On March 29, the Vanderbilt community celebrated the Vanderbilt Awards for Leadership Excellence in the Student Life Center Ballroom. The event, hosted by the Office of Student Organizations, Leadership and Service, featured remarks from G.L. Black, vice provost and dean of students, and Traci Ray, assistant dean of students.
Black spoke about the importance of celebrating leadership on campus: “The leaders we are honoring tonight did not get where they are on their own. Each leader is here because someone or multiple someones invested in them, offering time and encouragement to make them better. And now, each of these leaders is investing in their communities to make Vanderbilt and Nashville better and the kind of institution and city we can call home and turn to when life seems its most uncertain. We are better because of the contribution of tonight’s honorees.”
During the ceremony, 19 student leaders and eight student organizations were presented with awards for their service to the community. Attendees enjoyed music by the University Concert Band’s Jazz Combo, dinner and a photo booth.
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Accolade: The Chancellor’s Diversity Award—Jeevan Rajkumar
Casey Carter Bonar Award—Kayla Prowell and Tariq Bolden
Glenn & Elizabeth Bogitsh Award—Dillen Cameron
Imani Award: The Rev. James Lawson Award for Campus and Community Leadership—Jalil Mitchell
John T. McGill Award—Sydney Stewart
Lori Groves-White Award for Advocacy and Courage—Laith Kayat
Nora C. Chaffin Scholarship—Rachael Perrotta
Reverend Beverly A. Asbury Award for Interfaith Dialogue—Namrah Ajmal
Ripple in the Pond Award—Charu Balamurugan
Rob Roy Purdy Award—Matthew Sigel
Robert Peter Pratt Memorial Award—Olivia Core
Susan Jung Award—Rohan Nigam
The John T. & Lizzie Allen McGill First Year Award—Eliza Brennan and Mridul Sharma
The John T. and Lizzie Allen Upper-Class McGill Award—Leo Huang and Rohit Kataria
Thomas M. Weser Award—Fiona Wu
William Aaron Pathfinder Award—Grace Oladapo
STUDENT ORGANIZATION AWARDS
Best Arts Program—Vandy Vanity
Best Collaborative Program—Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., National Panhellenic Council, Vanderbilt Prison Project
Best Diversity and Inclusion Program—Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Best Health and Wellness Program—Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
Best Intercultural Awareness Program—Pakistani Student Association
Best Interfaith Program—Interfaith Council
Community Engagement—National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers (NOBCChE)
Congratulations to this year’s award winners!