USM’s Patino Earns Top Honor from Sorority

Fri, 09/09/2022 - 02:03pm | By: David Tisdale

Ana Patino says she never thought about her own potential to be a student leader when she enrolled at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM).

But she’s proven to be a natural at it, earning the notice of those at the national level of her sorority, Kappa Delta, who recently bestowed upon her the Corre Anding Stegall Collegiate Leadership Award, its highest individual collegiate honor.

Named in honor of former Kappa Delta National President Corre Anding Stegall, the Stegall Collegiate Leadership Award was created by Kappa Delta’s national council in 1989 to recognize collegians demonstrating high academic performance and exemplary leadership within their chapter, on campus, and in the community.

A senior business administration major from Ocean Springs, Mississippi, Patino currently serves as president of the sorority’s Beta Sigma chapter at USM, which was founded in 1949 and affiliated with its College Panhellenic Council. She was chosen from among more than 23,000 collegiate Kappa Delta members in 186 chapters across the nation for the award, which comes with a $3,000 leadership scholarship for the 2022-23 academic year.

In addition to her work as leader of her sorority, Patino is also a member of Eagle Connection, and Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Society, among other organizations on campus. She is also a volunteer at Kids Hub, a child advocacy center in Hattiesburg, and works with local Girl Scouts. After graduation, Patino says she’s considering a career with a non-profit organization.

“I’m honored, and extremely grateful,” Patino said. “When I first came to USM, I never considered myself a leader, but USM and Kappa Delta helped me become this person.”

Stegall praised Patino upon her being named recipient of the award, saying “You richly deserve this honor; your dedication, work ethic, and loyalty to Kappa Delta are truly inspirational. I’m proud of you and humbled to have my name associated with the incredibly accomplished women who received this award.”

Patino expressed gratitude for the support of USM administration and staff members, including Hannah Scott Black, USM College Panhellenic Council director; Laura Laughlin, director of USM Fraternity and Sorority Life director; Lauren Bridges of the Kappa Delta Beta Sigma Chapter Advisory Board; and Nicole Ruhnke, advisor to the USM Student Alumni Association; Bonnie Purvis Warren, a USM Kappa Delta alumna and former national president for the sorority; and her professors, fellow students and members of her family. 

"When I found out that Ana had received this prestigious award, which didn't surprise me at all, I was thrilled,” said Hannah Scott Black, coordinator for USM’s Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life and advisor to the College Panhellenic Council. “Working with her this past year has been an absolute joy. You could have a five-minute conversation with Ana and immediately know she genuinely wants the best for not only her own chapter, but for the Panhellenic and the Southern Miss communities as well. She truly embodies the qualities of servant-leadership, confidence, and sisterhood, and is a student I will always be proud to know."

More than a place to attend college, USM has become a second home to Patino. “I’m a military kid, so I’ve lived all over the United States, and now claim Ocean Springs as my hometown,” Patino said. “But my four years here at Southern Miss will actually be the longest period of time I’ve been at one school my entire life.

“And the people here at USM, they care about you, every one of them – faculty, staff, administrators, fellow students - they want to see you succeed.”