Senior Mariann Kukielka was named the winner of the 2015 Tommie Award Thursday, becoming the first female recipient of the award in 14 years.

Students, faculty and staff chose between Kukielka and two other finalists, seniors Chad Berg and Harrison Aslesen, through a three-day online voting process this week.

“I hope (I won) because they thought I was deserving all around and not just because I’m a woman,” Kukielka said. “What I’ve done and others have done is because we love what we’re doing and because it helps other students and the community.”

Vern Klobassa, director of student engagement, said more than 1,300 votes were cast in the election.

Kukielka, a business major, said when she heard she won, she was surprised and humbled.

“It was really just awesome,” Kukielka said. “I’m so thankful and grateful. It was just so powerful, and instead of being like over-happy, it made me feel a lot of emotion. I could not believe I got the vote. It humbled me.”

A native of Shoreview, Minnesota, Kukielka is on the St. Thomas swim and dive team, the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Delta Sigma Pi. She also serves as a first-year commuter adviser and volunteers with Special Olympics Minnesota and Junior Achievement, among other community activities.

To Kukielka, winning the Tommie Award means more than just winning the votes and being the first woman elected in over a decade.

“It really is your past four years of accomplishment that lead to this accomplishment,” Kukielka said. “From day one I was determined to get the most out of this experience. I wanted to, at the end of these four years … look back and know that I did everything I wanted and get involved and help people. ”

After graduation, Kukielka wants to work in the creative business industry as a production manager. She said she hopes her accomplishment will inspire other students to make the most of their college experience.

“Women and men – we’re all people, and we’re all capable of wonderful things. That’s driven me for all the things I’ve gone after,” Kukielka said. “I hope it inspires people to make the most of their four years. I’m hoping that what I’ve done in different organizations and for the community has left a positive impact in peoples’ heads.”

Simeon Lancaster can be reached at lanc4637@stthomas.edu.