policy, and working as President of the Kirby Government and Law Society. Vanessa is best known for her unique laugh and for watching too much Shark Tank.

Here’s what Vanessa’s teammates have to say about her:

“I think Vanessa shows the most dedication to the team and compassion/care for its members as well as the most genuine joy for the activity.”

“I vote Vanessa because she always has a positive attitude and is incredibly dedicated to forensics, even when she gets called too liberal.”

“I am voting for Vanessa because of her dedication to the team, not only as President but also as a member who helps promote a welcoming and inclusive environment. As a graduating senior, she has served as a great role model and mentor and through recent fundraising activities has showed a dedication to service and the greater Easton community.”

“ She’s been impressive at balancing the activity with academic (and planning for her future) life, she’s done a ton of outreach to make the freshmen feel welcome, and she’s been very successful competitively to boot.”

“Vanessa cares for others. With a quick smile and a blurt of laughter, Vanessa can shoo away the blues. She has a quiet leadership that many would not even notice. Yet there’s Vanessa… right in the thick of everything lending her voice to truth. An ability to make a decision is an important trait for a leader. Vanessa can do this. Even more critical, though, is a willingness to reconsider that decision after stepping away from the situation’s immediacy. Vanessa has this humility. I cannot think of a better or more fitting person to be the first recipient of the Pi Kappa Delta Team Award.”