Piper Thomasson ’16 was awarded the Gracelyn Rillorta Bateman Student Inclusive Excellence Award, given by the University Council on Inclusive Excellence to a current student or student organization that has demonstrated a commitment to enhancing an inclusive environment at SCU. Piper, a double major in Dance and English, is champion for social justice within the SCU community. Among her achievements has been in her role as the Program Coordinator for GASPED (Gay and Straight People Educating for Diversity) and guiding such efforts as Rainbow Prom, Drag Show and others. She was a founding member of the Santa Clara Dance Coalition and is passionate about the arts. This passion led Piper to be awarded the Anna Halprin Dance Award, awarded to the dancer in the Theatre and Dance department who demonstrates excellence and inclusiveness in dance and promotes the art of dance outside the department, as well the Charles Lampkin Award, given to an African-American student in theatre, dance, music, or communication who demonstrates commitment to their study along with interest in other diverse subjects. During the summer, she will be the Program Director at American Dance Training Camps in Squaw Valley. She plans to move back to the Bay Area afterward to audition for dance companies with choreographers whom she’s worked with while at SCU.